Is it possible for a good Catholic to be "successful"?

[ZoonCorp]

Hello everyone. I hope you have had a holy Easter this far.

This is something I started to think about earlier today, and I wanted to hear your take on this. I will reference some quotes that I remember straight out of my head, so forgive me that I can’t give exact quotes.

Jesus said something about that it is very hard for a rich man to enter heaven, which I think is perfectly understandable. Wealth and earthly pleasures surely bring about their own temptations. Also, our Faith teaches us that it is better to for us to be poor and such and not seek worldly acceptance.

Surely you can define success differently from the other person, but isn’t it something we should, at least to some degree, strive for? I wouldn’t think Jesus wants us to be uneducated and not being able to be an influence for others and a strong voice whom others may recognize, with the help of some degree of “fame”. One specific example of this kind of positive fame that I can think of is the actor Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in “The passion of the Christ”.

Also, let’s think of this very real scenario: Say you have the gift for music, and are able to create very nice music. Surely it is something to be thankful for. But should you share his your gift with the world, even if it goes so far as to become famous? Or should you keep it to yourself only, not tell anyone about it?

My own take on these thoughts is that it what you ultimately do all depends on your intentions.

 

[SummitJim]

The University of San Francisco, a Jesuit-run school, has been running a series of billboard ads promoting the university, both as a place to get a world-class education in business, and a place to learn moral behavior. One of the ads says something like “Learn to run a successful global business, and still get to Heaven.” I like that one. Success and morality are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

In fact, I would say that we have an obligation to be as successful as possible with whatever talents we have, and do it with moral (Christian) principles in mind. To use your example with music, I would thing that talent should be shared with the world, if it is good enough.

 

[JRKH]

As you point out it will depend on what you mean by “successful”.

In your scenario of the person with the gift of music, they should certainly share it with the world…and they can earn a great deal of money doing it. In so doing they can provide employment for many people. Earning a great deal of money also affords the opportunity to do a lot of good either through charitable giving or through business investment that, again, provides employment for others.

Of course the problem often comes in (and the reason for Jesus comment) is acquiring and possessing all this wealth is a great temptation.

The bottom line is that the number on a “net worth” statement should not define what constitutes “successful”.

Peace
James

 

[LegoGE1947]

As you point out it will depend on what you mean by “successful”.

In your scenario of the person with the gift of music, they should certainly share it with the world…and they can earn a great deal of money doing it. In so doing they can provide employment for many people. Earning a great deal of money also affords the opportunity to do a lot of good either through charitable giving or through business investment that, again, provides employment for others.

Of course the problem often comes in (and the reason for Jesus comment) is acquiring and possessing all this wealth is a great temptation.

The bottom line is that the number on a “net worth” statement should not define what constitutes “successful”.

Peace
James

I think it might be possible, but quite difficult, since Mammon is a “god” of sorts. So many people get to where they think they possess the wealth and fame when in reality it possesses them. As Mother Teresa said “God doesn’t call us to be successful, He calls us to be faithful.”

 

[CB_Catholic]

I have a close relative that is quite wealthy and successful. He didn’t start out that way, but he ended up like that. He is not Catholic, but he is a Christian. Despite his wealth, he lives rather modestly–he has nice things, but not showy, and he does not brag. I would say he lives a little better than middle class, but not like the rich. He gives a considerable amount of money to his church and other causes. His children were made to earn their spending money as soon as they were old enough, and helped put themselves through college.There was no free ride. He did give them money when they married. Every single one of his 3 children are beautiful, loving Christian people, not spoiled a bit,and really are very close to their parents.

He is very active in his church and really is a prayerful and generous man. He realizes that all he has is a gift from God, and he could lose it at any minute. He most certainly is not perfect, but he is a fine role model. I would say that yes, it is possible for a good Catholic (or any Christian) to be successful and wealthy as long as they are generous to those in need, do not flaunt their wealth, give their time as well as their money to the Lord and recognize Who the money really belongs to and what their responsibilities are concerning it’s proper use.

 

[RC_Sojourner]

Instead of buying a fancy car and a big house, I’ve heard Christians talking about the ability to fund missionaries, and pay for almost all their expenses, and send them to Africa.

