Why Detachment is Necessary for Catholics
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About this listen
The episode of Navigating the Cross, "Why Detachment is Necessary as Catholics," features host Spencer discussing the crucial concept of detachment in the modern world. Detachment is defined as the opposite of an attachment, which is an emotional dependence on earthly things, people, or objects. The host uses the quote from 1 Timothy 6:7–8—"For we brought nothing into the world... If we have food, clothing, we shall be content with that"—to frame the discussion, asserting that life's goal is to acquire spiritual goods and deepen one's relationship with God, not physical goods.
Achieving sanctity begins with mastery over attachments, which means avoiding using earthly goods (like food, wealth, or marriage) in excess of one's needs or for purposes other than their intended primary end. Attachments discussed include:
- Earthly Pleasures such as money, success, gluttony, women (or hookup culture), friendship, food, and comfort.
- Modern Attachments like being ambitious for oneself rather than submitting to God's will.
- Even Spiritual Goods such as the comfort or consolation of God in prayer, security, knowledge (prioritizing apologetics over relationship with God), or seeking joy as a constant state.
The episode stresses that the goal of detachment is not to stop loving the world, but to love things and people more truly in God. Ultimately, Catholics must detach from everything except God, who is the only thing we should desire. The host advises pursuing virtues like righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness (citing 1 Timothy 6:11–12) to desire God. The episode concludes with the importance of becoming an instrument for God by imitating Christ and striving for the goal that Christ lives within us.