I've found it hard for me to practice my beliefs as a traditional Catholic

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Farmer88

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I go to college at the Catholic University of America, and while the on-school Mass is a lot better than what I have to deal with back home, (Diocese of Rochester NY, good ol’ liberal Bishop Clark) I feel that something is lacking somehow. I just find it hard for me to practice my faith. Often due to confusion about how I should practice my Catholicism. I’ve found it hard though, especially since I’ve very much felt pulled towards traditionalism due to the progressiveness of my diocese back home making me very uneasy. I’m just really confused as to how I should go about this. I continuously intend on going to the EF in downtown DC, but I never wake up in time so I end up going to the OF on campus. I enjoy it, but it’s very college-student oriented and sometimes I feel like that pulls away from what the Mass should be. I just don’t know. If there’s any help, I would highly appreciate it.
 
It’s news to most of us what the Mass is like at CUA.

I would deal with this in a head-on fashion by going to any spiritual advisor on your campus and stating your desire. There might be some help for you, closer than you realize.

I’m puzzled about why you can’t “practice your beliefs” etc. That seems to be mixed up with this question about the Mass. Only you can sort that out.

I wouldn’t think that you should have any trouble practicing your beliefs there, but then again, we’re not all familiar with CUA.

My opinion is that many Catholics are being confused by the Bishops’ Conference in the U.S., because they permit such a wide range of options in the Mass according to the preference of THE BISHOPS of each diocese. It seems that they ought to be sensitive to the needs of the lay faithful. And, there, you have to express youself as best as you can.

Canon Law guarantees you the right to express yourself to the local bishop. In your instance, as time permits, you might even be able to make an appointment and talk to the bishop or archbishop directly. Seriously, I wouldn’t know why you couldn’t unless they were just too arrogant to listen to you.

If you don’t see the resource that you’re looking for at CUA, there has to be a final answer that you can get at the diocesan office. Be polite and direct. If you’re looking for a Latin Mass, then come right out and state that as your point of interest. If you have a chance to look around, there must be some conservative group of Catholics on campus. You simply need to locate them.

You might be able to do that at the student chapel office or equivalent of that, whatever is there on campus.

EWTN has facilities at the John Paul II Cultural Center, or whatever that is called, there on campus. So, you should be able to hook up with some information there, too. But, I’d start on campus, with the priests assigned to student-related affairs. Just keep your head on straight when you talk to them.
 
I’m not going to even bother with my diocese back home, the traditionals there have a hard enough time as it is. On campus however, there are plenty of religious students. I feel though that a decent amount of them do what they do because it was what they were brought up with. I’ve seen students go into Mass that I know aren’t exactly very good Catholics. I’m not saying I’m the best Catholic on campus either. I’ve just felt somewhat out of place for some of the more traditional beliefs I’ve felt versus the other students, even the Campus Ministry students. I remember my freshman year going to Praise and Worship Adoration and I felt like something was just not right there, listening to more gospel-style music being sung. I’ve expressed my feelings to my Resident Minister and he’s understood me. I’ve just felt that I will be somewhat out of the ordinary compared to a lot of the other Campus Ministry students. Next year however, I plan on doing a lot more with Campus Ministry however as I will be spending more than four years in college, so most of my friends will be graduating.
 
Farmer88 said:
I go to college at the Catholic University of America, and while the on-school Mass is a lot better than what I have to deal with back home, (Diocese of Rochester NY, good ol’ liberal Bishop Clark) I feel that something is lacking somehow. I just find it hard for me to practice my faith. Often due to confusion about how I should practice my Catholicism. I’ve found it hard though, especially since I’ve very much felt pulled towards traditionalism due to the progressiveness of my diocese back home making me very uneasy. I’m just really confused as to how I should go about this. I continuously intend on going to the EF in downtown DC, but I never wake up in time so I end up going to the OF on campus. I enjoy it, but it’s very college-student oriented and sometimes I feel like that pulls away from what the Mass should be. I just don’t know. If there’s any help, I would highly appreciate it.
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While noting your healthy and laudable interest in participating actively in the religious life on campus, my blunt advice for you who is evidently someone very understandably drawn to the traditional practice of our holy faith in the face of the dumbing down of the mass in the OF is to simply discipline yourself to get up in time to make it to the EF mass downtown in DC or wherever else there is an EF mass in the DC broader area. Once you’ve taken that plunge of attending the traditional mass, as I did when I was discerning conversion to the Catholic faith some years ago, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to get to that point and regret the years you’ve spent in the protestant-like wasteland.
 
I actually have been to an EF Mass, when I was a sophomore. So far, it’s been my only EF Mass I ever attended, but I felt so much more spiritually fulfilled at that single Mass than I had ever felt before in my entire life. It’s that single Mass that really propelled my traditional beliefs.
 
