Confessions of a Traditional Catholic

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Prayers for more holy trads, and fewer angry trads.🙂

Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis!
 
It is partly true that there are too many angry trads, but I’m not particularly concerned about it myself.

Some non-trads want everything to be happy-go-lucky all the time, and some trads just want to fire off at everything, so what should be a rational, detached debate ends up being a silly argument about false charity (or the lack thereof). This is just human nature, though.

I’m much, much, much, more concerned about the “crazy trads” I’ve met since becoming a trad.The folks who hang on every single prophecy of every private revelation, who are obsessed with conspiracies, preach the end-times with certainty, want to impose veils outside of Church, won’t watch a funny show or listen to any secular music, etc. In my opinion, they are blending fundamentalism with Traditional Catholicism, which do not belong together. Catholics being teetotallers, Catholics being angry about nudity in Renaissance art, people infatuated with the idea of their own damnation, people who won’t be laid back or cut loose ever, even at festive events. .
 
Yes. The mad, mad trads. And not to be mistaken with the angry trads.
 
Miles_Mariae said:
I’m not mad or angry! What inconceivable arrogance! :mad::mad:
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See? This is exactly what we’re talking about. Lighten up, dude.🙂
And have a happy day.

Pax Christi,
Ann, who’s not a bit mad, but does keep some bees wax candles on hand just in case.
 
PrayforMallory said:
It is partly true that there are too many angry trads, but I’m not particularly concerned about it myself.

Some non-trads want everything to be happy-go-lucky all the time, and some trads just want to fire off at everything, so what should be a rational, detached debate ends up being a silly argument about false charity (or the lack thereof). This is just human nature, though.

I’m much, much, much, more concerned about the “crazy trads” I’ve met since becoming a trad.The folks who hang on every single prophecy of every private revelation, who are obsessed with conspiracies, preach the end-times with certainty, want to impose veils outside of Church, won’t watch a funny show or listen to any secular music, etc. In my opinion, they are blending fundamentalism with Traditional Catholicism, which do not belong together. Catholics being teetotallers, Catholics being angry about nudity in Renaissance art, people infatuated with the idea of their own damnation, people who won’t be laid back or cut loose ever, even at festive events. .
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Hi PrayforMallory,

I really agree with your comments here. First, I am always a bit skeptical about the argument of some Catholics that if only some trads weren’t angry they’d be more sympathetic to the movement. Really? So if there were no angry trads they would just be beating down the door to get into the local TLM? When one appreciates the TLM I don’t think some angry trads are going to keep one away.

You are spot on about the mixing of fundamentalism and traditional Catholicism. I come from a fundamentalist Protestant background so in a way it isn’t too tough for me to spot it. I remember going to one SSPX chapel (which I no longer attend) where they had a bookstore selling Catholic books. Fine. Yet their attitude seemed to be that one of the reasons they had the bookstore was so that the parishioners could avoid going to any other Cathoilic bookstores and thus avoid being ensnared by error as the books in their bookstore had all been vetted by the Priest.

This attitude about avoiding other Catholic bookstores was a red flag for me. Not because I don’t think there may be questionable books in other Catholic bookstores but because the attitude seemed to be so fear based. As if even adults are so helpless they shouldn’t even walk into another Catholic bookstore.

And wasn’t it Belloc’s quote about wherever there is good food, wine, and song, there you’ll find the Church. So teetotalism is not a part of Catholicism either. And the orders I have visited like FSSP or the monks in Oklahoma that celebrate the Tridentine Mass all serve wine.

I hope the greater promulgation of the TLM will help bring in a greater influx of Catholics who do not have a fundamentalist bent. After all, the Gregorian rite is for all Catholics and I hope more and more take advantage of it if it’s available to them.
 
If there is room in the Church for people like me who prefer Eastern liturgy and spirituality, there should be room in the Church for those who prefer the older Latin use.
 
Aren’t there any glad trads? Mea culpa, couldn’t help myself. 😃

Isn’t the term “trads” verboten for use here? :confused: 🙂
 
I have trouble with they very idea of the label “traditional Catholic”. I grew up before and during Vatican II. I was an altar boy until I was 17. I am one of those people who accepted the NO out of obedience to HMC. But I am not angry. I’ve waited 40 years for the Motu Proprio. Along the way in those 40 years I had to endure the “hootenany” Masses of the 70s; father running up and down the aisles during the sign of peace; attended an SSPX Mass until I learned they were not in full communion of HMC; and then finally found my reverent NO cathedral parish and have driven 25 miles (one way) for the last 25 years so that my children could experience something of the church I grew up in.

I have brothers and sisters in the faith who are of an age with me who are perfectly content with their modern NO parish. On the other hand, I sang in the cathedral choir for twenty years and had many people come up to me after Mass and say they had not heard sung singing since they were a kid.

There are lots of “traditional Catholics” out there. Not all of us are angry. We submitted to HMC 40 years ago and we haven’t “rocked the boat” since. We may have “voted” with our feet but we see our spiritual life as remaining connected to our lives before the First Sunday of Advent, 1969.

The tide has turned with the Motu Proprio. It’s not happening here in my diocese where my bishop “acknowledged” the MP. But I have no doubt that the pendulum is now swinging back. I am content.
 
Whatever you think of it, the more extreme and even a little obsessive beliefs are part of the Catholic tradition. In a modern world where there is lots of competition for people’s attention, the worst thing a religion can be is boring or banal. Some people like their church non-offensive and easy to digest like oatmeal, and some people need a little hot sauce in their Old Time Religion.
 
Oakleaf said:
Whatever you think of it, the more extreme and even a little obsessive beliefs are part of the Catholic tradition. In a modern world where there is lots of competition for people’s attention, the worst thing a religion can be is boring or banal. Some people like their church non-offensive and easy to digest like oatmeal, and some people need a little hot sauce in their Old Time Religion.
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Agree completely. Mediocrity attracts and inspires no one.
 
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