What is a "serious" Catholic?

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What is a “serious” Catholic? Do you consider yourself a “serious Catholic?” Why or why not?
 
I consider myself a serious Catholic for a few reasons:
  1. I try go to mass as often as I can
  2. I go to mass on all Holy Days of Obligation
  3. I pray as often as I can
  4. I trust the church and the pope
  5. I have a Rosary in my rearveiw mirror! 😛
  6. I say a daily Rosary
  7. I trust in the intercession of the Saints
  8. LOVE adoration
  9. I am discerning a call to the priesthood/religious life
  10. I love being Catholic!!!
👍
 
SacredHeartFan said:
I consider myself a serious Catholic for a few reasons:
  1. I try go to mass as often as I can
  2. I go to mass on all Holy Days of Obligation
  3. I pray as often as I can
  4. I trust the church and the pope
  5. I have a Rosary in my rearveiw mirror! 😛
  6. I say a daily Rosary
  7. I trust in the intercession of the Saints
  8. LOVE adoration
  9. I am discerning a call to the priesthood/religious life
  10. I love being Catholic!!!
👍
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I just glanced at this thread and noticed that there is already a post. I really like this post because SacredHeartFan lists “palpable, demonstrable” answers (for the most part).

As an ex-evangelical Protestant, there was a time when I would have been critical of this answer because I would have considered it “works-based salvation.” But now I think it’s good when we can actually “prove” our faith through our works.

I realize that others might take another approach to answer the OP, and that’s OK. I’m just really looking for some answers to help ME as I evaluate my faith and my Catholicism. Perhaps this thread will help others to determine whether they are really “serious” Catholics.

Thanks again, SacredHeartFan. I am studying your list and comparing it to my life, and it is helpful to me.
 
Cat said:
What is a “serious” Catholic? Do you consider yourself a “serious Catholic?” Why or why not?
Click to expand...
Off the top of my head I would say a “serious” Catholic is one who takes the faith seriously. This would include:

Attendance at Mass at least on Sundays and Holy Days.

A regular prayer life.

Walking the walk - not just talking the talk.

Orthodoxy - acceptance of the doctrines of the Church

Orthopraxy - accepting (and not working against) the correct practice of the faith

I would like to think I was a serious Catholic. I am definitely a practicing Catholic. And I think we are called “practicing” for a good reason - we sometimes fall but we will be forgiven if we ask for it.

James
 
Cat said:
I just glanced at this thread and noticed that there is already a post. I really like this post because SacredHeartFan lists “palpable, demonstrable” answers (for the most part).

As an ex-evangelical Protestant, there was a time when I would have been critical of this answer. But I think it’s good when we can actually “prove” our faith through our works.

I realize that others might take another approach to answer the OP, and that’s OK. I’m just really looking for some answers to help ME as I evaluate my faith and my Catholicism. Perhaps this thread will help others to determine whether they are really “serious” Catholics.

Thanks again, SacredHeartFan. I am studying your list and comparing it to my life, and it is helpful to me.
Click to expand...
Your very welcome! 🙂
 
Ten commandments and six precepts will send you on your way to becoming a ‘serious’ Catholic. Of course, these are just basics.

Sacred Heart Fan, I like your list and several of your points are fantastic, however, we all must realize that going to Mass on Sundays and holy days, and praying 5 decades of the rosary every day is average. That’s average for a ‘serious’ Catholic, but continuing in these practices and doing even more will keep the luke-warmness away. Who wants to get vomitted out of His mouth? No ‘serious’ Catholic, I should think.
 
CassiusLonginus said:
Ten commandments and six precepts will send you on your way to becoming a ‘serious’ Catholic. Of course, these are just basics.

Sacred Heart Fan, I like your list and several of your points are fantastic, however, we all must realize that going to Mass on Sundays and holy days, and praying 5 decades of the rosary every day is average. That’s average for a ‘serious’ Catholic, but continuing in these practices and doing even more will keep the luke-warmness away. Who wants to get vomitted out of His mouth? No ‘serious’ Catholic, I should think.
Click to expand...
Oh I do that’s just my…
…paraphrased list! 😉
 
Cat said:
I just glanced at this thread and noticed that there is already a post. I really like this post because SacredHeartFan lists “palpable, demonstrable” answers (for the most part).
Click to expand...
I thought I had been the first to reply. But looking back SacredHeartFan had already responded while I was typing up my response.

I think I can give more of a palpable, demonstrable answer using my original answers as categories.

** Attendance at Mass at least on Sundays and Holy Days. **

I attend Mass every Sunday - usually an EF Mass.

I usually attend daily Mass once or twice a week (sometimes more often). Occasionally one of these is an EF Mass as well but usually I will go to OF Masses throughout the week.

Once a month I attend a Saturday evening Life Teen Mass (it is only offered once a month). And typically on the other Saturdays I will attend Mass at various parishes - I like to visit parishes I have never been too. Although gas prices sometimes have me skipping Saturday evening Masses anymore.

** A regular prayer life.**

I try to pray Vespers (Evening Prayer) and Compline (Night Prayer) from the Liturgy of the Hours daily. I have recently been experimenting with adding Lauds (Morning Prayer) on Sundays as well. I usually use Christian Prayer but will occasionally use the pre-VII Roman Divine Office or the pre-VII Monastic Divine Office.

Once a month I spend an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament (on the 1st Friday of the month). When I attend the EF Mass during the week I do this as well - there is adoration before the EF Mass every Thursday evening.

I am not very faithful in praying the rosary. But I do it occasionally.

** Walking the walk - not just talking the talk.**

I have spent the past 9 years as a Core Team member with Life Teen at a local parish. This particular parish made it a point never to adopt any of the Liturgical abuses that are unfortunately very common among Life Teen parishes.

