How do some remain devoutly observant Catholics their entire temporal lives?

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JuniperoSerra

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How do some remain devoutly observant Catholics their entire temporal lives? I am astounded at the huge number of lapsed/former Catholics in the small city in which I live. Looking around at Mass last Sunday morning I began to wonder what separates those still in the pews from those who have left the faith or simply drifted away – aside from issues of divorce/remarriage which is a huge subject onto its own?

I wonder about practical things individual Catholics can do to remain partakers of the sacraments their entire lives here on Earth? After some inner reflection and a lot of prayer I found that the following helps me a lot:
  • I attend the best local parish I can get to each Sunday. The pickins’ are fairly slim in these parts but my parish is considerably better than other local parishes.
  • Make a daily visit to pray (usually the Rosary) before the Most Blessed Sacrament. This is something that’s between God and I. It cannot be taken away or cancelled. It cannot be abused or degraded.
  • I silently avoid all non-sacramental parish activities. At my parish the same group of 20-30 “insiders” are pretty much the only people that attend such events (those that still exist that is) anymore. Their very presence and behavior is a big reason for the poor attendance. I silently avoid such activities as if they were the plague.
  • I attend Mass on all Holy Days of Obligation no matter what (unless ill.) To help ignore all the lamentable behavior before Mass I listen to appropriate music via ear buds, I read the readings and then I simply keep my eyes closed. Those ear buds have been a Godsend.
  • I regularly make use of the sacrament of reconciliation.
  • If something questionable is scheduled for Mass (ex. a layperson giving a reflection in place of a homily), I make an effort to attend Mass elsewhere that Sunday.
  • While I attend Mass every Sunday morning and that’s never going to change I also attend (NOT as a substitute for Mass, I want to make that clear!) a Protestant non-denominational service and potluck each Sunday evening. This service provides the singing, pipe organ music and fellowship that is so utterly devoid of any Catholic parish here locally. I definately think this nourishment helps me to remain a devout Catholic.
While my comments might sound selfish or bizarre, they are survival techniques. I think if some who have drifted away from the faith practiced them or others, it might help them to remain in the pews. Your thoughts?
 
I think those who stay in the Church their whole lives understand that the Catholic Church has the the full truth of Christianity. Those people were well taught. And I also think that many of those who are currently in the pews had, at one time, left the Church and came back later after realizing that the Catholic Church is THE Church. Those people weren’t well taught, but after they come back, they usually make up for lost time!
 
It is very foolish not to be for God your whole life. You can live for other things and enjoy them for your lifetime. But when you die they are gone, and then without God you will have nothing left, and then be eternally lost. To reject God seems incredibly stupid for me, and I sometimes wonder how people can do this.
But I don’t look upon people this way in my daily life. It is better to love your family and other men and perhaps do what you can for them and live your life living right.
It is good, I think, that the opening poster is seeking God.
 
This is very interesting, what I’m doing is pretty close to what you are. I have a question but I think I would like to message you privately, if possible please answer.
 
boomerang said:
I think those who stay in the Church their whole lives understand that the Catholic Church has the the full truth of Christianity. Those people were well taught. And I also think that many of those who are currently in the pews had, at one time, left the Church and came back later after realizing that the Catholic Church is THE Church. Those people weren’t well taught, but after they come back, they usually make up for lost time!
Click to expand...
This!👍
 
I think it’s because it was important to their parents. My best students are those who have devout patents. It’s their norm.
Those people who are cool about attending Mass and don’t really observe…have kids who ate clueless.
You reap what you sow.
My parents lived their faith daily. It wads who they were. I never considered not practicing my faith. That would have been unheard of. I had questions, they answered.
We’re Catholic, and proud of it.
 
pianistclare said:
I think it’s because it was important to their parents. My best students are those who have devout patents. It’s their norm.
Those people who are cool about attending Mass and don’t really observe…have kids who ate clueless.
You reap what you sow.
My parents lived their faith daily. It wads who they were. I never considered not practicing my faith. That would have been unheard of. I had questions, they answered.
We’re Catholic, and proud of it.
Click to expand...
Well stated. It starts in the home.
 
I think that what you are doing could be good for you (it’s hard to know because I don’t know you) and perhaps what our Lord has to help you maintain faithfulness to His Church. But…make sure it is His will for you through prayer and time before the Blessed Sacrament. Ask Him there if this is what He wants of you. If you spend very much time faithfully in Adoration He speaks clearer the more you come to Him this way:) Basically it is HIS decision what you should do. Still be open to Him as sometimes He does put us in situations in order to witness to His love and presence in us…

In Him,
mlz
 
boomerang said:
I think those who stay in the Church their whole lives understand that the Catholic Church has the the full truth of Christianity. Those people were well taught. And I also think that many of those who are currently in the pews had, at one time, left the Church and came back later after realizing that the Catholic Church is THE Church. Those people weren’t well taught, but after they come back, they usually make up for lost time!
Click to expand...
I was very poorly catechized but have remained Catholic my whole life. I have never left the Church, even though I have studied other religions in depth and attended events at other churches.

