What should a day in the life of a Catholic look like?

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lonegreywolf20

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I am curious as to what a day in the life Catholic looks like?

Is there something we should be following like a guide to what daily life looks like or is it what each Catholic decides to do?

Not talking about work, or going to Mass on Sundays, or Saturday Evenings, or Holy Days of obligation, I’m talking about the times in between. Are we supposed to pray at certain times during the day? Are we supposed to read our Bibles twice a day?

I am just curious as to how much it differs from non-Catholics and since I am just coming back to Catholicism, I want to do it right.
 
Catholicism isn’t something I do.

I pray because I love God and want to be in communion with the Father like Jesus was. I try to be faithful to the small things God puts in front of me each day because that is what Jesus did and I try to imitate Jesus.

You can pray the Liturgy of the Hours and I recommend reading scripture each day, but Catholicism isn’t something you “do right.” Loving God takes many forms.

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Catholicism isn’t something I do.

I pray because I love God and want to be in communion with the Father like Jesus was. I try to be faithful to the small things God puts in front of me each day because that is what Jesus did and I try to imitate Jesus.

You can pray the Liturgy of the Hours and I recommend reading scripture each day, but Catholicism isn’t something you “do right.” Loving God takes many forms.

-Tim-
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I do know that it isn’t something that you “do,” but I wasn’t sure how else to put it.

I am just looking for what a day in the life of a catholic looks like is all.
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
I do know that it isn’t something that you “do,” but I wasn’t sure how else to put it.

I am just looking for what a day in the life of a catholic looks like is all.
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I try to attend morning mass. I try to pray the Angelus three times daily and a 5-decade rosary at night. I try to spend 15 minutes doing spiritual reading. Do I fall some days? Yes. But my spirituality had increased.

Sean
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
I do know that it isn’t something that you “do,” but I wasn’t sure how else to put it.

I am just looking for what a day in the life of a catholic looks like is all.
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Catholics don’t have a typical day.

Pray even if you don’t feel like it, frequent the sacraments, learn about Jesus and learn to love Jesus. Everything else will fall into place.

-Tim-
 
There are no rules for daily life. We are expected to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, participate in the Sacraments, live the Beatitudes, observe the moral law (basically the 10 Commandments), observe the days of fast and abstinence, obey the precepts of the Church, and give assent to the teachings, dogmas, and doctrines of the Church, and of course, and most importantly, believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our personal spiritual life is up to us to develop. The Church supplies us with a multitude of ways to develop our prayer life, including private prayer, Sacred Scripture, public prayer (the LOH), various devotions, novenas, litanies, prayers, meditations, writings of the Saints, etc. The Church respects the uniqueness of every individual and their unique relationship with God. The One to direct our prayer life should be the Holy Spirit.

We have no restrictions on what we eat, drink (save for fast and abstinence days), wear (except in regards to modesty), or do, but we are expected to develop and inform our consciences and avoid that which is sinful or leads us into sin. Our behavior should reflect the Gospel.

If we fail to live our Christianity, we are assured of God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and can begin again.

In short, your daily life as a Catholic depends on you and how you choose to live it, and how you develop your relationship with God. We have all the tools we need, but we are not regimented. I hope this helps.
 
CB_Catholic said:
There are no rules for daily life. We are expected to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, participate in the Sacraments, live the Beatitudes, observe the moral law (basically the 10 Commandments), observe the days of fast and abstinence, obey the precepts of the Church, and give assent to the teachings, dogmas, and doctrines of the Church, and of course, and most importantly, believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our personal spiritual life is up to us to develop. The Church supplies us with a multitude of ways to develop our prayer life, including private prayer, Sacred Scripture, public prayer (the LOH), various devotions, novenas, litanies, prayers, meditations, writings of the Saints, etc. The Church respects the uniqueness of every individual and their unique relationship with God. The One to direct our prayer life should be the Holy Spirit.

We have no restrictions on what we eat, drink (save for fast and abstinence days), wear (except in regards to modesty), or do, but we are expected to develop and inform our consciences and avoid that which is sinful or leads us into sin. Our behavior should reflect the Gospel.

If we fail to live our Christianity, we are assured of God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and can begin again.

In short, your daily life as a Catholic depends on you and how you choose to live it, and how you develop your relationship with God. We have all the tools we need, but we are not regimented. I hope this helps.
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What are fast days and abstinence days?

I am unable to fast from food because I am hypoglycemic.
 
From a traditional perspective, it’s imperative for Catholics to do some form of morning and evening prayer. This could be as simple as a Pater/Ave/Gloria… or one could do a morning offering and in the evening an examination of conscience and thanksgiving… for the more advanced there’s Lauds & Vespers.

If your state in life allows it, daily Mass is encouraged but not expected. This is obviously easier in a city with a wide selection of Mass times.

