C
Ceil-1
Guest
I know this post is long, but bear with me, please.
I am a “revert”, having discovered the Faith for myself after many years in the desert. When I returned I resolved to live according to the Will of God, and to heck with what anybody thought. Even if it meant shaving my head and selling flowers at the airport.
On the one hand, I am attracted by the Traditionalist view, most of which I agree with, especially considering the area I came from with a bishop that openly supports liturgical abuse, and “alternative lifestyles”, and gets away with it. When we came to the midwest, we found a large Traditonalist movement here. The problem with this movement is that many proponents are so zealous about their POV, that anyone not part of their group is “modernist” and living for Satan. This goes right down to women wearing pants, and even to eating non-organic foods, acc. to some. (One lady remarked she was concerned she was committing a sin by buying veggies from the grocery store). They are vehement in their criticism and condemn those that go outside their rules.
On the other hand, I have experienced the charismatic movement. While some groups tend to be a bit too “liberal”, (I would call it loose), the people are loving toward others, and do not seem to harbor the seething resentment I sense in the above group. What is more, there are groups that are orthodox but carry a charismatic zeal and tone. They tend to be positive and uplifting.
My husband and I value balance. We long for the reverence and order of the Traditionalist POV, and the warmth and vibrance of the charismatic POV. We are now discerning a way to completely give our lives over to God in a radical way. I feel that both movements have merit, but both have their problems, too.
Are we on the right track, here? My husband thinks I am analyzing it too much and should just relax. But, how conservative is too conservative? Is wearing a dress all the time, and a veil to Mass overkill? Does it really matter that much in the scheme of things? Is taking Communion in the hand a sacrelige? I cannot decide. Is there anyone out there with similar feelings, and, what did you decide?
I am a “revert”, having discovered the Faith for myself after many years in the desert. When I returned I resolved to live according to the Will of God, and to heck with what anybody thought. Even if it meant shaving my head and selling flowers at the airport.
On the one hand, I am attracted by the Traditionalist view, most of which I agree with, especially considering the area I came from with a bishop that openly supports liturgical abuse, and “alternative lifestyles”, and gets away with it. When we came to the midwest, we found a large Traditonalist movement here. The problem with this movement is that many proponents are so zealous about their POV, that anyone not part of their group is “modernist” and living for Satan. This goes right down to women wearing pants, and even to eating non-organic foods, acc. to some. (One lady remarked she was concerned she was committing a sin by buying veggies from the grocery store). They are vehement in their criticism and condemn those that go outside their rules.
On the other hand, I have experienced the charismatic movement. While some groups tend to be a bit too “liberal”, (I would call it loose), the people are loving toward others, and do not seem to harbor the seething resentment I sense in the above group. What is more, there are groups that are orthodox but carry a charismatic zeal and tone. They tend to be positive and uplifting.
My husband and I value balance. We long for the reverence and order of the Traditionalist POV, and the warmth and vibrance of the charismatic POV. We are now discerning a way to completely give our lives over to God in a radical way. I feel that both movements have merit, but both have their problems, too.
Are we on the right track, here? My husband thinks I am analyzing it too much and should just relax. But, how conservative is too conservative? Is wearing a dress all the time, and a veil to Mass overkill? Does it really matter that much in the scheme of things? Is taking Communion in the hand a sacrelige? I cannot decide. Is there anyone out there with similar feelings, and, what did you decide?