Lost traditions of the faith - how can I find them?

[Faira21]

Does anyone know where I can go to thoroughly learn about the traditions of the traditional Roman Catholic faith, and how I can implement those into my life today?

I have been discovering lately that while I know my Vatican II faith well (I am all geared up in Catechism, Scott Hahn, EWTN, saints, etc. and can defend my faith well) the pre-Vatican II faith I actually know less of than I used to think.

I have been drawing conclusions that there are many aspects about being Catholic that were probably common to all Catholics just 100 years ago or so, but today I would have no idea what they were talking about or doing.

For example, while I do attend the Latin Mass when I can, and am learning to pray the rosary in Latin, and I try to wear a mantilla when I can, etc., I have been coming across other aspects that I did not know existed. I was reading about the prayer “Asperges Me” and was thinking “???” I had to literally go look it up to figure out what it was and what it meant.

I am getting the nagging suspicion that there was a lot more to Catholicism that even I do not know about that has been lost.

Does anyone know of a good source where I can find the Catholic traditions of the past that have been lost to time?

Thanks!

 

[Barbkw]

Does anyone know where I can go to thoroughly learn about the traditions of the traditional Roman Catholic faith, and how I can implement those into my life today?

Simply by attending Mass. Read and find the similarities between the Early Church (around 150 AD) and modern Masses.

Here’s how the Early Church celebrated Mass:

ststephens1928.org/Justin’s%20Apology.htm

The Rites used by the RCIA program date from the Early Church as well.

If possible, I’d suggest signing up next year to be an RCIA sponsor.

 

[Shin]

It’s rather like being an archaeologist…

People don’t understand how much has been lost.

Try some of the sermons below and reading the writings of the saints. Bit by bit, piece by piece, you will find things…

But there will always be more… basic, fundamental, and forgotten to find…

Those who love tradition most will know the most…

Keep seeking and finding!

 

[Barbkw]

This is good book on the Early Church:

amazon.com/gp/product/1931709122?ie=UTF8&tag=scotthcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1931709122

A review on Amazon writes about the book:

This anthology presents a number of short readings for meditation and prayer.

They are drawn from writings of recognized early teachers of Christian doctrine, including

St. Basil the Great,
St. Gregory of Nysaa,
St. Cyril of Jerusalem,
St. Ambrose of Milan,
St. Augustine of Hippo,
St. John Chrysostom and
St. Leo the Great.

We may have heard of, even revered these early saints, hearing them mentioned on feast days, without really knowing their thoughts and ideas. This book makes those thoughts accessible. Very fresh and useful, too.

The authors, Scott Hahn and Mike Aquilina, also show us how to use their book, with encouraging words about such things as meditation. The book focuses on on the ancient riches of God’s Word and early Christian teachers and their value for us today.

 

[Barbkw]

All of Scott Hahn’s books:

scotthahn.com/scott-hahn-books.html

 

[Spencerian]

Does anyone know where I can go to thoroughly learn about the traditions of the traditional Roman Catholic faith, and how I can implement those into my life today?

I have been discovering lately that while I know my Vatican II faith well (I am all geared up in Catechism, Scott Hahn, EWTN, saints, etc. and can defend my faith well) the pre-Vatican II faith I actually know less of than I used to think.

I have been drawing conclusions that there are many aspects about being Catholic that were probably common to all Catholics just 100 years ago or so, but today I would have no idea what they were talking about or doing.

For example, while I do attend the Latin Mass when I can, and am learning to pray the rosary in Latin, and I try to wear a mantilla when I can, etc., I have been coming across other aspects that I did not know existed. I was reading about the prayer “Asperges Me” and was thinking “???” I had to literally go look it up to figure out what it was and what it meant.

I am getting the nagging suspicion that there was a lot more to Catholicism that even I do not know about that has been lost.

Does anyone know of a good source where I can find the Catholic traditions of the past that have been lost to time?

Thanks!

Hi.

The fullness of the Catholic faith means that nothing is ever “lost.” Traditions (small “t”, as in personal devotions, prayers and sacramentals) have changed over the millenias. But the core teachings of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium have only been clarified over time, not lost or changed.

