What do Traditional/Orthodox Catholics Do for Fun Outside of Mass?

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There was also quite a lively thread on CAF (I can’t remember the name of it), where someone felt that one should not have fun in any way that does not expressly aim to please God.

Does that put limits on us as traditional Catholics on what we are able to do?

I read somewhere else, that traditionally, Catholics have never been really strict about every day practices and that traditional Catholics who disagree with television, or going to the movies, etc are acting more like fundamentalists (protestants).

Does anyone agree with that?

I do. To supposedly go against the “tide” of what some “Traditionalists” believe is “modernism” – they go to far – ending up basically fundamentalist protestant.
 
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DihydrogenOxide:
C’mon! It’s not like Billy Joel’s Only the Good Die Young.
BOYCOTT!!!

-Tim-

Why the boycott?
 
I suspect that Trad Catholics do many of the same things that “other” folks do. Personally I’m into firearms, hunting, visiting grandkids. Oh, and I love potlucks. Helping my wife in our very LARGE vegetable garden. I’m her “helper”. You know, “honey. I need 20 fences posthole dug”, “please bring that 100lbs. sack of fertilizer over here”. “No, not there, here; or maybe over there”.

And, of course, visiting the chiropractor. I just love it!!! 🙂
Sounds like my dad. My mom is very fickle. Those 20 post holes? “Honey, I’ve changed my mind. I think the fence needs to go here now.” How about “Honey, can you ask the neighbors if we can remove those three trees? They are blocking the sunlight to the rose bush that I had you move from that spot to this spot just last year.”
 

I do. To supposedly go against the “tide” of what some “Traditionalists” believe is “modernism” – they go to far – ending up basically fundamentalist protestant.
Well, it’s easy for me to do fundamentalism, I did it for a very long time and I did it well. 😛

So I always have to be on my guard about not mixing up fundamentalism with Catholicism.

For example, smoking is a big no-no in certain fundamentalist circles, so of course I do tend to look at smoking with disapproval that is outside of health or hygiene reasons.

I find too that when one is spending a lot of time in prayer and maybe fasting, it’s harder to take pleasure in some activities. Even for example going to a bar to drink and to joke around and laugh about certain things.

I’m still working things out.
 
Exactly!

In short: do whatever you please, but don’t sin! 🙂
Whew boy… Ummm…

***Everything is lawful, but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds up. *(1 Corinthains 10:23)

…and…

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. (1 Corinthains 10:31)

Wow. I feel like I should walk on eggshells here but wan’t to ask if we have forgotten who we are?

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthains 6:19:20)

My comments are not directed at you sicutincensum directly, but to everyone on this thread.

There are four levels of happiness; 1) gratification, 2) personal achievement, 3) philanthrophy, 4) beatitude. Are we talking about gratification which is purely self-centered, or about relaxation of the mind and body which can and should give glory to God. Is it better to do things like eating with a conciousness of God or without conciousness of God. There is nothing wrong with relaxation but even our sleep should give glory to God.

Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

I’m not expressing myself well here. I don’t mean to lecture. Please forgive me as that is not my intent. But we have to remember who we are. We are different from the rest of the world. At least that is the way I see it.

And God knows I fall short in many ways.

-Tim-
 
There was also quite a lively thread on CAF (I can’t remember the name of it), where someone felt that one should not have fun in any way that does not expressly aim to please God.

Does that put limits on us as traditional Catholics on what we are able to do?

I read somewhere else, that traditionally, Catholics have never been really strict about every day practices and that traditional Catholics who disagree with television, or going to the movies, etc are acting more like fundamentalists (protestants).

Does anyone agree with that?
yes
 
TimothyH: in what way do those quotes contradict what I’ve told? I’ve said it on a context, by the way, I said it to someone who seems to have some scruples and doubts due to his past fundamentalism.
 
TimothyH: in what way do those quotes contradict what I’ve told? I’ve said it on a context, by the way, I said it to someone who seems to have some scruples and doubts due to his past fundamentalism.
Nope, no scruples. I think about things, but I am not troubled by a lot of things. I know that God knows when I am sincerely making an effort and I don’t beat myself over the head.

