What defines a Traditional Catholic?

[AllSeasons]

I’m just curious. How exactly would you define a Traditional Catholic? I came up with a few criteria. Please be gentle, as I’m just learning what a Traditional Catholic is.

• Attends the Tridentine Mass exclusively or primarily.
• Does not use conception of any kind, including NFP.
• Women wear skirts only.

Thank you.

 

[TRH1292]

A Traditional Catholic isn’t a club with membership cards. It’s really just a phrase people use to describe other people, and they use it in several ways. Here on this forum, it generally means those that are interested in the Extraordinary form of Mass. But really, it can mean several things. The only thing that’s really important to be is a faithful and orthodox Catholic.

 

[spiderweb]

I’m just curious. How exactly would you define a Traditional Catholic? I came up with a few criteria. Please be gentle, as I’m just learning what a Traditional Catholic is.

• Attends the Tridentine Mass exclusively or primarily.
• Does not use conception of any kind, including NFP.
• Women wear skirts only.

Thank you.

In my opinion attending the Tridentine Mass is part of it, but not necessary in all instances.

All contraception is a moral evil and NFP is not contraception at all, it is abstinence. This has nothing to do with being a “Traditional Catholic”.

Modesty in how people dress should be important to all Catholics. It has nothing to do with women wearing only skirts. But it does mean dressing appropriately especially to attend Mass. You won’t see a traditional Catholic wearing shorts and t-shirt to Church.

I feel that a Traditional Catholic has an appreciation for the older liturgies. In many instances they will have a stricter personal observance of fast days (often times including no meat on Friday throughout the year). Many of the woman will wear a head covering to church, but not all of them. It’s really hard to try to say “This is a Traditional Catholic”. It’s like trying to put everyone into a catagory that doesn’t include everyone because there are a lot of variations.

 

[Reborn2013]

 

[Rete]

A person who adheres to Church teachings and doctrines?

 

[dshix]

I agree with both of the posters above who gave responses.

There is no “dictionary definition” of a Traditional Catholic. Generally, they attend the Latin mass, and have a more conservative view of how the liturgy should be performed, but there is a very wide range of behaviors and tendencies aside from that.

 

[AllSeasons]

Here’s another way of looking at it. This site defines the “Traditional Catholicism” sub-forum, the one we’re in, as “Discussion of Catholic traditions and customs.” So I’d say that by this definition, a traditional Catholic is someone who observes Catholic traditions and customs. Now the question becomes: What qualifies as Catholic traditions and customs?

 

[dshix]

Here’s another way of looking at it. This site defines the “Traditional Catholicism” sub-forum, the one we’re in, as “Discussion of Catholic traditions and customs.” So I’d say that by this definition, a traditional Catholic is someone who observes Catholic traditions and customs. Now the question becomes: What qualifies as Catholic traditions and customs?

That is true.

I think a lot of Traditional Catholics value the inherent symbolism in the Latin Mass, much of which is lost in the OF. If you ask an FSSP priest what one particular detail in the mass means, he’ll almost invariably launch into a lengthy explanation of all the biblical and symbolical meaning behind it. The EF is rich with these things, and I feel that they really tie together the oneness and universality of the faith.

 

[landon13]

I think it is someone who has a desire for the Tridentine (EF) mass but even if one doesn’t attend they see great value in the Latin mass.

It is also someone who is very devoted and very traditional and not liberal in their Catholic beliefs and holds true to the Church in its traditions.

One factor that may be used would be if someone prays a lot in Latin or even if someone prays only the three traditional rosary mysteries.

There is also a great devotion to St. Pius X in a lot of traditionalists.

A lot of this may seem like stereotypes but most are true!

Blessings!

 

[JM3]

That is true.

I think a lot of Traditional Catholics value the inherent symbolism in the Latin Mass, much of which is lost in the OF. If you ask an FSSP priest what one particular detail in the mass means, he’ll almost invariably launch into a lengthy explanation of all the biblical and symbolical meaning behind it. The EF is rich with these things, and I feel that they really tie together the oneness and universality of the faith.

One should consider their choice of words and not make disparaging remarks about one form of the Mass against the other form of the Mass.

SATIS COGNITUM

vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_29061896_satis-cognitum_en.html

The essential beauty and comeliness of the Church ought greatly to influence the minds of those who consider it. Nor is it improbable that ignorance may be dispelled by the consideration; that false ideas and prejudices may be dissipated from the minds chiefly of those who find themselves in error without fault of theirs; and that even a love for the Church may be stirred up in the souls of men, like unto that charity wherewith Christ loved and united himself to that spouse redeemed by His precious blood. “Christ loved the Church, and delivered Himself up for it” (Eph. v., 25).

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20070707_lettera-vescovi_en.html

The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness.

 

[Corki]

I’m just curious. How exactly would you define a Traditional Catholic? I came up with a few criteria. Please be gentle, as I’m just learning what a Traditional Catholic is.

• Attends the Tridentine Mass exclusively or primarily.
• Does not use conception of any kind, including NFP.
• Women wear skirts only.

Thank you.

For the first, I would say an affinity for the Traditional Mass and/or traditional practices. I consider myself a traditional Catholic even though I am rarely able to attend a EF Mass due to distance and commitments at my parish.

For the second, it has nothing to do with traditionalism. Faithful Catholics at all ends of the modern to traditional spectrum don’t use contraception. NFP is not contraception and any couple may or may not choose to use it. While traditional Catholics tend to be more knowledgeable about some of the teachings about families, it’s not because they are traditional nor an element of traditionalism.

