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I wonder, how many of the Christians here at The Apricity are practicing Christians? I am not sure about other denominations, but the Church has a certain definition of what a practicing Catholic is.
http://my.opera.com/catholics/blog/2...a-practicing-c5 Ways to Know if You Are a Practicing Catholic
I am surprised to learn how many Catholics define themselves as a Practicing Catholic, but technically, they are not. What makes someone a practicing Roman Catholic is more than just being baptized and maybe attending Mass during the holidays. In the Catholic religion, being a practicing Catholic takes action, courage, and faith.
A practicing Catholic is not a perfect person. They are people who seek the truth and believe in the teachings of Catholicism. They follow the precepts of the Catholic Church.
Precepts of the Catholic Church
1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
3. You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.
4. You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.
5. You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.
6. The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his or her abilities.
Here are the top five ways to know if you are a practicing Catholic. There are many other ways to such as respecting others, loving others, being charitable and more. If you want to be a practicing Catholic, you might want to consider working on these things to be one.
1. Attending Mass - Going to Mass isn't just when it's easy for you to go or on a holiday. Attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation is mandatory for Catholics. In fact, if you are Catholic, it is a sin to miss Mass unless for a valid reason. Practicing Catholics attend Mass weekly and on Holy Days of Obligation unless for a valid reason such as sickness, weather, or some extraordinary reason.
2. Pro-Life - Abortion is a very controversial topic, however, the Catholic Church has made their teaching on abortion, in vitro fertilization, and euthanasia very clear. To be a practicing Catholic, one must be pro-life. Being pro-life means not supporting the legal right to abort and protecting the dignity of life.
3. Confession - A practicing Catholic should participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year. This sacrament gives you forgiveness of sins.
4. Eucharist - A practicing Catholic knows that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Many practicing Catholics take the Eucharist weekly and some even daily. You should at least take the Eucharist once during the Easter season.
5. Attitude - Like I said, being a practicing Catholic does not mean that one is perfect. A practicing Catholic strives to do as God wants us to do: live an honest, loving life. We should love others, respect others, and obey the Ten Commandments. We shouldn't judge or be hateful toward others.
I attend Mass every Sunday and sometimes during the week whenever I feel in the mood. I regularly attend the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite—traditional Latin Mass—on a Sunday, and the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite—Novus Ordo—when I go during the week. On Holy Days of Obligation, I attend the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite in Edinburgh as celebrated by the FSSP.
I also attend regular confession. Normally once a week, but sometimes only one a fortnight. I do not have a regular confessor though. Which is quite sad, as I have been looking for a spiritual director for a while now. My reason for not having a regular confessor is because the priest who celebrates the EF at my chapel is not the regular pastor there. He's only there to celebrate the EF and then he's off. There are two local Churches near me—my EF Church is in Glasgow—which are quite modern and liberal, so I don't like going to confession with either of the pastors there, though I can make do with it. Sometimes I just go to random Churches in Paisley and Glasgow for Confession but most of my time is spent with one or the other of my local priests.
I obsereve all the Church laws on abstinence and fasting. I don't eat meat on Friday's and I fast from Midnight on Saturday to Holy Communion on Sunday. This includes cigarettes. I shall also began fasting on Wednesdays soon as I hope to be enrolled in the Brown Scapular shortly. I also regularly pray the rosary every day, morning and evening prayers as shown in my EF Daily Missal. I have also added an intercessory prayer to Blessed Charles I of Austria.
So, how about you, are my fellow Christians here practicing?
Regards,
Eóin.
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