Ask my kids. I’m the queen of calm. 😃

In other words, if I fall, I implore God for forgiveness and/or go to confession, pick myself up and move on. This is what Brother Lawrence advises in “Practicing the Presence of God.” 👍
 
I’m not expressing myself well here. I don’t mean to lecture. Please forgive me as that is not my intent. But we have to remember who we are. We are different from the rest of the world. At least that is the way I see it.

And God knows I fall short in many ways.

-Tim-
Very well expressed.👍
 
I used to go dancing A LOT back before I met my now husband. By “a lot” I mean 3 times a week, no joke! Lol.

It was great to just let loose the stresses of the day with a group of friends. Once I started dating Brian though, I kinda lost interest in the whole night life scene… but I definitely had a great time back then!
I used to go dancing aboutr 1x a month at SOB’s in NY where they have live bands.

I have been thinking, that I should go. But honestly, I’ve lost my desire for a lot of this stuff. You really do start to crave spiritual things more than worldly things after a while.
 
For fun I:

Shoot guns, read, write, and mainly am either outdoors or if I’m indoors I’m reading either a book or something online. Generally my online time is taken up here, my blog, or surfing the internet looking for information on Church history, doctrine, etc, or, shooting related.

I don’t have TV and never will. I wouldn’t mind it for the military channel or something but most of the programming now is just impossible to watch either from a moral or intelligence standpoint. If TV companies would provide an a la carte channel program, I’d possibly consider it.

Don’t have a problem with drinking, smoking, or dipping. The people harping on that are usually lard butts anyway and I just laugh at them for their apparently ignorant hypocrisy from a medical point of view. Can’t dance and never could, but I don’t have a problem with others dancing as long as it’s tasteful and not some booty-grinding simulation of sex.

Can’t stand team sports, especially on the television. Never got the big deal about watching meat heads pound into each other while wearing pads. That’s like watching a gun fight with nerf toys. I don’t mind watching a rugby match or even European soccer, but American sports do nothing for me.

My music vice is old country of multiple varieties. I also love the old ballads from the British Isles which were generally kept pretty true to origin while cloistered away in the hills of Appalachia. From the early recordings that sound like they were done through a tin can and string to the more professional offerings, it’s all good.

Here’s Hazel Dickens with a smashing a capella rendition of “Hills of Galilee”:

youtube.com/watch?v=Wkt4dznOkoQ

A group my grandparents exposed me to early, and who my dad listened to a lot (almost every year granny and grandaddy would drive to North Carolina for an outdoor gospel jamboree and these guys were usually there):

The Inspirations “I have not forgotten”
youtube.com/watch?v=uJoVYCap7LA

Another favorite couple of musicians: Iris Dement and John Prine

“We’re not the Jet Set”
youtube.com/watch?v=SsyHo8iUsjE

I’m basically an exciting 65 year old trapped in a boring 28 year old’s body and life.😛
 
There was also quite a lively thread on CAF (I can’t remember the name of it), where someone felt that one should not have fun in any way that does not expressly aim to please God.

Does that put limits on us as traditional Catholics on what we are able to do?

I read somewhere else, that traditionally, Catholics have never been really strict about every day practices and that traditional Catholics who disagree with television, or going to the movies, etc are acting more like fundamentalists (protestants).

Does anyone agree with that?
I really am not out to be disagreeable here, but why are you so set on defining what “traditional” Catholics do? Any Catholic has the responsibility to wisely use their time and to avoid occasions of sin, and that includes in the area of entertainment. One’s identity first and foremost is as a Catholic, not as a “traditional” Catholic. Otherwise, it really does sound as if less is expected of the “non-traditional” Catholics, and that is really an insult to all of us who follow the teachings of the Catholic church, love the Lord with all our, live a fully Catholic life, yet don’t identify ourselves as “traditional”.

My understanding is that those who attend the EF mostly identify themselves as “traditional”, and that is basically the criterion, not what they do for entertainment, how many times they go to Confession, whether they kneel for Communion, or receive it on the tongue, or whatever outward pious practices people use. We are all bound to the same standards and Canon Law and Magisterial teaching as practicing Catholics, and it really bothers me that someone would somehow think that those who do not identify with the “traditionalist” would somehow spend their time in less holy pursuits.

I don’t think that you and others realize how this can sound to people, and you are not the only one who does it. People have written over and over again that such labels are not helpful, but no one is listening.

