Being a traditional Catholic, not a Pharisee

[PaulinVA]

do you really think that this is all about us?

Well…

our King deserves all our reverence and obedience, the best palace with all its beauty. the shepards He gave us must lead the people to do that and to believe all the King said. if they are not doing this then something is wrong.

Take that up with the Bishops.

again, this is not about us, it is about Him. He died a horrible death, He suffered all kinds of humiliation. today, we glorify Him by giving Him the best from this earth.

But, God is still God no matter where you attend Mass, no matter what you wear. You can be reverent no matter where you are. In fact, the Masses that you all drive by on your way to the TLM still take place without you.

 

[JustaServant]

However, when traditional Catholics describe their faith and church-going life, I have to say that the majority come across as holier than thou and very selfish. Is that pharisitical? Maybe.

I am glad that you guys have found something that enhances your relationship with our Savior. You just come across as, “Yes, finally I’ve found a Mass holy enough for me”. I don’t know what to make of that. Shouldn’t all Masses be the same as all others?

Internet forums can be rather decieving. I wouldn’t lump Trads into the same pot.
Then I attended a TLM in Pittsburgh two Sundays ago, I was surrounded by people in prayer and worship. The priest had a good homily. They are involved in prayer at the local abortion mill and had enrollment in the Brown Scapular that week. They had catechism for the youngsters. In short they appear to be MAKING AN IMPACT in the community they were in. I didn’t see anybody being pharisitical. I didn’t see anyone trying to focus the attention on themselves.
If there were, I didn’t notice. I was too busy worshipping God to notice what others were doing.

 

[PaulinVA]

Internet forums can be rather decieving. I wouldn’t lump Trads into the same pot.

Well, that’s true. But, there are some common threads.

Then I attended a TLM in Pittsburgh two Sundays ago, I was surrounded by people in prayer and worship. The priest had a good homily. They are involved in prayer at the local abortion mill and had enrollment in the Brown Scapular that week. They had catechism for the youngsters. In short they appear to be MAKING AN IMPACT in the community they were in. I didn’t see anybody being pharisitical. I didn’t see anyone trying to focus the attention on themselves.
If there were, I didn’t notice. I was too busy worshipping God to notice what others were doing.

You sorta missed my point. Pharisees aren’t pharisitical towards each other. You could be describing any parish in the world, quite frankly. The question is, how do we appear to others.

Here’s an interesting use of a parable. Think of the good Samaritan. The poor traveler is your broken, bleeding local parish. Who are you? The pharisee who sticks his nose in the air and thinks derisively about their situation and drives by, or the person who drives in and works at the parish to raise the overall holiness and piety of the people?

 

[JustaServant]

Here’s an interesting use of a parable. Think of the good Samaritan. The poor traveler is your broken, bleeding local parish. Who are you? The pharisee who sticks his nose in the air and thinks derisively about their situation and drives by, or the person who drives in and works at the parish to raise the overall holiness and piety of the people?

IF the traveler WANTS that holiness is the key. The lack of interest in many parishis pushes people away many times. It comes as a shock to many converts (not to me, having grown up Catholic), when they see the indifferance of many cradle Catholics to whom being Catholic is like being Irish or Italian.
But I get your point. We are the agents of change in a broken, bleeding parish.

 

[ncjohn]

Very true. It is human weakness and pride that has deprived Catholics of beautiful, reverent, and solemn liturgies for the past 40 years.

I can absolutely guarantee you that there was an abundance of TLM’s that were not “beautiful, reverent, and solemn liturgies” in the pre-Vatican II era. I lived with and served at a great many of them through my growing up years in several different parishes.

The liturgy will be as good as the shepherd and the flock make it. It will never be perfect in everyone’s eyes regardless of its form as we all respond differently to what we see and hear, sometimes responding differently ourselves from day to day depending on our current state and needs.

And quite frankly, I have found an abundance of beautiful, reverent and solemn OF Masses in my many years and pretty extensive travels, far more so than most of the TLM’s I attended growing up. I have seen extensive use of confession, devotions, and adoration, along with extensive involvement in the social and spiritual outreach that the gospel calls us to as our response of gratitude for the mercy shown to us.

Those who truly seek God will find Him, and will express the love shown to them in the way they treat each other. That is not an attitude exclusive to a preferred form of worship, but the interior disposition of awe. When one starts thinking that it comes from those “works of the law” that we might prefer as our way of approaching God, the danger toward the inflation of the Pharisees becomes very real. That too is not confined to one “side” or the other but is an interior disposition that cries out a need to be more loved than our brothers and sisters, as if God’s infinite love of each of us isn’t good enough.