Many recommend 5 decades of the rosary every day.

And a Catholic should see to their daily responsibilities, according to their vocation. If you’re an accountant or a farmer or whatever, see to the proper execution of your daily tasks and offer your work unto the Lord.
 
Bakuryokuso said:
From a traditional perspective, it’s imperative for Catholics to do some form of morning and evening prayer. This could be as simple as a Pater/Ave/Gloria… or one could do a morning offering and in the evening an examination of conscience and thanksgiving… for the more advanced there’s Lauds & Vespers.

If your state in life allows it, daily Mass is encouraged but not expected. This is obviously easier in a city with a wide selection of Mass times.

Many recommend 5 decades of the rosary every day.

And a Catholic should see to their daily responsibilities, according to their vocation. If you’re an accountant or a farmer or whatever, see to the proper execution of your daily tasks and offer your work unto the Lord.
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I do not have a vocation as I am my wife’s full-time caregiver as well as our daughter’s.
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
What are fast days and abstinence days?

I am unable to fast from food because I am hypoglycemic.
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In Canada at least, Catholics have to fast (eat one meal and two snacks) and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Traditionally, Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays unless it’s a solemnity (although this restriction was relaxed in most countries after Pope Paul VI’s new rules on penance were issued). But since some form of penance is still required of Catholics on Fridays, many choose to abstain for meat even if this isn’t specifically required in their country.

You can consume liquids while fasting, so that might be a solution for your hypoglycemia. You can discuss it with a priest. I don’t think people with major health issues are bound to fast.
 
Bakuryokuso said:
That’s your vocation, then! 🙂
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I guess when I read or hear vocation I think being paid money for a skill. I am not paid any income for staying home and taking care of my wife, so I did not think it to be a vocation.
 
I, at least, pray Lauds every morning and Vespers every evening. 🤷
 
As others has said, there are no typical day for Catholics.
You have to keep in mind that the Church are located all over the world and has over 1 mrd members/ believers.
I know that the faith is practised very differently from nation to nation as it has to do With Cultural and social differences. Just in my parish its somewhere between 10-50 different nationalities and they have a very different backround.

anyway. Im a newbie as Catholic :o, but I can share how I “try” to live my faith everyday.
Of course I attend Church at days of obligation and I try to go as often as possible other days as well, but unfortantly my Church only offers mass at Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays(Sunday mass) and Sundays so I cant go to mass on mondays - wednesdays.
Its really something I miss.

I try to start everyday With a Hail Mary and/or The Memorare to Mary and a short prayer to My Lord Jesus and at the end the sign of the cross. I allways try to remember to do this before my feets hit the floor.

During the day I try to pray the Holy Rosary at least once a day and I pray a lot to Mary during the day aswell. I wear a MM as often as I can and pray a lot to Her about intercession and protection.
Sometimes I Pray the Angelus but Im sorry to say that this is more of a ambition than an actuality.

Also I try to pray to Jesus at night and for Marys protection and presence in my life and for the convertion of my beloved ones.

This is just my day as I try to follow Our Lord. There is deffinitily room for (name removed by moderator)rovement.

God Bless!
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
Is there something we should be following like a guide to what daily life looks like or is it what each Catholic decides to do?

Not talking about work, or going to Mass on Sundays, or Saturday Evenings, or Holy Days of obligation, I’m talking about the times in between. Are we supposed to pray at certain times during the day? Are we supposed to read our Bibles twice a day?

I am just curious as to how much it differs from non-Catholics and since I am just coming back to Catholicism, I want to do it right.
Click to expand...
Dear LoneGreyWolf,
You don’t have to be a “lone wolf” in your earnest desire to live a Catholic lifestyle. You also don’t have to search for answers from out of the blue.
First, you should have a few basic resources on hand. Bookmark these websites for yourself:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church with very useful topical search engine:
usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/index.cfm

Scripture search engine: biblehub.com/

Catholic Encycolpedia for topics that you happen to be curious about: oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Home

Daily Mass Readings to use at home (you can bookmark this and just reclick “Today’s Readings” each day to update the date.) usccb.org/bible/readings/110613.cfm
I recommend setting that as your “homepage” so that before you check your e-mail everyday, you check “God’s e-mail” in the daily mass readings.

As for your question – the answer you’re looking for is found within your question. - “Should you be reading the bible two times a day?” – Why did you ask that? Why “two” times a day? Why did you not ask “every day” (once a day) – it seems to me that if you have the concept of reading the bible two times a day in your mind as a question, then that is what the Holy Spirit is inviting you to do.

