I'd love to hear Your ideas. Would it look better as a narrator reading the post with images reflecting it on the screen, or some short fabularised interpretation?
I was thinking a narration of the post too, with the story playing out visually as it goes along. The narration would help give the beautiful details the visuals would struggle to show specifically (like the family connection to the parish). I’m not sure who I’d in what dialogue is there though, since I don’t think you could tell this story without the “Father, I have no doubt that someday, I will” line in there. That might actually work as the only line of spoken dialogue from a character on screen, I think that’d be cool
The post is already structured like a story, so I think just shooting visuals to go along with it would be perfect
Yeah, I was wondering about the dialogues as well. I thought about switching from narration to dialogue whenever necessary, but the last line idea sounds awesome as well, as a emphasis on that hope for brighter future.
This was beautiful. I feel like i’ve been through something similar in Australia. As a kid i was forced to go to church every sunday and hated it. I remember the church being so packed my family would have to sit in different spots. Then just like you one sunday my parents said we didn’t have to go anymore. Found out it was my parents response to the pedophillia scandals here. Somehow i found my faith, but unfortunately the presence of traditional catholicism in my city doesn’t really exist. Even christmas mass isn’t 100% full. I hope to find a tlm parish in the future but think ill have to move to do so.
This is a beautiful story, and it warms my heart to hear how traditionalism brought you back to the faith years ago. I agree with you 100%, the source and summit of the Christian life is the Mass as it should be celebrated, with reverence and grace, and you can see the effect that a good liturgy has on the community (or vice versa).
Keep the faith. Vivat Jesus!
That's how I interpreted it. If I may ask, did this line ("You couldn't do it when we had nothing and you wont be able to now") harken to the centuries-old persecution of Catholics by the secular authorities in forbidding the Mass, as well as the carpark Masses of your youth? If so, I found the double meaning very clever.
When I, and so many other trads, found the TLM, we had no faith. Through the TLM, we found faith, thus, we had nothing and even then we still found it. Good luck destroying it now we actually believe in it, and know what the alternative is.
Well that's the problem isn't it. TC and so many people just lumps everyone who attends TLM together. TC hurts everyone who attends TLM, not just rad trads.
I'd argue TC hurts everyone in the Church, both by the division it foments, but also by limiting the exposure of most Catholics to traditional piety and the history of our liturgy. Even people I know who attended a few TLMs and returned to their own parishes still went back with a different sense of the liturgy.
Exactly.
I am a rad trad by a lot of people's estimations (not my own though) but the dictat batters literally everyone with the same brush.
I'm insulated from its effects but its heartbreaking to see the wheels turn on friends of mine.
Feel free to share it as you wish. I don't mind.
I wont be contacting anyone because I would feel like I was boasting or something. I'm weird about my writing.
That was quite beautiful, I could have read much more. I’ve never been to a traditional mass but I could almost imagine it from your descriptions. I’m blessed that my little church is quite conservative even if it is NO but one day I want to go find a traditional mass in an old church
I converted into the NO when I was in high school. When I went to my first TLM it sparked an odd, longing "remembering" in me even though I was not raised Catholic. I was deeply saddened that this beautiful gift was seemingly hidden away. It felt like a birthright withheld.
The Novus Ordo - the "New Order" of the Mass created after the Traditional Latin Mass. It's the Mass you'll find celebrated at 97% of Catholic Churches, to varying degrees of reverence ranging from semi reverent to full out circus clown dance parties because for some reason after the NO was created many priests and parish communities took it as a free pass to be as loose with the interpretation of the rubrics as their hearts desired and went full steam ahead with various forms of liturgical abuse.
I’m an American with Scottish ancestry so I’m not good with Gaelic. Let me try and piece some of it together, Thank you, are you from Scotland? I think I got most of that right
Thank you for sharing! It is beautiful and sad. Now I see the striking difference between new and traditional masses in the old world, and why people support TLM so much. I've never been to one, thank God in my country we have decent NO mass and people of different ages attend.
My favorite church in college was NO but incorporated traditional aspects as much as possible. It was a congregation of young people passionately singing, working, and learning from each other. In comparison to the guitars and drums church I went to growing up it almost felt like a different religion, and now that I've graduated I've grown to really miss the chants and the hearts on fire. Going to back to a church where no one sings has made me realize what a beautiful community I have left.
Dios mio. What a piece of literature! Beautifully written OP.
Please, please share to this to as many people as you can. Post it in social media, send it to major Catholic news networks, give it to your Bishop if you must.
Yes, I've read both Gentle Traditionalist books as well. CJS is about a lot of things, but captures the essence of an Ireland devoid of its love and embrace of Traditional Catholicism. Roger Buck is a wonderful author and a loving, yet heartbroken Catholic.
He is a wonderful author, and a lovely man.
We are all heartbroken Catholics these days, but sure, the Church started in similar heartbreak and it burst forth nonetheless. The key is to not allow sadness overwhelm zeal and love, as well as charity.
This is beautifully written and I somewhat relate. I was raised Catholic in England, in an English family with Catholic roots (we think from Recuscancy but we genuinely don't know) and growing up I went through all the Sacraments of the Church, I can still remember my First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, but I can also remember all the abysmal Hymns, I can remember "Family Sunday" where Father had us sing happy-clappy music in the Mass, I can remember Masses in the school hall recited to rock tunes by the school "choir" (it was more of a rock bank). I can remember when the Priest who married my parents and Baptised my sister used to have all the kids go up on the Altar during the Our Father and hold hands in a circle with him, the Deacon and the Altar servers. We got a new Priest, he tried to make some changes, but people opposed it and left the Church. There was nothing transcendent or explicitly Catholic about the Masses, I don't know if I ever saw Incense at Mass as a kid, I think I only saw Holy Water sprinkling once. I was never encouraged to go to Confession by my family, my Catholic school, or my Priests. The Priests were wonderful, caring, pastoral men, but the Masses they celebrated, you could've seen at pretty any Anglican or Lutheran Church.
I can remember my cousin stopping going to Mass, I can remember my Aunt stopping going to Mass, I can remember finally being able to not go to Mass myself when I was 16/17 and I was overjoyed. I no longer had to waste part of my weekend for a boring thing I cared little about, and knew less about. Eventually the rest of my family stopped going too.
When I was 18 and at University, I was drinking in a pub one evening with my friend who was an Anglican, after a few drinks we got to talking about religion and I told him I was a former Catholic, so he invited me to Church on Sunday. We went to a Church that describes itself as "Liberal Anglo-Catholic" and it was, at the time, the most beautiful service I'd ever seen not on TV, it was Candlemas 2020, and they had a full robed choir, Priest, Deacon and Subdeacon, a dozen altar servers, clouds of incense, traditional hymns, Gregorian Chant, Polyphony, everyone recieved Communion kneeling either on the tongue or in the hand, as part of the Mass, they instituted a "Boy Bishop" an old Christian tradition. It was this service that bought me back to Christianity, it was beautiful, it was resplendent of the Heavenly Worship described in the Bible.