This thought that there is some individual perfect liturgy just boggles the mind. The Church has never been so and will not be so before Christ returns. We have always had the variations even within the Latin rite, much less the numerous Eastern rites, all of them fully “one, holy, catholic and apostolic”. The constant sins against the unity that Jesus prayed for in the bashing of our brothers and sisters just has to somehow be brought to an end.

Peace,

 

[RyanML]

Well, I have been reading this forum for a while, and I have several observations about the Original Post.

There are a lot of good points that traditional Catholics have made concerning where the Church is today, and where our fellow Catholics are. Our fellow Catholics, the pew potatoes, largely don’t believe what the Church teaches, if you read the polls.

The NO Mass, as delivered in a great many parishes, is the Father N show and not what is intended.

There is a cycle, a swirl, of lack of reverence, lack of belief, lack of catechesis, etc.

However, when traditional Catholics describe their faith and church-going life, I have to say that the majority come across as holier than thou and very selfish. Is that pharisitical? Maybe.

I am glad that you guys have found something that enhances your relationship with our Savior. You just come across as, “Yes, finally I’ve found a Mass holy enough for me”. I don’t know what to make of that. Shouldn’t all Masses be the same as all others?

I don’t mean this as a flame, but as a real reply to the OP.

Paul,

I understand what you mean. But honestly, I don’t know if it’s traditionalists being “holier-than-thou” or the consciences of lukewarm Catholics being pricked that’s the issue. Certainly traditionalists can fall into spiritual pride and that’s definately something we must guard against. But is it so much to ask that we be able to pray in silence before Mass? I visited my local parish once and was trying to pray before Mass. It was so loud one woman came up to me and said that there was an adoration chapel in the back if I wanted to pray in silence. That was very sweet of her to consider me, but I should be able to prepare for Mass in silence without having to search out a hiding spot. Also at my local parish the priest likes to begin the Mass with a meet and greet where new comers are welcomed and we all greet one another. Is it too much to ask to begin Mass with prayer and solemnity? And then after Mass, the idea of staying for a few moments to give thanksgiving to our Lord has all but vanished and been replaced by loud conversation in effect turning the church into a fellowship hall. So some of the reasons I attend the traditional Mass is because I, along with everybody else, can properly prepare for Mass, I can experience the beauty and solemnity of the liturgy which is the right of every Catholic, and I can spend as much quiet time as I want with the Lord whom I have just received when Mass is over. And I don’t feel like the odd one out because serveral other people are doing the same thing. I don’t think most traditionalists want to be special, they just want the basics which, for the most part, have been lost.

 

[RyanML]

Well, that’s true. But, there are some common threads.

You sorta missed my point. Pharisees aren’t pharisitical towards each other. You could be describing any parish in the world, quite frankly. The question is, how do we appear to others.

Here’s an interesting use of a parable. Think of the good Samaritan. The poor traveler is your broken, bleeding local parish. Who are you? The pharisee who sticks his nose in the air and thinks derisively about their situation and drives by, or the person who drives in and works at the parish to raise the overall holiness and piety of the people?

It’s a good point to consider. Some times it’s worth it and some times it isn’t. I know a woman who attends a Novus Ordo during the week and she wears a veil and receives communion on the tongue. She use to kneel to receive until the priest reprimanded her for thinking she was better than everybody else for wearing a veil and kneeling to receive communion. Now I know this person and that is the last thing she is thinking. All she wants to do is go to Mass and be as respectful as she thinks she should be. But it didn’t seem to be a witness to others or to the priest, just an annoyance.

 

[RyanML]

I can absolutely guarantee you that there was an abundance of TLM’s that were not “beautiful, reverent, and solemn liturgies” in the pre-Vatican II era. I lived with and served at a great many of them through my growing up years in several different parishes.

The liturgy will be as good as the shepherd and the flock make it. It will never be perfect in everyone’s eyes regardless of its form as we all respond differently to what we see and hear, sometimes responding differently ourselves from day to day depending on our current state and needs.

And quite frankly, I have found an abundance of beautiful, reverent and solemn OF Masses in my many years and pretty extensive travels, far more so than most of the TLM’s I attended growing up. I have seen extensive use of confession, devotions, and adoration, along with extensive involvement in the social and spiritual outreach that the gospel calls us to as our response of gratitude for the mercy shown to us.

