What does it mean to be a “practicing” Catholic?

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What does it mean to be a “practicing” Catholic?
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**In your estimation (Catholic or Protestant), what does it mean to be a “practicing” Catholic? **
Reading some other threads and posts here, it seems as if there are many different definitions of what it is, to be a “practicing" Catholic.
What do you think?
 
Good thread to start!

From what I’ve always understood, a practicing Catholic was someone who regularly received all the sacraments they were able to receive along with confessing all mortal sin immediately as to not prevent oneself from receiving the sacraments.
 
I’ve understood ‘Practicing’ Catholic to be one who abides by the six precepts of The Church:

~Confession at least once a year, preferrebly at Easter
~ Communion at least once a year, at Easter
~ Mass assistance on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation
~ Marriage laws of the Church obeyed
~ Fasting and abstinence days appointed by the Church observed
~ Contribute to the support the Church, financially or otherwise.

If you follow these then you are, by definition, a practicing Catholic.
 
Rawb said:
I’ve understood ‘Practicing’ Catholic to be one who abides by the six precepts of The Church:

~Confession at least once a year, preferrebly at Easter
~ Communion at least once a year, at Easter
~ Mass assistance on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation
~ Marriage laws of the Church obeyed
~ Fasting and abstinence days appointed by the Church observed
~ Contribute to the support the Church, financially or otherwise.

If you follow these then you are, by definition, a practicing Catholic.
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You are correct in the strict sense of the term “practicing” Catholic. I guess my question wasn’t what the Catholic Church’s (minimum) definition is, but rather, what does it mean (in the real sense) to be a “practicing Catholic”?

Is Thomas à Kempis’ version, found in the “Imitation of Christ”, how we should live or can it been found in the Catholic who complies with the minimum Catholic Church requirements; or somewhere in between?

Isn’t, what you have listed, a starting point? or is it “all” that is actually expected from us as Roman Catholics?

Your thoughts?
 
A practicing Catholic is one who has not gotten it right yet. 😛

Practice, practice, practice! That is the only way to improve. If we practice hard enough, we will eventually get it right! 🙂

While I say this tongue-in-cheek, it has more than a little truth in it I think.
 
I think the word “observant” is a better choice for what people usually mean when they say “practicing.” It’s a word often used among Jews to differentiate between those who adhere to their faith and those who are culturally Jewish, but not necessarily (or not consistently) spiritually Jewish.
 
As a Protestant learning about Catholicism, I take it to mean a Catholic who is: faithful to Catholic obligations (attending Mass on Sundays and holy days), confesses regularly (especially after having gravely sinned), does not take the Eucharist unworthily…

…does that sound right? 🤷
 
EmergencyOps said:
As a Protestant learning about Catholicism, I take it to mean a Catholic who is: faithful to Catholic obligations (attending Mass on Sundays and holy days), confesses regularly (especially after having gravely sinned), does not take the Eucharist unworthily…

…does that sound right? 🤷
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I don’t know many professed Catholics who fit that description. Most that I know make a mockery of the teachings of the Church. So much for the universal church.
 
rpp said:
A practicing Catholic is one who has not gotten it right yet. 😛

Practice, practice, practice! That is the only way to improve. If we practice hard enough, we will eventually get it right! 🙂

While I say this tongue-in-cheek, it has more than a little truth in it I think.
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Hmmm, I hope that’s not why doctors or lawyers refer to their business as a ‘practice’ 😦
 
Namesake said:
I don’t know many professed Catholics who fit that description. Most that I know make a mockery of the teachings of the Church. So much for the universal church.
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I think you had better find a better group of Catholics to know! 🙂 While I certainly DO know professed Catholics who fit your description, I also know far more men and women living their faith as best they can according to the teachings of te Church. And when they stumble, they look to their faith for strength and support.
 
Namesake said:
I don’t know many professed Catholics who fit that description. Most that I know make a mockery of the teachings of the Church. So much for the universal church.
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Unfortunately, many do not…well, many cradle Catholics. I know a few of them, and it saddens me that they take their faith so lightly. I laughed when I read a quote from an RCIA Facebook group…something to the effect that cradle Catholics are a bit fearful :eek: of converts because they’re so “on fire” about the Catholic faith they just inherited.

-Mark
 
I like this thread topic and hope to see a bunch of people jump on so as to be an example for me.

For the first time I understand what people mean when they say “practicing Catholic”. I also know what it means to just do the minimum and I don’t see that as practicing IMO. I want the whole shabang!!🙂 There is still so much to learn. Catholicism is more than a practice.It is a lifestyle. A lifestyle that requires practice;)

I want to take part in everything the Church has to offer. Right now I can’t partake of the Sacraments but I can take part of things that are Sacramental.Praying the Rosary has been one of the most rewarding experiences I can think of. I can’t imagine life without it.
 
What is considered a cradle Catholic? Maybe I should know this but I don’t.
 
Webster Dictionary seems to have the right definition:

**Adjective
  1. Actively engaged in a career or way of life; “a practicing physician”; “a practicing Catholic”.**
 
Cradle catholic is someone born and raised in the faith.

I think that the minimun daily requirement for practicing our faith is the precepts as mentioned. I also think that is goes further than that in the way we live out our lives outside of the sacraments and observances.

Being a cradle catholic we lived our faith in the home as we grew up. We were expected to be charitable to others and trying to grow in virtue. We didn’t talk about the faith in my home to much as a child much but we knew why we did what we did. We were taught to help all people in need (spiritually, physically and emotionally). We were taught to respect others religious beliefs along with their property. The little things that make life a christian life. Nothing big. I never have understood why people say that it is hard to be catholic. The rules aren’t any more difficult than we make them. Practicing the catholic faith is what I call freedom and happiness.

Maybe a better way to put this is how do we become holy as a practicing catholic?

I do more than the minimum but I surely have along ways to go to becoming holy. I do keep trying.😊
 
IrishAm said:
I think you had better find a better group of Catholics to know! 🙂 While I certainly DO know professed Catholics who fit your description, I also know far more men and women living their faith as best they can according to the teachings of te Church. And when they stumble, they look to their faith for strength and support.
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Do you think mass attendance is way above 50%?

Besides mass attendance I would have to guess ABC is something more catholic married couples are using than aren’t.
 
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