The 7 Secrets 
of Successful Catholics

"This manifesto of faith is charming, convincing and compelling."--Robert F. Drinan, S.J., Georgetown University Law Center

Paulist Press, 1998

ISBN 0-8091-3795

"The Seven Secrets of Successful Catholics offers a spirituality--seven valuable, tested 'road markers' to guide day-to-day efforts to live meaningfully and faithfully.  I highly recommend it."
--Walter F. Sullivan, Bishop of Richmond

"Paul Wilkes's book The Seven Secrets of Successful Catholics helps everyone to see how God is present to us in so may ways.   The eucharist helps me to deal with my imperfections and to realize that God is always there for me.  Through him all things are possible."
--Lenny Wilkens, Coach of the Atlanta Hawks

"Again, Paul Wilkes, with his new book, The Seven Secrets of Successful Catholics, has tapped into the deep feelings of many Catholics these days as they reflect on their faith and their church.  Paul writes a confident and hopeful book because that is how he sees his Catholicism."
--Most Reverend Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B., Archbishop of Milwaukee

"Being Catholic today is no simple task.   These seven secrets are solid and meaningful.  Faith, the sacraments, especially the eucharist, prayer, sincere service to those in need and ultimately love for a redeeming and merciful God--these are the secrets that will grow the church and save our souls for all eternity."
--Reverent Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., President Emeritus, University of Notre Dame

Excerpts

As I travel about the country talking to Catholics, I find myself continually drawn to a certain kind of Catholic, those who--as Flannery O'Connor put it so well--have what she called a "habit of being."

Men or women, old and young, from all walks of life, cultures and economic strata, there is that special something about them that sets them apart in every group or gathering. It might be an unaffected yet distinctive look in their eye, the way they speak, a certain presence that they have, or a natural goodness they seem to radiate. They have a certain moral vitality that is both palpable and appealing. And, what is immediately and compellingly apparent, they seem to really enjoy being Catholic.

Their quest is not just to be a moral, ethical, or spiritual person--all of which are certainly admirable. It is more than that. They want, expect, and rely upon Catholicism to be the motivating force in their lives. Theirs is a Catholic view of life, a Catholic ethos--although I'm sure they might never say such a thing. They simply live it out.

Inevitably I find myself asking them a few basic questions that more or less revolve around these: What is it specifically about Catholicism that works for you? What is it that you do that helps you to live a Catholic life in today's world? Is it difficult for you to live this way? What hints might you give the rest of us? I find that amidst all the diversity and even factiousness in this Church of ours there are some striking similarities in their responses.

From those many voices and life experiences I have distilled what I would like to call The Seven Secrets of Successful Catholics.

By "Successful" Catholics, of course, I am not speaking of those who have succeeded in the eyes of the world in what job they have, the size of their stock portfolio, or how big or grand their house might be. It is not even that they are necessarily the visible leaders in their parish or community. They may be cradle Catholics or converts, the products of years of Catholic education or none at all.

These Catholics are successful because Catholicism is a framework for their beliefs and their actions, a life force at the very center of their beings, a cause both for continuing inspiration and periodic reflection upon who they really are. Catholicism helps them to navigate their way through life; it is a prism through which they view the world. Yes, living a Catholic life can be extraordinarily difficult at times, they would readily admit. But these Catholics have a faith and a practice of that faith that is at once durable and flexible. It is a positive and enriching force.

How strange it is that "success"--so much a term of this world--and Catholicism-- which may appear so otherworldly--are so harmoniously joined together for the people who are the inspiration for this book. What makes it possible, I found, is how they perceive, face, and live their Catholicism. For them, Catholicism is not some hairshirt they must begrudgingly wear, or some set of obligations they feel forced to fulfill. Rather than obligations, they see opportunities. They at once want Catholicism's moral guidelines and sacramental rhythms and yet relish the freedom to think and discern as their Catholic conscience provides. They appreciate Catholicism's rich and ancient traditions, yet see them having relevance in today's world, and having a direct and daily impact on their lives. Catholicism's sacred rituals and sense of community feed both their souls and their human needs. Successful Catholics embrace and relish Catholicism's universal appeal.

They may bridle at Catholicism's demands, but they have found that by living as best they can within a Catholic framework, they have discovered a remarkable fact: they feel good when they are good. The challenge to greatness embodied in Catholicism is exactly what will bring out the best in them. The Catholic path, sometimes narrow and rocky, ultimately takes them where they want to go.

The scriptural passage about the burden being light and the yoke easy might seem like so many idealistic words, but Successful Catholics have found in them their own profound truth. In the divine ecosystem, a life patterned after the precepts that Christ taught and lived works because it makes sense. Although times change as do their own understanding and perceptions, successful Catholics have a firm sense of place. They know who they are and where they stand. A Catholic life, properly lived, offers a centeredness they have found nowhere else. A Catholic template provides both ample room and necessary limitations. They are at ease with themselves and with being Catholic.

No, the Successful Catholic's life is not one of solace and certitude. Life itself and life with God are too complex for that. But neither is Catholic life impossible or one that is lived by some set of abstract codes. It is practical and pragmatic, flexible yet demanding.

Successful Catholics may disagree with the church (most do, on a variety of issues) and many of them have been apart from the Church at various times in their lives. But there is something compelling about Catholicism that continually summons them. They may have tried other approaches to God or to personal fulfillment, but none completely satisfied their inner longings. Instead, they exercise the freedom to remain under this wide, sprawling tent of Catholicism, while not always assenting. In our modern day, they are basically saying, "I've searched and searched, Lord but where can I go; you have the answers, you have the way to true happiness and inner peace. And I've found it here."

The Seven Secrets of Successful Catholics

1)SUCCESSFUL CATHOLICS
        Stay Close to the Eucharist

2)SUCCESSFUL CATHOLICS
        Are members of a faith community

3)SUCCESSFUL CATHOLICS
        Rely on their conscience and good judgment--but never alone.

4))SUCCESSFUL CATHOLICS
        Regularly do things that call them out of themselves.

5)SUCCESSFUL CATHOLICS
        Always remember that God is ultimately merciful and forgiving.

6)SUCCESSFUL CATHOLICS
        Live in the moment, recognizing daily opportunities for holiness.

7)SUCCESSFUL CATHOLICS
        Believe in prayer and pray regularly.