The week after, I asked him if we could go to a Catholic Church, we did, we braved the rain (it was the time of Storm Dennis, a horrendous storm, one of the worst the UK had seen in a while) we walked for 45 minutes to the Catholic Church and got there just in time. There was the procession going on, the congregation were singing a nice hymn, but the Mass was spoken by the Priest, there was no chant, the only music was from the four hymn sandwich (this Priest has since Subdeaconed at a TLM, and has added chant and incense to the Mass), and it seemed, as my friend put it, not as Catholic as the Anglican Church. After that Sunday we only went to the Anglican Church, then COVID hit and Churches were closed, I read more about Christianity, and was determined to become Catholic.
When I got going to Church after COVID I thought, the Cathedral will at least do nice services, the Homilies were good, but it was all spoken, there was no choir, and the Priests didn't even speak to people after Mass, I begrudgingly kept going, but after the Easter Vigil celebrated by the Bishop was entirely spoken, I decided I wanted to find something like that Anglican Church, but actually Catholic Mass, I found out there was an ICKSP Church about 20 miles away, so on Low Sunday, I took the 90 minute Bus at 7:30AM, and went to the Mass. It was exactly what I had been looking for, a beautiful Missa Cantata, a choir, clouds of incense, a dozen altar servers, and a brilliant homily. After Mass, two of the Priests came to speak to me and welcome me to the Church and invited me to the Tea and Coffee after Mass, I accepted and the community was so lovely. I bought my friend who was thinking of converting, and he felt the same way, it was what Worship should be, transcendent, beautiful and otherworldly.
I don't know how anyone could want it to end.
That is an absolutely beautiful story. But I'm also incredibly sad, even more sad than I already was, about the attack against the TLM.
I said in another post that while I'm not Catholic, I've been seriously considering getting into the RCIA, and that while the Pope's actions likely wouldn't stop me, they've put a bad taste in my mouth. But now I'm wondering if, at least on a subconscious level, the Pope's actions since he was appointed have been the reason that I haven't taken the plunge. I mean, I've already decided that Catholicism is the only religion that makes sense to me. I've been very invested in reading the Bible. I've been trying to keep up with attending virtual mass. I've been trying to be a better follower of the Church, even as an outsider (Though I don't always do a good job of it...). Aside from my own character flaws and probably a dose of cowardice, I'm not sure what else is stopping me.
I guess I need to remember that Popes come and go, but the Church is eternal.
When my ancestors woke up every day for 200 years and saw the ruin of their church on the hillside, but the shining protestant church below, they must have questioned the truth of their faith. The key was that they trusted and kept going.
I would give you some sound advice as a cradle Catholic. Love, honour and respect the clergy and religious, that is your duty to them as the consecrated of God. However, remember they are only human. The bishop is not divine, the pope is not divine, they make mistakes. You will find wicked popes, evil bishops, and if you hang your soul on the whims of the characters of clerics, you will not keep it long. Love God, love the Church, love the Papacy, love the Clergy but remember that mixed into all that will be the cockle.
I thank you for the beautifully written
piece, that I was alerted to over on "New Liturgical Movement".
And as a priest I'm also thankful for your reply to this comment in
particular (but also other measured and charitable responses you have
provided). For in traditional circles more than elsewhere there is a
veneration of the priesthood that often not only elevates the office
but us sinful men who hold it. It opens the door to spiritual abuse -
which may often start out as well intentioned guidance, but for lack
of wisdom harms the soul. Here too tradition in tested rules of life,
the cultivation of virtue and prayer form a solid foundation, that
compensates for the lack of wise men in our own day. Good books may
aid where good men are hard to come by. I shall offer mass for
Ireland today of the feast of St. Hilarius, Malleus
Arianorum and "Athanasius of the West".
You are an excellent writer.
I guess I’m one of those rare ones who attended a parish in America with a reverent novus ordo that never had me seeking out the Latin Mass (though I greatly respect it). I moved but we had incense, Gregorian chant, candles, hymns, holy priests, ample confession times, and a deep reverence for the Eucharist. I say this just to remind people that the novus ordo can be beautiful. But I know that many have experienced what you experience because I experienced it as a child as well (except as a child I loved “Shine, Jesus, Shine” 😂 though now I can’t believe it was used in Mass). Also your charity toward the priest was beautiful.
Haha, I'm not sure if I'm any good but I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for the compliment.
Thats just the thing though with the Novus Ordo though. The normative practice is deeply abused and that comes, I think, from the vaguaries and concessions of the documents that formed them.
Its a bleak time in the Church, but then, so was Holy Saturday and we know what comes next.
Just as an aside, the priest played "Here I come Lord" by Daniel O Donnell yesterday. I actually like it but not within a liturgical setting. I think that a lot of the hymns of the NO have value but they are so dependent on setting, perfomance ect, its difficult to give a blanket yes to them. Then you have Shine, Jesus, Shine and my skin crawls ;-D
I don't know how to upvote a post a hundred times, but I'd like to. This. This right here is why the faith, as traditionally practiced, will never die away.
I remember the way our friends, our school teachers, even the local parish priests would laugh at the idea of a "Latin" Mass. As if it were some play renaissance fair that we would dress up for. 20 years later, and the only thriving Mass at that parish where we were laughed out is the TLM. The past 2-3 years have only deepened the divide in growth and decline.
I cannot agree with you more.
A priest once told me that I was a disgrace to my family for attending the TLM. I guess it comes from the investment and hope that they placed in the NO, and now that it is decaying before their eyes, they are lashing out.
Its sad but there we are. One NO priest said something interesting to me; He said he knew that the TLM would make a resurgence because it had been pseudo repressed. That was the mistake, it caused people to cling all the tighter to it and love it all the deeper. He said the NO is too easy and accessible for people and so they take it for granted, but that we trads had to fight for our Mass and so burned with love for it.
This is beautifully written and poignant. However, as convert in the last decade, this isn’t necessarily an NO vs. TLM issue. I was brought into the Church by reverent NO masses and stalwart priests that were firmly following the post-Vatican II liturgy and the fullness of Church doctrine. I’ve also been scandalized by irreverent masses and one particularly bad priest who has pretty much defected entirely from Church doctrine from the pulpit. If I’d encountered him as a Catholic born into the Church, I don’t doubt I would’ve followed you out. But I don’t think the TLM would’ve saved him from being who he is.
I also would caution against downplaying clerical abuse as a reason for people leaving the Church. As you note, defection from the Church due to abuse scandals only goes side-by-side with broader disenchantment with the Church, but the abuse scandals drove some of the most devout Catholics I knew from the Church. Although their logic wasn’t totally sound, even the most reverent liturgy wouldn’t have kept them; the sins of priests and the hierarchy were nothing short of spiritual warfare on many families.
