If we are to succeed in life we must first overcome greed, selfishness, and self-righteousness. Charity overcomes the capital sin of greed. Charity can overcome greed. By the grace of God, this prayer will treat greed and related vices with the virtue of charity and its related virtues.
Overcoming Greed by Charity
Part three of the Spiritual Exercises: Becoming Beloved Disciples. In today’s meditation, we face the capital sin of greed.
Opening Prayer
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
✠ Amen
Heavenly Father, in the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, may we abide in you and you in us, in one accord… with our minds, hearts, bodies, and souls at rest, in your Peace, present to the moment… so that we may have ears to hear, eyes to see, hearts to understand.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
✠ Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
✠ Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now, and at the hour of our death.
Glory Be (Gloria Patri)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
✠ Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, we thank you for the virtue of charity which helps us to deny ourselves making room for your indwelling love.
✠ Mother of the Poor, pray for us.
✠ St. John, St. Mary Magdalene, and all you Beloved Disciples Pray for us.
Seven Scriptures to take down Greed
“They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.” Ephesians 4:18-19
✠ Love is generous
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” 1 Timothy 6:10
✠ Love is generous
“Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21
✠ Love is generous
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24
✠ Love is generous
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:3
✠ Love is generous
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
✠ Love is generous
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36
✠ Love is generous
Seven-fold Repentance
For the sins of:
greed ✠ Lord Have Mercy
possessiveness ✠ Lord Have Mercy
avarice ✠ Lord Have Mercy
elitism ✠ Lord Have Mercy
divisiveness ✠ Lord Have Mercy
ungratefulness ✠ Lord Have Mercy
bribery and corruption ✠ Lord Have Mercy
✠ Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
All Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.
Seven-Fold Protection
St. Michael Prayer
“Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. ” ✠ Amen.
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians: 6:10
By the Belt of Truth: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Breastplate of Righteousness: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Shoes of Peace: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Shield of Faith: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Helmet of Salvation: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Sword of the Spirit: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Mantle of Our Lady ✠ Lord save your people
Deliverance from Greed
“Behold, I give you power to trample underfoot snakes and scorpions, and all the power of enemies”. Luke 10:19
Lord Jesus, you drove away legions of demons by which the people of God were healed. These you commanded to depart and not to return again. You have defeated all the armies of our invisible enemies and freed your faithful.
In the Name of Jesus, by the Blood of Jesus, by the Power of his Word we take authority over the stronghold of greed including evil spirits promoting possessiveness, avarice, elitism, divisiveness, ungratefulness, and bribery and corruption.
Remove the stronghold of greed and strengthen us by the virtue charity.
Where there has been greed, ✠ let there be charity.
Where there has been possessiveness, ✠ let there be generosity.
Where there has been avarice, ✠ let there be contentment.
Where there has been elitism, ✠ let there be humble hearts.
Where there has been division, ✠ let there be reconciliation.
Where there has been bribery and corruption, ✠ let there be trustworthiness.
Where there has been corruption, ✠ let there be sharing.
Seven-Fold Cleansing
“So, he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” Kings 5:14
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Name of Jesus
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Blood of Jesus
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Word of Jesus
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By Jesus’ Breath of Mercy
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Living Waters of the Holy Spirit
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Fire of the Holy Spirit
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Light of Christ
Closing Prayers
Most Holy Trinity, in your mercy we are delivered, cleansed, and renewed, fully clothed and in our right minds.
Lord, grant me courage to accept the yoke of Charity, so I can learn to deny myself, take up the cross daily and follow you, and enter into your rest.
Most Holy Trinity, we praise you for showering blessings upon us, replacing our vice of greed with the virtue of charity, giving us new hearts, perfect abodes of your indwelling love, so that abiding in love and unity, together, we may renew the face of the earth. ✠ Amen
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit .
✠ Amen