How do traditional Catholics 'celebrate'/'have fun'?

[ThyKingdomCome]

Thread was not created to bash Trad Caths, but to learn more about them. That is why I asked the question that I did, the question which has been answered to some extent by one person. I assumed that my silly mental image of them was incorrect, and would like to have a more correct picture.

Sorry, not believable. The respectful way to learn about a person is to ask them about themselves. It is not to ask other people about what “those people” are like, and it is not to mock those people. Do you actually go up to people IRL that you don’t know very well and get to know them by saying, “Because of what you’re like, I have this funny mental image of you being really weird and unlikeable. Is that what you’re really like?”

If any Rad Trad if offended, please lighten up, don’t be a perfect example of the stereotype.

I’m relieved to hear you say this, not only because telling someone to lighten up is a GREAT way [sarcasm] to make them believe you are genuinely trying to learn about them after you’ve offended them. But also because I am not even in the vicinity of being a Rad Trad, so I don’t feel the need to “lighten up.” I’m just a reasonably nice person who doesn’t see any “niceness” in the attitudes towards those whose perspective is different from the OP’s.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

I don’t understand what a Traditional Catholic is and how they are different apart from some thing’s they hold on to, mainly latin mass. These thing’s could be cultural aswell so maybe someone could tell me? What i find odd about this thread though is that so many are complaining about the Traditionalist’s and their behavior’s yet i have seen many post’s failing to recognize immodesty and other’s who see no wrong in contraception etc. These are far more numerous

We have to worry about their souls!

We don’t have to worry about how those people have fun.

 

[mdleagedguy]

I went to one outing where we went to a state campground on the coast. There were eight adults, and a little over twenty children. We visited a light house. We went out on the jetty, and ran around on the beach. It was very child driven. At low tide we gathered mussels off of the jetty rocks, cooked them, and served them with melted butter with dinner, and so everyone got to try a new food. Fresh, wild shellfish is a treat, and nothing like what you might get in a store or restaurant. The kids gobbled it up. We had a big fire at night, and sat around it talking. Kids were running endlessly between tents. We went hiking around a lake. We walked along the docks looking at the boats. It was a lot of fun.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

Sorry, not believable. The respectful way to learn about a person is to ask them about themselves. It is not to ask other people about what “those people” are like, and it is not to mock those people. .

Really? I’m sorry if I offended you with my silly mental image.

 

[Paddy1989]

We have to worry about their souls!

We don’t have to worry about how those people have fun.

Well surely we should put more effort into trying to convince those who don’t agree with Church teaching that worrying about how some enjoy themselves. Anyway i’m sure they enjoy themselves just as much. A secularist could come make a thread doing the same about Catholic’s because we don’t agree with engaging in binge drinking, drug’s, promiscuous behavior etc that they would consider fun

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

Well surely we should put more effort into trying to convince those who don’t agree with Church teaching that worrying about how some enjoy themselves. Anyway i’m sure they enjoy themselves just as much.** A secularist could come make a thread doing the same about Catholic’s **because we don’t agree with engaging in binge drinking, drug’s, promiscuous behavior etc that they would consider fun

They surely could. Most of us still try to live a joyous life, though.

 

[Paddy1989]

They surely could.** Most of us still try to live a joyous life**, though.

I’m sure traditionalist’s do the same, after-all many secularist’s have the same view of us catholic’s which we know isn’t true

 

[Marysann]

Here is Hillaire Belloc’s take on Catholic fun. No one can doubt his credentials as a traditional Catholic:

“Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
There’s always laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so.
Benedicamus Domino!”

― Hilaire Belloc

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

I’m sure traditionalist’s do the same, after-all many secularist’s have the same view of us catholic’s which we know isn’t true

Well in any event, I would be curious to know more about how Radical Traditionalists pull it off!

 

[EasterJoy]

I wonder: how do traditional Catholics (especially some of the ultra-traditionalists we have here) ‘celebrate’/‘have fun’?

My tongue is firmly in cheek here, so I mean no offense by this, but I picture a dinner party:

Heh, again, tongue in cheek. I think the Priests in my Parish have a lot more fun than this!

But yea, I do wonder sometimes. If you’re a trad, how do you ‘celebrate’/‘have fun’ with all the scruples running wild?