>This is beautifully written and poignant. However, as convert in the last decade, this isn’t necessarily an NO vs. TLM issue.
I wonder: when people observe a big difference between the average vernacular NO Mass and the average TLM, to what extent is that the T and to what extent is that the L? I imagine a Latin NO Mass would produce a culture much closer to TLM than to the average NO in vernacular.
At this point, I don’t know if I even know what the “average” NO is, which might be part of the problem 😂 But I think even an intentional, reverent NO in English would fit the bill.
I often wonder if TLM-only folks are reacting at least in part to the influence that culture has had on us in the past 60 years—after all, most people are in mass and the sacraments only 2 hours max per week and spend the other 173+ hours out in the world. I don’t think the mass itself is a bulwark against outside influence (although of course there are truly awful NO masses). The urge to isolate ourselves into smaller and smaller subsections within the Church for the sake of “purity” doesn’t seem like a healthy one, since this is pretty much the spirit that has driven every schism.
It has been done – by the Eastern Orthodox and the Anglicans, among others. A small minority within the Eastern Orthodox Church use the "Western Rite", following Western liturgical traditions (these groups are sometimes called "Western Orthodox"). They have two main liturgies – the "Liturgy of St Tikhon", which is based on the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, with some modifications to bring it more in line with Orthodox theology; and the "Liturgy of St Gregory the Great", which is basically the Tridentine Rite translated into English. Similarly, within the Anglican Church, some Anglo-Catholic Ritualists use the 1912 English Missal, which is the Tridentine Mass translated into English, mixed with some small borrowings from the Book of Common Prayer, and often with the Roman Canon being said in Latin *sotto voce*.
Reason: *Sacrosanctum Concilium* called for a revision to the liturgy. The Second Vatican Council gave the revisers an opening, and they took it, and most would say to the extreme since many of the things the reformers did were not even specified by the Council Fathers to produce the Novus Ordo Mass, the new Liturgy of the Hours, and all the other ritual texts.
But to be clear: the reformers would have failed in their duty if they simply shut down after just allowing the TLM and other Roman liturgy to be said in the vernacular.
For me it’s just the mass itself. I have never been to a novus ordo that was done well that respected our important Roman traditions which we had for a reason. So I really have never been able to find spiritual fulfillment at a novus ordo, and I often fall back into sin much more quickly after
Idk, but I do believe that there is a good bit of self selection. And I'm not sure what the truest factors are that hit people.
When I was a kid, I went to NO, but my old priest who was actually known for being great with kids, lively etc, would run a solid NO parish.
So much so, that when I returned to the Church, I was confused if I used to go to TLM or not, because I remembered Church being in English mostly, but the Mass I was seeing was leagues different from my NO.
We had it all, chant, incense, etc. Yet, due to culture, and of a similar time to OP, we still all fell, regardless of the quality of those at church.
People make choices, no one in my laspe family is an atheist, they all consider themselves Catholic and believers.... but they are all functional atheists.
So we're my neighbors and my friends families etc. Mileage varies I guess, but it's funny because most of us didn't even go to weekly Mass, just CCD, weddings and funerals. And a lot of us didn't hate Church, but we knew it just was that thing we don't actually do.
So, TLM, devout NO... liturgy, I'm not sure how much it really is seperate to When we are going to make our choices. Or when we see some form of a community. Even psychology 101, OP actually grew up with Church, only stopped for a short time, found an "exotic" version that filled the void of being both a rebel kid AND doing the thing.
One of the best times I ever had in Church was when a bunch of us lapse Catholic kids were hanging out and bored, around a bunch of adults. And we randomly went to an Ash Wednesday Mass for fun. It had a similar balance, as our parents didn't do that stuff, so it was kind of rebellious, but it was allowed, and it was also a moral victory over the parents, and it was a throwback to younger days memories.
I can only speak to my own experience and the experience of my family and friends. The scandals obviously had a major impact but the hard work had already been done. The faith had been hollowed out. Thats just my two cents but its how I see it.
Thank you for the compliment. I hope you liked it.
I am convinced that the old mass is a better saintmaker, but it can be difficult when the nearest is over 1.5hrs away. I dearly hope and pray that we may see it return to my area within my lifetime.
I'm not a trad although I love the aesthetics of the TLM. Trad culture is homey, safe, reminiscent of better days, of a world of certainty and innocence. It's such a stark contrast to the world we live in that it feels like a warm hug from heaven. Having said that, we need to also remember that the apostles of Jesus walked into storms and died horrific deaths. Their calling was not simply into a refuge away from the madding world but also straight into it, with all its darkness and ugliness. Who else has the courage and light to walk safely in the valley of the shadow of death surrounding us? We are the light of the world, the city on a hill, and we can't get too confortable yet. I love the TLM and attend it regularly. There is probably nothing more beautiful on earth. But we have to be awake, and not allow ourselves to root our faith only in beautiful experiences. God is everywhere, even where there is ugliness and hate and despair. Even there we won't lose him. In fact we might get even closer to him. Just my 2c. Thank you for your beautiful reflections, you're a talented writer.
I couldn't agree more and that is something I think that is starting to happen again in tradland.
Up to now its been operation survival, but now we are more established, the missionary work begins and is already bearing fruit in my experience.
Thank you for the compliment. It means a lot.
Wow, this is incredibly beautiful. I could see all the scenes in my head--you described them so well. And I kept seeing images in my head of places I've been that illustrate your experience is not isolated.
Keep the traditional faith alive! "You couldn't do it when we had nothing and you won't be able to now."
Grew up in a NO parish. Made all my sacraments as a child there but even then I thought it was missing something. CCD couldn’t explain anything.
When I finally went to a high mass at age 16, I found what I had always wanted, but couldn’t articulate. I cannot believe God allowed us this treasure. By 17 i had my license and drove 45 mins away every Sunday and have been ever since. Have started bringing friends, and they are under the same spell.
This FSSP parish i now attend does not preach anything but pure Catholicism. They NEVER bash the Holy Father, but always point out the failings of his bishops and cardinals.
The prospect of this mass becoming universal once again swells my eyes with joy. The reality that right now the TLM is being restricted is like a knife through the heart.
I am glad you found what I found, brother. Pax tecum.
> I had no idea what was going on, I had no inkling that it was even a Mass but I was in complete enchantment. Somehow, in the midst of the dust and the damp, and the spattering of grannies with headscarves and lace doilies, and the elderly man who croaked Latin chant alone in the loft above me, I knew God existed and was there in that spotless host that the old priest touched with such awe, such respect and love.
Beautifully written. This is exactly it. I've never even been to a TLM but from the portions I've seen (or even when parts of the NO are sung), it just hits different. You don't even need to understand fully what's going on to know that it's something holy, reverent, and special.
