K
KingTheoden
Guest
A reader sent in a question regarding what the term ‘Traditionalist Catholic’ means and received a response from Michelle Arnold.
As SSPX Superior Fellay and Pope Benedict are working to normalize the Society’s structure, I think that approaching this topic requires respect and care. In my view, the answer is instead partisan and only drives deeper the wedge that divides the mainstream Church (that is, what is left of it) and Traditionalists.
I post for all to see and offer their constructive opinions:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?threadid=465936
***Generally speaking, a Traditionalist Roman Catholic is a Catholic of the Latin church who prefers the Tridentine Latin Mass and the sacraments celebrated according to the pre-Vatican II rites of the Latin church.
Some Traditionalists simply prefer the extraordinary form of the Roman rite but are otherwise in line with Catholic orthodoxy. Others have more or less strange understandings of Catholic orthodoxy (although they consider themselves to be fully orthodox) and think that all that came with and after Vatican II is more or less suspect (and consider the post-Vatican II teachings of the Church to be less orthodox than the teachings of the pre-Vatican II era). On the most belligerent end of the Traditionalist spectrum, there are some who will claim to merely believe and teach “all that Catholics believed and taught for 1900 years before Vatican II” (which is simply ahistorical and untrue) and who will separate themselves from full communion with the Church in one way or the other, from “faithful dissent” all the way to sedevacantism (believing that there is no current valid pope).
As for your son’s shipmate, it is strange that he considers himself a Traditionalist and yet takes on responsibilities that many Traditionalists believe should be reserved to a priest. If he were consistent in his principles, he would not be leading Communion services or distributing Communion. In any event, your son is free to attend these services and receive Communion at these services. If his shipmate begins to proselytize his fellow Catholics in his uniquely “Traditionalist” ideology and encourages dissent from the Church though, your son may want to contact the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, for support and counsel. ***
Michelle, I am a Traditionalist. I was received in a normal, diocese parish that is exclusively Novus Ordo in its liturgical offering. With all do respect, I believe that your comment is very one sided and I am deeply concerned at your suggestion for the reader to ‘tattle on’ an extraordinary minister of holy communion.
In military units, unlike in virtually every parish in America, the Priest really does need a lot of help to distribute the Eucharist for obvious logistical reasons. The soldier is clearly filling a role that he is totally permitted to fulfill according to Canon Law.
It is a simple fact that since the Second Vatican Council, Catholic practice has plundged, the look, feel, and manner of worship has changed, and many bishops and priests regularly preach heretical lessons.
As society becomes more and more overcome by evil, the Church has not volunteered itself as the contradiction to the world, but rather has ‘thrown open the shutters’ and invited it in for a parlay.
In so much as there are Traditionalists types who advocate for disobeying the Magesterium, infallible teachings of the Pope, etc., these are trouble makers. Those who deny the validity of the new rite, ceteris paribus, are troublesome and extremely few.
I think that it is a telling feature that ‘Trads’ catch much more flak from apologists than what is directed at Protestant groups or parishes in open and unapologetic heresy.
Life is a constant battle of finding the strength to accept Christ and avoid sin. Therefore, I focus on improving my failures. I do not spend, as my post history indicates, much time at all entering into this debate. But in light of this dark characterization of Traditionalist Catholics, I am forced to respond.
If nothing else, the numbers show an explosion in the Traditionalist community and a consistant decline in the mainline Church. This is not a cause for happiness at all as evil infests more and more common culture (look at Lady Gaga, e.g. Has her Brooklyn Bishop excommunicated her?)
In some, I think that Cardinal Arinze advice to pray the Rosay sums up well my perspective on this conflict.
As SSPX Superior Fellay and Pope Benedict are working to normalize the Society’s structure, I think that approaching this topic requires respect and care. In my view, the answer is instead partisan and only drives deeper the wedge that divides the mainstream Church (that is, what is left of it) and Traditionalists.
I post for all to see and offer their constructive opinions:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?threadid=465936
***Generally speaking, a Traditionalist Roman Catholic is a Catholic of the Latin church who prefers the Tridentine Latin Mass and the sacraments celebrated according to the pre-Vatican II rites of the Latin church.
Some Traditionalists simply prefer the extraordinary form of the Roman rite but are otherwise in line with Catholic orthodoxy. Others have more or less strange understandings of Catholic orthodoxy (although they consider themselves to be fully orthodox) and think that all that came with and after Vatican II is more or less suspect (and consider the post-Vatican II teachings of the Church to be less orthodox than the teachings of the pre-Vatican II era). On the most belligerent end of the Traditionalist spectrum, there are some who will claim to merely believe and teach “all that Catholics believed and taught for 1900 years before Vatican II” (which is simply ahistorical and untrue) and who will separate themselves from full communion with the Church in one way or the other, from “faithful dissent” all the way to sedevacantism (believing that there is no current valid pope).
As for your son’s shipmate, it is strange that he considers himself a Traditionalist and yet takes on responsibilities that many Traditionalists believe should be reserved to a priest. If he were consistent in his principles, he would not be leading Communion services or distributing Communion. In any event, your son is free to attend these services and receive Communion at these services. If his shipmate begins to proselytize his fellow Catholics in his uniquely “Traditionalist” ideology and encourages dissent from the Church though, your son may want to contact the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, for support and counsel. ***
Michelle, I am a Traditionalist. I was received in a normal, diocese parish that is exclusively Novus Ordo in its liturgical offering. With all do respect, I believe that your comment is very one sided and I am deeply concerned at your suggestion for the reader to ‘tattle on’ an extraordinary minister of holy communion.
In military units, unlike in virtually every parish in America, the Priest really does need a lot of help to distribute the Eucharist for obvious logistical reasons. The soldier is clearly filling a role that he is totally permitted to fulfill according to Canon Law.
It is a simple fact that since the Second Vatican Council, Catholic practice has plundged, the look, feel, and manner of worship has changed, and many bishops and priests regularly preach heretical lessons.
As society becomes more and more overcome by evil, the Church has not volunteered itself as the contradiction to the world, but rather has ‘thrown open the shutters’ and invited it in for a parlay.
In so much as there are Traditionalists types who advocate for disobeying the Magesterium, infallible teachings of the Pope, etc., these are trouble makers. Those who deny the validity of the new rite, ceteris paribus, are troublesome and extremely few.
I think that it is a telling feature that ‘Trads’ catch much more flak from apologists than what is directed at Protestant groups or parishes in open and unapologetic heresy.
Life is a constant battle of finding the strength to accept Christ and avoid sin. Therefore, I focus on improving my failures. I do not spend, as my post history indicates, much time at all entering into this debate. But in light of this dark characterization of Traditionalist Catholics, I am forced to respond.
If nothing else, the numbers show an explosion in the Traditionalist community and a consistant decline in the mainline Church. This is not a cause for happiness at all as evil infests more and more common culture (look at Lady Gaga, e.g. Has her Brooklyn Bishop excommunicated her?)
In some, I think that Cardinal Arinze advice to pray the Rosay sums up well my perspective on this conflict.