What does it mean to be a good Catholic?

[constantconvert]

I came into the church from Protestantism several years ago, and I still feel like a fish out of water. I won’t go into detail about why this transition has been so difficult, let’s just say there are times when I’m not even sure what it means to be a Christian or how you do it.

Here are the things I know for sure that a good Catholic does:
pray (which I’m pretty sure I never do right or often enough)

frequently participate in the sacraments

be loving and forgiving

love God (practically, I really don’t know how to practice this beyond caring for His creation, and trying not to sin)

care for both the physically and spiritually poor and needy

What else is essential to practicing our faith in a way which pleases God?

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

What is the overlap between your nos. 3 and 5?
Whom do we set an example to and who sets us an example, for instance in reaching to God for our & others’ needs?
Are there Christians who will even relate to us?

My experience suggests these questions may be relevant.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

pray (which I’m pretty sure I never do right or often enough)

There is not a wrong way, but there are some ways more “conventional” than others. The CCC discusses three expressions of prayer; vocal, meditative, and contemplative.

[PART FOUR
CHRISTIAN PRAYER

SECTION ONE
PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

CHAPTER THREE
THE LIFE OF PRAYER

ARTICLE 1
EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER](http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p4s1c3a1.htm)

Definitely don’t miss the contemplative dimension of the Church; most Catholics I know know either nothing or very little about mysticism.

Here’s a book on Catholic prayer, recently used as a text for my son’s prayer class as seminary. It talks about four forms of praying, 1) talking at God, 2) talking to God, 3) listening to God, and 4) being with God.

Armchair Mystic: Easing Into Contemplative Prayer Paperback – April 1, 2001
by Mark E. Thibodeaux S.J. (Author)

In general, I think it’s a good idea to recognize that personal transformation, in some cases called Divine Transformation, is more important that following any particular ritual or human tradition. We see in 1 Cor 13 that it is possible to know and do everything good, and still be of nothing without love. That’s why it’s important to focus on allowing the Holy Spirit to come into us, and is another reason for going the contemplative route.

 

[Avila123]

It can be confusing because the Church has been around for nearly 2,000 years and over that time, we have been exploring all aspects of the faith. Plus people get very passionate about some aspects of the faith and can present things as essential when they are not e.g. a specific devotion. As one person has said, go to the Catechism of the Catholic Church as it is the Church’s teachings rather than one person or one groups view or interpretation.

For me personally, I try to do the best that I can. Are my prayers perfect and always from my heart - no, but better a mechanical prayer than no effort to reach out to God. Do I manage to live the faith, read the Bible every day, know all the prayers people say Catholics should know, spread the Gospel etc etc etc. NO. As I am fallible, I can only try my best, stay open to God and trust in Him.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Trident_H]

I came into the church from Protestantism several years ago, and I still feel like a fish out of water. I won’t go into detail about why this transition has been so difficult, let’s just say there are times when I’m not even sure what it means to be a Christian or how you do it.

Here are the things I know for sure that a good Catholic does:
pray (which I’m pretty sure I never do right or often enough)

frequently participate in the sacraments

be loving and forgiving

love God (practically, I really don’t know how to practice this beyond caring for His creation, and trying not to sin)

care for both the physically and spiritually poor and needy

What else is essential to practicing our faith in a way which pleases God?

Ha. I know exactly what you mean. But I think I finally got it. I think I finally figured out what I was missing:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=980083

But I mean you might be missing something else. I don’t know. It’s sort of like trying to get into a relationship with a group that’s been doing stuff together for ages. Until you get all the feelings in the right spots it can be hard to walk and talk like them. Still, it’s worth it. It’s such a thing to feel finally at home. Finally at peace with this. It just takes a bit of time.

And I mean the funny thing is how many other fellow Catholics are also converts. So there you are feeling like you don’t belong. There you are figuring that everyone else fits more than you do. But there they are just as converted as you. It’s a thought that kept me going for a while when I was sometimes too nervous to keep pretending I belonged. Because I did belong. Just as much as anyone else.

Peace.

-Trident

 

[Lost_Sheep]

There is no such thing as a “good Catholic.” A “good Catholic” is not some that you are; a “good Catholic” is something you strive to be.

My :twocents:

 

[constantconvert]

There is not a wrong way, but there are some ways more “conventional” than others. The CCC discusses three expressions of prayer; vocal, meditative, and contemplative.

…

In general, I think it’s a good idea to recognize that personal transformation, in some cases called Divine Transformation, is more important that following any particular ritual or human tradition. We see in 1 Cor 13 that it is possible to know and do everything good, and still be of nothing without love. That’s why it’s important to focus on allowing the Holy Spirit to come into us, and is another reason for going the contemplative route.