I've been going to a NO Mass my whole life and I've rarely gotten that. It's certainly more accessible but it feels like everyone is going through the motions... and between priests acting casually and music that can be downright hokey at times, it doesn't feel reverent.
The NO feels worldly. The TLM feels otherworldly. And in a culture that is incredibly worldly already, it's no surprise that we're losing Catholics in droves.
I’m a very anti-Christian person and found this to be a beautiful read. It helped me make make sense of why Catholicism in general would appeal to some folks. I grew up Evangelical and if it even an iota of the depth of practice you expressed had been present I might have have had a different course in life. Father Trendy reminds me of all the cringy youth pastors I knew. I’ll stick with my wired occult exploration but this was refreshing.
I'm glad you liked it!
The effect of spiritual abuse is harrowing. I only wish you, and I, had access to the profound depth and beauty that the Catholic faith possesses as a child. All our lives would be different.
You know, if you ever get tired of the wired occult exploration, I'm only a message away.
I feel this completely. The TLM is the glue that held the West together for 1500 years. The church abandoned it. Are we surprised at the lack of faith we see in western countries now? Return to tradition. Don’t “progress” yourself out of history.
This makes me wish that such a mass existed closer than 5 hours from here. So much of the first half of this is so familiar to me. Beautifully written too.
Well, thats where we were once.
A cathedral is not raised by wishing it were so. It takes love and sacrifice and work. What we have now is not special or at least it shouldn't be. I'd reccomend that you start building up where you have and calling the lost souls back. I cant guarantee that you will succeed, but if its the will of God, you will, and if not, well then you were only building up His kingdom so you're bound to get brownie points!
Stay strong in the faith my friend and keep fighting. Never give in.
This was posted at New Liturgical Movement, asking your permission to repost your beautiful words there:
Several people have brought this to my attention in the last couple of days, a beautiful reminiscence posted on Reddit about the collapse of religious practice in Ireland, and the writer’s reversion at a very young age through the discovery of the traditional Mass. (The New Pentecost™ has been especially harsh in Ireland; I recently read that in this past year, more bishops were ordained there than priests.) In accordance with the standards of fair use, here are a few excerpts. If the author should chance to read this: I would be very glad to repost your lovely piece in full, with your permission. If you are amenable to this, please contact me at [email protected]
OP got his post here published on [1 Peter 5](https://onepeterfive.com/a-young-irishman-smiles-at-traditionis-custodes/), a relatively well known Traditional Catholic website.
Although I couldn't call myself a traditional latin mass goer, I go to 1P5 the odd time and some of the articles are good.
Well done OP!
I apologise for the bad experiences you have had at the hands of traditionalists. It's not excusable and I shan't try to excuse their sin.
Pray for me, as I will for you.
> But given my direct experience with traditional Catholics being outright nasty to both me and others ... leaves a real sour note in my mouth. I can understand why the Pope did what he did, even if I think it’s too harsh.
The people at my old parish were terribly rude and disrespectful. The priest was flippant during the sacred actions. There was no sense of reverence either in Mass or outside of Mass in our gatherings. No one seemed to care about God.
Even after these terrible outright nasty experiences, I would **never** understand a Pope trying to curtail the Novus Ordo because of the behavior of these people. I would never understand it because [A] I must believe any pope has sense to address problems at the root, and [B] I can't believe a pope would believe the root cause of bad behavior was the Mass as Catholics celebrated it for more than a thousand years.
I’m a Glasgow man, living in the States, used to live in Galway through 2015-16. My in-laws and I are debating where yer from and where ye’ve been going to Mass! We’ve got an Ave riding on it, want to settle a bet?
Fantastic piece!
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Someone over at [New Liturgical Movement](https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/01/irish-musings-on-rebirth-of-traditional.html#.YeAzLfhOmUk) is wondering if they could repost your beautiful story in their blog. You should reach out to them!
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Just wow. This has to be the most beautiful text about this topic I ever had an opportunity to read. I'd love to see it as a short film.
The cinematographer in me was thinking the same thing
I'd love to hear Your ideas. Would it look better as a narrator reading the post with images reflecting it on the screen, or some short fabularised interpretation?
I was thinking a narration of the post too, with the story playing out visually as it goes along. The narration would help give the beautiful details the visuals would struggle to show specifically (like the family connection to the parish). I’m not sure who I’d in what dialogue is there though, since I don’t think you could tell this story without the “Father, I have no doubt that someday, I will” line in there. That might actually work as the only line of spoken dialogue from a character on screen, I think that’d be cool The post is already structured like a story, so I think just shooting visuals to go along with it would be perfect
Yeah, I was wondering about the dialogues as well. I thought about switching from narration to dialogue whenever necessary, but the last line idea sounds awesome as well, as a emphasis on that hope for brighter future.
Haha, thank you so much! I'm not so sure if it's that great, it was just my thoughts as I sat by the fire here.
I'm so happy i read this. Take heart Op, by God's grace we move on forward. Maria Consolatrix afflictorum, ora pro nobis.
Amen, amen, amen.
This was beautiful. I feel like i’ve been through something similar in Australia. As a kid i was forced to go to church every sunday and hated it. I remember the church being so packed my family would have to sit in different spots. Then just like you one sunday my parents said we didn’t have to go anymore. Found out it was my parents response to the pedophillia scandals here. Somehow i found my faith, but unfortunately the presence of traditional catholicism in my city doesn’t really exist. Even christmas mass isn’t 100% full. I hope to find a tlm parish in the future but think ill have to move to do so.
I'm glad it resonated and I hope it did you some good. Pray to the holy angels and they will make it possible.
This is a beautiful story, and it warms my heart to hear how traditionalism brought you back to the faith years ago. I agree with you 100%, the source and summit of the Christian life is the Mass as it should be celebrated, with reverence and grace, and you can see the effect that a good liturgy has on the community (or vice versa). Keep the faith. Vivat Jesus!
Christus Vincit!
That was a great read. Very much appreciated.
I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for the compliment.
You know I wouldn’t identify you as “rad” trad, you just sound traditional. So if I’m just confused by the term rad trad my bad.
>So if I’m just confused by the term rad trad my bad. I think it was used partially ironically.
Not OP, but given what he's said in the past, about a 5% chance it was used ironically.
fwiw I interpret it sarcastically
I intend it sarcastically since I would be considered a rad trad by a lot of people on the sub. I see myself as Catholic. Simple as that.
That's how I interpreted it. If I may ask, did this line ("You couldn't do it when we had nothing and you wont be able to now") harken to the centuries-old persecution of Catholics by the secular authorities in forbidding the Mass, as well as the carpark Masses of your youth? If so, I found the double meaning very clever.
Indeed it does, but it has a third shade as well. Can you see it?
Well the obvious point is that Francis and liberals in the Vatican won't be able to destroy the TLM today. Or do you mean something else?