Catholicism is not a religion of “secret or lost knowledge.” Nor do all traditions or devotions of the faithful continue–these do sometimes change with the culture. A good example is that of chapel veils. While this remains a pious custom, the 1983 Code of Canon Law (the administrative rules for Catholics) does not require its faithful to adhere to the use of the veils.

While it may be fruitful to learn some of the older traditions as it pertains to your personal devotions, know that the central needs are clearly defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and your local diocese.

Others certainly have some more thoughts to this. I don’t want to dissuade you from seeking out what you find helpful, but encourage you not to get too fixated on what is not required by the faithful by the Church.

 

[Shin]

I am getting the nagging suspicion that there was a lot more to Catholicism that even I do not know about that has been lost.

Does anyone know of a good source where I can find the Catholic traditions of the past that have been lost to time?

Thanks!

You’ll find this suspicion quite confirmed the more you look and learn. But do your best! And don’t get too sidetracked by popular apologists. . . It is all quite important. . .

 

[corsair]

Try attending the Triduum at an FSSP parish this year. You’ll be amazed at the many traditions you’ll find. Last year I found things I had only heard of. Going again this year.

 

[nordskoven]

St. Gertrude the Great, centuries ago in Bavaria, mystically communed with Christ, Who was adamant about conveying to us His role as Merciful Savior, begging us to avail ourselves of His mercy before He must return as Lord of Judgment. Christ spoke with a mystic nun in France and pinned the rescue of the ruler and France itself upon adoption of the most merciful Sacred Heart of Jesus upon adoption of this cultus. 100 years to the day it was transmitted, having been rejected, the king was dethroned and France was washed in the blood of the guillotined. So also with Sister Faustina in Poland, to whom Christ gave us the devotion to the Divine Mercy. “You have not because you ask not.” WE BEG FOR CHRIST’S MERCY!

The Novena of Divine Mercy is posted at the Prayer forum; and the link provided below. For special graces, start praying this on Good Friday. It may be combined with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Please pray for me and my intentions, dear soul; and assail Heaven with prayer for the dire straits we are in.

ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

 

[Cristiano]

Does anyone know where I can go to thoroughly learn about the traditions of the traditional Roman Catholic faith, and how I can implement those into my life today?

I have been discovering lately that while I know my Vatican II faith well (I am all geared up in Catechism, Scott Hahn, EWTN, saints, etc. and can defend my faith well) the pre-Vatican II faith I actually know less of than I used to think.

I have been drawing conclusions that there are many aspects about being Catholic that were probably common to all Catholics just 100 years ago or so, but today I would have no idea what they were talking about or doing.

For example, while I do attend the Latin Mass when I can, and am learning to pray the rosary in Latin, and I try to wear a mantilla when I can, etc., I have been coming across other aspects that I did not know existed. I was reading about the prayer “Asperges Me” and was thinking “???” I had to literally go look it up to figure out what it was and what it meant.

**I am getting the nagging suspicion that there was a lot more to Catholicism that even I do not know about that has been lost. **

Does anyone know of a good source where I can find the Catholic traditions of the past that have been lost to time?

Thanks!

I think that you are mixing up things. From a practical point of view what has been lost will never come back. From a religious point of view nothing about Catholicism has been lost. Indiana Jones would find the Catholic Church boring from this point of view. Just look at internet and the availability of the documents from the Popes, from the Curia, from the Early Fathers, from the Saints. Some pious devotions probably are gone because they were defined by time, location and culture; however, the doctrinal basis of those devotions are still around. Do you think that it is a big loss not having people praying the rosary during the Mass? A few pious devotions even turned into simple acts of superstition among ignorant people. Why do you think that protestants think that Catholics worship Mary? It is because quite a few ignorant Catholics started to worship the Blessed Mother and even the Church acknowledged that problem. If I were you I would spend less time in digging out old devotions and I would spend more time in the Lectio Divina, that in itself is a very old devotion. The Mass together with the Lectio Divina are the ultimate tools to be intimate with God. From the way you describe yourself you have the intellectual tools to support your spirituality at a higher degree, do not step down but move up.

 

[laszlo]

If you have any missal printed before 1964, this contains the whole Mass as it was through the Centuries from the Council of Trident.

For the faith study first the Baltimore Catechism, and as second step either the Tridentine Catechism or the Duoay-Catechism

The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) is a very good lexicon to search topics.

