“Your sins are greater than mine,” and/or “I’m more pious than you” (And how would the “I” know that?"
) and/or “I’m a ‘more faithful Catholic’ than you are.”
If someone refers to you or implies you being “Holier than thou” than you KNOW you are doing something right, in both your principles and guiding others to the proper path. Never be discouraged by those people, I’ll bet people considered Jesus “Holier than thou” for constantly teaching them something new and berating them when needed.
True 95% of the time on forums especially.
Well, its either you are doing something right and the other one is offended by your righteousness, or you are really being arrogant. It happens both ways and when someone tell you that phrase its time to self examine and see which one you belong too. People should remember that pride is still a sin even if you are right.If someone refers to you or implies you being “Holier than thou” than you KNOW you are doing something right, in both your principles and guiding others to the proper path. Never be discouraged by those people, I’ll bet people considered Jesus “Holier than thou” for constantly teaching them something new and berating them when needed.
Precisely.
Incorrect. ‘Pharisee’ is the most common term.
Well said. As a Catholic - we are to always remember that our example of speech , dress , behavior , and thought are to mirror the christian virtues as judged by GOD , not men. In charity , catholics are to love their neighbor as themselves for love of GOD. So our conduct shouldnt rub people the wrong way if each of us is living up to the precepts of the church. But then pride enters in and arrogance enters in and anger enters in thanks to fallen human nature. In truth all of us are guilty of these things from time to time to a certain degree. So we are to strive for holiness out of a fidelity to GOD and our fidelity to GOD is measured in part on how charitable we are to neighbor. So thats the paradox. And self examination isnt necessarily a bad thing. Many Saints practised Examination of Conscience nightly , not because they were great sinners - but to strive to be better Catholics. We wouldnt have confessionals if we were all living Saints. But with our Church - we have the means to become better catholics and to be holy - Being holy isnt a bad thing. But being full of pride and arrogance is. So we all have to strive to be holy in humility and in turn become charitable and loving at the same time. Thats the challenge we face in the world. If we fall - we have the Sacraments and Prayer. And I think that more self examination and more charity towards our neighbor leads to what GOD wants from each of us.
Right. A good reading of the lives of saints would show us how much humility they have expressed in their lives. They all got it right, but how many of them actually rubbed it in people’s faces? None. We should always follow their example.
Mom, that woman is LOOKING at me!Now to me it means something different…
Example #1. I see a woman in daily Mass veiled…they are just praying and into their own…not worried about someone else. To me…that is fine…and beautiful if that is what they feel called to do.
Example 2# I see a woman in daily Mass veiled…and she turns and looks at my unveiled head…and turns up her nose or gives a look of superiority and turns and then ignores me…that is holier then thou.
The problem I have with traditionalists…is not with all traditionalists…many of them are just fine and not at all holier then thou…but there are those on CAF that think that if you are not like that then you don’t believe in the real presence and are not reverent, liberal, etc. They have judged my heart by externals…that they are holier then me. Big difference.
By the way…I never get those looks from any veiled women I see at daily Mass.
hmmm…nobody can know what God has called someone to do. Some women feel called to wear a veil…great. But some women have not gotten that call. God maybe working with them in some other area.Mom, that woman is LOOKING at me!
She turned up her NOSE at me!
Now she’s IGNORING me!
Make her STOP!
MOM!
On the street, the phrase “…holier than thou…” is used by non-Catholics to refer to Catholics. On this forum, it’s become a slur used as a means to intimidate women into degrading their appearance and behavior a level unworthy of the house of God. As Catholic women, we should always be civil, but never yield to the temptation to do what’s good enough. Because it’s not.
Maggie.
Often time it’s not so obvious.
I really don’t think anyone is “called” to wear a veil.
God knows what is in people’s hearts. I think the best Bible reference for “holier than thou” is when Jesus asked people to lock themselves up in a private room and pray, rather than standing on street corners and praying to be seen.
As I mentioned, there are people who are just offended by someone being righteous. People in the habit of sin hate to be reminded that they are doing the wrong thing. On the other hand, some people do become arrogant and prideful when they do the right thing. So in some instances the “holier than thou” branding is unjustified, but there are also instances where it is.
Maybe they are:shrug: I’m not going to judge whether they are or not. Especially not based off the fact that I don’t. We don’t know their heart. I myself have not yet come across anyone who was veiled at daily Mass that was holier then thou.