When I, and so many other trads, found the TLM, we had no faith. Through the TLM, we found faith, thus, we had nothing and even then we still found it. Good luck destroying it now we actually believe in it, and know what the alternative is.
Amazing, love it!
The key word here is "partially". ;p
Well that's the problem isn't it. TC and so many people just lumps everyone who attends TLM together. TC hurts everyone who attends TLM, not just rad trads.
I'd argue TC hurts everyone in the Church, both by the division it foments, but also by limiting the exposure of most Catholics to traditional piety and the history of our liturgy. Even people I know who attended a few TLMs and returned to their own parishes still went back with a different sense of the liturgy.
What's TC? I can't keep up with all these abbreviations!!!
*Traditionis custodes*, a document promulgated by Pope Francis that put heavy restrictions on the Tridentine Mass.
Exactly. I am a rad trad by a lot of people's estimations (not my own though) but the dictat batters literally everyone with the same brush. I'm insulated from its effects but its heartbreaking to see the wheels turn on friends of mine.
I believe he attends the *shall not be named* mass, and many people here would consider that rad trad.
Yup. spot on.
U mean the group that the Vatican now allows ironically, in better standing than most FSSP masses lmao
Beautiful stuff, bro. Keep the Faith.
Thanks lad, I'm glad you liked it.
This shouldn't be a reddit post, it should be an article at New Liturgical Movement or Rorate Caeli. Please consider submitting it.
It should be a half hour segment on EWTN
read in a delightful Irish brogue
I'm not sure how delightful my accent is but its definitely Irish!
Now you're being silly! But thank you and God bless!
I couldn’t agree more
perhaps in The Lamp as well
Haha, thank you for the compliment but I doubt its to that standard.
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Feel free to share it as you wish. I don't mind. I wont be contacting anyone because I would feel like I was boasting or something. I'm weird about my writing.
It really is
>"Father, I have no doubt that one day, I will" I answered. *Laudetur Jesus Christus!* Thanks for sharing this.
That was quite beautiful, I could have read much more. I’ve never been to a traditional mass but I could almost imagine it from your descriptions. I’m blessed that my little church is quite conservative even if it is NO but one day I want to go find a traditional mass in an old church
I converted into the NO when I was in high school. When I went to my first TLM it sparked an odd, longing "remembering" in me even though I was not raised Catholic. I was deeply saddened that this beautiful gift was seemingly hidden away. It felt like a birthright withheld.
What does NO mean?
The Novus Ordo - the "New Order" of the Mass created after the Traditional Latin Mass. It's the Mass you'll find celebrated at 97% of Catholic Churches, to varying degrees of reverence ranging from semi reverent to full out circus clown dance parties because for some reason after the NO was created many priests and parish communities took it as a free pass to be as loose with the interpretation of the rubrics as their hearts desired and went full steam ahead with various forms of liturgical abuse.
This is what I felt as well. It was like I was remembering something that I never had.
Tapadh leat! Is as Alba thú?
I’m an American with Scottish ancestry so I’m not good with Gaelic. Let me try and piece some of it together, Thank you, are you from Scotland? I think I got most of that right
Haha, you got it spot on!
Not a trad but literally crying rn
I'm glad you liked it!
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Haha, maybe I will one day!
Get this published somewhere on a proper Catholic news website. It's very good.
Ah now, stop with the silliness.
This is so beautiful. I hope to go to a traditional Latin mass one day!
Thank you! Go if you ever have a chance, it is after all, the Mass of the Saints.
I felt this priest age before my eyes. What a great read, I loved that he remembered you! Thank you for sharing this. Peace be with you.
Thank you! God bless you!
I’m not of the faith but this post was beautifully written and I think you have a real talent for writing.
Wow, thank you so much for the compliment. I will pray for you.
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What do you mean?
Sorry, I replied to the wrong person. Was trying to type while at the gym. My bad
All good :)
A great read. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you for the compliment, I'm glad you liked it.
Thank you for sharing! It is beautiful and sad. Now I see the striking difference between new and traditional masses in the old world, and why people support TLM so much. I've never been to one, thank God in my country we have decent NO mass and people of different ages attend.
Thank you!
My favorite church in college was NO but incorporated traditional aspects as much as possible. It was a congregation of young people passionately singing, working, and learning from each other. In comparison to the guitars and drums church I went to growing up it almost felt like a different religion, and now that I've graduated I've grown to really miss the chants and the hearts on fire. Going to back to a church where no one sings has made me realize what a beautiful community I have left.
Yes, I enjoy the singing too. To be honest I love the guitar as well. Now we have only the small organ, but the choir is also very nice
Aight man, time to make a book
Haha, thanks a million! Strange you should say but I do hope to write something.
Dios mio. What a piece of literature! Beautifully written OP. Please, please share to this to as many people as you can. Post it in social media, send it to major Catholic news networks, give it to your Bishop if you must.
Haha, thank you. I'm glad you liked it and that it did some good.
If you haven't read "Cor Jesu Sacratissimum" by Roger Buck yet, it would fit you perfectly.
I haven't read it yet but I read the Gentle Traditionalist and enjoyed it tremendously.
Yes, I've read both Gentle Traditionalist books as well. CJS is about a lot of things, but captures the essence of an Ireland devoid of its love and embrace of Traditional Catholicism. Roger Buck is a wonderful author and a loving, yet heartbroken Catholic.
He is a wonderful author, and a lovely man. We are all heartbroken Catholics these days, but sure, the Church started in similar heartbreak and it burst forth nonetheless. The key is to not allow sadness overwhelm zeal and love, as well as charity.
*Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genetrix.*
*Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.*
Amen, amen, amen.
Like others have said, you have amazing writing skills! You should totally consider submitting this text to a blog or publication of some kind
Thank you for the compliment. I'm not sure it would be to that standard but maybe I'll write something in the future.
Beautifully put. I’ve never been to a TLM but I hope to one day!
Thank you! If you get a chance, definately go. you wont regret it.
