A question about Traditional catholicism

[Sunbreak]

“Basically I am asking is it a generational thing why these otherwise good catholics seem to dislike the younger priests and a more traditional form of Catholicism?”

Well it could partly be a generational thing but it could just be individual preferences. People define priests as good according to their own preferences. In my parish, some people didn’t like the second to last pastor that we had because they thought he was too pious and brought religion into everyday conversations. Other people didn’t like the next pastor because he wasn’t pious enough - did only the minimum required of him and took no interest in the religious ed classes and hardly ever dressed like a priest. Now some don’t like the current pastor for various other reasons. So I wouldn’t pay too much attention to what the lady is saying about a priest you think is good.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Maybe it’s because they lived through the big change. The only way to get their minds around such huge changes in Liturgy and praxis was to demonize what came before.

It’s not just that this sort of reaction was a possible coping mechanism (although in some cases that is a plausible explanation); quite often the bishops or priests who introduced postconciliar changes were the ones doing the demonizing through a hermeneutic of rupture. Not just “we’re going to start doing X” but “we have to do X because now we realize just how bad Y was and how defective its implicit/underlying theology is.” Often X wasn’t even mandated by anything other than a personal idea of best practice. Now enter stage right with what the Church actually teaches or commands and you’ll find that you’re asking those folks to endure one more total paradigm shift - “remember all those things you were told had to be discarded as dangerous? well, those are actually fine but lots of the things Fr. Jack replaced them with might also be dangerous.” That’s a threat most folks won’t welcome kindly.

 

[zab]

Hello All Hope someone might have an answer for me on some questions I have today about the different “schools” if you will in our church. I have been really involved with the Church now since Christmas 2010 and have embraced my faith and have met some very great people along the way.
Now to the question at hand. In my parish in the Boston Archdiocese we have two priests one a more modern less into the traditional liturgical stuff but a very caring and dynamic man. Our other priest who is a bit younger (early 60’s) is much more traditional in the liturgy and in dress etc. Both men are very orthodox (thank God). What I noticed though was some fellow parishoners and other folks I’ve met in the last few years, really good people (most fall in the 50-70 age range) seem to have issues with certain priests.
An example that comes to mind I went to confession in a nearby parish (good to have different insights from confessors) and I was very impressed by this 30 something year old priest. He wore the shirtfront with cufflinks and some of the old school clergy attire and he used quite a bit of Latin at the Mass. When I told a lady friend about this really good priest in the next town over she said with a annoyed/sarcastic tone “kinda traditional isn’t he”.

It’s hard to explain but I was taken aback by this seemingly harsh rebuke of a good priest. I didn’t say anything because I love and respect this woman, but Iwas wondering why in that 50-60 age generation there seems to be a revulsion to anything “traditional catholic”. When folks talked about going to a Latin Mass they were having nearby it was a similar chorus of jeers and eye rolls.

                                          I have never been to a Tridentine Mass, but would like to go, and have friends in other parts of the country who swear by them, and get lots out of it. Basically I am asking is it a generational thing why these otherwise good catholics seem to dislike the younger priests and a more traditional form of Catholicism?

                     Why do they want to seemingly begrudge the folks who like traditional Catholicism? I am by the way 29 so I am rather confused by this attitude.

Peace in Christ,

                 Wincenty

Well, speaking for myself as a 65 year old female, I happen to prefer the Mass in the Ordinary Form but I am not “repulsed”, “annoyed” at the news of the availability of having a devout young priest who appreciates traditional customs and perhaps offers the TLM. Having a devout young priest that holds fast to the teachings of the church is a blessing in itself. Our older parishioners are delighted as well as the youth! We are so blessed to have a good young priest who happens to offer the TLM by the way- Well he is over 40 now. He came to us in his 30’s. I have heard one or two of my age utter similar remarks as you described a few years ago. I don’t think that is a fair representation of my age group though. Just because some of us may prefer the Ordinary Form of the Mass does not mean that we hate the TLM or younger priests who are more traditional. But I should add that our parish is said to be a blessing by many of the visiting priests and those who hold parish missions, as well as people who have visited other Catholic Churches not only in our Archdiocese, but in other states. Our Mass in the Ordinary Form are beautiful and as traditional as they can be.