The Good Enough Catholic

[Angeldove97]

Hi everyone,
So I started my summer off by heading over to the library and getting some books out. One of them is The Good Enough Catholic by Paul Wilkes. I did a search in this forum and nothing came up, so I thought I'd start a new thread about it.

I already read through the first chapter and I have to say I'm rather impressed and I think this might be a great reading guide for me. I'm a convert of 2 years now, but I still feel like I have ALOT to learn... I have to make up for the 20 years I wasn't Catholic I think this book will help remind me of all I HAVE learned already and show me that I don't need to be able to recite all these different sacred texts to be deemed a good Catholic.

It opens up describing what a change the Second Vatican Council brought to the Church and how it has made a new generation of Catholics grow up a lot differently than those who were Catholics prior to the SVC.

The first part describes the Inner Life--- Jesus Christ, Mass and the Eucharist, the Sacraments, Prayer and Spirituality, and Morality/Conscience and Sin. That's where I'm at.

Anyways, I was just wondering if anybody has read the book and if so what they thought about it. As I go along reading it, I'll probably post up some quotes that I find interesting... maybe someone wouldn't mind sharing their thoughts on them.

 

[QuantaCura]

I had never heard of it. At first, the title sounded really sketchy. We're never really "good enough" until we reach heaven--we should always be progressing in sanctity. The title seems it would lead to spiritual complacency. Then I read some of the summaries online and it sounds a lot better than the title lets on, although there were a couple little red flags, that depending on where he goes with it, could be really good or not so good. Some reviews call the author wishy-washy. It seems nowadays it is as important than ever to "test all things." I've gotten to the point where I just want to read things by people with a St. or Bl. before their names--it means what they have to say is proven to lead to sanctity

Oh, and of course you don't need to recite stuff to live a life of sanctity--St. Mary of the Desert, for example, was totally illterate and didn't even have a Bible. We should believe everything God has revealed for love of Him and because He reveals it for our own good, and we should live according to it to grow in sanctity by His grace. Just knowing stuff and being able to recite it, on its own, will get us nowhere (that's what Gnostics teach).

 

[Angeldove97]

I think what I like about it is that I'm realizing I don't have to be a Saint to consider myself a real Catholic. Everything seems to just come natural to cradle Catholics and I don't want to look like an idiot and do something wrong at Mass or be like what are they talking about??? It's sort of making a line and telling me: okay here's a good starting point to show you how much you've learned about Catholicism and applied to your life. Now, let's show myself how I can grow and make new boundaries.

It's re-affirming what I already hold dear in my heart and giving me hope. And I'm barely on the third chapter! So ya it's a good book... I got it from my library so maybe you could check out the book too.



Btw, I read alot of religious texts even if they don't have a special title attached. While Saints work is VERY important, it's the every day Brother or Sister that I know I can still learn alot from.