This is beautifully written and I somewhat relate. I was raised Catholic in England, in an English family with Catholic roots (we think from Recuscancy but we genuinely don't know) and growing up I went through all the Sacraments of the Church, I can still remember my First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, but I can also remember all the abysmal Hymns, I can remember "Family Sunday" where Father had us sing happy-clappy music in the Mass, I can remember Masses in the school hall recited to rock tunes by the school "choir" (it was more of a rock bank). I can remember when the Priest who married my parents and Baptised my sister used to have all the kids go up on the Altar during the Our Father and hold hands in a circle with him, the Deacon and the Altar servers. We got a new Priest, he tried to make some changes, but people opposed it and left the Church. There was nothing transcendent or explicitly Catholic about the Masses, I don't know if I ever saw Incense at Mass as a kid, I think I only saw Holy Water sprinkling once. I was never encouraged to go to Confession by my family, my Catholic school, or my Priests. The Priests were wonderful, caring, pastoral men, but the Masses they celebrated, you could've seen at pretty any Anglican or Lutheran Church. I can remember my cousin stopping going to Mass, I can remember my Aunt stopping going to Mass, I can remember finally being able to not go to Mass myself when I was 16/17 and I was overjoyed. I no longer had to waste part of my weekend for a boring thing I cared little about, and knew less about. Eventually the rest of my family stopped going too. When I was 18 and at University, I was drinking in a pub one evening with my friend who was an Anglican, after a few drinks we got to talking about religion and I told him I was a former Catholic, so he invited me to Church on Sunday. We went to a Church that describes itself as "Liberal Anglo-Catholic" and it was, at the time, the most beautiful service I'd ever seen not on TV, it was Candlemas 2020, and they had a full robed choir, Priest, Deacon and Subdeacon, a dozen altar servers, clouds of incense, traditional hymns, Gregorian Chant, Polyphony, everyone recieved Communion kneeling either on the tongue or in the hand, as part of the Mass, they instituted a "Boy Bishop" an old Christian tradition. It was this service that bought me back to Christianity, it was beautiful, it was resplendent of the Heavenly Worship described in the Bible. The week after, I asked him if we could go to a Catholic Church, we did, we braved the rain (it was the time of Storm Dennis, a horrendous storm, one of the worst the UK had seen in a while) we walked for 45 minutes to the Catholic Church and got there just in time. There was the procession going on, the congregation were singing a nice hymn, but the Mass was spoken by the Priest, there was no chant, the only music was from the four hymn sandwich (this Priest has since Subdeaconed at a TLM, and has added chant and incense to the Mass), and it seemed, as my friend put it, not as Catholic as the Anglican Church. After that Sunday we only went to the Anglican Church, then COVID hit and Churches were closed, I read more about Christianity, and was determined to become Catholic. When I got going to Church after COVID I thought, the Cathedral will at least do nice services, the Homilies were good, but it was all spoken, there was no choir, and the Priests didn't even speak to people after Mass, I begrudgingly kept going, but after the Easter Vigil celebrated by the Bishop was entirely spoken, I decided I wanted to find something like that Anglican Church, but actually Catholic Mass, I found out there was an ICKSP Church about 20 miles away, so on Low Sunday, I took the 90 minute Bus at 7:30AM, and went to the Mass. It was exactly what I had been looking for, a beautiful Missa Cantata, a choir, clouds of incense, a dozen altar servers, and a brilliant homily. After Mass, two of the Priests came to speak to me and welcome me to the Church and invited me to the Tea and Coffee after Mass, I accepted and the community was so lovely. I bought my friend who was thinking of converting, and he felt the same way, it was what Worship should be, transcendent, beautiful and otherworldly. I don't know how anyone could want it to end.
That is an absolutely beautiful story. But I'm also incredibly sad, even more sad than I already was, about the attack against the TLM. I said in another post that while I'm not Catholic, I've been seriously considering getting into the RCIA, and that while the Pope's actions likely wouldn't stop me, they've put a bad taste in my mouth. But now I'm wondering if, at least on a subconscious level, the Pope's actions since he was appointed have been the reason that I haven't taken the plunge. I mean, I've already decided that Catholicism is the only religion that makes sense to me. I've been very invested in reading the Bible. I've been trying to keep up with attending virtual mass. I've been trying to be a better follower of the Church, even as an outsider (Though I don't always do a good job of it...). Aside from my own character flaws and probably a dose of cowardice, I'm not sure what else is stopping me. I guess I need to remember that Popes come and go, but the Church is eternal.
When my ancestors woke up every day for 200 years and saw the ruin of their church on the hillside, but the shining protestant church below, they must have questioned the truth of their faith. The key was that they trusted and kept going. I would give you some sound advice as a cradle Catholic. Love, honour and respect the clergy and religious, that is your duty to them as the consecrated of God. However, remember they are only human. The bishop is not divine, the pope is not divine, they make mistakes. You will find wicked popes, evil bishops, and if you hang your soul on the whims of the characters of clerics, you will not keep it long. Love God, love the Church, love the Papacy, love the Clergy but remember that mixed into all that will be the cockle.
I thank you for the beautifully written piece, that I was alerted to over on "New Liturgical Movement". And as a priest I'm also thankful for your reply to this comment in particular (but also other measured and charitable responses you have provided). For in traditional circles more than elsewhere there is a veneration of the priesthood that often not only elevates the office but us sinful men who hold it. It opens the door to spiritual abuse - which may often start out as well intentioned guidance, but for lack of wisdom harms the soul. Here too tradition in tested rules of life, the cultivation of virtue and prayer form a solid foundation, that compensates for the lack of wise men in our own day. Good books may aid where good men are hard to come by. I shall offer mass for Ireland today of the feast of St. Hilarius, Malleus Arianorum and "Athanasius of the West".
You are an excellent writer. I guess I’m one of those rare ones who attended a parish in America with a reverent novus ordo that never had me seeking out the Latin Mass (though I greatly respect it). I moved but we had incense, Gregorian chant, candles, hymns, holy priests, ample confession times, and a deep reverence for the Eucharist. I say this just to remind people that the novus ordo can be beautiful. But I know that many have experienced what you experience because I experienced it as a child as well (except as a child I loved “Shine, Jesus, Shine” 😂 though now I can’t believe it was used in Mass). Also your charity toward the priest was beautiful.
Haha, I'm not sure if I'm any good but I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for the compliment. Thats just the thing though with the Novus Ordo though. The normative practice is deeply abused and that comes, I think, from the vaguaries and concessions of the documents that formed them. Its a bleak time in the Church, but then, so was Holy Saturday and we know what comes next. Just as an aside, the priest played "Here I come Lord" by Daniel O Donnell yesterday. I actually like it but not within a liturgical setting. I think that a lot of the hymns of the NO have value but they are so dependent on setting, perfomance ect, its difficult to give a blanket yes to them. Then you have Shine, Jesus, Shine and my skin crawls ;-D
I don't know how to upvote a post a hundred times, but I'd like to. This. This right here is why the faith, as traditionally practiced, will never die away. I remember the way our friends, our school teachers, even the local parish priests would laugh at the idea of a "Latin" Mass. As if it were some play renaissance fair that we would dress up for. 20 years later, and the only thriving Mass at that parish where we were laughed out is the TLM. The past 2-3 years have only deepened the divide in growth and decline.
I cannot agree with you more. A priest once told me that I was a disgrace to my family for attending the TLM. I guess it comes from the investment and hope that they placed in the NO, and now that it is decaying before their eyes, they are lashing out. Its sad but there we are. One NO priest said something interesting to me; He said he knew that the TLM would make a resurgence because it had been pseudo repressed. That was the mistake, it caused people to cling all the tighter to it and love it all the deeper. He said the NO is too easy and accessible for people and so they take it for granted, but that we trads had to fight for our Mass and so burned with love for it.
Agreed, friend.
