Skip to main content

What does it mean "I'm a Traditional Catholic"?

Image
By
+
JMJ

I was visiting with a friend the other day when he said: "I'm a traditionalist".

This surprised me because, while I could imagine him saying he was a "conservative or faithful Catholic", I didn't really think that the "traditionalist" label would stick.

This got me to to thinking about what it means, or should mean when a person shakes you hand and says: "Hi, I'm a Traditional Catholic".


What, in my mind, are some of the characteristics of a Traditional Catholic?  I'm going to try and relate this to org culture (link):



I realize that it isn't a perfect model, but work with me for now ... ok?

Starting at the Artifacts level, we have the easy part: Regularly attend the Tridentine Mass.

If someone doesn't embrace the Traditional Theology as expressed by / embodied in the Tridentine Mass, how can they be consider a "Traditional Catholic"?

Attached this are all the pre-conciliar forms of the Roman Sacraments.  

I mean, who wouldn't want to have the added benefit of the exorcisms for baptism(link)?  The same goes for the rest of the Sacraments (Penance, Holy Orders, etc).

What is important to understand is that this is not simply a "preference", it is a realization that the pre-conciliar rites are superior in expressing the truths of the Catholic Faith.  

If a person doesn't value that as well as the attendant artifacts ... then from my perspective they aren't "Traditional Catholic".

This leads us to values - the expressions of the Catholic Church in its Doctrines.  A Traditional Catholic attempts to align their lives with the Doctrines of the Catholic Church.  We all fail to some degree in this, but the key item is that we are trying.

A person who goes to the Tridentine Mass because it is a fashion statement (something that I understand happens to some degree in Europe), but does not live their lives accordingly on the other six days of the week, is no better off than the pre-conciliar Sunday Catholics.

Finally, we have the level of assumptions.  Here we have core values that are hard (ie impossible) to change.  Such as "Outside the Church there is no salvation" etc.  Integrating these values so they are automatic and subconscious fuels one's Sensum Fidei (Sense of the Faith).  If a person has discomfort with the Dogmas of the Catholic Faith, even after further study, then they really - at the core - aren't Traditional Catholic.

In fact, they may even be are risk of no longer being Catholic.


So what kind of Traditional Catholic are you trying to be?

P^3


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

By
 + JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them.   I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest.  This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis?  When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due.   This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dogmas of the Catholic Faith (de fide) - Expanded Listing

By
+ JMJ A friend had mentioned that he has seen a longer list of truths of the Faith than the one I posted here .  I have finally discovered it online. I have yet to completely determine what dogmas were missed in the original, those I have found are highlighted. Source: A List Of The Dogmas Of The Catholic Church - Fr. Carota Alternate Source: Referencing Ott   Posts Listing the Dogmas of the Catholic Church Dogmas of the Catholic Faith (de fide) - Expanded Listing: Answer for Reader (Oct 2022) Updated List of Teachings of the Catholic Church (Oct 2021) *** Dogmas of the Catholic Faith (Oct 2015) De Fide teaching of the Catholic Church (Apr 2013)           *** Latest version    
1 comment
Read more

De Fide Teachings of the Catholic Church (Updated)

By
+ JMJ  Update: I was reviewing Ott's work directly and noted that some of the Teachings are De Fide while others are different levels of authority (such as Sent Certa etc).  So please refer to Ott for the actual classification). Posts Listing the Dogmas of the Catholic Church Dogmas of the Catholic Faith (de fide) - Expanded Listing: Answer for Reader (Oct 2022) Updated List of Teachings of the Catholic Church (Oct 2021) *** Dogmas of the Catholic Faith (Oct 2015) De Fide teaching of the Catholic Church (Apr 2013)           *** Latest version  
Post a Comment
Read more

Homily vs Sermon

By
+ JMJ Something that I've noticed is that Modern Catholics use the phrase 'Homily' instead of 'Sermon'. I've often wondered about this difference. Here's what I found Catholic Encyclopedia (1910) Homily: ...Since Origen's time homily has meant, and still means, a commentary, without formal introduction, division, or conclusion, on some part of Sacred Scripture , the aim being to explain the literal, and evolve the spiritual, meaning of the Sacred Text.  ... Wikipedia Sermon: : A sermon is an oration , lecture , or talk by a member of a religious institution or clergy . Sermons address a scriptural, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present contexts. Elements of the sermon often include exposition, exhortation, and practical application.   Catholic Encyclopedia (1910) Sermon: As to preaching at the present day, we can clearly trace the influe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Becoming Traditional Catholic Part I

By
+ 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-Traditiona...
Post a Comment
Read more