How To Be A Traditional Catholic In A Liberal Parish?

[una_fides]

I also agree with the poster above who said that, if you discern that you will enter the priesthood, you may get assigned to a parish that is similar to what you’re experiencing and you definitely can’t change it immediately! Maybe that can help you in your discernment.

I know that typically when liberal priests are assigned to a new parish, the changes come immediately. Why can’t traditional priests do the same? I think that if the priest explains that the changes are so that the parish can be brought into full union in its practices with the directives from the pope and bishops in authority over them, then most will understand and those who do not can either leave and attend a liberal parish elsewhere or stay and hopefully be converted along the way.

 

[PJM]

I was baptized and confirmed on Easter 2007 after going through the RCIA program. I live in rural Tennessee. There are not that many Catholic parishes around here. The only one that is a viable option is an extremely “open” liberal parish. I drive to the Cathedral every once in a while and attend a latin novus ordo mass occasionally at another parish far away but neither option is practical.

I have tried to be as traditional and conservative as possible in my parish and I stick out like a sore thumb. I am one of a few people who wears a suit to all the masses. I am one of a few people that receive communion on tongue, etc. When I tried to receive communion kneeling it caused a scene and I have not attempted since. The priest has asked that we not do that, so I haven’t. I am trying to discern a vocation to the priesthood, so I naturally went to my priest for spiritual direction, …
pax vobiscum

Faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is Love.

Be evermindful that you are in the very Presence og the God that Created you. Act accordingly.

Be pious, holy and reverent at all times. keel, Genuflect, recieve your Christ on your tongue, do not get involved with what others think. This is between you and your God.

On the other hand do not flaunt a “holier than thou” attitude.

Praise and Worship (latria) in humility, and obedience to your God.

Do not particiapte in the Secualr practices of Lector, or Ordianry minister of Holy Communion, (everyday-everywhere isn’t extrodinary (or obedient); it is very ordianry.

Consider being an Usher, so you woun’t be in the way when you receive Christ. Be the last to go up and receive. genfulect and receive on the tongue. If your priest does not like it write to your Bishop. be kind and accurate. Alway’s with Charity.

Attend daily Mass as often as possible. With a Liberal priest, I do not suggest you consider “Serving the Mass.”

 

[CradleCath]

I

All that said, I too am a convert to the Catholic faith and was confirmed, etc, in a very liberal parish. The more and more I studied Catholic teaching, which was how I converted in the first place, the more I realized that the parish priest was a heretic and was leading souls to hell through his teachings (such as when he told people they could never commit mortal sin and to NOT go to confession regularly; or when he cast doubt on the bodily resurrection of our Lord). Yes, something must be done, and these priests cannot be allowed to continue and must be stopped. I honestly feel that it’s a lack of enforcement by bishops that is the biggest problem. These priests cannot be permitted to continue. Unless the bishops enforce the rule of the Church and confront these disobedient priests, the abuses, which sadden our Lord to such a great extent will continue.

I’m curious as to the ages of the priests who are abusing the Mass in your part of the country. The youngest priest in our city is the one who learned the Tridentine Mass & is saying it every Sunday…along with the Novus Ordo. He was ordained three years ago & he’s the pastor (& only priest) of our parish.

The priests in their 50’s & 60’s are the ones who ushered in this nonsense & it seems to be all they know. I’m sure they’re aware that their parishes are just sort of fading. People leave & more people leave, yet they change nothing. Our new Bishop is also young & very traditional. However, these priests, or whom I spoke, seem tired & worn out… I don’t think any of them know the Latin Mass & they sure don’t seem to be interested in learning it.

The ones that I’m particularly speaking about, are order priests (Precious Blood). Has anyone noticed a difference in the way the Mass is said…between the priests who are part of an order & the diocesan priests?

 

[william_menke]

the difference is night and day - the older priests have essentially been protestantized and feminized by VII…note how little respect is shown for the Eucharist, very little mention of sacrifice, etc…this has all been said before by Michael Davies and others…the younger priests who are from the orders offer a sacrifice in a masculine way…their sermons are focused on recovery from sin and bettering your soul - stuff you never hear from the feminized VII Roman Protestants of the diocesan order

 

[CradleCath]

the difference is night and day - the older priests have essentially been protestantized and feminized by VII…note how little respect is shown for the Eucharist, very little mention of sacrifice, etc…this has all been said before by Michael Davies and others**…the younger priests who are from the orders offer a sacrifice in a masculine way…their sermons are focused on recovery from sin and bettering your soul - stuff you never hear from the feminized VII Roman Protestants of the diocesan orde**r

Ah yes, the fruits of the spirit of Vatican II…protestantization & feminization of the Mass & the Church itself. Many of these “white-haired hippy priests” of the 60’s & 70’s are approaching (or past) retirement age. Their ideology is so OVER!

 

[Annc]

I know that typically when liberal priests are assigned to a new parish, the changes come immediately. Why can’t traditional priests do the same? I think that if the priest explains that the changes are so that the parish can be brought into full union in its practices with the directives from the pope and bishops in authority over them, then most will understand and those who do not can either leave and attend a liberal parish elsewhere or stay and hopefully be converted along the way.

