Hot Catholics
Deacon Kurt Godfryd | Monday, May 23, 2011 at 6:00PM 
For those with a dislike for magazines and newspapers scattered about, don't come near my house. From a slew of Catholic magazines and newspapers to Wall Street Journals, the piles abound. Despite the warnings from technologists who have all but kissed the printed word goodbye, I am left to wonder why there are still so many piles. And while we're on the topic of piles, where did the saying that "the best always rise to the top" come from?
Case in point. Just this morning, I happened upon a lady’s monthly journal that caters to homemakers. Now given that I am not a regular and ardent reader of such magazines, one article in particular sparked my interest. In an interview with two famous actresses, both lovely ladies, one of them began to describe her hot husband's (the author's term, not mine) Catholic world view. She noted that...
"he takes his faith pretty seriously, in his way. That doesn't mean he goes to church all the time. It's something deeper inside him."
In response to that earth-breaking revelation, I found myself drawn in as the other actress described her own spiritual journey.
"I was brought up with the Christian tradition, but had a fairly secular upbringing. The guiding moral principles, the ethical principles, much of the philosophy, if properly applied is very good. And I love Christmas. I know all the carols and all the songs, and my husband used to sing in the choir, so in spite of our secularism, we observe the Christian tradition. And we talk about the Christmas story. It's a very great story, and I grew up with it. It's very interesting and full of metaphor."
Intrigued and yearning to explore this newly acquired theological insight, I decided to dig a bit deeper into the Church's Magisterial teachings, especially those meant for not so hot Catholics such as myself. Finding my way to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I thumbed to paragraphs 2041-2043 and found the answer to what the Church expects of all Catholics...
"The PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor:
The first precept, You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation,
requires the faithful to participate in the Eucharistic celebration when the Christian community gathers together on the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord.
The second precept, You shall confess your sins at least once a year,
ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism's work of conversion and forgiveness.
The third precept, You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season,
guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord's Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.
The fourth precept, You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation,
completes the Sunday observance by participation in the principal liturgical feasts which honor the mysteries of the Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the saints.
The fifth precept, You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence,
ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts; they help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart. The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities."
But when you're hot, who needs the Church?