If you meant no offense, you missed the mark. That example you gave seems calculated to offend.

Besides, what makes you think that enjoyment of social functions and the priesthood are mutually exclusive? Do you think that the prohibition on embarrassing oneself is all so limiting on your ability to have fun as that? If not, what is it about being a priest or being concerned about avoiding gluttony and drunkenness that you imagine limits the ability to even have an enjoyable dinner party?

“Ultra trads” are the most joyless, critical, fault-finding group I know. It is often painful to read their posts, for they just teem with negativity, ready to point fingers of blame at all who do not live “uprightly” as they do.

It used to anger me, but I have now been blessed to pity their blindness and offer a prayer, remembering that Jesus wept over Jerusalem.

This isn’t exactly the most empathetic thread I’ve ever read, either, let’s just say that.

 

[EasterJoy]

Well in any event, I would be curious to know more about how Radical Traditionalists pull it off!

Rent Witness.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

If you meant no offense, you missed the mark. That example you gave seems calculated to offend.

It’s not like it isn’t well supported by the evidence (extreme scrupulosity, male superiority, contempt for secular music or activity, etc.). What mental image would you expect someone to have of Trad Caths? Be HONEST.

Besides, what makes you think that enjoyment of social functions and the priesthood are mutually exclusive?

Didn’t say that. That’s a stereotypical view of Priests, and one that I don’t hold. (As I mentioned in the opening post!)

Do you think that the prohibition on embarrassing oneself is all so limiting on your ability to have fun as that? If not, what is it about being a priest or being concerned about avoiding gluttony and drunkenness that you imagine limits the ability to even have an enjoyable dinner party?

Scrupulosity affects everything. We can see in every activity merely a chance for sin, rather than the blessings that God has bestowed on us. How does one drink, when in constant fear of drunkenness, or eat when in constant fear of gluttony, or laugh when in constant fear of blasphemy or irreverence? Or dance when in constant fear of lust? etc. In short, how can you celebrate life if you view life as one big trap created by Satan?

If I could take away one surprise from this thread, it’s that so many Trads or Trad sympathizers seem bent on reinforcing the negative stereotype.

Others (those who answered the question) have provided illuminating material that might dispel some of these notions.

 

[Cat]

I’m usually the slowest turtle in the tank, but I got the impression from the OP that this topic is just for fun.

I’m wondering if perhaps CAF ought to create some kind of “just for fun” or “lighten up” label or smilie or disclaimer that people can use when starting a “fun” thread. Or perhaps CAF could create a whole section for “fun” threads that aren’t meant to be serious or cause hurt feelings. I know that sometimes, humor backfires, but I honestly thought the OP was lots of fun to read.

BTW, the traditional-leaning Catholics that I know are fun to be with.

 

[Sirach2]

It’s a good thing you did not post this in Traditional Catholicism. The trads would have jumped all over you, OP. But the word has a way of spreading, so they will be here in due time.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

It’s a good thing you did not post this in Traditional Catholicism. The trads would have jumped all over you, OP. But the word has a way of spreading, so they will be here in due time.

Ooooh I’m soooo scared.

 

[LightBound]

To clear a few things up:

1. This is not a thread telling you what Trad Caths do for fun/how they party. Rather, I’m sharing the funny mental image that I have of them.
2. Thread was not created to bash Trad Caths, but to learn more about them. That is why I asked the question that I did, the question which has been answered to some extent by one person. I assumed that my silly mental image of them was incorrect, and would like to have a more correct picture.
3. If any Rad Trad if offended, please lighten up, don’t be a perfect example of the stereotype.

Then perhaps they could take the time to adjust the way that I (and some others) think about them. Because hey, that was the purpose of this thread!

I consider TrueLight, one of our fellow CAF members, to be a traditional Catholic, but certainly not in the obnoxious way that pushes people away. She has a marvelous sense of humor about how some Traditionalists get out of sorts about things; evident in her thread here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=718593

Of course, some people will be offended no matter what (she got her share of “offended CAF members” because she posted her light-hearted link.) People need to quit taking themselves so seriously. Imagine that if a link was posted about “Liberal Catholics” (who are in disobedience as much as the Sede’s and RadTrads are), would we be be seeing everyone getting their knickers in a knot…? I doubt it.

