Use of the Term 'Devout Catholic'

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catholic03

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Pax Christi

I often see, not so much on this forum, but on other websites, people calling themselves ‘devout Catholics’.

As Catholics we are called to be humble - perhaps it is for God to decide whether we are ‘devout’ or not - perhaps using the label ‘devout’ on oneself is a little pretentious.

I much prefer ‘practising Catholic’ or ‘orthodox Catholic’ so that people know that I support all of the teachings of our Holy Mother the Church. Devout seems like one is judging something that only God can judge.

So, do you agree or disagree that this is an acceptable term to use?

May the Lord be with you,
catholic03

IC XC NIKA
 
I never hear people call themself devout. I hear other people calling someone devout, and usually, they don’t mean it in a positive way. They use it in a way to explain why someone will or won’t do something, as if the person is being unreasonable.
 
I have no problem with others calling someone devout, but when someone calls themselves a ‘devout Catholic’ it seems a bit problematic.
 
Let us be thankful that they dare to call themselves Catholic at all in today’s rabidly anti-religious culture.

As to the level of devotion, that is in the human heart and God alone knows our hearts.
 
catholic03 said:
on other websites, people calling themselves ‘devout Catholics’.
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I would interpret “devout” as meaning somebody prays every day, goes to Confession once every week or two, and attends Mass more than once a week. I presume that’s what people are trying to get across, that they actually practice the faith as opposed to just showing up and warming the pew on Sunday. You can be a “practising Catholic” and be going to Mass on Sundays and HDOs only (or less), Confession twice a year, and Rosary never. People like Joe Biden call themselves “practising Catholic”.

Having said that, I wouldn’t use the term “devout” to describe myself unless someone was directly asking me about my prayer and Mass habits. But I’m not going to automatically think badly of someone who does use it.

“Orthodox Catholic” tells me nothing as you could be saying you’re SSPX or that you’re an RC who goes to OF daily and tries to follow the Pope. It means different things to different people. I personally think I’m very “orthodox”, but there are a dozen other people on here who’d say I’m not. It’s also likely to confuse some people into thinking you’re Eastern Catholic or Eastern Orthodox.
 
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Usually it is “wow that person is so devout” however just because someone appears pious does not mean they are in fact very devout.

About a year ago I said the rosary and divine mercy Chaplet and attended mass every day. I certainly appeared devout to many but inside I was nowhere near devout and only prayed so much hoping God would answer my prayers, not because I had genuine faith and love of God.

”And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”
  • Matthew 6:5
Someone who is labeled a “devout Catholic” could very likely be overly zealous and have a false humility.

Our God is one in whom we encounter in the poor and the lonely and the sick and the forgotten, not a God in whom we encounter by looking inside ourselves in pride of our holiness. We must look outside ourselves to know our God who is mercy. A devout Catholic is still a sinner just like everyone else.
 
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I agree it is fine to label others devout. I would also say that one can be devout without going to Mass and confession every day/week respectively. For instance, a person in a rural area might only be able to go to Mass on Sunday and go to confession a couple of times a year, but they try and make up for the loss of opportunities in other ways such as praying the Divine Office or reading the scriptures. Others have to go to school or do other things.

I think it would be a bit pretentious for me to call myself a ‘devout Catholic’, because only God knows whether I am or not.

I would tend to agree about ‘orthodox Catholic’. Practising Catholic is better, it’s just a shame we have to distinguish between ‘cultural’ and ‘practising’ Catholics.

It annoys me when people like Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden and others call themselves ‘practising Catholics’ when they are not - my definition of a ‘practising Catholic’ is a Catholic who reasonably upholds the doctrines and practices of the Church.

Pelosi referred to herself as a ‘devout practising Catholic’, which very much exasperated me.
 
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I think I just prefer to call myself “Catholic” or “Observant Catholic” and leave it at that. If somebody asks me if I’m a practicing Catholic, I’d say “yes”, and perhaps add my husband’s joke about “and I’m going to keep on practicing till I get it right.” 😀

We all know the Bidens, Pelosis, Kaines etc are just yakking up their “devout practicing Catholic” status to get votes. Honestly, the only really practicing Catholic I was aware of in DC was John Roberts, and he never talks about it, which I think is a good thing.
Edited to add, Scalia as well, he talked about it all the time and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, but he’s in God’s hands now.
 