Thanks I will think about this, and read those links.

 

[constantconvert]

Ha. I know exactly what you mean. But I think I finally got it. I think I finally figured out what I was missing:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=980083

But I mean you might be missing something else. I don’t know. It’s sort of like trying to get into a relationship with a group that’s been doing stuff together for ages. Until you get all the feelings in the right spots it can be hard to walk and talk like them. Still, it’s worth it. It’s such a thing to feel finally at home. Finally at peace with this. It just takes a bit of time.

And I mean the funny thing is how many other fellow Catholics are also converts. So there you are feeling like you don’t belong. There you are figuring that everyone else fits more than you do. But there they are just as converted as you. It’s a thought that kept me going for a while when I was sometimes too nervous to keep pretending I belonged. Because I did belong. Just as much as anyone else.

Peace.

-Trident

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut, it was very helpful. As for confession, I go once a month, but I hate it and never feel better afterward. Still, I will persevere,

 

[Trident_H]

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut, it was very helpful. As for confession, I go once a month, but I hate it and never feel better afterward. Still, I will persevere,

I’m glad if it helped a bit. Thanks for letting me know that.

And I mean I really know what you’re saying about confession. It was the stuff of nightmares for me. I felt so awkward and out of sorts. But I think I finally broke that barrier. I broke it when I looked at it as something I needed. Instead of something I had to do. I mean once I owned it that way it was different. But you may also not feel as good about it because maybe you haven’t done much wrong. So maybe it’s not as big a relief to get that stuff said. To get that burden lifted. I don’t know. I guess there’s just a lot of adjusting to do. And I’m still doing that. Even all these years later.

Peace constantconvert. We’re on the same team on this.

-Trident

 

[Lady_Love]

Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.

Or better yet:

" Love one another as I have loved You."

 

[fhansen]

I came into the church from Protestantism several years ago, and I still feel like a fish out of water. I won’t go into detail about why this transition has been so difficult, let’s just say there are times when I’m not even sure what it means to be a Christian or how you do it.

Here are the things I know for sure that a good Catholic does:
pray (which I’m pretty sure I never do right or often enough)

frequently participate in the sacraments

be loving and forgiving

love God (practically, I really don’t know how to practice this beyond caring for His creation, and trying not to sin)

care for both the physically and spiritually poor and needy

What else is essential to practicing our faith in a way which pleases God?

Man’s fullest justice is realized when he loves God with his whole heart, soul, mind, and strentgh and his neighbor as himself. Faith and hope are also parts of this justice/righteousness/holiness, but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 1:13) These are also all gifts, unattainable without grace, which we’re to embrace, hold, cultivate and cooperate with. The purpose of the Church is to tell us about and help guide us to this end, to this love, and her ministries and sacraments et al are intended for that purpose.

 

[fhansen]

I came into the church from Protestantism several years ago, and I still feel like a fish out of water. I won’t go into detail about why this transition has been so difficult, let’s just say there are times when I’m not even sure what it means to be a Christian or how you do it.

Here are the things I know for sure that a good Catholic does:
pray (which I’m pretty sure I never do right or often enough)

frequently participate in the sacraments

be loving and forgiving

love God (practically, I really don’t know how to practice this beyond caring for His creation, and trying not to sin)

care for both the physically and spiritually poor and needy

What else is essential to practicing our faith in a way which pleases God?

Man’s full justice is realized when he loves God with his whole heart, soul, mind, and strentgh and his neighbor as himself. Faith and hope are also parts of this justice/righteousness/holiness, but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 1:13) These are also all gifts, which we’re to embrace, hold, cultivate and cooperate with, unattainable without grace. The purpose of the Church is to tell us about and help guide us to this end, to this justice, to this love, to God, and her teachings, ministries, sacraments et al are all aimed at that very goal.

 

[fred_conty]

St. Teresa of Avila’s statement that prayer is more a matter of loving than thinking.

“If we never look at our Lord, or think of what we owe Him, and of the death which He suffered for our sakes, I do not see how we get to know Him or to do good works in His service. For what can be the value of faith without good works, or of works which are not united with the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ?"

Live in the presence of God. St. Teresa even suggests making use of an actual picture of our Lord.

Jesus lives in the souls and is united to all those in sanctifying grace. Converse with him as you would any close friend frequently. And if you have nothing to say, then just rest with him with knowing his presence and how much he loves you by wanting to be with you all the time. He is there out of his love.

Do not feel like you aren’t good enough for Him. He overlooks all the imperfections and many of our failings. He is there in an approving way, smiling on us every second and pleased to be with you, and you with him. He looks upon us as any good mother would look upon her child…with love.