Traditional Catholicism and feeling alone

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Are there any other people who feel alone with their friends or parish because they don’t appreciate traditional Catholicism like you do? I started having this feeling for a couple of months and I feel like I wish I had someone whom had the same interest as I to talk to.

Now I know that there is the traditional Catholicism forum, but there are times when you want to talk to someone in person. Typed words cannot really get into the emotion and the expressiveness that talking to someone can.

My friends and acquaintances are from church, and most of them I know from when I was active with the charismatic renewal at my parish. As a matter of fact, my best friend was the group leader there. I was with the renewal for about 3 years, but I felt that there was a lot more than this type of spirituality, to a point where I wasn’t spiritually fulfilled any longer. To make a long story short, I stopped attending the movement. While I was with the movement, I did learn a lot of different things that I am grateful for, but I started digging deeper and deeper into the Faith. On my 1st year of reverting to my faith and being active in the CM, I had wanted to attend the Tridentine Latin Mass, but did not know what it entailed, as a matter of fact, I told a couple of my friends but they didn’t know what I was talking about. I remember reading in one of the sub-forums that a priest told them that the deeper they would get in their spiritual life, they would eventually leave the Charismatic Renewal and head for Traditional Catholicism; this is what happened to me.

Now that I have attended the EF about 6 times since April 2012, I am even more enamored of the EF. I purchased the St. Edmund Campion Missal and now and waiting for my Primer on Ecclesiastical Latin to arrive in the mail, I want to learn more and more. I love Gregorian Chant because it elevates my spirit. I love Latin, because of the sacredness of the language. I can go on and on, but you get the idea. When I share this with my friends, I feel that they aren’t as interested as I am. I have even told my best friend how I feel, and she states that not everyone is fulfilled in the same spirituality, which I agree. But again, I cannot help but feel alone.
 
The priest leading my RCIA class doesn’t even seem like he is religious. He thinks praying the rosary is a waste of time and that the traditions of the church are quaint and outdated. I’ve been the only one in RCIA who has outspokenly explained the errors of Protestantism and why the Catholic Church is the proper vehicle for salvation (although I have a soft spot for the Eastern Orthodox Church). It’s really not even the reluctance of the priest at my parish and his co-instructor in the RCIA program to teach Catholic orthodoxy that bothers me. It is the lukewarmness of their feeling toward their religion.
 
On the sunday in which the reading was about a Naaman and the prophet Elisha, the story is very common.
But one of the prayer of the faithful prepared for that sunday was: it is God who make the land holy, not the other way round.
So also, its not the form of the mass that makes it holy, but God.
So its better to learn to appreciate the presence of God in the various “outlets” of the church.
Why not read Introduction to the devout life, or some books by other saints like Alphonsus de liguori and Therese of the little flower, they might help on the aspect of growing deeper.
 
I can sort of relate, although, I am not even close to where you are at, but I am growing in my faith. I have an insatiable hunger for growth in my faith that I can see myself at this crossroad one day soon. In a way, I am already experiencing this, except that most of my friends are non denominational, so, it’s hard to talk to and share with them in faith. Some things yes, but not fully and the Catholics that I do know, have been so brainwashed with "PC"ness it’s almost as if they are ashamed of their own faith and are hesitant to discuss matters of faith and church teachings. As if it should be kept quiet. So, yes I have also been struggling with feelings of being alone, but I have been praying for God to bring some people in my life that I can enjoy fellowship with and already he is beginning to answer me in a way I hadn’t noticed before. I suggest you keep praying, that or God may be leading you somewhere else, a detour perhaps : )
 
I do frequently feel alone in my local area. I have at least had good priests who can guide me in my faith, but I feel like I’m alone among my peers. Most of them seem to think I’m too religious (like that can ever be a bad thing!) and that I should have a care-free attitude and take on the “as long as I’m a good person” attitude. I tried that for a while, when I first went to college. I can say from experience you will just find yourself justifying worse and worse behavior, but I digress.

I love these forums because it’s great to see other people taking such an interest in faith. Not just in spouting the rules, but in trying to help other people grow - to have the love and compassion but also to develop spiritual discipline. The people here have really helped me a lot, and I’ve been amazed recently in a couple people I know coming to me with questions about growing in faith. Maybe my perseverance is paying off?

Keep with it. Pray to God to put people in your life who you can truly share your faith with. I will pray for this intention for both you and me!
 
I fully understand that the Mass is the most sacred prayer of the Catholic church whether it is said in Latin or in the vernacular but I cannot help recalling the feeling of deep spirituality and holiness, the beautiful cadences, of the Latin Masses of my youth.

I have recently been reading about the lives of the Jesuit priests, such as Edmund Campion and Robert Southwell, who were martyred during the reign of Elizabeth I. There is such an aura of profound holiness, such deep spirituality, about them which I find deeply moving.I understand your motivation and I also intend in due course, to refamiliarise myself with the EF.
 
rivera01 said:
Are there any other people who feel alone with their friends or parish because they don’t appreciate traditional Catholicism like you do? I started having this feeling for a couple of months and I feel like I wish I had someone whom had the same interest as I to talk to.

