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Guest
I grew up in a family that attended Sedevacantist masses and any traditional mass that my parents could find. I had never actually attended the Ordinary form of the mass until I became an adult. My dad had turned Sedevantist. Growing up I was told that there was no pope and yet when Paul VI died, I remember that even as a child I cried as I watched the news about his death. I realized that I really did believe he was a pope. I never voiced my opinions about whether there was a pope or not. I had good relationships with all my Sedevacantist cousins until about 10+ years ago, when a family member who is a Sedevantist priest, got into an altercation with me. He referred to the Blessed Sacrament as a “Novus Ordo Cookie.” I was scandalized and told him to desist from this sacrilege. We made peace with each over time, but now all these years later I am suddenly being ostracized (shunned) by my entire Sedevacantist family. And it’s a big family! These are people whom I love. I have been unfriended on Face Book and blocked and my messages are not returned. We hardly get any Christmas cards at Christmas now. I can’t figure out what has happened except that someone is trying to cause trouble for me. This is so painful. I guess they feel I am a threat. When I think of how I am being shunned, I can’t help but think of cults. If I am supposed to be learning some sort of lesson from this shunning, the only lesson I am learning is that this ideology is evil.
Growing up I was told that the New Order of the Mass was invalid. I always feared that. But after moving to an area where there is no Latin Mass, my husband and I began to attend Mass in the local parish. At first we would not receive communion. My husband wanted to see if people received on the tongue and there were a few. I wasn’t sure if Jesus was really there. I would cry every Sunday. I didn’t know what to think. Then one day it occurred to me that I should ask Jesus that if He were truly present, that He would make himself known to me. Well, within about two weeks, I suddenly realized there was no longer a question in my mind. I suddenly found myself believing!
Before I met my husband, I nearly lost my Faith. I began searching for a Christian faith that made me feel welcome and loved. Growing up in a Sedevacantist atmosphere, there really wasn’t anyone to date or make friends with. I was related to all of them. And I have always stayed away from harping on the problems of the Church. I didn’t want to marry anyone who was so critical. I met my husband when I moved away from home and found a Mass that wasn’t Sedevantist.
Sedevacantism has torn our family apart. I have a sibling who has gone for years at a time without speaking to me. I have a few cousins who are in my same predicament and their parents and siblings have severed ties with them.
I am thankful that God has allowed me to see that there are really holy priests and people in the Ordinary Form of the mass. I feel so much pain at the loss of relationships. Being shunned is evidently a kind of abuse.
Growing up I was told that the New Order of the Mass was invalid. I always feared that. But after moving to an area where there is no Latin Mass, my husband and I began to attend Mass in the local parish. At first we would not receive communion. My husband wanted to see if people received on the tongue and there were a few. I wasn’t sure if Jesus was really there. I would cry every Sunday. I didn’t know what to think. Then one day it occurred to me that I should ask Jesus that if He were truly present, that He would make himself known to me. Well, within about two weeks, I suddenly realized there was no longer a question in my mind. I suddenly found myself believing!
Before I met my husband, I nearly lost my Faith. I began searching for a Christian faith that made me feel welcome and loved. Growing up in a Sedevacantist atmosphere, there really wasn’t anyone to date or make friends with. I was related to all of them. And I have always stayed away from harping on the problems of the Church. I didn’t want to marry anyone who was so critical. I met my husband when I moved away from home and found a Mass that wasn’t Sedevantist.
Sedevacantism has torn our family apart. I have a sibling who has gone for years at a time without speaking to me. I have a few cousins who are in my same predicament and their parents and siblings have severed ties with them.
I am thankful that God has allowed me to see that there are really holy priests and people in the Ordinary Form of the mass. I feel so much pain at the loss of relationships. Being shunned is evidently a kind of abuse.
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