Devout Catholics

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What, in your eyes, defines a devout Catholic? Should we all be devout?
 
In my eyes, a devout Catholic is someone who tries their absolute best to follow Christ and the teachings of the Church. Many times we will fail, but a devout Catholic will acknowledge his or her failures and ask God for the grace to succeed next time and do nothing other than try and try and try again 🙂
 
One who loves God with all their heart and all their soul and one who loves others as themselves.

Also one who follows and believes in the teachings of the Church uncompromisingly. This doesn’t mean we can’t fail and sin, it means that we must acknowledge that these are sins and try our best to follow the teachings set forth by Christ and His Church. When we do fail, we must repent and try to amend our lives.
 
From Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, Part I, Chap. I:

The difference between love and devotion is just that which exists between fire and flame;–love being a spiritual fire which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame;–and what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager, energetic and diligent, not merely in obeying God’s Commandments, but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and inspirations.
 
brycehecht said:
What, in your eyes, defines a devout Catholic? Should we all be devout?
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de·vout
diˈvout/Submit
adjective
having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment.
“she was a devout Catholic”
synonyms: pious, religious, devoted, dedicated, reverent, God-fearing; More
totally committed to a cause or belief.
“the most devout environmentalist”
synonyms: dedicated, devoted, committed, loyal, faithful, staunch, genuine, firm, steadfast, unwavering, sincere, wholehearted, keen, enthusiastic, zealous, passionate, ardent, fervent, active, sworn, pledged;
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  1. Yes
 
A real Catholic is faithful to all the dogma and doctrine of the Church, and a Catholic is described correctly as faithful or orthodox. As the revered Fr John A Hardon, S.J., has identified:
Catholic was first used by St Ignatius of Antioch in his letter to the Smyrneans, A.D. 107, “Where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” It is from the Greek katholike meaning “general” or “universal”. Within 90 years it meant also “orthodox” or faithful to the teachings of Christ. (The Catholic Catechism, Fr John A Hardon, S.J., Doubleday, 1975, p 217).

“Devout” may not quite convey the depth of “faithful” or “orthodox.”.
 
OliverP said:
In my eyes, a devout Catholic is someone who tries their absolute best to follow Christ and the teachings of the Church. Many times we will fail, but a devout Catholic will acknowledge his or her failures and ask God for the grace to succeed next time and do nothing other than try and try and try again 🙂
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Amen. We can’t be perfect but, we must try each and every day to live as the Church teaches us and if we confess our sins and do our best not to repeat our sins.
 
Ad_Orientem said:
From Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, Part I, Chap. I:

The difference between love and devotion is just that which exists between fire and flame;–love being a spiritual fire which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame;–and what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager, energetic and diligent, not merely in obeying God’s Commandments, but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and inspirations.
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👍

I have seen this in a person, not merely in obeying but in fulfilling, sharing his Catholic faith with others with knowledge, wisdom and complete understanding and belief (no doubts) so that those they encounter are convinced, convicted and come to also believe in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Faith in action, not apathetic.
 
In my opinion devout is one who goes to Mass every Sunday. Participates in some sort of way in a parish. Imitates Christ during their day to day lives. Has a good knowledge of faith.
 
In my opinion, a devout Catholic is somebody who does a little bit more than the “average” Catholic someone who goes to confession monthly or more often, goes to Mass as often as possible, commits himself daily to Jesus and Mary through prayer and most of all, somebody who strives for sainthood! 😃
 
Mother 'Theresa.

Maxmilian Kolbe.

John Paul 2.

Anyone who understands that the rules are not an end in themselves, but a means to growing closer to Christ.

Those who go to Mass not because it is an “obligation”, but because it is an encounter with Christ, whom they love.

Those who understand and follow “Whatsoever you do for the least of these, you do for Me.”

The Pharisees followed the rules; in fact, they were excellent at following the rules. Some would call them “devout”.

Christ seemed to have a different perspective.
 
A devout Catholic is one who recognizes that love of God must come before all else. This would include living in the sacraments, continual prayer and fulfilling one’s daily obligations. It would include a mindset that we are merely passing through this world and must not get caught up in the material. It is a continual conviction of the heart that we were made to know, love and serve Christ and that it must be our first priority.
 
Ad_Orientem said:
From Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, Part I, Chap. I:

The difference between love and devotion is just that which exists between fire and flame;–love being a spiritual fire which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame;–and what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager, energetic and diligent, not merely in obeying God’s Commandments, but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and inspirations.
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THIS. Saint Francis de Sales’ “Introduction to the Devout Life” is **the **authority on what a devout Catholic is. I would add the following quotes from the same chapter:
Another man reckons himself as devout because he repeats many prayers daily, although at the same time he does not refrain from all manner of angry, irritating, conceited or insulting speeches among his family and neighbours. This man freely opens his purse in almsgiving, but closes his heart to all gentle and forgiving feelings towards those who are opposed to him; while that one is ready enough to forgive his enemies, but will never pay his rightful debts save under pressure. Meanwhile all these people are conventionally called religious, but nevertheless they are in no true sense really devout.
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In short, devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness by means of which Divine Love works in us, and causes us to work briskly and lovingly; and just as charity leads us to a general practice of all God’s Commandments, so devotion leads us to practise them readily and diligently.
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If you are Catholic and consider yourself devout, read this book and you will realize you are wrong.
 
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