Now I know that there is the traditional Catholicism forum, but there are times when you want to talk to someone in person. Typed words cannot really get into the emotion and the expressiveness that talking to someone can.

My friends and acquaintances are from church, and most of them I know from when I was active with the charismatic renewal at my parish. As a matter of fact, my best friend was the group leader there. I was with the renewal for about 3 years, but I felt that there was a lot more than this type of spirituality, to a point where I wasn’t spiritually fulfilled any longer. To make a long story short, I stopped attending the movement. While I was with the movement, I did learn a lot of different things that I am grateful for, but I started digging deeper and deeper into the Faith. On my 1st year of reverting to my faith and being active in the CM, I had wanted to attend the Tridentine Latin Mass, but did not know what it entailed, as a matter of fact, I told a couple of my friends but they didn’t know what I was talking about. I remember reading in one of the sub-forums that a priest told them that the deeper they would get in their spiritual life, they would eventually leave the Charismatic Renewal and head for Traditional Catholicism; this is what happened to me.

Now that I have attended the EF about 6 times since April 2012, I am even more enamored of the EF. I purchased the St. Edmund Campion Missal and now and waiting for my Primer on Ecclesiastical Latin to arrive in the mail, I want to learn more and more. I love Gregorian Chant because it elevates my spirit. I love Latin, because of the sacredness of the language. I can go on and on, but you get the idea. When I share this with my friends, I feel that they aren’t as interested as I am. I have even told my best friend how I feel, and she states that not everyone is fulfilled in the same spirituality, which I agree. But again, I cannot help but feel alone.
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We find our identity and purpose through Jesus. All else is secondary. If our identity is found in Jesus then all else will fall into place.

Have an interest in Jesus. Become spiritually fulfilled in Jesus. Dig deeper and deeper into Jesus. Become more enamored with Jesus. Love Jesus. If you do these things you will know that you are never alone.

Jesus is the end of all things. Everything else is secondary. Spirituality only has value insofar as it leads us to Jesus.

-Tim-
 
I can offer some help, but unfortunately it’s all Internet based, but it’s a start.🤷 first, have you tried to locate a spiritual director who is more traditionally based? I don’t know if such a creature exists but it might be worthwhile trying to find one. I’m not “traditional” in the sense that I attend the Tridentine mass, though there are several parishes in Toronto that have at least one on Sunday. That being said I do love latin and am learning it on my own, using the vulgate bible with a parallel English translation. A good site for that is

bibliacatolica.com.br/en/neo-vulgata-latina-vs-revised-standard-version/evangelium-secundum-matthaeum/11/#.Um-j88u9KK0

A good introduction to latin is

compassclassroom.com/author/dwanethomas/

If you do a search on you tube for dwane he offers a set on beginners lessons whic I found helpful.

The next site is run by monks who have returned to the latin breviary
osbnorcia.org/blog

If you want to say the breviary in latin the following site offers every version of the breviary
divinumofficium.com/cgi-bin/horas/officium.pl

I think the monks of Norcia use the pre Tridentine monastic

Finally, if you recite the rosary, a search on YouTube will give you a lot of videos with the latin version.

I hope you find these sites helpful. I wish you the best on your faith journey.
 
TimothyH said:
We find our identity and purpose through Jesus. All else is secondary. If our identity is found in Jesus then all else will fall into place.

Have an interest in Jesus. Become spiritually fulfilled in Jesus. Dig deeper and deeper into Jesus. Become more enamored with Jesus. Love Jesus. If you do these things you will know that you are never alone.

Jesus is the end of all things. Everything else is secondary. Spirituality only has value insofar as it leads us to Jesus.

-Tim-
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I like your answer. I was just going to say that even if you have to be alone, be alone with Jesus.
 
TimothyH said:
We find our identity and purpose through Jesus. All else is secondary. If our identity is found in Jesus then all else will fall into place.

Have an interest in Jesus. Become spiritually fulfilled in Jesus. Dig deeper and deeper into Jesus. Become more enamored with Jesus. Love Jesus. If you do these things you will know that you are never alone.

Jesus is the end of all things. Everything else is secondary. Spirituality only has value insofar as it leads us to Jesus.

-Tim-
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I love your comment here and also your St. Josemaria quote. Are you a member of the Work?
 
Colorad007 said:
I love your comment here and also your St. Josemaria quote. Are you a member of the Work?
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No, I am not in Opus Dei, although I do go to the evenings of recollection here in Atlanta. My parish in Kennesaw has a relic of St. Josemaria.