The traditional book for devotion was Kempis Imitation of Christ

Unfortunately the Canon Law is available only in Latin

To search for any particular original book the best source is the Wikipedia ‘External Documents’

My personal advise: do not read any book about the Ecclesiastical past which is written after 1964. They are too biased, they want to sell their opinion, do not search the truth.

 

[jeanannemarie]

You can learn a lot reading about the lives of the saints. I read a book, read the footnotes and find more books and it just keeps going, and I have enjoyed it so much.

 

[SouthpawLink]

Here’s an extremely good place to start, and it won’t cost you anything:

fisheaters.com/beingcatholic.html (many traditional prayers and devotions)

Afterwards, you may want to check out: fisheaters.com/forcatholics.html

God bless!

As for the traditional Catholic faith, I would recommend:

The Roman Catechism (Catechism of the Council of Trent)
The Catechism of Pope St. Pius X
Official Revised Baltimore Catechism and Mass, No. 3 (Fr. Connell, Confraternity Edition)

 

[PA650]

Here’s an extremely good place to start, and it won’t cost you anything:

fisheaters.com/beingcatholic.html (many traditional prayers and devotions)

Afterwards, you may want to check out: fisheaters.com/forcatholics.html

God bless!

As for the traditional Catholic faith, I would recommend:

The Roman Catechism (Catechism of the Council of Trent)
The Catechism of Pope St. Pius X
Official Revised Baltimore Catechism and Mass, No. 3 (Fr. Connell, Confraternity Edition)

I was planning to post the Fish Eaters website regarding traditional Catholic customs and devotions. It’s immensely useful in order to restore our Catholic identity.

 

[PilgrimToChrist]

A good example is that of chapel veils. While this remains a pious custom, the 1983 Code of Canon Law (the administrative rules for Catholics) does not require its faithful to adhere to the use of the veils.

The 1983 CIC, unlike the 1917 CIC, does not mention chapel veils one way or the other. So you could say that it doesn’t matter one way or the other if a woman covers her head at Mass (or Adoration, etc.) or not. But the 1983 CIC, again unlike the 1917 CIC, does not mention men’s headcoverings either. So thus you could say that it doesn’t matter one way or the other if a man decides to wear a baseball cap at Mass or not. But just try it and see what happens!

 

[paddy22]

I’ve got to agree with the Fisheaters recommendation. It was so helpful to me when I first discovered the richness of our traditions. Then again, it is also sad to see how much we’ve lost.

 

[Faira21]

Thank you for all the replies

I really appreciate it. I will check out all the links.

I am a product of the post-1960s Church - i.e. I had NO understanding of the Catholic faith growing up. My faith was so watered down it seemed rediculous to me. I could not even stand it for a period in time as a result. It really upsets me the older I get that I had such a lousy Catholic upbringing in Catholic schools - it could have been so much better if it had not been so watered down.

The older that I get, and the more I study the Church, the more I am struck by the depth of spirituality that others had in previous times. Especially the Middle Ages. By the time the Renaissance hit, it seems to me that things began to slowly get watered down by humanist agendas and within just 200 years their “plans” if there ever were any had succeeded: the Catholic Church was breaking up and the age of faith had given way to the age of reason.

Now we are immersed in “reason.” To believe in God is laughable in most circles. Even basic Catholic doctrines are laughable in many Catholic circles.

But from my studies in history, in the times when people were most “inundated” if you will by Catholicism, in the art and the liturgy and their lives, they seemed to have the most faith (not that I am saying everything was perfect or there were not abuses, as that seems to be impossible to ever avoid - even amongst Christ’s own disciples there was a Judas). Either that or when they were most persecuted - example: the early Church.

Traditions are not necessary to become holy, but I think they sure do help shape our environment, thought, lives - everything.

I guess that is why I feel so drawn to unlocking these past traditions. It is not as though I feel like there are “secrets” that the Church is hiding as one commenter suggested, but I think there is a reason why even Anne Catherine Emmerich said that people in the times before her were more devout than even in her time.

I think it had a lot to do with the beauty of tradition and the culture that surrounds us. That is why I want to know as much about the Catholic traditions and culture of the past.

Thanks again!