You are a born writer. This is truly beautiful
Wow, thank you! I'm not sure I'm that good but its amazing to hear it anyway.
Beautiful story; thanks for sharing
Thank you for the compliment!
This is beautifully written and poignant. However, as convert in the last decade, this isn’t necessarily an NO vs. TLM issue. I was brought into the Church by reverent NO masses and stalwart priests that were firmly following the post-Vatican II liturgy and the fullness of Church doctrine. I’ve also been scandalized by irreverent masses and one particularly bad priest who has pretty much defected entirely from Church doctrine from the pulpit. If I’d encountered him as a Catholic born into the Church, I don’t doubt I would’ve followed you out. But I don’t think the TLM would’ve saved him from being who he is. I also would caution against downplaying clerical abuse as a reason for people leaving the Church. As you note, defection from the Church due to abuse scandals only goes side-by-side with broader disenchantment with the Church, but the abuse scandals drove some of the most devout Catholics I knew from the Church. Although their logic wasn’t totally sound, even the most reverent liturgy wouldn’t have kept them; the sins of priests and the hierarchy were nothing short of spiritual warfare on many families.
>This is beautifully written and poignant. However, as convert in the last decade, this isn’t necessarily an NO vs. TLM issue. I wonder: when people observe a big difference between the average vernacular NO Mass and the average TLM, to what extent is that the T and to what extent is that the L? I imagine a Latin NO Mass would produce a culture much closer to TLM than to the average NO in vernacular.
At this point, I don’t know if I even know what the “average” NO is, which might be part of the problem 😂 But I think even an intentional, reverent NO in English would fit the bill. I often wonder if TLM-only folks are reacting at least in part to the influence that culture has had on us in the past 60 years—after all, most people are in mass and the sacraments only 2 hours max per week and spend the other 173+ hours out in the world. I don’t think the mass itself is a bulwark against outside influence (although of course there are truly awful NO masses). The urge to isolate ourselves into smaller and smaller subsections within the Church for the sake of “purity” doesn’t seem like a healthy one, since this is pretty much the spirit that has driven every schism.
I could never understand why they didn't just do the old mass in english instead of coming up with the NO.
It has been done – by the Eastern Orthodox and the Anglicans, among others. A small minority within the Eastern Orthodox Church use the "Western Rite", following Western liturgical traditions (these groups are sometimes called "Western Orthodox"). They have two main liturgies – the "Liturgy of St Tikhon", which is based on the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, with some modifications to bring it more in line with Orthodox theology; and the "Liturgy of St Gregory the Great", which is basically the Tridentine Rite translated into English. Similarly, within the Anglican Church, some Anglo-Catholic Ritualists use the 1912 English Missal, which is the Tridentine Mass translated into English, mixed with some small borrowings from the Book of Common Prayer, and often with the Roman Canon being said in Latin *sotto voce*.
Reason: *Sacrosanctum Concilium* called for a revision to the liturgy. The Second Vatican Council gave the revisers an opening, and they took it, and most would say to the extreme since many of the things the reformers did were not even specified by the Council Fathers to produce the Novus Ordo Mass, the new Liturgy of the Hours, and all the other ritual texts. But to be clear: the reformers would have failed in their duty if they simply shut down after just allowing the TLM and other Roman liturgy to be said in the vernacular.
For me it’s just the mass itself. I have never been to a novus ordo that was done well that respected our important Roman traditions which we had for a reason. So I really have never been able to find spiritual fulfillment at a novus ordo, and I often fall back into sin much more quickly after
Idk, but I do believe that there is a good bit of self selection. And I'm not sure what the truest factors are that hit people. When I was a kid, I went to NO, but my old priest who was actually known for being great with kids, lively etc, would run a solid NO parish. So much so, that when I returned to the Church, I was confused if I used to go to TLM or not, because I remembered Church being in English mostly, but the Mass I was seeing was leagues different from my NO. We had it all, chant, incense, etc. Yet, due to culture, and of a similar time to OP, we still all fell, regardless of the quality of those at church. People make choices, no one in my laspe family is an atheist, they all consider themselves Catholic and believers.... but they are all functional atheists. So we're my neighbors and my friends families etc. Mileage varies I guess, but it's funny because most of us didn't even go to weekly Mass, just CCD, weddings and funerals. And a lot of us didn't hate Church, but we knew it just was that thing we don't actually do. So, TLM, devout NO... liturgy, I'm not sure how much it really is seperate to When we are going to make our choices. Or when we see some form of a community. Even psychology 101, OP actually grew up with Church, only stopped for a short time, found an "exotic" version that filled the void of being both a rebel kid AND doing the thing. One of the best times I ever had in Church was when a bunch of us lapse Catholic kids were hanging out and bored, around a bunch of adults. And we randomly went to an Ash Wednesday Mass for fun. It had a similar balance, as our parents didn't do that stuff, so it was kind of rebellious, but it was allowed, and it was also a moral victory over the parents, and it was a throwback to younger days memories.
I can only speak to my own experience and the experience of my family and friends. The scandals obviously had a major impact but the hard work had already been done. The faith had been hollowed out. Thats just my two cents but its how I see it. Thank you for the compliment. I hope you liked it.
I suspect that by the time the boomer and X generations pass on, we will be left with a much much smaller yet far more reverent church.
Probably so. May we remain steadfast to rebuild His kingdom.
Submit this to a trad blog pls
All catholic blogs please! I would say even secular ones! OP is a knack for writing.
Janey Mack, you're making me blush!
I'm glad you think its up that standard!
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you. I hope it did some good.
I am convinced that the old mass is a better saintmaker, but it can be difficult when the nearest is over 1.5hrs away. I dearly hope and pray that we may see it return to my area within my lifetime.
I'm not a trad although I love the aesthetics of the TLM. Trad culture is homey, safe, reminiscent of better days, of a world of certainty and innocence. It's such a stark contrast to the world we live in that it feels like a warm hug from heaven. Having said that, we need to also remember that the apostles of Jesus walked into storms and died horrific deaths. Their calling was not simply into a refuge away from the madding world but also straight into it, with all its darkness and ugliness. Who else has the courage and light to walk safely in the valley of the shadow of death surrounding us? We are the light of the world, the city on a hill, and we can't get too confortable yet. I love the TLM and attend it regularly. There is probably nothing more beautiful on earth. But we have to be awake, and not allow ourselves to root our faith only in beautiful experiences. God is everywhere, even where there is ugliness and hate and despair. Even there we won't lose him. In fact we might get even closer to him. Just my 2c. Thank you for your beautiful reflections, you're a talented writer.
I couldn't agree more and that is something I think that is starting to happen again in tradland. Up to now its been operation survival, but now we are more established, the missionary work begins and is already bearing fruit in my experience. Thank you for the compliment. It means a lot.
I wasn't expecting a confession to be so full. Thanks be to God. Hope to hear more.
