Why I Started Tradicat ... and Why I Continue...

JMJ

In 2010, we moved into a house and transitioned from dial-up internet to DSL and it took a little time to adjust.

It was at that point that I discovered online forums such as AngelQueen,Ignis Ardens, Suscipe Domine, Cathinfo (I was banned within a couple of days).

I was even invited to a resistance forum that started when Ignis Ardens started it's death spiral. I was banned within 20 minutes - my personal best!

Those days were exciting and I was very thankful that my mother forced me to take typing. It got to the point that my 'resistor' opponents could not conceive of my being a single person. At one point the opinion emerged that I was about 3 to 5 Menzigenites working against the 'resistance'.

Those were heady days indeed.

While I enjoyed the experience, it was taxing, instructive, exhilarating and frustrating. I was once described by a former IDF commando (RIP) as a warrior and at this point I think I would agree. But the experience was beginning to sour.

The biggest problem was that the work I put into responses was quickly lost in the stream of responses. This was overshadowed by a the realization that I had become somewhat obsessed or at least absorbed by these arguments and not doing my duty to my family.

Over a number of months I became disillusioned and finally disinterested in contributing to forums. It took time and the real turning point was when I did a study of my online time vs family time. The results were depressing and added to this was the fact that I had been drawn into real-world discussions and arguments with Modern Catholics.

One benefit of all this activity was that I had to study and I studied a lot. The downside was that I was being spiritually drained by the exertion. The solution was provided by a priest who, in a few words, described the danger of running on empty in a spiritual war.

The solution:

I try to keep up my spiritual life by doing spiritual reading and prayer to counter balance studies.
I started this blog, so I could write down the results of my studies and ponderings.
I still pop in to Suscipe Domine, but if I'm going to write a long response (a rare occurrence these days), I'll post it on Tradicat first. I should note that Suscipe Domine has the most effective and balanced moderation process of all the forums I explored.

So why did I start Tradicat?

To not lose track of the work that I've done and documented in articles.
To have my own place to write what I want even if a forum moderator doesn't like it.
To have a "library" resource

Why do I continue?

It's therapeutic. I work out my frustrations with the crisis of the Church by studying, thinking and writing my thoughts on the blog
Because to be motivated to do the above, I need to 'publish' it. It was the same with my research into my thesis and to a lesser extent is it the same here. I get motivated to study things I find interesting and publishing puts me over the threshold of action.
Because some people find the work of value.

So, those of my rambling thoughts this Canada Day.

P^3

Comments

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

+ 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...

Tradical Commentary on: Restore DC Catholicism: SSPX And Austrilian Bishops - Two Different Errors

+ JMJ An interesting thing has happened on the discussion that prompted my article on whether it is sinful to attend the Novus Ordo Missae . The blog owner of RDCC has shut down discussion by locking the article. That is their prerogative, but I am puzzled as to why? Perhaps it has something to do with some of the latter comments. They didn't believe the teaching on intention with regards to confecting the Sacraments. This is not the first time I've experienced incredulity on this topic ( reference articles ). Really this isn't about what they believe but the truth. They seem to believe that the objections to the Novus Ordo Missae are simply about "overly delicate sensibilities". In response to this I am reblogging a number of articles by the SSPX. Perhaps it was the comment made by Bishop Schneider, a currently well revered hero (who deserved the accolades) but apparently has said something similar to the SSPX. I suspect that it is more...

Australia: Seal of the Confessional Outlawed at the Federal Level

+ JMJ This is simply another step in the attack on the Catholic Church. Interestingly, California's attempt to do the same failed. P^3 Courtesy of FSSPX.news Australia: Seal of the Confessional Outlawed at the Federal Level December 19, 2019 Source: fsspx.news On December 2, 2019, the Australian Conference of Bishops (ACBC) denounced the agreement between the Attorneys General of each state and the Australian federal government, with the aim of standardizing the laws imposing on priests the obligation to denounce any alleged fact of ill-treatment of minors that would be learned in the context of the sacrament of penance. “Counterproductive and unjust” are the terms with which Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane and President of the ACBC, denounced the new prejudicial legal norms on the sacramental seal of the confessional in Australia. The attorneys gener...

Comparision of the Tridentine, Cranmer and Novus Ordo Masses

+ JMJ I downloaded the comparison that was linked in the previous article on the mass (here) . ... a very good reference! P^3 From: Whispers of Restoration (available at this link) . CHARTING LITURGICAL CHANGE Comparing the 1962 Ordinary of the Roman Mass to changes made during the Anglican Schism; Compared in turn to changes adopted in the creation of Pope Paul VI’s Mass in 1969 The chart on the reverse is a concise comparison of certain ritual differences between three historical rites for the celebration of the Catholic Mass Vetus Ordo: “Old Order,” the Roman Rite of Mass as contained in the 1962 Missal, often referred to as the “Traditional Latin Mass.”The Ordinary of this Mass is that of Pope St. Pius V (1570) following the Council of Trent (1545-63), hence the occasional moniker “Tridentine Mass.” However, Trent only consolidated and codified the Roman Rite already in use at that time; its essential form dates to Pope St. Gregory the Great (+604), in whose time the R...

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

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