And for the record, I play on the computer, watch TV, play cards, go out with friends, go shopping, and occasionally play a slot machine, just like many Catholics do. We are not fundamentalist Protestants, although there are fundamentalist Catholics who think in the same way, just different religions.
 
There was also quite a lively thread on CAF (I can’t remember the name of it), where someone felt that one should not have fun in any way that does not expressly aim to please God.

Does that put limits on us as traditional Catholics on what we are able to do?

I read somewhere else, that traditionally, Catholics have never been really strict about every day practices and that traditional Catholics who disagree with television, or going to the movies, etc are acting more like fundamentalists (protestants).

Does anyone agree with that?
You know, the only limits any Catholic has set on him/her are the ones set by God as taught by the Magesterium of the Church. Anything else is either from people themselves or the evil one attempting to discourage people and bind them into a rigid religious system which focuses more on rules and don’ts rather than the love of God.

And I have to confess that I am a wee bit upset that anyone would think that “traditional” Catholics are more likely to engage or not engage in certain recreational activities than the rest of the Catholics who love and try to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, as if somehow the pursuits are less holy for the rest of us. There is really no reason to pose the question as other than “What do Catholics” do? There are certain things that no Catholic should be doing, whether they attend the EF or the OF. There is no difference whatsoever in what expected of one as a Catholic whether they attend the EF or OF, in God’s eyes. The Church makes no such distinctions, nor does it use such labels.

We are first and foremost Catholics. any other labels are secondary, and God doesn’t care.
 
I read somewhere else, that traditionally, Catholics have never been really strict about every day practices and that traditional Catholics who disagree with television, or going to the movies, etc are acting more like fundamentalists (protestants).

Does anyone agree with that?
Yes. Absolutely.
 
I just ordered and received Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli which was written in the early 1600’s. I happen to be reading on the train this passage, which is apropos:
archive.org/stream/spiritualcombat02scupgoog/spiritualcombat02scupgoog_djvu.txt
This practice of doing every thing with the
simple intention of pleasing God Alone, appears
difficult at first, but becomes easy and delightful
by use, and by frequently fixing our desires on
God Himself, and by longing after Him with
tlic warm affections of our hearts, as our only
and liight’st Good — the One Who deserves that
all beings should seek Him for Himself, and
should serve and love Him above all things.
The more seriously and constantly we medi-
tate upon the Infinite Excellence of God, the
more fervent and frequent will these acts of the
will become; and we shall easily acquire in this
way the habit of performing every action out of
love 10 that Lord, Who Alone is worthy of it
Does anyone agree that what is discussed in this passage should affect what we choose to do for fun?
 
I just ordered and received Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli which was written in the early 1600’s. I happen to be reading on the train this passage, which is apropos:

Does anyone agree that what is discussed in this passage should affect what we choose to do for fun?
The passage is interesting, but is not what the Church teaches.

As Catholics, we are allowed to do things for fun as long as those things are not sinful, or do not become sinful by completely consuming us and making us forget about God.

You can take the above approach if you like, but such is not any type of dogmatic catholic standard we must live by.
 
My husband and I consider ourselves traditional in the sense that we only attend the latin mass and believe strongly in tradition. We do have tv, but basically only watch foodnetwork, documentary type things, and of course the NFL network… 🙂 We pray together every morning and every night, say our rosary (he in latin usually) as well as daily readings etc.

As far as having fun and hobbies, we love to cook, we love to shoot, we are totally into watching movies (as most modern TV shows are out of the question), we both love our internet forums, and although we don’t do it often, we love to kareoke! We’ve been out til last call more than a time or two! Only country music though… we both made a decision to give up our 80’s rock n roll a long time ago.

I honestly feel deprived of nothing!
 
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TrueLight:
I just ordered and received Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli which was written in the early 1600’s. I happen to be reading on the train this passage, which is apropos:

Does anyone agree that what is discussed in this passage should affect what we choose to do for fun?
The passage is interesting, but is not what the Church teaches.

As Catholics, we are allowed to do things for fun as long as those things are not sinful, or do not become sinful by completely consuming us and making us forget about God.

You can take the above approach if you like, but such is not any type of dogmatic catholic standard we must live by.

Ditto.
 
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