Farmer88 said:
I go to college at the Catholic University of America, and while the on-school Mass is a lot better than what I have to deal with back home, (Diocese of Rochester NY, good ol’ liberal Bishop Clark) I feel that something is lacking somehow. I just find it hard for me to practice my faith. Often due to confusion about how I should practice my Catholicism. I’ve found it hard though, especially since I’ve very much felt pulled towards traditionalism due to the progressiveness of my diocese back home making me very uneasy. I’m just really confused as to how I should go about this. I continuously intend on going to the EF in downtown DC, but I never wake up in time so I end up going to the OF on campus. I enjoy it, but it’s very college-student oriented and sometimes I feel like that pulls away from what the Mass should be. I just don’t know. If there’s any help, I would highly appreciate it.
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Since both forms are valid, the main thing is to focus on the Mass and not the surroundings-to be present with the Lord.
 
fhansen said:
Since both forms are valid, the main thing is to focus on the Mass and not the surroundings-to be present with the Lord.
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It’s not really the Mass that I have a problem with though, aside from the absolutely awful Masses back home. My old parish, good grief. I look back at it now and realize that I really should NOT have been doing what I was doing in the Mass as a child.
 
Farmer88 said:
It’s not really the Mass that I have a problem with though, aside from the absolutely awful Masses back home. My old parish, good grief. I look back at it now and realize that I really should NOT have been doing what I was doing in the Mass as a child.
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What is an EF Mass & an OF mass? I have not heard those terms?
Thanks:)
 
I wish you success in finding a better chapel. 🙂 I wonder if there are enough Traditionalist students on your campus to have an interest group. Even if you only met every so often, it may help to know some people so you’re not ‘stuck’ on your own. 🙂

Is it possible you could find a different living space, either on or off campus? Maybe a different apartment with some better privacy would help. Then you may not be drawn into an undesirable atmosphere.

Best of luck. :highprayer:
 
It’s just a few steps to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. There are hardly any more beautifully celebrated Masses (OF) than theirs. Check the schedule for the Sunday choir Mass - it’s sometime between 10:00 and noon.

Here’s the website to check the schedule.
 
baltobetsy said:
It’s just a few steps to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. There are hardly any more beautifully celebrated Masses (OF) than theirs. Check the schedule for the Sunday choir Mass - it’s sometime between 10:00 and noon.

Here’s the website to check the schedule.
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Why do I always forget about the Basilica? Probably because I’ve spent so much time here, I don’t really notice it anymore.
 
I also find it hard. The best thing I did was buy the liturgical year and keep my prayer life traditional as that was all I could really do. I would occasionally make the trip to an EF Mass. There use to be one about 30 minutes from my town and I would drive down every Sunday, but they moved the priest and therefore the Mass was canceled 😦 I know how you feel. For now I must attend a college OF. I don’t like it nearly half as much as the EF. Till then stay strong and hopefully you can start one up in your community or just move to a town that has a parish that offers the Mass.
 
Dear Farmer,

You say you end up oversleeping and can’t make the Traditional Mass.

As our Priest says: get up. You’re tired? Get up. You didn’t get to bed until late? Get up.

It really is that simple! And think about how such a small little sacrifice is really so pleasing to Our Lord. Maybe it can be one of your sacrifices for Lent?

God bless you. Your perseverence is also quite pleasing to Our Lord.
 
Have you heard of FOCUS? Recently we had a young man who is a FOCUS missionary to college students come and speak to us at the end of Sunday Mass.
focusonline.org
 
Farmer88 said:
I continuously intend on going to the EF in downtown DC, but I never wake up in time so I end up going to the OF on campus. I enjoy it, but it’s very college-student oriented and sometimes I feel like that pulls away from what the Mass should be. I just don’t know. If there’s any help, I would highly appreciate it.
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Buy an alarm clock and get up early enough for the reverent mass.
 
tradconvert said:
While noting your healthy and laudable interest in participating actively in the religious life on campus, my blunt advice for you who is evidently someone very understandably drawn to the traditional practice of our holy faith in the face of the dumbing down of the mass in the OF is to simply discipline yourself to get up in time to make it to the EF mass downtown in DC or wherever else there is an EF mass in the DC broader area. Once you’ve taken that plunge of attending the traditional mass, as I did when I was discerning conversion to the Catholic faith some years ago, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to get to that point and regret the years you’ve spent in the protestant-like wasteland.
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I agree. Make the extra effort - it is well worth it.👍
 
Farmer88 said:
I go to college at the Catholic University of America, and while the on-school Mass is a lot better than what I have to deal with back home, (Diocese of Rochester NY, good ol’ liberal Bishop Clark) I feel that something is lacking somehow. I just find it hard for me to practice my faith. Often due to confusion about how I should practice my Catholicism. I’ve found it hard though, especially since I’ve very much felt pulled towards traditionalism due to the progressiveness of my diocese back home making me very uneasy. I’m just really confused as to how I should go about this. I continuously intend on going to the EF in downtown DC, but I never wake up in time so I end up going to the OF on campus. I enjoy it, but it’s very college-student oriented and sometimes I feel like that pulls away from what the Mass should be. I just don’t know. If there’s any help, I would highly appreciate it.
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its funny

the church i attend when i visit my uncle in rochacha is one of the more traditional parishes ive been too, and thats even comparing it to my home parish, which is leaning traditional itself
 
Montalo said:
its funny

the church i attend when i visit my uncle in rochacha is one of the more traditional parishes ive been too, and thats even comparing it to my home parish, which is leaning traditional itself
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Is it Our Lady of Victory or St. Stanislaus?
 
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