Converts, are you more traditional?

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Just start another thread of the same question elsewhere. Catholic living would be the best spot i think.
 
I really have not yet worked out the differences between what is considered traditional or not. I am just glad that there is some place that will let me attend until I can convence my husband to come into the Church with me.
 
I think one of the things I like best about being Catholic is not worrying about such things. As a Protestant, one would always have to weigh the type of church versus what they believed, which you thought was truest and if you didn’t like it, you tried to find another. I love not worrying about what the Church may do next or what reforms might be tried, reversed or who knows what. I just concern myself with being orthodox and don’t worry about such things.
 
It depends on how you define “traditional”. I prefer traditional hymns and love the Tridentine Mass, but don’t question the validity of Vatican II or the Novus Ordo. I took my profession of faith seriously and without reservation. I wouldn’t have joined the Catholic Church otherwise. 🙂
 
I am a recent convert, and yes, I lean toward the “traditional” or “conservative” side. It is a strange phenomenon that what first attracted us to the Church was both the Traditionalist movement and the Renewal. To many people these are polar opposites! But we saw the same love of the Faith, the same concern for orthodoxy, the same devotion to the Eucharist, in the people we were getting to know. Jesus is a Good Shepherd and put us in a parish where our priest is a graduate of Franciscan U, a charismatic, and loves the beautiful traditions of the Church. We sing the Kyrie in Greek and the Agnus Dei in Latin and his love for the Eucharist is beautiful. We pray for the Holy Father’s intentions after Mass and have first Friday adoration. There are people in positions in the parish that are more liberal/modernist, but they do not set the tone of the Mass.

God bless. Interesting topic.
 
I grew up going to a traditional Lutheran church (ELCA), which could actually pass for an old Catholic church if it had statues, a crucifix, tabernacle (it’s got a space where the tabernacle would go if there was one), and votive candles. The “crying room” (for parents and little kids - about the size of a small confessional) could easily be converted into a confessional by putting a wall in the middle. The sanctuary has altar rails, and blue lights (hidden from view), so there’s a blue glow on the walls when they have the lights on (you’d think it was a Marian chapel or something).

So, anyway, I always liked the more traditional churches, which the parish I go to is also more traditional.
 
Barzillai said:
My limited contribution to the question is from the perspective of a former Calvinist who became a Catholic convert after visiting a Benedictine monastery and who became an oblate and then a Catholic.

As you may know, Catholic Benedictine monasteries often have oblates who are not Catholic — that fact and other Benedictine practices help give the Benedictines their reputation for ecumenism and outreach to the wider Christian world.

Our oblate classes at the monastery have about 25% Catholic converts and about 5% non-Catholics.

With that background, it might be assumed that the Benedictine oblate outreach to the wider Christian world of Baptists, Methodists, etc. would have a “watered-down” version of Catholic practices to “appeal to” and “be relevant” to non-Catholics. “Gotta speak their language.”

And it might also be assumed that the non-Catholics who are drawn to the Benedictines and the Catholic Church are on the margins and fringes of their particular Protestant denominations — the people who might not be steeped in the Bible study and Sola scriptura (“by scripture alone”).

But in my experience with one Catholic Benedictine monastery — both such assumptions are incorrect.

First, the monastery tends to be traditional even though its Masses are in English and the monastery is getting more traditional in its Benedictine practices of the daily divine office (example of the divine office – liturgy of the hours – for those who have never heard of the term).

Second, the non-Catholics who become oblates and those who go on to become Catholic converts tend to have years of Bible study and were active and deeply committed to their Protestant denominations.

These converts sought MORE from their life as a Christian, not less. They feel the Bible truth they learned well must surely lead to a fuller life in God’s Church, not a lesser one. That leads them to the deep spirituality of the ancient Benedictine practices at the monastery and then, into the Catholic Church as they learn of its rich and beautiful heritage.

So, based on the Catholic converts I know, the converts tend to be more traditional than the typical Catholic — the Catholic convert oblates tend to like the Latin mass, like the direction of Pope Benedict XVI, and like the reverence of tradition although there is also a good percentage who do like Mass in English while liking the beauty of traditional practices.

The one thing all these converts agree on is the desire for deep spirituality in the fullness of the Catholic Church. That’s what tends to make them more traditional.

And congratulations on your RCIA and coming home to Christ’s one true Church! You are on the right track.
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I also converted to HMC (from being an anglo-catholic) a number of years ago, and I unfortunately have not seen the same traditional stance at all in the (supposedly Catholic) Benedictine monasteries I’ve seen. It’s possibly a regional thing.

I’ve seen converts who are more traditional and wanting what they see as “the real Catholic Church” however I also have seen those who are fairly liberal/progressive. Same thing with reverts - I’ve seen both. Probably it does depend on which religious tradition they come from along with what morals/societal expectations they grew up with. The youth I really don’t know. I would imagine that that is where the “fruit” may be found.
 
brigid12 said:
Sarah,

You may be interested in reading this (by Mark Shea):catholicexchange.com/2009/10/21/114756/
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Hey, thanks for the book recommend! I’m trying to come up with a couple to buy to read, unfortunately there’s not a huge Catholic selection at the library or bookstore near me so I’ve been lurking trying to figure out people’s favorites by majority so I don’t end up buying something that only a few people like. 👍
 
Oops, I guess it wasn’t a book after all, just an article. :o But thanks anyway 🙂
 
Sarah25 said:
Hey, thanks for the book recommend! I’m trying to come up with a couple to buy to read, unfortunately there’s not a huge Catholic selection at the library or bookstore near me so I’ve been lurking trying to figure out people’s favorites by majority so I don’t end up buying something that only a few people like. 👍
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Might I suggest some Saints (you’ll need to browse the first few pages before buying since some translations are more difficult to understand than others) such authors as St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese, the little flower (of Lisieux), St. Francis de Sales, etc. They are Doctors of the Church besides Saints - Doctors are named by the Pope as especially good at teaching the Faith.
 
brigid12 said:
Might I suggest some Saints (you’ll need to browse the first few pages before buying since some translations are more difficult to understand than others) such authors as St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese, the little flower (of Lisieux), St. Francis de Sales, etc. They are Doctors of the Church besides Saints - Doctors are named by the Pope as especially good at teaching the Faith.
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Ok, thanks! I read St. Theresa of Avila’s mini saint of the day bio a while back and was considering her for my confirmation saint. I’ll definitely look into her work 🙂
 
Being born into the Catholic faith, I might not be applicable to your question. (Although, my parents were of the generation whom went through the change of Vatican II) My parents stopped their faith formation not long after I was born. We went through the steps but we were all poorly catechized. My wife has gone through RCIA recently (2008) and during her time in RCIA I have found a new fervor for our faith. We only attend the Tridentine Mass with our family, and we love it.
 
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