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PLAIN CATHOLICS: WHO ARE THEY?
Plain Catholics embrace the simplicity of the Gospel and are faithful to the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. They
go to Mass either Novus Ordo or Tridentine. They practice some form of regular family devotions and prayer life. Many are
members of a third or secular order of a religious community like the Lay Carmelites, Lay Dominicans, Secular Franciscans,
Oblates of St. Benedict, Cistercian Oblates, etc.
Plain Catholics do not buy expensive houses or cars. Many practice homesteading skills such as gardening, sewing, raising
livestock, blacksmithing, carpentry, canning, etc. They prefer to have fewer "tech toys" and more hands-on activities, thus
saving money and developing useful skills as they spend more time with their children. The children learn these skills at
their parent's sides. Spending time together as a family is a first priority of Plain Catholics.
Some have computers but most do not have television nor even radios (except for the Weather Alert radio). If they do have
television or radio the use is restricted to Catholic programming, weather, and news information. By controlling mass media
technology, Plain Catholics remove the distractions which fracture many families and isolate the children from the parents.
Homeschooling is the education of choice but some do attend Catholic or public school.
Most of the Plain Catholics agree that all are in different stages of Plain-ness. Unlike the Amish or other groups, Plain
Catholics are not necessarily gathered into a community with a common rule. Instead they are individual families who pursue
this simple and plain lifestyle.
In short, Plain Catholics are one of the many cultures that exist in the Roman Catholic Church; we have Vietnamese Catholics,
Italian Catholics, Irish Catholics and Plain Catholics. Plain Catholics may come from any ancestry. Their culture is based
upon simplicity and a countercultural witness against the consumerism and other notions that are so prevalent in the world.
They seek to separate themselves from the values of the secular world and to live their lives in full obedience and in the
full simplicity of the Gospels.
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On Being Separate
From The Church and the Land by Fr. Vincent McNabb
SEEK FIRST the Kingdom of God, and His justice. First things first, for God's sake; or you will crash at once. Let your Exodus
be after the coming out of Egypt. Leave the garden cities and the flesh pots, not in order to scorn suburbia or to lead a
simple life, but to worship God.
Quit most of your fellowmen not because you hate them or despise them, but because you love them so much as to hate the conditions
which degrade and enslave them. Do not leave Babylon as hating the Babylonians, but as hating Babylon, which kills the Babylonians.
And do not seek ease or security you can obtain by using Babylon. What will it avail you to cease living in Babylon if you
do not cease living on Babylon?
...indeed, be a world apart, a self-sufficient, self-supporting kingdom; and though you surround yourselves with a high wall
of brick and a higher wall of silence, your sermon will the heart and hope of all the sermons we apostles will preach in the
daily exercises of our craft of apostle. ~ Fr. Vincent McNabb
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD
...the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. - John 17:14
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. - John 17:16
And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:2
Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion
has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Beli-al? Or what part has he that believes with an infidel? And
what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, "I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and you
be separate," says the Lord, "and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and
you shall be my sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty. - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep oneself unspotted from the world. - James 1:27
You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will
be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. - James 4:4
...you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (a people for God's possession); that
you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. - 1 Peter 2:9
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any [one loves] the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.
- 1 John 2:15-17
...I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that
you receive not of her plagues. - Revelation 18:4
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CLOTHING
Most of the Plain Catholics also dress in a similar mode as the Amish with minor differences: dresses with buttons; capes,
cappas or modesty vests over top; plain, with little or no frills; low heeled shoes. Men, women and children all dress modestly.
Men wear straw or felt hats with brims; Plain coats and vests; plain shirts with buttons; and long pants. The men will wear
work tunics over pants for comfort in the summer and to maintain modesty.
Except for sunscreen little or no makeup is used by the women who also wear a headcovering full time. Snoods, pleated prayer
kapps, gathered prayer kapps, scarves, etc. are the headcoverings of choice. Plain Catholic women wear a headcovering at Mass,
be it a mantilla, prayer kapp or another style of headcovering. Plain Catholics have found that the prayer kapps and snoods
are both sturdy enough for the chore work but also are less likely to be mistaken as a nun's veiling.
If this charism and life interests you, pray and discern with your family. You may read more about this life at
Plain Catholics (with more information and links to resources)
Plain Catholic in the Mountains (A Day in the Life with resources and links)
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