This would be so awesome. It is very hard to be patient. My parish is in this situation now: we have an orthodox priest who is going slowly but he is moving us in the right direction. The only way I have survived is that I found a group of people that comes together for Adoration. (They have never had Adoration here before). We support and encourage each other. We have learned so much in the last few months. The Holy Spirit brought us together and while it can be frustrating, what a blessing to be challenged and given the grace to grow in our faith.

God bless.

 

[Adrian_T]

…Yet as a convert and teenager I am out of place to make any kind of open criticism of my parish, much less of my priest so I keep silent but is there anything I can do to be traditional in this very non-traditional parish?

pax vobiscum

IrishDude,

My advice would be - assuming you can’t find a better parish, try and build your own contemplative/spiritual life, within the confines of your bedroom. Read about the lives of saints such as Padre Pio, Le Cure d’Ars, or St Therese de Lisieux. One of the best books I can recommend is The Imitation of Christ.

I speak from experience - a more “contemplative” way of life is a good antidote to issues as those you described in your post. I think nothing brings you closer to God than perfect silence, meditation, and good readings, all leading to good prayer habits.

If available, and once in a while, have a retreat at a contemplative monastery - a Carmelite or a Trappist one, for instance.

Once, an extraordinary priest told me - “What is this life compared to eternity?” - (an excellent introduction to practicing adoration btw) - I am always trying to remember that, whenever I go through my own moments of despair.

Hope it helps

 

[IrishDude45]

Today I asked my priest after confession if I might kneel to receive Communion. I had only asked other parishioners what his view point was and never asked him face to face directly. Fr said that it was not his idea that no one should kneel to receive Communion but the Bishop’s. I am slightly confused about this because there is one parish in the diocese that still has Communion rails and they ASK you to kneel to receive the Eucharist so I doubt the Bishop ordered it. I hope my priest is just confused about the fact that the norm is standing but you MAY kneel. Oh well, I give up. I won’t kneel to receive at my parish, but I plan to everywhere else unless the priest asks me not to.

God Bless

Pax Vobiscum
Irish

 

[Parce_Domine]

I once asked my priest if I could, but since the norm is to receive (or take) standing, he said no, it would cause disruption.

 

[bkovacs]

It’s a real shame to that the major religious orders like the Franciscans, Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans, Benedictines, etc are doing nothing in regards to Summorum Pontificum or bringing back anything traditional. Sure their are very small communities in these orders that are doing something. Like the BlackFriars of Oxford, Silver Creek Monastery, and Carmelites in Wyoming. But the majority are not. They have absolutely no respect for the Holy Father. Not one of these communities has posted anything about praying the Novena for the Holy Father on their websites. They are showing their true colors in regards to their loyalty to Benedict XVI and to the See of Peter!. The Eastern Orthodox have more respect for Benedict XVI then they do. Shame on them!!.

 

[Cara_Serrano]

I travel a lot, and for a few weeks or months every year I am forced to go to Mass in California. It is a true test of my faith! Since it is not my parish, I can’t really do anything about the liturgical abuses I see, but I am still in control of my own behavior and I exercise that right at every Mass:

I kneel (alone) at the consecration, I bow and say “Amen” to receive the Holy Eucharist, I kneel and pray after Communion instead of using the time to strike up a conversation with my neighbor. I wear appropriate attire, I refuse to sing silly songs, I don’t chew gum, leave early, or arrive late. It isn’t much, but it’s all I can do under the circumstances. It’s my little battle cry to Jesus from the front lines.

About a year ago, I was talking to a woman in the parking lot of that church and she said, “Oh, you’re the woman who kneels! Why do you do that?” And I said, “Because I know where I am.”

After that, we had a long conversation and we’ve had many since then. She’s not quite ready for the Latin Mass, but she’s starting to see the value of reverence at Mass. So if you can’t feasibly change parishes, you can at least set a good example in the one you’re in. You never know who might be watching.

 

[Missalthumper1]

Hi IrishDude,

Ah yes, TN! My husband’s a Nashville native, and most of my mother’s family lives in Jackson…I’ve been to Mass in Jackson & know what you mean about “protestantization”. I think it’s a cultural thing—as you observed, Catholics are in the minority there.

Are you in the Nashville or Memphis diocese? There are several TLMs in the Memphis diocese, and one or two in Nashville. I would advise checking each diocesan website. Oh, and I believe the Knoxville diocese has a few too…

Good luck!

 

[IrishDude45]

Missalthumper1,
I am in the diocese of Nashville. There is a Tridentine Mass in Sparta and Columbia. My spiritual director is learning to say the Low Mass but his schedule is so busy I think it will be a while before he will say it. Hopefully I can go to the one in Columbia next Sunday but that is only offered once a month that I can go to. But hey, once a month is better than not at all!

Pax Vobiscum

 

[Yours_Truly]

Missalthumper1,
I am in the diocese of Nashville. There is a Tridentine Mass in Sparta and Columbia. My spiritual director is learning to say the Low Mass but his schedule is so busy I think it will be a while before he will say it. Hopefully I can go to the one in Columbia next Sunday but that is only offered once a month that I can go to. But hey, once a month is better than not at all!