“Is there a guide to daily life or is it up to each Catholic?” - Why did you ask that? Are you looking for a daily guide to help you find structure in your life? If so, you might try calling your diocesan office - ask your parish for the number - to see if there are any Lay Orders in your diocese. (Look up Lay Orders in the Catholic Encyclopedia) Or, did you ask that question because you are looking for affirmation/permission/confidence to walk to the beat of your own drum? - Seeking structure, or seeking confidence are both fine paths to choose. Personally, since you are asking the question, and since you are new to returning to your faith and you “want to do it right,” I would strongly encourage you to seek support and avoid getting spiritually isolated. Your login name suggests that you like to be an individual, which is fine, but remember this: Satan brought sin into the world by isolating Eve away from her spiritual support, Adam. “It is not good for man to be alone.” So whatever you embark on, do it with some support.

In San Diego, Monterrey Bay, L.A. and Phoenix, you can look up City of the Lord. cityofthelord.org/

The Charismatic Renewal of the Catholic Church in the 60’s and 70’s is a great topic to research and find a way to get plugged into in your local area for great support in living a Catholic, faith-filled lifestyle every day.

You asked how a typical Catholic day differs from non-Catholics. Why did you ask that? Do you have a familiarity with certain daily practices of other Christian walks? If so, continuing doing those. Just look for, and pray for, wisdom to know what aspects of that daily life need to be adapted, changed, supplemented, or dropped, in order to be in agreement with the Catholic faith.

Call your pastor at your local parish. Ask him to meet with you for Spiritual Direction. Not all pastors are qualified or have the time for this. If he is unable, ask him, and ask your diocesan office where you can find a Spiritual Director.

Finally, if you are returning to the faith after a time away, I invite you to attend your parish RCIA class. RCIA is for adults who are becoming Catholic or those who were baptized and did not complete their First Communion and Confirmation when they were younger. It is a perfect environment for Catholics who are returning to the faith as well. As an RCIA instructor myself, I have several students in my class who have received all of their sacraments, but would like to grow in their faith, or have been away from the Church for several years. They all have shared how they have received a new understanding of their faith by learning more about it from their adult perspective now.

When you don’t know what else to do, just pray the way Jesus taught, pray the Our Father.

Christ’s Love,…and WELCOME HOME!!

Debbie
 
DebbieLove said:
Dear LoneGreyWolf,
You don’t have to be a “lone wolf” in your earnest desire to live a Catholic lifestyle. You also don’t have to search for answers from out of the blue.
First, you should have a few basic resources on hand. Bookmark these websites for yourself:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church with very useful topical search engine:
usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/index.cfm

Scripture search engine: biblehub.com/

Catholic Encycolpedia for topics that you happen to be curious about: oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Home

Daily Mass Readings to use at home (you can bookmark this and just reclick “Today’s Readings” each day to update the date.) usccb.org/bible/readings/110613.cfm
I recommend setting that as your “homepage” so that before you check your e-mail everyday, you check “God’s e-mail” in the daily mass readings.

As for your question – the answer you’re looking for is found within your question. - “Should you be reading the bible two times a day?” – Why did you ask that? Why “two” times a day? Why did you not ask “every day” (once a day) – it seems to me that if you have the concept of reading the bible two times a day in your mind as a question, then that is what the Holy Spirit is inviting you to do.

“Is there a guide to daily life or is it up to each Catholic?” - Why did you ask that? Are you looking for a daily guide to help you find structure in your life? If so, you might try calling your diocesan office - ask your parish for the number - to see if there are any Lay Orders in your diocese. (Look up Lay Orders in the Catholic Encyclopedia) Or, did you ask that question because you are looking for affirmation/permission/confidence to walk to the beat of your own drum? - Seeking structure, or seeking confidence are both fine paths to choose. Personally, since you are asking the question, and since you are new to returning to your faith and you “want to do it right,” I would strongly encourage you to seek support and avoid getting spiritually isolated. Your login name suggests that you like to be an individual, which is fine, but remember this: Satan brought sin into the world by isolating Eve away from her spiritual support, Adam. “It is not good for man to be alone.” So whatever you embark on, do it with some support.

In San Diego, Monterrey Bay, L.A. and Phoenix, you can look up City of the Lord. cityofthelord.org/

The Charismatic Renewal of the Catholic Church in the 60’s and 70’s is a great topic to research and find a way to get plugged into in your local area for great support in living a Catholic, faith-filled lifestyle every day.

You asked how a typical Catholic day differs from non-Catholics. Why did you ask that? Do you have a familiarity with certain daily practices of other Christian walks? If so, continuing doing those. Just look for, and pray for, wisdom to know what aspects of that daily life need to be adapted, changed, supplemented, or dropped, in order to be in agreement with the Catholic faith.

Call your pastor at your local parish. Ask him to meet with you for Spiritual Direction. Not all pastors are qualified or have the time for this. If he is unable, ask him, and ask your diocesan office where you can find a Spiritual Director.