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I suppose I should count myself as lucky that our politicians in New Zealand don’t go on about how they support abortion as a 'devout Catholic.

Our Catholic former Prime Minister, who I see at Mass every Sunday, NEVER called himself ‘devout’.
 
As an outsider, I wouldn’t think it presumptuous if someone said they were a devout Catholic or devout Jew or devout anything. I would just assume they mean they take their faith very seriously…not that you’re trying to seem more pious or taking on airs. I just don’t think the word devout means much more than a practicing or serious religious.
 
Fair enough. I only get really annoyed when people who clearly do not follow the faith call themselves ‘devout’.

It’s really a matter of opinion - here in New Zealand, a ‘devout Catholic’ is one who goes to Mass every Sunday and supports the Church’s teachings, whereas I believe it takes bit more than that to be ‘devout’.
 
I would also imagine it depends on how much emphasis they put on the word devout. A casual, I’m a devout Catholic is different than if they say, I’m a DEVOUT Catholic…hope you can understand how it would sound in real life 😂😂😂. If they are overemphasizing the devout, it would come off as a bit more pretentious!
 
devout

adjective

de·vout | \ di-ˈvau̇t \

Definition of devout​

1 : committed or devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises a devout Catholic

2 : expressing piety or religious fervor : expressing devotiona devout attitude

3a : devoted to a pursuit, belief, or mode of behavior : SERIOUS, EARNESTa devout baseball fanborn a devout coward— G. B. Shaw

b : warmly sincere a devout wish for peace

By Websters definition and depending on the circumstances I feel someone may refer to themselves as a “devout” Catholic…as long as it is not in a prideful way.

In my own family, there are some who are “weekend” only Catholics, and then there are others who weekly go to adoration, attend mass daily and fulfill their weekly Sunday obligation. They also perform acts of charity…while they may never refer to themselves as such, my “weekend only” parts of the family refer to them as “devout”.
 
I typically hear people brag about piety in situations where they are showing poor character and values (ex. Pelosi). That said, I think context matters for this.

I don’t take offense…it just does not impress me or inspire the intended feelings of trust when self promotion is clearly being used to manipulate people
 
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I do not call.mysrlf a devout Catholic, only a practicing Catholic.
I also do not like the term orthodox Catholic, even tough I do consider myself orthodox.
 
As someone who doesn’t speak English as a first language I’ve never considered that someone saying they are a “devout Catholic” as opposed to a “practicing Catholic” implies being proud or anything like that. There are lots of similar expressions in English, and knowing what wording is appropriate to use for someone else, but not yourself, can be hard to tell at a glance.
 
I am trying my best to be and become more orthodox but like you, don’t care for the term. It is confusing given the use of the word by the Eastern rite. I have relatives who are Greek Orthodox and who are Ukrainian Orthodox, so among my family anyway, the term is unclear.

I only use this type of terminology in religious discussion, but given faith has become my foremost priority, that’s pretty often.
 
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When I’ve heard someone being referred to as “devout”, it has been used to describe, inform or provide insight into that person. I don’t recall ever hearing it used derogatorily, to imply that the person was extreme or unreasonable. I’ve heard it used admiringly to indicate that person has some very strong principles and convictions that he or she sticks to, and perhaps they wish they could be as faithful and steadfast in their own beliefs. I’ve heard it used as a factual compliment.

I’ve never heard anyone call themselves devout. That would be self-righteous. And those who are truly devout are never self-righteous.
 
I wouldn’t personally be offput if somebody referred to themselves as a ‘devout Catholic’, although I can equally understand the argument for why it might make some people uncomfortable.

Humility is the truth, nothing more and nothing less. If a person prays on their knees an hour every day they shouldn’t tout the fact, but they shouldn’t go out of their way to keep it a secret either. This would be a misunderstanding of what Jesus said about praying behind a locked door, which was not a condemnation of public prayer or that a person should hide their light under a bowl. On the contrary, a person should not hide their light under a bowl, but they should do it in a way that points others to God and not to themselves. This is the Marian way. To show the light without fear or shame, but always directed towards God.
 
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