Pax Vobiscum

There’s one in Cave City, KY by the Father’s of Mercy. It’s a little bit of a drive, but we do have people from Nashville who attend.

There is also another TLM beginning in your area. The Priest has been saying it on first Friday’s and first Saturdays, but I think I heard he will begin saying it on Sundays soon. I’ll try to find out more about this Mass and let you know.

 

[william_menke]

All this flurry of advice is very interesting…I find it difficult for traditional Catholics to blind themselves to the idea that the Novus Ordo as practiced in English is nothing more than a protestant memorial service…it it sinful to assist at such a service and the more the militant support it the more souls will be lost because of it…the Latin Mass is the future of the Church and if you think otherwise, look at the comparative ages of the relevant celebrants…these N O guys are a bunch of aging modernists who will be gone relatively soon

 

[estesbob]

All this flurry of advice is very interesting…I find it difficult for traditional Catholics to blind themselves to the idea that the Novus Ordo as practiced in English is nothing more than a protestant memorial service…it it sinful to assist at such a service and the more the militant support it the more souls will be lost because of it…the Latin Mass is the future of the Church and if you think otherwise, look at the comparative ages of the relevant celebrants…these N O guys are a bunch of aging modernists who will be gone relatively soon

You have just accused the Pope, the magisterium, nearly every Catholic priest and nearly every one of the billion Catholics in the world as sending every time they go to Mass. You really expect anybody to take you seriously when you come into discussion spouting such nonsense?

Personally I could not care less which Mass is celebrated as long as I get to hold our Lord and Savior in my hands and follow his admonition to eat his body and drink his blood.

As for the original poster I started praying the Liturgy of the Hours when I found my parish was a little too liberal for me. Five times a day I can sit with my chant music playing, incense burning , praying the hours. When I am at Mass I am concentrating on the fact I am about to receive Savior of the world and can pretty much tune out any nonsense coming from the choir loft or silliness expressed from the pulpit.

 

[IrishDude45]

As for the original poster I started praying the Liturgy of the Hours when I found my parish was a little too liberal for me. Five times a day I can sit with my chant music playing, incense burning , praying the hours. When I am at Mass I am concentrating on the fact I am about to receive Savior of the world and can pretty much tune out any nonsense coming from the choir loft or silliness expressed from the pulpit.

I just got a 1962 missal for whenever I can get to the TLM and I have been using the prayers during mass, especially before and after Communion instead of singing the folk songs. It makes it a LOT easier to “concentrate on the fact I am about to receive Savior of the world” and to “tune out any nonsense coming from the choir” (or in our case, rock band beside the altar).
Good advice for anyone having to deal with this type of thing, to be sure.

Pax Vobiscum

 

[estesbob]

I just got a 1962 missal for whenever I can get to the TLM and I have been using the prayers during mass, especially before and after Communion instead of singing the folk songs. It makes it a LOT easier to “concentrate on the fact I am about to receive Savior of the world” and to “tune out any nonsense coming from the choir” (or in our case, rock band beside the altar).
Good advice for anyone having to deal with this type of thing, to be sure.

Pax Vobiscum

I use the Daily Roman Missal and read the Thanksgiving After Mass Prayers after receiving to help tune out the "Morning Has Broken " genre of hymns being sung during communion. To be honest I have just held and consumed the body of the Savior of the world and that is what we need to concentrate on-not whatever the music of the moment is.

 

[william_menke]

You have just accused the Pope, the magisterium, nearly every Catholic priest and nearly every one of the billion Catholics in the world as sending every time they go to Mass. You really expect anybody to take you seriously when you come into discussion spouting such nonsense?

Personally I could not care less which Mass is celebrated as long as I get to hold our Lord and Savior in my hands and follow his admonition to eat his body and drink his blood.

As for the original poster I started praying the Liturgy of the Hours when I found my parish was a little too liberal for me. Five times a day I can sit with my chant music playing, incense burning , praying the hours. When I am at Mass I am concentrating on the fact I am about to receive Savior of the world and can pretty much tune out any nonsense coming from the choir loft or silliness expressed from the pulpit.

 

[william_menke]

I guess I take it seriously because Michael Davies took it seriously when he said he had serious questions whether the Mass as said in English in the United States was, indeed, a valid Mass…this faux liturgy is replete with disrespect for the host, the celebrant and filled with heresy. (universal salvation among them)…the American version was never authorized other than by a run-away monsinor by the name of Bugnini who was ultimately exiled as the Vatican ambassador to Iran after it was discovered that he was a thirty second degree mason …if you want to see who has denied the magesterium, the Pope, etc, check out the Council of Trent’s anathemae concerning the form of the Mass and you’ll see that it’s not I who bear the fault…there were some in the Church (nuns and priests) who saw this modernist evil coming back int fifties…they cautioned those of us in Catholic grammer schools and high schools at the time that what they were teaching us was timeless and as long as we did what they were teaching us we would be fine in the eyes of God, even if we were the last person in the world practicing the religion that way…you are the one with the weaker arguement - history stands squarely against you