The Eighth Step Become conscious and honest about your money, bank accounts, credit card balances, and income. This is a tough step, but begin prayerfully, using the resource to the right. |
| For group use when teaching this step to others If your group is a close one and this seems reasonable, invite members of the group to pass through this exercise together. At the very least, invite them to share their own insights and experiences with this exercise. We tend to keep our finances and money as a very private matter, more private than almost anything else in our lives. We would be more willing to share about our loves and losses, than about our money. And yet, money is a greater risk to our souls than any other single human element. |
| Prayer to assist you with this step Click here to print this or use it on your screen. Open your heart and prepare to take this step. |
| Tell us your story! What commitments have you made? What difficulties have you faced? What has worked for you as you chose to live more simply? How have you adjusted your lifestyle to one that is more sustainable? In what ways have you grown to be in solidarity with the poor of the world? Click here to send us a note and we'll share your story with others. To send us a video, song, pictures, poetry, or other media, simply attach it to an e-mail and send it to this address. |
| Step Eight: Become more aware of how you spend or save your money. No matter how much money you may or may not have, how you spend it is a real reflection of your values and choices. Does how you spend your money connect to your Core Priorities? In this step we will invite you to review this for yourself. You may wish to invite family members or household mates to take part in this with you. It's a very simple step, and requires total honesty on your part. There is no worksheet or inventory involved. You simply do this: get out your most recent |
| two or three credit card statements, as well as your check book register. Have them handy. Now, using the Listening Prayer (click here to download it if you don't have it), simply pause and let yourself enter into a prayerful moment. Part way through, read aloud your credit card statement and check register, solemnly and clearly. Just let the numbers resonate in the room where you are. Read the date, the vendor, and the amount. If you can recall, also state the purpose of each purchase you made. When you finish, simply allow yourself to return to Listening Prayer to let the Spirit touch your heart and work in your soul. |
| On the Side... About half of the moral teachings of Jesus deal with money and its danger to our souls. We tend to forget or ignore this. We often focus instead on matters about which the Gospel is nearly silent. Click here to download a Scripture passage to remind you of Jesus' teachings. |
| Take the other steps See a list of all 14 steps Step One: Step Two: Step Three: Step Four: Step Five: Step Six: Step Seven: You're on Step Eight! Step Nine: Step Ten: Step Eleven: Step Twelve: Step Thirteen: Step Fourteen: |
| Two powerful resources Click on the cover to buy the book. A New Look at Prayer: Learning to Listen to Your Inner Guide by Bill Huebsch This carefully written e-book helps you recognize your own inner voice which leads to "right living." Driving the Speed Limit: Learning to Live Simply, Sustainably, and in Solidarity with the Poor by Bill Huebsch This e-book provides you with a road map (almost literally) to help you make choices which are both satisfying and in support of the common human good. |
| Key Links Just Faith A site which supports a parish program to teach in depth about just living. Catholic Relief Services A powerful agent of change in the world, also leading the US implementation of this movement. Common Hope A non-profit agency working to end poverty in the third world by establishing there a middle class. |