Finally, if you are returning to the faith after a time away, I invite you to attend your parish RCIA class. RCIA is for adults who are becoming Catholic or those who were baptized and did not complete their First Communion and Confirmation when they were younger. It is a perfect environment for Catholics who are returning to the faith as well. As an RCIA instructor myself, I have several students in my class who have received all of their sacraments, but would like to grow in their faith, or have been away from the Church for several years. They all have shared how they have received a new understanding of their faith by learning more about it from their adult perspective now.

When you don’t know what else to do, just pray the way Jesus taught, pray the Our Father.

Christ’s Love,…and WELCOME HOME!!

Debbie
Click to expand...
Actually, lonegreywolf is a name that I have used since before I was ever on the internet and was actually my CB handle for when I was driving. When I started on the internet some 15 or so years ago, I kinda just carried the name with me.

My favorite animal is the grey wolf.
 
My “typical day” (these days) is:
set my alarm 15 to 30 mintues earlier than the kids
Pray the Armor of God, Proverbs 31, 1 Corinthians 13, and my City of the Lord Community Prayer
rush the kids to school
sometime between laundry and dishes and whatnot, I try to read the daily readings, preferably earlier in the day rather than later, if I can.
Kids bedtime - pray with my daughter, reviewing her day’s highs and lows and lifting all of them up to God. Pray for good dreams.
I have a recurring alarm set on my phone for 8:30 - after the kids are in bed - to remind me to take a little time for journaling, to review and pray over whatever troubled me during the day.
Before bedtime, my husband leads us in praying together, which could be done by me, but I asked him to be the one to initiate it…I have so many other details to remember during the day to take care of others, that I appreciate someone else remembering something to take care of me.

You mentioned you have kids…praying with them is critical when they’re young, and being quiet long enough to let them open up about their day. If you don’t do it now, they won’t do it when they’re teens, and they most need that connection to you.
Here is our family bedtime prayer, but you can look up other prayers on line - on the Catholic Answers website.

“Thank you Father for this day,
for all our fun and work and play,
and all the special things that happened today.”
…mention specific things of the day and either thank God for them as you mention them, or ask for God’s help with them

Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be

“Holy Spirit, please come and fill (child’s name) mind, heart, and imagination, so that she can have dreams that are peaceful and loving and joyful. Guardian Angel, please guard (child’s name) from any influences that are not from Jesus.”

Amen - (hug - good night.)

We’ve been praying that since my daughter was about 4 years old. She’s almost 10 now but if we skip it she doesn’t feel at ease enough to fall asleep, and she asks for it. 🙂
 
lonegreywolf20 said:
Actually, lonegreywolf is a name that I have used since before I was ever on the internet and was actually my CB handle for when I was driving. When I started on the internet some 15 or so years ago, I kinda just carried the name with me.

My favorite animal is the grey wolf.
Click to expand...
LOL!! Okay, so time to find a wolf-pack!
 
DebbieLove said:
My “typical day” (these days) is:
set my alarm 15 to 30 mintues earlier than the kids
Pray the Armor of God, Proverbs 31, 1 Corinthians 13, and my City of the Lord Community Prayer
rush the kids to school
sometime between laundry and dishes and whatnot, I try to read the daily readings, preferably earlier in the day rather than later, if I can.
Kids bedtime - pray with my daughter, reviewing her day’s highs and lows and lifting all of them up to God. Pray for good dreams.
I have a recurring alarm set on my phone for 8:30 - after the kids are in bed - to remind me to take a little time for journaling, to review and pray over whatever troubled me during the day.
Before bedtime, my husband leads us in praying together, which could be done by me, but I asked him to be the one to initiate it…I have so many other details to remember during the day to take care of others, that I appreciate someone else remembering something to take care of me.

You mentioned you have kids…praying with them is critical when they’re young, and being quiet long enough to let them open up about their day. If you don’t do it now, they won’t do it when they’re teens, and they most need that connection to you.
Here is our family bedtime prayer, but you can look up other prayers on line - on the Catholic Answers website.

“Thank you Father for this day,
for all our fun and work and play,
and all the special things that happened today.”
…mention specific things of the day and either thank God for them as you mention them, or ask for God’s help with them

Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be

“Holy Spirit, please come and fill (child’s name) mind, heart, and imagination, so that she can have dreams that are peaceful and loving and joyful. Guardian Angel, please guard (child’s name) from any influences that are not from Jesus.”

Amen - (hug - good night.)

We’ve been praying that since my daughter was about 4 years old. She’s almost 10 now but if we skip it she doesn’t feel at ease enough to fall asleep, and she asks for it. 🙂
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My wife and I have a daughter, yes. I do have five other children, but they are from a previous non-marital 10 year long relationship. They live 1200 miles away and I do not get to speak to them often anymore. Their mom only has a phone that gets 300 minutes a month, so my calls are usually during important events such as birthdays and Christmas. She does have unlimited texting though and I try to text them as much as I can.
 
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