Traditional Catholic Youth

[adawgj]

Has Traditional Catholicism done well with the youth? Like are younger people wanting to learn more about the traditions and sacredness of the Church?
If you can give me an example or your experience

 

[janeway529]

Has Traditional Catholicism done well with the youth? Like are younger people wanting to learn more about the traditions and sacredness of the Church?
If you can give me an example or your experience

What do you mean by “Traditional Catholicism”? I’m 26 and I grew up with certain traditions that I think are normal, like doing novenas and celebrating feasts, Eucharistic adoration, praying the Angelus at noon and 6pm, listening to Gregorian chant. These have been taught in conjunction with my ethnic customs (Filipino) such as Simbang Gabi, the use of a veil and cord and offering flowers to Mother Mary during weddings, devotional processions on feast days, respect for clergy and obedience to the faith, and liturgical praise dancing (Sinulog).

I’ve pretty much lived what Pope Benedict XVI has termed the ‘Hermeneutic of Continuity,’ so no complaints from me.

 

[yaycatholic]

Like what janeway529 said, when I was growing up in the Philippines, I joined in with novenas and processions etc.

I wasn’t really aware before of the Extraordinary Form when I was young because I grew up only seeing the OF, but I was very religious. Nowadays, I feel like whenever I go to Church, I always look for that sense of the sacred and reverence. I also feel like here in my parish, not a lot of young people are wanting to know about the traditions and the sacredness of the Church. I feel like i’m like the only teen (here in my parish) who is fond of things like Gregorian Chant and the EF, and other things related to Traditional Catholicism. (They probably might not even know about the EF? I don’t know?)

 

[CrossofChrist]

Has Traditional Catholicism done well with the youth? Like are younger people wanting to learn more about the traditions and sacredness of the Church?
If you can give me an example or your experience

I think in general “traditional Catholicism” is more popular among the young as far as devout Catholics go.

Personally (being younger), I’m not what one would call a “traditional Catholic”. Mainly because I’m just not very interested in the extraordinary form of the Mass. Perhaps that’s because I am blessed to have what I consider a pretty well done Ordinary form of the Mass near my house.

That said, I do appreciate the traditions of the Church. I love incense and sacred music (Gregorian chant, polyphony, etc.), devotions such as the rosary, and especially great Catholic architecture for Churches. And of course I love our Church, her teachings, and her Spouse, Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

 

[janeway529]

I think in general “traditional Catholicism” is more popular among the young as far as devout Catholics go.

Personally (being younger), I’m not what one would call a “traditional Catholic”. Mainly because I’m just not very interested in the extraordinary form of the Mass. Perhaps that’s because I am blessed to have what I consider a pretty well done Ordinary form of the Mass near my house.

I guess I would fall into that category as well. I’ve been to an EF Mass once, on the feast of the Sacred Heart, but it isn’t my cup of tea, as they say. I’m more a proponent for OF done properly, with proper allowances for inculturation.

 

[Arturo_Ortiz]

I am currently 19 and I became a traditional Catholic at 18

I myself would say that traditional Catholicism is more popular with the youth than you might expect. I love going to the Latin Mass, hopefully I get to go tomorrow.

The Latin Mass is what I and many of my young friends want. I abstain from meat on Friday and am discerning the religious life with the Norbertines. I think that many people are going the wrong direction trying to bring the young back to the Church by making it appeal to young people, by presenting the Catholic Church in a more “fun” way.

I myself as a youngster am not looking for so called “teen” Masses. I want the real thing. Give me the Latin Mass, penance, tradition, and a good solid traditional knowledge of the faith. That is what brought me back, and hopefully that is what brings many youngsters back to the faith.

 

[CatholicLife]

I’m 19 and I prefer tradition. Most of the youth of my parish get mystified when I tell them about relics and other great traditions we have swept under the rug. I find it sad how the “Teen Mass” is just a gig for simple vestments and terrible music.
The youth want bread not stones.

 

[anonymous1995]

I am currently 18 and I consider myself a ‘traditional Catholic’. I am quite attached to the EF Mass. I love traditional Latin motets and Gregorian Chants, and would like to promote this precious gem among my peers. I also love traditional Catholic devotions, the Brown Scapular, Rosary as two examples.

Tradition and tradition are the roots of our faith. Nothing remains in Catholicism if traditions are swept under the rug.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I am 20. I am not completely wedded to EF communities, but what I cannot endure is the radical sort of deconstructionist/optionophilic/tradition-hating liturgy that you often see in suburban parishes or parishes with a strong left-leaning ideology. There is a certain, shall we say, rabid quality to certain communities that I can not put up with.

I like the EF very much. But I am quite content with a traditional-leaning OF with some Latin and a solid homily.

 

[L_Marshall]

I am 20. I am not completely wedded to EF communities, but what I cannot endure is the radical sort of deconstructionist/optionophilic/tradition-hating liturgy that you often see in suburban parishes or parishes with a strong left-leaning ideology. There is a certain, shall we say, rabid quality to certain communities that I can not put up with.