 

[EasterJoy]

It’s not like it isn’t well supported by the evidence (extreme scrupulosity, male superiority, contempt for secular music or activity, etc.). What mental image would you expect someone to have of Trad Caths? Be HONEST.

Didn’t say that. That’s a stereotypical view of Priests, and one that I don’t hold. (As I mentioned in the opening post!)

Scrupulosity affects everything. We can see in every activity merely a chance for sin, rather than the blessings that God has bestowed on us. How does one drink, when in constant fear of drunkenness, or eat when in constant fear of gluttony, or laugh when in constant fear of blasphemy or irreverence? Or dance when in constant fear of lust? etc. In short, how can you celebrate life if you view life as one big trap created by Satan?

If I could take away one surprise from this thread, it’s that so many Trads or Trad sympathizers seem bent on reinforcing the negative stereotype.

Others (those who answered the question) have provided illuminating material that might dispel some of these notions.

Because you are a good Catholic, I’d HONESTLY hope to expect you not to indulge in rash judgement. I certainly would think you’d be surprised to be called on it when you do it. If you are not careful, someone may suggest (tongue-in-cheek, of course! ) that scrupulosity has never been a particular temptation for you.

Since you’ve obviously never celebrated anything with the people you’re referring to, you only have evidence concerning how they argue, not how they actually act. About that, you know nothing, for good or for ill.

Do you think Orthodox Jews or Greek Orthodox Catholics don’t know how to have a good time? Do you think all the Amish go through life with long faces? Since you know that having a strict life does not preclude joyous celebrations, true community events at which the laughter is ready and the tables are veritably groaning with homecooked delicacies, why would you think that the traditional Catholics you have had occasion to argue with are an exception?

The truth is, the ones who have a hard time enjoying themselves in these communities aren’t so much those with scrupules as those who chafe at the boundaries. There are those in the community who don’t like it, that is true, but that is hardly everyone.

 

[EasterJoy]

I consider TrueLight, one of our fellow CAF members, to be a traditional Catholic, but certainly not in the obnoxious way that pushes people away. She has a marvelous sense of humor about how some Traditionalists get out of sorts about things; evident in her thread here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=718593

Of course, some people will be offended no matter what (she got her share of “offended CAF members” because she posted her light-hearted link.) People need to quit taking themselves so seriously. Imagine that if a link was posted about “Liberal Catholics” (who are in disobedience as much as the Sede’s and RadTrads are), would we be be seeing everyone getting their knickers in a knot…? I doubt it.

My experience is that liberals and conservatives get along much better when they actually know each other. The differences are softer, the arguments are more civilized, and there is more affection for each other, in spite of the little foibles. There have been some, actually, who believe that this was one of the losses that occurred when Catholics were not heavily encouraged to attend their geographical parish…that is, that we choose parish based on politics, now, and do not have so much opportunity to know admirable people who don’t agree with us.

(If you don’t know what I mean, listen to Garrison Keilor’s stories about Lake Wobegon.)

 

[ahs]

I wonder: how do traditional Catholics (especially some of the ultra-traditionalists we have here) ‘celebrate’/‘have fun’?

My tongue is firmly in cheek here, so I mean no offense by this, but I picture a dinner party:

**Heh, again, tongue in cheek. **I think the Priests in my Parish have a lot more fun than this!

But yea, I do wonder sometimes. If you’re a trad, how do you ‘celebrate’/‘have fun’ with all the scruples running wild?

As a person who considers myself a Trad, at least to some degree, I find the OP to be HILARIOUS because 1) it actually has some bit of truth to it in my experience and 2) the OP CLEARLY is just posting for fun and actually asking a question.

Lighten up folks…we’re allowed to have fun on CAF.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

As a person who considers myself a Trad, at least to some degree, I find the OP to be HILARIOUS because 1) it actually has some bit of truth to it in my experience and 2) the OP CLEARLY is just posting for fun and actually asking a question.

Yes, I’m definitely curious to hear more. Please do share.

Lighten up folks…we’re allowed to have fun on CAF.

Hey thanks, I obviously didn’t think it would receive as negative of a reaction as it has!

I probably did blur the line a bit too much between Traditionalism and mere scrupulosity, I’ll admit, I have trouble discerning which is which sometimes. I do apologize for that aspect of it.