Those who truly seek God will find Him, and will express the love shown to them in the way they treat each other. That is not an attitude exclusive to a preferred form of worship, but the interior disposition of awe. When one starts thinking that it comes from those “works of the law” that we might prefer as our way of approaching God, the danger toward the inflation of the Pharisees becomes very real. That too is not confined to one “side” or the other but is an interior disposition that cries out a need to be more loved than our brothers and sisters, as if God’s infinite love of each of us isn’t good enough.

This thought that there is some individual perfect liturgy just boggles the mind. The Church has never been so and will not be so before Christ returns. We have always had the variations even within the Latin rite, much less the numerous Eastern rites, all of them fully “one, holy, catholic and apostolic”. The constant sins against the unity that Jesus prayed for in the bashing of our brothers and sisters just has to somehow be brought to an end.

Peace,

Yes, I’ve also attended traditional Masses where one had to have the gift of speed reading to follow the priest because he mumbled the prayers so fast. That isn’t very edifying either and in all honesty there was need for reform at the time of the Council. Certainly everything wasn’t perfect but it certainly wasn’t any better after the Council. I would say it was worse. And there are certainly OF Masses that are celebrated well. I don’t think that’s being disputed. The more and more parishes that begin to celebrate the liturgy as the Council actually commanded and that can learn from the Church’s liturgical tradition, the more we’ll start to move in the right direction, I think.

 

[PaulinVA]

It’s a good point to consider. Some times it’s worth it and some times it isn’t. I know a woman who attends a Novus Ordo during the week and she wears a veil and receives communion on the tongue. She use to kneel to receive until the priest reprimanded her for thinking she was better than everybody else for wearing a veil and kneeling to receive communion. Now I know this person and that is the last thing she is thinking. All she wants to do is go to Mass and be as respectful as she thinks she should be. But it didn’t seem to be a witness to others or to the priest, just an annoyance.

There is that, too.

I attend one of those parishes that has a multipurpose “woship center” with chairs instead of pews. I hate it. Would you believe we just got kneelers a month or two ago? There are people (like my teenaged kids) who never have regularly attended a parish with pews and kneelers.

The tabernacle is in a chapel that one passes when entering the worship center. It has glass doors, and everyone who passes by can see the tabernacle. My family always stops and genuflects there. There are those in my parish who consider *that *being holier than thou, if you can imagine!

Remember the song with the line, “Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you are perfect in every way…”? Well, I think one of the hardest things to do is to remain humble when, at the same time, you recognize that you are gaining in piety/holiness. Humility - just when you think you’ve achieved it - that thought proves you haven’t!

 

[mkingdomlvr]

Paul,

I understand what you mean. But honestly, I don’t know if it’s traditionalists being “holier-than-thou” or the consciences of lukewarm Catholics being pricked that’s the issue. Certainly traditionalists can fall into spiritual pride and that’s definately something we must guard against. But is it so much to ask that we be able to pray in silence before Mass? I visited my local parish once and was trying to pray before Mass. It was so loud one woman came up to me and said that there was an adoration chapel in the back if I wanted to pray in silence. That was very sweet of her to consider me, but I should be able to prepare for Mass in silence without having to search out a hiding spot. Also at my local parish the priest likes to begin the Mass with a meet and greet where new comers are welcomed and we all greet one another. Is it too much to ask to begin Mass with prayer and solemnity? And then after Mass, the idea of staying for a few moments to give thanksgiving to our Lord has all but vanished and been replaced by loud conversation in effect turning the church into a fellowship hall. So some of the reasons I attend the traditional Mass is because I, along with everybody else, can properly prepare for Mass, I can experience the beauty and solemnity of the liturgy which is the right of every Catholic, and I can spend as much quiet time as I want with the Lord whom I have just received when Mass is over. And I don’t feel like the odd one out because serveral other people are doing the same thing. I don’t think most traditionalists want to be special, they just want the basics which, for the most part, have been lost.

I agree, I miss the silence and the solemnity. Your masses sound a lot like ours, we have the shaking of the hands before mass and then we have the “applause” section before the final blessing for all the birthdays, anniversaries, veterans, military families and whatever other group “needs” to be recognized. With all that going on during the liturgy, it seems to me that people don’t see the sanctuary as something sacred, and loud conversation seems natural.

 

[wisdomseeker]

tonight at 8:00 pm there is a show called the Revival of the Gregorian Chant. i believe is with father Pacwa. watch everybody if you can.

blessings.

 

[Layman]

Yup, there were impious Masses before The Great Revolution of Vat. II.