As mainly American Catholics on this forum, we need to be creative with how we can use our monetary blessings to serve the Church around the world. The Catholic Church in many countries receives 0% of its income from the native population.

For instance, I will be giving a portion of my 10% tithe to the Church in Mongolia. The Catholic Church in Mongolia doesn’t even bother to pass around collection baskets. They collect absolutely no money from the native population. And yet, they have parishes, an orphanage, schools, and a hospital… they have costs, and they depend completely on outside giving to sustain themselves.

That is one specific example, that has moved me, and I feel called to give to. But, the Catholic Church is like that in many places all around the world. We need to remember those people.

So, yes, be successful. But, be successful in building up the Kingdom of God as well!

Let Earthly success serve the Kingdom of God.

P.S.
And I mean, for this question to be asked on a Catholic forum. Again, as largely American Catholics, there’s going to be a lot more Catholic school closings, a lot more parish closings, etc. That we’re going to see happen to the Church in this country, in our lifetimes. If we have financial blessings, and we’re successful… the Church is honestly going to need all the help she can get. At least for the foreseeable future, the Church is going to be hurting for money, bc so much of the lay faithful are abandoning the faith.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

If you mean can a good Catholic get rich, I would say yes, if they give a lot of their money to the poor. The thing is not to hoard money but to share it. Also, do not hoard material things. Pope Francis has made this abundantly clear.

This verse says it all, I think:

Mark 6:19“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

 

[JRKH]

If you mean can a good Catholic get rich, I would say yes, if they give a lot of their money to the poor. The thing is not to hoard money but to share it. Also, do not hoard material things. Pope Francis has made this abundantly clear.

But here is the thing…how does one “get rich” if they do not hoard material things… i.e. money?
If a person earns a lot of money - but gives most of it away - they will not be “rich”.
This seems to be the fundamental conflict when we try to view success in monetary terms.

Threads like this are good in that they offer us an opportunity to look at how we are defining “success” and “rich”…

This verse says it all, I think:

Mark 6:19“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Peace
James

 

[orang]

Well there is rich and there is very rich and then I guess very very wealthy. Very rich and very very wealthy would be contributing to the economy hopefully. From what Ive read the believer is to posses things as though on loan from God and not let, the material things posses the believer. ( Saint Catherine). Continuing, Opus dei founder , I don’t know how to spell his name, terrible with names, suggests all work if honest and away from deceiving can be sanctified as an effort of work for God. Now paying employee’s pocket change wages which would be less then the cost to service a robot I think would be immoral…reason- energy theft. All immorality is rooted in theft, you can reduce anything, theft from the social directly, or thieving oneself from the social, its deserved productivity from the individual ( would need to be intentional obviously).

This leaves the very rich who probably would like to be very very rich, but I shouldn’t judge too hastily so I think its a struggle in a way, a belief and very rich. Following above and being mindful to a sensitivity to pain and suffering is the key. All charity is done through the neighbor( Saint Catherine again) Being impervious to everything would suggest a slave to the material, and I don’t think too many people would fit that description but, the culture has gone past normality and what people in general try to pay in consideration against accumulating I think is flat out immoral, so in other words, all that talk about lets take In God We Trust off the coin ? the general ethic already has, Its more …In ripping off people for work done we trust. If the min went down to 4 bucks an hour with no popularity hassle , they’d all be jumping for joy and ordering the new big boat. So there is a real problem…capitalism is ok…but not run by a materialist robot itself. It just will not work, greed will not work in any system. Opinion for now only.

 

[J_Peterson]

It is absolutely possible. For an example, see St. Thomas More

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Define “Good Catholic.”

I say no in the sense that a “Good Catholic” is not something that you “are” or “can be.” It is something you strive to be.

No matter how “good” a Catholic you think you are, you can always be better.

:twocents:

 

[CHRISTINE77]

But here is the thing…how does one “get rich” if they do not hoard material things… i.e. money?
If a person earns a lot of money - but gives most of it away - they will not be “rich”.
This seems to be the fundamental conflict when we try to view success in monetary terms.

Threads like this are good in that they offer us an opportunity to look at how we are defining “success” and “rich”…



Peace
James

Yes you are right. How do you define rich or sucessful? Money as a measure of one’s wealth and success in life is only one way of looking at it. How about rich in blessings, rich in happiness, rich in virtue… etc.