-Tim-
 
HoneyBea said:
I can sort of relate, although, I am not even close to where you are at, but I am growing in my faith. I have an insatiable hunger for growth in my faith that I can see myself at this crossroad one day soon. In a way, I am already experiencing this, except that most of my friends are non denominational, so, it’s hard to talk to and share with them in faith. Some things yes, but not fully and the Catholics that I do know, have been so brainwashed with "PC"ness it’s almost as if they are ashamed of their own faith and are hesitant to discuss matters of faith and church teachings. As if it should be kept quiet. So, yes I have also been struggling with feelings of being alone, but I have been praying for God to bring some people in my life that I can enjoy fellowship with and already he is beginning to answer me in a way I hadn’t noticed before. I suggest you keep praying, that or God may be leading you somewhere else, a detour perhaps : )
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I do understand because in many ways I am in the same situation. Praying for fellowship is the first step for sure. Following through is the second step. Become involved in the church where your talents can be put to use. Work with the outreach program in your parish. Sing in the choir. A very good way to find friends is to be on the clean up crew after parties and dinners. Let the joy of being a Catholic radiate from you by being very very happy in what you are doing for others and for God. I have a very close friend who is the wife of a Baptist Preacher. In spite of our differences we have wonderful talks about those things that we agree on.
 
I can relate. It is hard to find folks locally that “get you”. I have been especially focused on this for the last couple of weeks. Simply put, I need more traditional Catholic friends. I understand what you are going through.

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I am probably the most Traditional person at my church - it is hard. I wear a veil (the only one). I love all the “old” traditions - fortunately we have a new pastor who does daily Adoration, Rosary, Divine Mercy, etc. Unfortunately, no Latin and I’m not close to a church who does. I do lots of reading and try to support the new pastor as much as I can. It is difficult not having someone on the same level that I am to actually talk to but the forum and many Catholic groups on FaceBook have helped a lot. There are traditional groups on FB and I’ve learned a lot from them too - easier to put prayers, novenas, etc. on FB than on here. Not sure I will live that long but I do believe that one day it will all Traditional Latin again which I know those who like the English won’t like but we probably won’t be alive by then anyway. God bless!!
 
Welcome to the club! Most people will dislike you for being Christian. Your fellow Catholics will dislike you or avoid you like the plague. Don’t state your preference on here because if you do you will have the other side jump all over you for not adding that you see other ways equally to yours blah blah. It’s lonely no doubt, but keep your head up and try to remain in good charitable spirit. Offer the attacks and loneliness, up to Christ. Remember he was abandoned in his final hours.
 
I am lonely but I know I am on the right path for me. It’s funny but all to often it’s those that question my tradition are the same ones who seek me out for comfort and ask me to pray with and for them. I say this with humility…thanking the saint I was named for, Little Therese.
 
Thank you all for sharing. My friends are devout Catholics, don’t get me wrong, its just a matter of them still continuing that charismatic spirituality is all. These same friends have gone with me to an EF Mass and loved it, I just guess they aren’t really into it like I am.

I understand that I have to be in love with Christ, but also understand that I was born and raised in the OF, with guitars, the hand holding, the clapping, etc., and experiencing the EF was as if God lifted the veil off my eyes. I read about it I studied it, but I never really appreciated it until I actually experienced it. Now that I have been able to attend I just LOVE it.

I guess I just have to offer it up 🙂
 
HelenRose said:
I do understand because in many ways I am in the same situation. Praying for fellowship is the first step for sure. Following through is the second step. Become involved in the church where your talents can be put to use. Work with the outreach program in your parish. Sing in the choir. A very good way to find friends is to be on the clean up crew after parties and dinners. Let the joy of being a Catholic radiate from you by being very very happy in what you are doing for others and for God. I have a very close friend who is the wife of a Baptist Preacher. In spite of our differences we have wonderful talks about those things that we agree on.
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I feel like you know me, because this is exactly where I am at right now. I’ve prayed for the fellowship and have now been offered an opportunity to develop a youth program at our church and just yesterday I was invited to join a women’s bible study. So my prayers have been answered, yet, I resist. So, now I need to pray for the fortitude to follow through. Although, I’m pretty sure people would pay me NOT to sing lol. Thanks for your words of encouragement they really meant a lot to me and it’s pretty much what I needed to hear …read. : )
 
I’m probably the only traditionalist in my parish. Sometimes I feel alone and in a dark place because I seem to be the only one who upholds all the teachings of the Catholic Church. But then, I remember Our Lady and Jesus is with me, who will protect me through arguments and flak I receive from Cafeteria Catholics.

It seems like traditionalists are the only ones who uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church. 🤷
 
rivera01 said:
Are there any other people who feel alone with their friends or parish because they don’t appreciate traditional Catholicism like you do?
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What friends?

Can you please pray for me that God will provide me with some Catholic friends?

And yes, I’ve done the whole reaching out to people at Donut Sunday, getting actively involved in my parish, and attending Christ Renews His Parish renewal weekends … over and over again.

Thank you,

~~ the phoenix
 
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