Women wearing skirts - I don’t know any Catholic women who only wear skirts - even the ultra traditional SSPX women. Amish, Menonite, LDS maybe but not Catholic. I do know some women who much prefer skirts (in Texas, it’s much more comfortable) but not for religious reasons.

 

[dshix]

One should consider their choice of words and not make disparaging remarks about one form of the Mass against the other form of the Mass.

I did not intentionally make disparaging remarks, nor, in reading my comments again, do I see how they could be considered disparaging.

I have great respect for the Mass in all its forms and feel no ill will towards those who participate in or prefer either form. I spoke factually of my experience; no more, no less.

 

[Brendan_64]

I’m just curious. How exactly would you define a Traditional Catholic? I came up with a few criteria. Please be gentle, as I’m just learning what a Traditional Catholic is.

• Attends the Tridentine Mass exclusively or primarily.
• Does not use conception of any kind, including NFP.
• Women wear skirts only.

Thank you.

There is only one Catholic Church. Sub-sections such as ‘traditionalist’ are divisive and meaningless.

Some Catholics prefer the EF Mass, some prefer the OF Mass, some like both. An individual Catholic’s personal preference (because that is all it is) for a particular form of the Mass does not define that person.

NFP is permitted and promoted by our Church. Avoiding NFP has nothing at all to do with Church teachings.

There is nothing whatsoever in the teachings of our Church that states that women ought to weer only skirts. If a woman choose to only wear skirts then that is simply a personal preference, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the teachings of our Church.

Our Church is the authority on teachings. The teachings of our Church are not a basic minimum for us to extrapolate as individuals and make up our own teachings to adhere to. If our Church permits and promotes something such as NFP, then how can it be wrong?

 

[JM3]

I did not intentionally make disparaging remarks, nor, in reading my comments again, do I see how they could be considered disparaging.

I have great respect for the Mass in all its forms and feel no ill will towards those who participate in or prefer either form. I spoke factually of my experience; no more, no less.

That is true.

I think a lot of Traditional Catholics value the inherent symbolism in the Latin Mass, much of which is lost in the OF. If you ask an FSSP priest what one particular detail in the mass means, he’ll almost invariably launch into a lengthy explanation of all the biblical and symbolical meaning behind it. The EF is rich with these things, and I feel that they really tie together the oneness and universality of the faith.

Doesn’t sound like respect to me, but maybe that’s my fault.

 

[John_Q_Sinner]

I’m just curious. How exactly would you define a Traditional Catholic? I came up with a few criteria. Please be gentle, as I’m just learning what a Traditional Catholic is.

• Attends the Tridentine Mass exclusively or primarily.
• Does not use conception of any kind, including NFP.
• Women wear skirts only.

Thank you.

• No.
• No.
• No.

 

[Brendan_64]

I think a lot of Traditional Catholics value the inherent symbolism in the Latin Mass, much of which is lost in the OF.

The flip side of that is that the fullness of the symbolism of the Eucharist is better served in receiving Communion in both species. And I’m pretty sure the Apostles would have proclaimed the Word in the language that their audience would have best understand.

I do think it is a two-way-street in that there is richness in symbolism in both forms of the Mass. As a Church I think we ought to be more open minded about the benefits of the symbolism particular to each form, rather than jumping into one ‘camp’.

 

[dshix]

The flip side of that is that the fullness of the symbolism of the Eucharist is better served in receiving Communion in both species. And I’m pretty sure the Apostles would have proclaimed the Word in the language that their audience would have best understand.

I do think it is a two-way-street in that there is richness in symbolism in both forms.

Ha, funny that you bring that up.

In the Latin Mass there is a very specific reason why only the priest receives both species, having to do with symbolism pertaining to the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension.

I don’t have time (nor the deep understanding of the theology) to sufficiently explain it myself; hopefully someone more learned than I can give a good explanation of that.

 

[tommydude2112]

A Traditional Catholic is just any Catholic who believes there should be restoration to some of the older Church teachings/traditions, liturgical forms which were lost during the Second Vatican Council (1962-65)

Whether, that can be as simple as a Catholic who believes we should have to abstain from meat every Friday (a rule which was abolished in Vatican II) or as complex as a Catholic who believes that Vatican II was a schism from the true Church and that the current Popes are antipopes (sedevacantists).

A Traditional Catholic isn’t a specific membered group therefore, anyone who disagrees with any of the Vatican II changes could call themselves traditionalist.

Traditional Catholics generally believe:

1. 1. • receiving the Eucharist in the hands is sacrilege and it should be taken kneeling and on the tongue
      • Latin Tridentine Mass is the only valid mass and we should try to attend this as often as possible
      • we should follow the prescribed fasts that have now been taken away (such as Ember Days, Vigils of the feasts of Mary, etc.)
      • The feast days should stay as they were (some were altered during Vatican II)

 

[dshix]

This is absolutely wrong. I do not appreciate this propensity to draw Traditional Catholics into these stereotypes.

I disagree with almost the entirety of your post, and I consider myself a Traditional Catholic.

 

[Corki]

The flip side of that is that the fullness of the symbolism of the Eucharist is better served in receiving Communion in both species. And I’m pretty sure the Apostles would have proclaimed the Word in the language that their audience would have best understand.

.

My parish only distributes Communion under one kind and only about half of the parishioners hear the readings in a language they can understand. And it’s most definitely NOT a traditional parish.

On the “flip side” the EF parish has all of the readings in two languages! Does that make it modern? No.

Those are externals and not correlated to traditionalism.