During that time I have lead regular Bible studies for the teens as well as regular studies of the lives of the Saints. At one time we had a weekly informal apologetics class that met at a local coffee shop where we would answer any Catholic questions the teens had.

And for several years I lead a separate Bible study for the parents of the teens. We are in the process of planning this coming school year which may be my last - it will have been 10 years and the typical volunteer in youth ministry lasts 18 months.

** Orthodoxy - acceptance of the doctrines of the Church **

I can’t say there are any teachings of the Church that I do not believe. In the past there were some that I had some trouble understanding. But there is nothing wrong with that. Some study and lots of prayer brought an end to that.

** Orthopraxy - accepting (and not working against) the correct practice of the faith**

I will very charitably question priests on Liturgical abuses - usually getting the advice of other priests first.

I have in the past refused to serve at a Mass because the priest made it clear that he likes his pet abuses better than the way the Church says that Mass should be celebrated and he would not put a stop to them.

Anymore, I just avoid parishes that I know won’t offer the Mass correctly rather than risk a confrontation. But, if I do witness something I won’t hesitate to point it out - the Church says that Liturgical abuses are damaging to the faith of those present.

James
 
CassiusLonginus said:
Ten commandments and six precepts will send you on your way to becoming a ‘serious’ Catholic. Of course, these are just basics.

Sacred Heart Fan, I like your list and several of your points are fantastic, however, we all must realize that going to Mass on Sundays and holy days, and praying 5 decades of the rosary every day is average. That’s average for a ‘serious’ Catholic, but continuing in these practices and doing even more will keep the luke-warmness away. Who wants to get vomitted out of His mouth? No ‘serious’ Catholic, I should think.
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Since I do these things, I guess that makes me a serious Catholic. That said - it is even easier for me to become pharisaical due to following pious traditions and as for being lukewarm, that one really scares me. Of course, I constantly need human perspective too, as St. Teresa of Avila stated that she wanted The Lord to save her “…from gloomy saints.” Oh, I sure need His Help!:eek:
 
SacredHeartFan said:
I consider myself a serious Catholic for a few reasons:
  1. I try go to mass as often as I can
  2. I go to mass on all Holy Days of Obligation
  3. I pray as often as I can
  4. I trust the church and the pope
  5. I have a Rosary in my rearveiw mirror! 😛
  6. I say a daily Rosary
  7. I trust in the intercession of the Saints
  8. LOVE adoration
  9. I am discerning a call to the priesthood/religious life
  10. I love being Catholic!!!
👍
Click to expand...
I’d say you have your priorities in order 👍
 
I am a serious Catholic in that I take my Church’s teachings seriously. I don’t think the 10 commandments are the 10 suggestions. I don’t think I can ‘pick and choose’.

I take my responsibilities seriously. I know that I can’t just ‘say’, "Lord, Lord’ and enter the kingdom unless I actually ‘live’ that faith. I have to ‘imitate Christ’.

In all that, though, I try to be a serious Catholic who enjoys herself. Good clean humor–including addictions to LOLcats, Garfield, knock-knock jokes, and a life-long devotions to the worst of puns. . .As St. Teresa of Avilla said, “Deliver us from sour-faced saints!”

So I’m serious about what I need to be serious about–and joyful and thankful to God for my life --the ups and downs, good and bad.

Seriously.
 
Tantum_ergo said:
I am a serious Catholic in that I take my Church’s teachings seriously. I don’t think the 10 commandments are the 10 suggestions. I don’t think I can ‘pick and choose’.

I take my responsibilities seriously. I know that I can’t just ‘say’, "Lord, Lord’ and enter the kingdom unless I actually ‘live’ that faith. I have to ‘imitate Christ’.

In all that, though, I try to be a serious Catholic who enjoys herself. Good clean humor–including addictions to LOLcats, Garfield, knock-knock jokes, and a life-long devotions to the worst of puns. . .As St. Teresa of Avilla said, “Deliver us from sour-faced saints!”

So I’m serious about what I need to be serious about–and joyful and thankful to God for my life --the ups and downs, good and bad.

Seriously.
Click to expand...
I like that one!
 
i was only confirmed 7-15-08. So I am a new catholic. For me, to be a serious catholic means attending mass at least once a week on Saturday or Sunday. (if possible, once or twice during the week). Fasting.
Holy days of obligation. Visiting the adoration chapel. Reading my magnificat daily. Charity. Following the 10 commandments. Praying regularly. Watching EWTN at least an hour or two a week. Studying about the Catholic faith. Being part of the church community and the community where i live.
i am just settling in to my Catholic life, so 6 months from now, my list might be different.
 
deborahaz said:
i was only confirmed 7-15-08. So I am a new catholic. For me, to be a serious catholic means attending mass at least once a week on Saturday or Sunday. (if possible, once or twice during the week). Fasting.
Holy days of obligation. Visiting the adoration chapel. Reading my magnificat daily. Charity. Following the 10 commandments. Praying regularly. Watching EWTN at least an hour or two a week. Studying about the Catholic faith. Being part of the church community and the community where i live.
i am just settling in to my Catholic life, so 6 months from now, my list might be different.
Click to expand...
i like the EWTN part! 😃 I just got back from there a few weeks ago, it was awesome!!!
 
A serious Catholic loves the Lord and keeps His Word. Try John 14:15-24. Love not in the post modern sense of liking, an emotional response, but love in the sense of doing what the “Other” needs or wants. One who is truly a disciple.
 
I believe a serious Catholic goes beyond “me and Jesus”. He wants what Christ wants. A real serious Catholic is evangelizing and spreading the faith with the help of God’s grace.

“For if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass.” James 1:23
 
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