40+ years on, there are fewer and fewer people who remember that period at all. There are two generations now for whom the sole reality is EMHCs, CITH, bare churches, noisy Masses and a gravely diminished understanding of their religion.

And for some of the grey heads, the revolution isn’t done yet.

You’ll pardon us younger folk, I hope, if we cling to the TLM as a drowning man clings to a lifebelt in a stormy sea?

 

[JustaServant]

Paul,

I understand what you mean. But honestly, I don’t know if it’s traditionalists being “holier-than-thou” or the consciences of lukewarm Catholics being pricked that’s the issue. Certainly traditionalists can fall into spiritual pride and that’s definately something we must guard against. But is it so much to ask that we be able to pray in silence before Mass? I visited my local parish once and was trying to pray before Mass. It was so loud one woman came up to me and said that there was an adoration chapel in the back if I wanted to pray in silence. That was very sweet of her to consider me, but I should be able to prepare for Mass in silence without having to search out a hiding spot. Also at my local parish the priest likes to begin the Mass with a meet and greet where new comers are welcomed and we all greet one another. Is it too much to ask to begin Mass with prayer and solemnity? And then after Mass, the idea of staying for a few moments to give thanksgiving to our Lord has all but vanished and been replaced by loud conversation in effect turning the church into a fellowship hall. So some of the reasons I attend the traditional Mass is because I, along with everybody else, can properly prepare for Mass,** I can experience the beauty and solemnity of the liturgy which is the right of every Catholic, and I can spend as much quiet time as I want with the Lord whom I have just received when Mass is over. And I don’t feel like the odd one out because serveral other people are doing the same thing.** I don’t think most traditionalists want to be special, they just want the basics which, for the most part, have been lost.

My new convert wife shocked the living tar out me when she said she preferred the Latin Mass we attended up in Pittsburgh. She didn’t like it the first time, but loved it this time. She used to attend a Syrian Orthodox church when she was younger and never felt comfortable in the anything-goes worship style of Baptists. The beauty and soluemnity of worship is something every Catholic should hunger for.

 

[SHW]

Latin cannot be a dead language since still today many words derive from Latin and still used today.

Latin is called a dead language, meaning that the definitions of the words cannot ever change since it is not a language that is used “everyday” by a country. Languages commonly used every day such as English can and do invent slang, or even change the definitions of words so that the original definition is either questioned or lost altogether as time goes by.

The Church does not want the definitions/meanings of the words of its official language to be subject to change as time goes on. So, if you read an encyclical in the original Latin 1500 years ago, the word meanings will still be exactly the same in Latin today.

Changes in English language: gay used to mean “joyous and lively; happy; lighthearted”

Now, no one uses the word “gay” to mean “joyous and lively” because it has been hijacked to mean “homosexual or lesbian.”

 

[SHW]

It’s a good point to consider. Some times it’s worth it and some times it isn’t. I know a woman who attends a Novus Ordo during the week and she wears a veil and receives communion on the tongue. She use to kneel to receive until the priest reprimanded her for thinking she was better than everybody else for wearing a veil and kneeling to receive communion. Now I know this person and that is the last thing she is thinking. All she wants to do is go to Mass and be as respectful as she thinks she should be. But it didn’t seem to be a witness to others or to the priest, just an annoyance.

Unfortunately, if you wear a veil or a simple hat to a NO Mass, you draw attention to yourself, even if that was not the intended purpose and you will be scorned as a goody-two-shoes. So much for “Catholic” charity these days.

 

[brotherhrolf]

I must say that I am gravely disappointed and offended by the tenor of some of the posts of the last two days. I have made no secret that I attend a reverent OF cathedral parish; that I have sung in its choir for twenty years; and that I do, indeed, drive 25 miles one way to attend. I have given my explanations for doing so charitably and consistently. I have made it clear (at least to me) that these were my reasons and that I would never question anyone’s right to attend an OF. Some of the responses make me feel as if I am a member of some rabid TLM parish and wish to return to the supposed “glories” of pre-V II worship.

My brother John consistently calls me on the abuses that existed before Vatican II. OK, John, I know from other altar boys at my high school that there were 15 minute TLMs and that Father may have been under the influence. In almost five years on these fora, I have consistently stated that I never experienced any of that. I am glad that you are happy with your parish.

