United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Chapter 34. Tenth Commandment: Embrace Poverty of Spirit • 453

FROM THE CATECHISM

Obstacles to Stewardship People who want to live as Christian disciples and Christian stewards face serious obstacles. In the United States and other nations, a dominant secular culture often contradicts religious convictions about the meaning of life. This culture frequently encourages us to focus on ourselves and our pleasures. At times, we can find it far too easy to ignore spiritual realities and to deny religion a role in shaping human and social values. As Catholics who have entered the mainstream of American society and experienced its advantages, many of us also have been adversely influenced by this secular culture. We know Desire for true happiness frees man from his immoderate attachment to the goods of this world so that he can find his fulfillment in the vision and beatitude of God. “The promise [of seeing God] surpasses all beatitude. . . . In Scripture, to see is to possess. . . . Whoever sees God has obtained all the goods of which he can conceive.” (CCC, no. 2548, citing St. Gregory of Nyssa, De Beatitudinibu s 6: PG 44, 1265A) 1. What two attitudes does the Tenth Commandment forbid? The tenth commandment forbids greed . . . . It requires that envy be banished from the human heart. (CCC, nos. 2536 and 2538) 2. How can we acquire poverty of spirit? Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us from anxiety about tomorrow. Trust in God is a preparation for the blessedness of the poor. They shall see God. (CCC, no. 2547) 3. How can we be free of exaggerated dependence on material goods?