Becoming Traditional Catholic Part I

JMJ

It is a big step from the non-Traditional to Traditional Catholic World.

First of all, the Trad world is much smaller, isolated and under siege.

This leads to a number of interesting elements that a person making the transition needs to take into account.

The Trad World Is Smaller

It is a fact that in the states there are about 30,000 Traditional Catholics who support the SSPX and about 3,000 in Canada. The other Traditionalit orders (FSSP, ICK, etc), I assume, are in the same ball park if not smaller.

Let put that in perspective, in my area there are 270,000 non-Traditional Catholics.

Consequently, aside from the larger centers, a Traditional 'Parish' or Mass Centre will be 200 people or less.

This has the advantage of being like an extended family and cozy.

It has the disadvantage that any crazy 'uncles' in that family will be in plain sight.

Be forewarned that any eccentricity that would be drowned in a sea of people in a non-Traditional setting will be like mountains in a Trad environment.

So be patient.

The Trad World Is Isolated

Trads are not, by nature, isolationist. But because of the distance between the Teachings of the World and the Teachings of the Catholic Church - a normal isolation occurs.

Think about the 'popular' topics of abortion, euthanasia, contraception, gay rights, eugenics, etc.

Each of these is an important topic or 'issue', slowly creating a significant amount of emotional (irrational) thought and argumentation.

However, when one becomes a Traditional Catholic, a whole new set of 'issues' are added to the list.

The first would be Outside the Church there is no salvation (see this link for a my series on this topic). This is a Dogma - yet I have been accused by nT's of 'wanting to condemn them all to Hell'. This is closely linked with the 'anonymous christian' theory (condemned by Pius XII).

When you cross the line to tCatholicism, you are going to be faced with this one - sooner or later. Be ready by understanding what the Church teaches - false religions are just that false. They do not have any power to save. Any vestiges of the Catholic Church that they contain (Bible, sacraments etc) are just that vestiges.

Members of non-Catholic religions aren't members of the Catholic Church and therefore they are seriously hampered depending on their state of ignorance.

The second would be liberalism. Liberals have an immediate hate reaction when they come across a Catholic who actually believes what the Catholic Church Teaches. In fear a Catholic may turn from this fight and ... it is a hard one to navigate because the Liberals have an emotional response.

... the list goes on.

The Trad World is Under Siege

Because of these differences, differences that matter, there is a war between the Army of Christ and the Army of Satan.

A lot of us have been fighting since the 70's, I've been in for 35 years. The human mind likes to make complex things simple, us vs them. In general this is true, it is the Camp of Christ vs the Camp of Satan.

Years of conflict can develop automatic reactions to things that 'smell' moderns. One's perspective may narrow if they don't keep up a strong spiritual life (1st priority) and study the faith (2nd priority).

So start today working on your spiritual life and studying - but always keep the priority.

Conclusion

So what does this all mean?

It means that when a person becomes a TCatholic, a chasm will open between their beliefs and those of ntCatholics and non-Catholics alike.

Be patient.

P^3

nTC =nTCatholic = non-Traditional Catholic
TC = TCatholic = Tradication Catholic

Auctorem Fidei

Can the SSPX be right about the Novus Ordo? Revision: Feb 11, 2013 On another web forum, I was engaged in a rather heated discussion about the documents of Vatican II.

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

Regarding Post: Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer no longer ... now Bishop Joseph Pfeiffer (Can't see this being a problem...)

+ JMJ I've been watching the popularity of the post about Fr. Pfeiffer's attempted episcopal consecration and its continued top listing on the 'popular posts' list at the bottom of posts. After some thought, I decided that I don't want to be responsible for anyone joining Fr. Pfeiffer's 'group', however unlikely that would be at this time. So I have reverted the article to the draft state. If anyone wants it reinstated, I would ask that they comment on this post with a rationale for reinstatement. P^3

Is it sinful to attend the Novus Ordo (New Mass) - Is it Sinful to Not Attend the Novus Ordo on Sunday?

+ JMJ A non-SSPX Catholic is upset over the SSPX statements on not attending the Novus Ordo Missae. Ladies and gentlemen, what the SSPX, or at least its website editor, is advocating is a mortal sin against the Third Commandment. Unless the priest deviates from the language of the Sacramentary, the consecration, and thus the rest of Mass is to be considered valid. No one may elect not to attend Mass simply because abuses are occurring therein. Might I suggest that such absenteeism is its own abuse? The Third Commandment binds under mortal sin. Father So-And-So from the SSPX has no authority whatsoever to excuse attendance at Mass, be that Mass ever so unpalatable. Source:Restore DC Catholicism Well, this is interesting. First why does the SSPX issue this statement? Because it is sinful to put your faith in danger by attending a protestant service. It is likewise dangerous to put your faith in danger by attending a protestantized mass (ie the Novus Ordo Missae

What the heck is a congregation of "Pontifical Right"

+ JMJ In a discussion with a friend the question occurred to me that I didn't actually know was is involved in being a religious order of 'pontifical right'. I had a vague notion that this meant they reported to Rome as opposed to the local diocese. I'm also aware that, according to the accounts I have heard, the Archbishop received 'praise' and the written direction to incardinate priests directly into the SSPX. This is interesting because it implies that the SSPX priests were no longer required to incardinate in the local diocese but in the SSPX. This is something that belongs to an order of 'pontifical right'. Anyway here's some definitions: Di diritto pontificio is the Italian term for “of pontifical right” . It is given to the ecclesiastical institutions (the religious and secular institutes, societies of apostolic life) either created by the Holy See or approved by it with the formal decree, known by its Latin name, Decretu

Tradicat

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