I often wonder how and why I have never strayed but think the Blessed Mother has always stayed close to me. Despite attending public schools and secular universities I haven’t strayed.

I feel very fortunate that my faith is part of who I am and always has been. Thanks be to God!
 
pianistclare said:
I think it’s because it was important to their parents. My best students are those who have devout patents. It’s their norm.
Those people who are cool about attending Mass and don’t really observe…have kids who ate clueless.
You reap what you sow.
My parents lived their faith daily. It wads who they were. I never considered not practicing my faith. That would have been unheard of. I had questions, they answered.
We’re Catholic, and proud of it.
Click to expand...
I suspect there is something to this. There are people from the same families who have received identical catechesis, yet some (probably most) drift away while others remain devout Catholics.

This is of great interest to me. I wonder if the Church has done much research on this extremely important subject?
 
Please understand I’m interested in how/why some remain devout Catholics while some do not? I’m not asking if they should remain devout Catholics – it goes without saying they should. There’s an important distinction.

I know a great many good people who have either formally left the Church or more commonly, just drifted away. I’d like to know why some remain and some leave and how we can better our chances of remaining devout.

I have an elderly acquaintance who drifted away from the Church. She and her husband used to attend the same Mass I did. I saw her at the Sunday evening Protestant service I attend. I asked why she no longer attended Mass?

She gave me a very practical response. When she lost her husband she no longer had a reliable way to get to Sunday Mass. Unlike other local churches, no local Catholic parish that I know of arranges rides. She is able to get a shuttle on Sundays to the non-Catholic parish so that’s where she goes.

It’s those sort of practical matters that interest me a great deal.
 
“Blessed is the servant who esteems himself no better when he is praised and exalted by people than when he is considered worthless, simple, and despicable; for what a man is before God, that he is and nothing more.”
St. Francis of Assisi
 
Because we live in the secular world, not a religious bubble.
Because the prince of lies is hard at work making the evil things seem harmless.
There’s always temptation. The biggest “win” for satan is to take people away from faith.
Many succumb because of their “reasoning”.
People are inherently lazy. It takes work to grow your spiritual life.
If you’re flat out not interested, it’s really easy to walk away.
🤷
Especially if you have no support.
JuniperoSerra said:
Please understand I’m interested in how/why some remain devout Catholics while some do not? I’m not asking if they should remain devout Catholics – it goes without saying they should. There’s an important distinction.

I know a great many good people who have either formally left the Church or more commonly, just drifted away. I’d like to know why some remain and some leave and how we can better our chances of remaining devout.

I have an elderly acquaintance who drifted away from the Church. She and her husband used to attend the same Mass I did. I saw her at the Sunday evening Protestant service I attend. I asked why she no longer attended Mass?

She gave me a very practical response. When she lost her husband she no longer had a reliable way to get to Sunday Mass. Unlike other local churches, no local Catholic parish that I know of arranges rides. She is able to get a shuttle on Sundays to the non-Catholic parish so that’s where she goes.

It’s those sort of practical matters that interest me a great deal.
Click to expand...
 
JuniperoSerra said:
Please understand I’m interested in how/why some remain devout Catholics while some do not? I’m not asking if they should remain devout Catholics – it goes without saying they should. There’s an important distinction.

I know a great many good people who have either formally left the Church or more commonly, just drifted away. I’d like to know why some remain and some leave and how we can better our chances of remaining devout.

I have an elderly acquaintance who drifted away from the Church. She and her husband used to attend the same Mass I did. I saw her at the Sunday evening Protestant service I attend. I asked why she no longer attended Mass?

She gave me a very practical response. When she lost her husband she no longer had a reliable way to get to Sunday Mass. Unlike other local churches, no local Catholic parish that I know of arranges rides. She is able to get a shuttle on Sundays to the non-Catholic parish so that’s where she goes.

It’s those sort of practical matters that interest me a great deal.
Click to expand...
I know a woman who used to be Catholic but now goes to a non-denominational church. Her reason for not returning is that she would have to go to confession. Confession is a huge obstacle for some people. Another obstacle is a lack of annulment for the remarried. Too much bother, I guess.

I drifted away because I was a child, and my mother stopped going to mass. Later we got sucked into a non-denominational church. Those churches are easy to join. The Catholic Church is difficult to join by comparison. Difficulty is an obstacle. People will take the easy route.
 
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