I like the EF very much. But I am quite content with a traditional-leaning OF with some Latin and a solid homily.

^This.

 

[dconklin]

I am an Asst DRE at a parish and work with youth. I am also father to two youth.

There are so many traditions in the Catholic Church that it is easy to say “yes” to the OP’s question. The traditions may not be what they have in mind, but they are still traditions.

 

[janeway529]

There are so many traditions in the Catholic Church that it is easy to say “yes” to the OP’s question. The traditions may not be what they have in mind, but they are still traditions.

Exactly! I don’t really understand those who call themselves a “traditional Catholic” just because they prefer to attend the EF and enjoy Latin., because I certainly don’t consider myself “traditional,” although as mentioned above, I do observe traditional practices and customs.

 

[Arturo_Ortiz]

Exactly! I don’t really understand those who call themselves a “traditional Catholic” just because they prefer to attend the EF and enjoy Latin., because I certainly don’t consider myself “traditional,” although as mentioned above, I do observe traditional practices and customs.

There is a lot more to being a traditional Catholic than simply prefering the Latin Mass. It is also about solid traditional doctrine and much more. I dont think many places online do a much better job explaining what traditional catholicism is than these links below if you want to check them out.

fisheaters.com/traditionalcatholicism.html

fisheaters.com/ontraditionalcatholics.html

latinmassmagazine.com/articles/articles_2001_SP_Ripperger.html

 

[yaycatholic]

I agree, although I enjoy the EF. I don’t mind which Mass I attend, whether it be a Divine Liturgy, an OF Mass or an EF Mass. All I care about is that it is celebrated reverently without any abuses obviously. Moreover, I also care about orthodox Catholic being taught to everyone instead of the liberal ones some people have today.

 

[Jaberwocky]

What do you mean by “Traditional Catholicism”? I’m 26 and I grew up with certain traditions that I think are normal, like doing novenas and celebrating feasts, Eucharistic adoration, praying the Angelus at noon and 6pm, listening to Gregorian chant. These have been taught in conjunction with my ethnic customs (Filipino) such as Simbang Gabi, the use of a veil and cord and offering flowers to Mother Mary during weddings, devotional processions on feast days, respect for clergy and obedience to the faith, and liturgical praise dancing (Sinulog).

I’ve pretty much lived what Pope Benedict XVI has termed the ‘Hermeneutic of Continuity,’ so no complaints from me.

Same here. Had everything minus the EF and never knew what I was given was “out of fashion” till I landed in North America or visited Europe

 

[anonymous1995]

Perhaps ‘traditional Catholicism’ should not be limited to the EF?

A tangential question: is ‘traditional Catholicism’ a synonym of ‘orthodox Catholicism’? Some of my friends tend to mix up the two.

 

[Rich_C]

I can only speak for my parish, but out of 500 people at the Latin Mass, I’d guess 75% are under 35 years of age. Probably 50% are under 25. We seem to have more people under age 18 than over age 50.

Perhaps ‘traditional Catholicism’ should not be limited to the EF?

A tangential question: is ‘traditional Catholicism’ a synonym of ‘orthodox Catholicism’? Some of my friends tend to mix up the two.

Definitely. Seems to me all the Eastern Catholics are “traditional” and there is a significant minority of people in most (OF) parishes who are “traditional” in my experience.

I wouldn’t say it’s a synonym of “orthodox.” I have met many Catholics who title themselves “orthodox Catholics” yet their worldview seems to be built on a post-modern foundation and they emphasize the “latest, greatest” liturgical and theological novelties to come out of youth ministry. They believe everything the Church teaches but don’t want anything to do with the previous 19 centuries of Christianity.

 

[Arturo_Ortiz]

I can only speak for my parish, but out of 500 people at the Latin Mass, I’d guess 75% are under 35 years of age. Probably 50% are under 25. We seem to have more people under age 18 than over age 50.

Definitely. Seems to me all the Eastern Catholics are “traditional” and there is a significant minority of people in most (OF) parishes who are “traditional” in my experience.

I wouldn’t say it’s a synonym of “orthodox.” I have met many Catholics who title themselves “orthodox Catholics” yet their worldview seems to be built on a post-modern foundation and they emphasize the “latest, greatest” liturgical and theological novelties to come out of youth ministry. They believe everything the Church teaches but don’t want anything to do with the previous 19 centuries of Christianity.

This is true.

If you want a better understanding of traditional Catholicism please check out the links I posted in an earlier post. Traditional Catholicism is not limited to the Latin Mass, but it encompasses a lot more things.

Traditional Catholicism includes traditional doctrines that have been taught by the church for all the 20 centuries including that which the Church fathers taught.

Being a traditional Catholic is also a philosophical belief that includes sound and scholastic reasoning, (Thomistic philosophy and systematic approaches are just some examples) in contrast with the modern-post modern mindset that is found amongst the modern society, including even certain Catholics (sadly)