I regularly read Fr. Z’s blog and CAF posted one of his blogs this morning.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=359215

From all of the above we see that the Church continues to treasure the riches of its past, [which is now its present] especially with regard to the sacred liturgy. The spirit of earlier liturgical forms, which permeated the spirit and culture of many who still remember these forms, continues in the celebration of both rites. Thus, it was through pastoral concern that Pope Benedict XVI was motivated to more easily allow for the celebration of more ancient liturgical rites and prayers by issuing Summorum Pontificium.

Emphases mine.

I have to thank Msgr. Hogan for his eloquent words. “Through pastoral concern”. I thank the Holy Father for his pastoral concern and I would ask you, my brothers and sisters, to consider his pastoral concern. Instead of asking me to “offer it up” and accept the abuses I have seen over the last forty plus years, consider me as one of those whose spiritual life was permeated by the spirit and culture of those days before Vatican II instead of the accusations of spiritual hubris.

Spiritual hubris is a sword which cuts both ways. I have never questioned anyone’s spirituality and I am getting very tired of having mine questioned. I respond to what I have seen (and, yes, I have seen a lot in the last 40 years) as someone who remembers the spirit and culture of the old form.

 

[ncjohn]

My brother John consistently calls me on the abuses that existed before Vatican II. OK, John, I know from other altar boys at my high school that there were 15 minute TLMs and that Father may have been under the influence. In almost five years on these fora, I have consistently stated that I never experienced any of that. I am glad that you are happy with your parish.

Brother, I truly hope that I am in no way diminishing your experience, or leading anyone to think that I believe that there were no reverent TLM’s done in the past. Yes, my experience was very different than yours, and consistently so, and I know I’m not alone. But in saying that I do not for a moment claim my experience to be universal, or even the norm. but only that abuses have always been around in the Church And even though my experience did in fact sour me, I recognize that many others found incredible beauty in their experience and for that I can only rejoice. It isn’t to be found everywhere, in either form. I too drive to reach my parish, 45 minutes each way, because of what the local parish became and the prevalent attitude there.

My only point in this whole thing is that we do have to be careful when we start exulting the form over the substance and start glorifying the finger pointing at the moon rather than the moon. No, things aren’t all rosy these days, but they weren’t all rosy before the council either. In fact, one can look back even to the earliest records of the Church to know that such disagreements and “abuses” have always existed. Paul took the Corinthians to task in no uncertain terms for the way their liturgies were being handled and the splits that were occurring in who people were following. If it was already occurring so soon after Jesus, in the presence of Paul, why would we think we would be immune to the phenomenon?

Tradiitonal catholocism has much to commend it, and I personally still adhere to many of the traditional practices even if I prefer my liturgy in the vernacular. We just need to remember, as Jesus himself reminded us, to not get too locked up in the traditions of men to the point where we lose our focus on whom we really serve. When we do that we are in danger, as Ryan posited, of taking on those very attitudes that Jesus tried to shine a light on.

Peace be with you my friend!

 

[brotherhrolf]

We just need to remember, as Jesus himself reminded us, to not get too locked up in the traditions of men to the point where we lose our focus on whom we really serve.

That is the slippery slope we have dealt with, you and I, for nigh unto five years. I contend that the “traditions of men” is that self-same sword which cuts both ways.

The baby got thrown out with the bathwater in 1967 and everything that has come after has become “tradition”. Why else would I have been instructed to “offer it up”? You and I both know that receiving the Eucharist in the hand didn’t come until the late 70s. You and I both know the business of hand-holding, etc. didn’t come until the late 80s. Yet we have all of these posters who think that that is exactly the way things have been since the inception of Vatican II. The first time I saw liturgical dancing is when I sang for our diocese’s 25th anniversary in 1988.

Within the “spirit and culture” of which I grew up, which “traditions of men” am I supposed to adhere to? Am I supposed to simply forget that when we entered into the presence of the Most High that we kept our mouths shut? Am I supposed to simply forget that we genuflected whenever we crossed before the Tabernacle? Am I supposed to simply forget that, as a high school student, any time we passed in front of a Catholic church in New Orleans, we made the sign of the cross in respect of the Eucharistic presence?

My friend, you and I continue to agree to disagree. But the “traditions of men” cuts both ways.

Pax te cum, Johannes!

 

[mkingdomlvr]

That is the slippery slope we have dealt with, you and I, for nigh unto five years. I contend that the “traditions of men” is that self-same sword which cuts both ways.