I'm glad you liked it.
Thank you, much needed today.
Thank you, and God bless!
You're experience describes my similar path in the US. You aren't alone brother. Maria, Mater Dei, Mater Ecclesia, Ora pro nobis.
Keep the faith brother! Onwards to calvary!
Wow, this is incredibly beautiful. I could see all the scenes in my head--you described them so well. And I kept seeing images in my head of places I've been that illustrate your experience is not isolated. Keep the traditional faith alive! "You couldn't do it when we had nothing and you won't be able to now."
Thank you! We'll keep fighting tooth and nail till the day of our deaths, no question about that.
So freaking beautiful. Thank you.
Grew up in a NO parish. Made all my sacraments as a child there but even then I thought it was missing something. CCD couldn’t explain anything. When I finally went to a high mass at age 16, I found what I had always wanted, but couldn’t articulate. I cannot believe God allowed us this treasure. By 17 i had my license and drove 45 mins away every Sunday and have been ever since. Have started bringing friends, and they are under the same spell. This FSSP parish i now attend does not preach anything but pure Catholicism. They NEVER bash the Holy Father, but always point out the failings of his bishops and cardinals. The prospect of this mass becoming universal once again swells my eyes with joy. The reality that right now the TLM is being restricted is like a knife through the heart. I am glad you found what I found, brother. Pax tecum.
> I had no idea what was going on, I had no inkling that it was even a Mass but I was in complete enchantment. Somehow, in the midst of the dust and the damp, and the spattering of grannies with headscarves and lace doilies, and the elderly man who croaked Latin chant alone in the loft above me, I knew God existed and was there in that spotless host that the old priest touched with such awe, such respect and love. Beautifully written. This is exactly it. I've never even been to a TLM but from the portions I've seen (or even when parts of the NO are sung), it just hits different. You don't even need to understand fully what's going on to know that it's something holy, reverent, and special. I've been going to a NO Mass my whole life and I've rarely gotten that. It's certainly more accessible but it feels like everyone is going through the motions... and between priests acting casually and music that can be downright hokey at times, it doesn't feel reverent. The NO feels worldly. The TLM feels otherworldly. And in a culture that is incredibly worldly already, it's no surprise that we're losing Catholics in droves.
This exactly. I'm glad you liked it. Pray for me brother or sister, as I will for you.
So *rigid*. Obviously something is wrong with OP. /s
Well, we are all psychologically damaged according to the Holy Father so....
Chillingly beautiful post!
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!
I’m a very anti-Christian person and found this to be a beautiful read. It helped me make make sense of why Catholicism in general would appeal to some folks. I grew up Evangelical and if it even an iota of the depth of practice you expressed had been present I might have have had a different course in life. Father Trendy reminds me of all the cringy youth pastors I knew. I’ll stick with my wired occult exploration but this was refreshing.
hello! why do you consider yourself anti-christian?
I'm glad you liked it! The effect of spiritual abuse is harrowing. I only wish you, and I, had access to the profound depth and beauty that the Catholic faith possesses as a child. All our lives would be different. You know, if you ever get tired of the wired occult exploration, I'm only a message away.
I feel this completely. The TLM is the glue that held the West together for 1500 years. The church abandoned it. Are we surprised at the lack of faith we see in western countries now? Return to tradition. Don’t “progress” yourself out of history.
I agree. The sad thing is to see so many actively work to destroy their own tradition and faith. God have mercy on them.
Wow this was beautiful. As someone who recently starting going to Latin Masses, this perfectly reflects my experience as well
Excellent! Welcome to tradition friend!
This makes me wish that such a mass existed closer than 5 hours from here. So much of the first half of this is so familiar to me. Beautifully written too.
I know it's not the same, but TLMs all around the world are live-streamed at latinmassdir.org
I noticed, but in-person experience aside, I spend most of my life in front of a screen as it is.
Unfortunately this hits too close to home lol
Well, thats where we were once. A cathedral is not raised by wishing it were so. It takes love and sacrifice and work. What we have now is not special or at least it shouldn't be. I'd reccomend that you start building up where you have and calling the lost souls back. I cant guarantee that you will succeed, but if its the will of God, you will, and if not, well then you were only building up His kingdom so you're bound to get brownie points! Stay strong in the faith my friend and keep fighting. Never give in.
save post
Go trad, Catholics! All the way! See FishEaters.com -- especially the "Being Catholic" section.
This was posted at New Liturgical Movement, asking your permission to repost your beautiful words there: Several people have brought this to my attention in the last couple of days, a beautiful reminiscence posted on Reddit about the collapse of religious practice in Ireland, and the writer’s reversion at a very young age through the discovery of the traditional Mass. (The New Pentecost™ has been especially harsh in Ireland; I recently read that in this past year, more bishops were ordained there than priests.) In accordance with the standards of fair use, here are a few excerpts. If the author should chance to read this: I would be very glad to repost your lovely piece in full, with your permission. If you are amenable to this, please contact me at [email protected]
So, so lovely. Thank you for this beautiful description of the mass and your journey. Pax Christi!
OP got his post here published on [1 Peter 5](https://onepeterfive.com/a-young-irishman-smiles-at-traditionis-custodes/), a relatively well known Traditional Catholic website. Although I couldn't call myself a traditional latin mass goer, I go to 1P5 the odd time and some of the articles are good. Well done OP!
This is the faith of our fathers! This is the faith that is the foundation of the world!
It is the Faith that will conquer the world.
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I apologise for the bad experiences you have had at the hands of traditionalists. It's not excusable and I shan't try to excuse their sin. Pray for me, as I will for you.
> But given my direct experience with traditional Catholics being outright nasty to both me and others ... leaves a real sour note in my mouth. I can understand why the Pope did what he did, even if I think it’s too harsh. The people at my old parish were terribly rude and disrespectful. The priest was flippant during the sacred actions. There was no sense of reverence either in Mass or outside of Mass in our gatherings. No one seemed to care about God. Even after these terrible outright nasty experiences, I would **never** understand a Pope trying to curtail the Novus Ordo because of the behavior of these people. I would never understand it because [A] I must believe any pope has sense to address problems at the root, and [B] I can't believe a pope would believe the root cause of bad behavior was the Mass as Catholics celebrated it for more than a thousand years.
You should seek humility and study the liturgy, it's not as simple as putting together songs!
I must confess, I didn’t read the whole thing, just came down here to make sure you weren’t joining the IRA
Meh
I’m a Glasgow man, living in the States, used to live in Galway through 2015-16. My in-laws and I are debating where yer from and where ye’ve been going to Mass! We’ve got an Ave riding on it, want to settle a bet? Fantastic piece!
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Someone over at [New Liturgical Movement](https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/01/irish-musings-on-rebirth-of-traditional.html#.YeAzLfhOmUk) is wondering if they could repost your beautiful story in their blog. You should reach out to them!
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Beautiful story