What does it mean to be an Average Catholic?

Be Bold. Be Fearless. Be Compassionate. Be Loving. Be Christlike!

The purpose of this blog is to help inspire Catholics to higher heights of holiness. Specifically, this blog wants to reclaim exactly what it means to be “an average Catholic.” This mission is well aligned with the Eucharistic Revival from the USCCB. The USCCB did a survey about what does “The Average Catholic” believe. The results were jaw dropping awful.

Nearly seven-in-ten Catholics (69%) say they personally believe that during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine used in Communion “are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.”

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/08/05/transubstantiation-eucharist-u-s-catholics/

The Devil smiles with pleasure at such a survey. With so many “Average” Catholics, then the devil needs only to watch as lukewarm and un-catechized Catholics continue to make a mockery of the Church. The average Catholic that does not go to mass on Sunday. The average Catholic that rejects church social teaching on contraception or abortion. The average Catholic who actively fights the magisterium to change it’s nearly two millennia years of Tradition on marriage.

NO MORE! I say no more. We need to reclaim what it means to be an average Catholic. The Catholic Church is broken in the United States. The sacraments are not valued. The participation in parishes is miniscule. Catholics lack loyalty to their parish bounds. How many people are given the sacrament of Confirmation and then never set foot in a church for years?

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Very few Catholics can even vocalize why someone should be Baptized. Yet, Jesus COMMANDS us to Baptize the nations. Jesus of Nazareth performed countless of miracles. He impacted the course of history as no one did before nor will after Him. Jesus taught with an authority that can only come from the Creator of the Universe. His goal was conquest, but for a kingdom not found on Earth. Instead, He showed us The Way, The Truth, and The Light. He invites us to be pilgrims and have confidence that there is a heavenly dwelling waiting for all of those who are faithful.

We must reclaim what it means to be an Average Catholic. Jesus was a miracle worker, but He also told us that, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) Saint Peter performed healings and resurrections as did Saint Paul. These miracles were common place for Jesus and the Early church. We still have miracles in church history. So much so, that we have common miracles: eucharistic miracles, levitation, bi-location, and incorruptibles.

Therefore, all the faithful of Christ are invited to strive for the holiness and perfection of their own proper state. Indeed they have an obligation to so strive. Let all then have care that they guide aright their own deepest sentiments of soul.

Lumen Gentium Paragraph 42

The Catholic Church is meant to be the Body of Christ whereby Jesus Christ still remain present among His people. Throughout the history of the church we had Saints rise up to inspire, reform, and proclaim. They too performed miracles and wonders. Normally, we discuss these Saints as above average. I say that these Saints are the true average Catholic and everyone else is below average.

Of course, we cannot expect to have the same impact as Pope Innocent iii or the Doctors of the church. But holiness is not measured by impact on others! How many Saints are in heaven that we know not what their story is??? Those unknown Saints should be a humble reminder that eternal life with Christ is far more important than being remembered in the archives of history. Do not be confused. Mother Teresa did not feed a million people. Mother Teresa fed one person a million times.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

The average Catholic is called to holiness. Jesus taught us that holiness is loving our Creator and His Creation. We are called to love by the God who is Love. We must not be indolent or lazy or, even worse still, presumptuous. We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12-13) Everything else is below average. It is below average to commit adultery (before and during marriage). It is below average to miss Sunday mass. It is below average to not believe in the True Presence of the Eucharist. It is below average to shirk your Christian duties.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:19-23

I have a friend who prays, knows the faith, actively volunteers at her church, goes to adoration. All the while people tell her that she should become a religious sister. However, she adamantly believes that she is called to marriage life after a few years of discernment with a religious order. I told her, “Perhaps, you’re just an average Catholic.” The average Catholic should give daily worship and praise the Lord with their life and witness and orthodox beliefs. A daily devotion to God is not reserved for those called to religious life. It is simply what the average Catholic should do.