The baby got thrown out with the bathwater in 1967 and everything that has come after has become “tradition”. Why else would I have been instructed to “offer it up”? You and I both know that receiving the Eucharist in the hand didn’t come until the late 70s. You and I both know the business of hand-holding, etc. didn’t come until the late 80s. Yet we have all of these posters who think that that is exactly the way things have been since the inception of Vatican II. The first time I saw liturgical dancing is when I sang for our diocese’s 25th anniversary in 1988.

Within the “spirit and culture” of which I grew up, which “traditions of men” am I supposed to adhere to? Am I supposed to simply forget that when we entered into the presence of the Most High that we kept our mouths shut? Am I supposed to simply forget that we genuflected whenever we crossed before the Tabernacle? Am I supposed to simply forget that, as a high school student, any time we passed in front of a Catholic church in New Orleans, we made the sign of the cross in respect of the Eucharistic presence?

My friend, you and I continue to agree to disagree. But the “traditions of men” cuts both ways.

Pax te cum, Johannes!

I am with you Brother. I hold fast to the traditions and practices that I learned from the Good Sisters. When I pass the tabernacle, I genuflect the way I was taught in 2nd grade. The only reason I would ever speak when in the Sanctuary would be to alert someone in the event of an emergency. If I pass a Church, I still make the Sign of the Cross. I arrive early enough to say my Rosary before Mass, and no matter how much chatter is going on around me, I do my best to hold my focus. I remain on my knees while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, even if I’m the only one in the Sanctuary doing it. Yes, I get some odd looks and some must think I’m trying to be holier than thou-but it’s simply the way I spent every morning from Kindergarten through 8th grade. It’s too ingrained to simply stop.

I may have my disagreements and my struggles with the Catholic Church, but I still hold tightly to those lessons learned in childhood as far as Tradition and Liturgy are concerned. They served my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents well, and they will do the same for me.

 

[ncjohn]

That is the slippery slope we have dealt with, you and I, for nigh unto five years. I contend that the “traditions of men” is that self-same sword which cuts both ways.

The baby got thrown out with the bathwater in 1967 and everything that has come after has become “tradition”. Why else would I have been instructed to “offer it up”? You and I both know that receiving the Eucharist in the hand didn’t come until the late 70s. You and I both know the business of hand-holding, etc. didn’t come until the late 80s. Yet we have all of these posters who think that that is exactly the way things have been since the inception of Vatican II. The first time I saw liturgical dancing is when I sang for our diocese’s 25th anniversary in 1988.

Within the “spirit and culture” of which I grew up, which “traditions of men” am I supposed to adhere to? Am I supposed to simply forget that when we entered into the presence of the Most High that we kept our mouths shut? Am I supposed to simply forget that we genuflected whenever we crossed before the Tabernacle? Am I supposed to simply forget that, as a high school student, any time we passed in front of a Catholic church in New Orleans, we made the sign of the cross in respect of the Eucharistic presence?

My friend, you and I continue to agree to disagree. But the “traditions of men” cuts both ways.

Pax te cum, Johannes!

Brother, I’m not so sure we actually disagree, though we might have different liturgical preferences. I am not in any way saying that you should be forced to abandon those traditions which you prefer, or to “offer up” having them shunted aside by so many. I have been a consistent supporter of having the TLM, and its surrounding traditions, available to all who want them.

All of us, even within our preferred form, will occasionally have those things present that aren’t completely to our liking, or may not be to our liking on some specific day. We’ll have the days when we really need the Passion but find the Resurrection being the focus, or the other way around. We’ll have musical selections that don’t exactly suit our taste, even if they are within our preferred genre. We’ll have priests that don’t address the topics in their homilies that way we feel they should have, finding too much emphasis in one direction as compared to the other, or just finding the speaking style to be unbearable regardless of the topic. Those kinds of things we do just kind of have to “offer up”.

When I talk about getting too attached to the traditions of men, I am not referring to being forced to abandon those to which we are attached; I am referring to the constant sniping that goes on here in denigrating those that OTHERS are attached to but which are legitimate and acceptable within the Church’s eyes. There is a great deal of “superiority complex” going on in many cases with things being claimed to be objectively or intrinsically “better” about disciplines that have changed many times through the Church’s history, very often without even considering that they are often the norm in some or all of the Eastern liturgies which are every bit as Catholic as our Latin rite liturgies. It is that air of superiority, with its attendant denigration of anyone else’s preference and great lack of basic charity, that takes on the Pharisaical aroma, the whole “thank you Lord for not making me like those others.”

I have no bone to pick with you or anyone else over your preferences, and completely support your right to have access to them. I only long for all of us to have that right without having to endure being attacked for them.

Peace,