What makes someone a "Good Catholic"?

[1neophyte]

Because a good Catholic checks his mind at the door?

Your sarcasm detector needs a tune-up.

 

[Brendan_64]

No I’m pretty sure truth is truth. And we’re all on the path towards it based on our understandings and faiths. I’m just not sure we can believe and think we know what it is for sure without a heavy dose of faith.

Faith is the key. How can we believe in truth without faith? Can the doctrine of the Trinity be believed through logic? Faith is the key and with faith there is surrender of the will.

 

[tgGodsway]

Faith is the key. How can we believe in truth without faith? Can the doctrine of the Trinity be believed through logic? Faith is the key and with faith there is surrender of the will.

I think that is a great statement. The Apostle Paul said it in a similar way when he taught the Church at Rome. He said, “So then faith comes by hearing an hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17

 

[Sy_Noe]

Faith is the key. How can we believe in truth without faith? Can the doctrine of the Trinity be believed through logic? Faith is the key and with faith there is surrender of the will.

I agree it is key. And with faith there is humility that maybe just maybe, a mere finite human being, might not have it right. That’s why I am humble enough that you will never hear me going around proclaiming that I have or know the truth for sure.

 

[Brendan_64]

I agree it is key. And with faith there is humility that maybe just maybe, a mere finite human being, might not have it right. That’s why I am humble enough that you will never hear me going around proclaiming that I have or know the truth for sure.

Yes indeed with faith must also come humility, which is difficult for us men and women.

 

[otjm]

Really looking for advice on this. Someone that I trust “has the faith” was relating an experience about a friend we both know. She prefaced the story with “she’s a good Catholic woman”, then proceeded to tell a story where this woman behaved in a way that I would not consider Christian, let alone Catholic.

What makes you a good Catholic?

Well, a parallel question might be "what makes a good marriage partner?

Let’s see. they have not been seen sneaking around committing adultery. They don’t hit. They don’t curse the other. They don’t scream loud enough for the neighbors to understand the “discussion”. They don’t sleep in separate bedrooms. They attend the same Mass and sit in the same bench.

I suspect we all could add to the list…

“Good Catholic” often means the person being spoken about appears to be doing the minimum, or maybe a slight bit more; they are not a “fanatical” Catholic. They warm the pews, put a bit in the collection, and don’t speak ill of the (priest, sister, liturgical coordinator, office administrator, {insert other here]).

I don’t use the term.

 

[johnnyc176]

Well the Catholic Church was founded by, and we follow, the One who said I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. A pretty arrogant statement. In fact He was killed because of it. Truth has always been accused of arrogance.

 

[Vico]

Really looking for advice on this. Someone that I trust “has the faith” was relating an experience about a friend we both know. She prefaced the story with “she’s a good Catholic woman”, then proceeded to tell a story where this woman behaved in a way that I would not consider Christian, let alone Catholic.

What do you consider the traits of a “good Catholic”? I was listening to another homily from a rather uninspiring priest this evening who seems to think that Sunday Mass and the Sacraments are the answer to what we should do in response to any Gospel story. Is that being a “good Catholic”? It would seem to me that there should be more than that, that maybe we should live the way Jesus taught us to live, put others before ourselves, put God before everyone and anything. That we should live our faith. But, the woman in the story certainly didn’t do that. And I know others that reprimand for missing Sunday Mass, but harbour bitterness and pride willingly.

What makes you a good Catholic?

State of sanctifying grace.
Practicing the evangelical virtues, to be: pure, prudent, humble, faithful, devout, obedient, poor, patient, merciful, and sorrowful.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

Thanks for that. You don’t even know me, and you have branded me a bad Catholic. I seem to recall our Lord and Saviour saying “Judge not, lest you be judged”.

When you actually have a thoughtful answer to what I have asked, please feel free to respond again. Until then, God bless you.

Gossip makes us bad Catholics.

You asked, after relating a story how you gossiped.

Dissing Priests makes us bad Catholics too.

Don’t ask if you are going to go all crocodile tears at answers.

 

[otjm]

John 21:25 “But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

If the Church, has been granted authority be Christ has taught the Immaculate Conception, then that teaching comes from God.

It helps also to remember that scripture did not start with the Church, but with the Jews.

And what would any good, first century Jewish Christian know of the OT which might shed light on the matter?

Ii Samuel 6, 1-23 might be as good a place as any to start.

David is bringing back the Ark of the Covenant. An ox causes the Ark to tilt, and Uzzah stretches out a hand to steady it, and is struck dead. the Ark was not to be touched; but only moved by the poles attached to it.

So the Ark, which contained Aaron’s staff,and the Tablets, and manna, is so sacred (as it was of God) that touching it could cause death.

How sacred,then would be the woman who bore the Son of God?

The Gospel writers provide the information that Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit; Jesus says “The Father and I are one”.

And from that, we have the Immaculate Conception; Mary conceived without sin. It is an oxymoron that she would be “just like everyone else”. The Ark was not just another box. Mary was not just another mother. What she carried in her womb was far greater than what was carried in the Ark.

 

[Brendan_64]

It helps also to remember that scripture did not start with the Church, but with the Jews.

And what would any good, first century Jewish Christian know of the OT which might shed light on the matter?

Ii Samuel 6, 1-23 might be as good a place as any to start.

David is bringing back the Ark of the Covenant. An ox causes the Ark to tilt, and Uzzah stretches out a hand to steady it, and is struck dead. the Ark was not to be touched; but only moved by the poles attached to it.

So the Ark, which contained Aaron’s staff,and the Tablets, and manna, is so sacred (as it was of God) that touching it could cause death.

How sacred,then would be the woman who bore the Son of God?

The Gospel writers provide the information that Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit; Jesus says “The Father and I are one”.

And from that, we have the Immaculate Conception; Mary conceived without sin. It is an oxymoron that she would be “just like everyone else”. The Ark was not just another box. Mary was not just another mother. What she carried in her womb was far greater than what was carried in the Ark.

Thank you.

 

[Reuben_J]

Below are good answers as to what a good Catholic is. There is no short cut to it. Basically one must love God and men, obey His commandments and the Church’s; and practice her traditions.

JoyousCatholic:

I think a good Catholic is someone who loves God, follows His Words and adheres to the doctrines and traditions of the Catholic Church.

St Francis:

So I would suggest that a “good Catholic” is one who accepts the authority of the Church and who works with God to grow in virtue.

Oralabora:

We must continue to work on our conversion 24/7. We must conform to Christ’s Bride, and when through our own weakness we cannot or fail in some way, we must ask for forgiveness through the beautiful and holy sacrament of reconciliation.

tqGodsway:

A good Catholic is one who loves God with all his heart, soul, mind and body, and loves his neighbor as himself.

Johnnyc176:

In regards to this of course attending Mass and receiving the Sacraments are necessary to being a good Catholic. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. You should be thankful for that priest. He is doing his job which is to help get you to Heaven. A true personal relationship with Jesus must include the Church that He founded, the Catholic Church, the Sacraments He instituted for us (I will be with you always) and His teachings (Doctrine…If you love me you will obey my commandments).