Author Topic: Catholics: The Next Generation (Read 2907 times)

Matthew · « **on:** September 03, 2011, 04:22:37 PM »

Who, besides me, wonders what will become of the "next generation" of traditional Catholics?

Traditional Catholic is defined as "attending the Tridentine Mass, and adhering to the older disciplines of the Roman Catholic Church".

I would define the "Next Generation" as those whose first memory of church consists of being at an SSPX, SSPV, Indult, or other place where the Tridentine Mass is offered exclusively -- in other words, those who were born into TRADITIONAL Catholicism. Those who were born into Tradition in a post-Vatican II world.

People my parents' age had to fight the Novus Ordo, many left, many found Tradition at some point between 1970 and 1990. They knew what they were missing, and were overjoyed to find out what went wrong, and what they can do about it (attend the TLM).

But what of the kids in our chapels today? Where will they end up?

Generally things get *lost* over time, not gained. Considering the strength of the world, at least, that's how we can expect things to go.

If the parents are Sunday, worldly, or lukewarm Catholics (making many compromises with the world), where will their children end up?

I think this is a very important topic.

Matthew · « **Reply #1 on:** September 03, 2011, 04:24:56 PM »

I'll start us off with my favorite Latin pearl of wisdom:

Nemo dat quod non habet.

No one gives what he doesn't have.

If I am a lukewarm Catholic, I can't raise a saint.

If I'm not into sports, it's hard to instill a love of sports in my children.

And so on.

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #2 on:** September 03, 2011, 06:30:14 PM »

I endure heavy criticism by many for homeschooling (even some "traditional *ahem indult* Catholics"), having my girls wear skirts and dresses, disallowing Disney movies, et cetera.

These are good questions Matthew.

love alabama · « **Reply #3 on:** September 03, 2011, 06:37:34 PM »

I wonder myself

Thursday · « **Reply #4 on:** September 03, 2011, 06:41:44 PM »

Some will inevitably discover tradition, I think the chances are better if they have some type of Catholic upbringing. The average person I talk to (not online) hasn't a clue about tradition, about Vatican II or that there was another mass all the way up til 1969.

I think that the older generation (who held tradition from the changes until now) did what they were supposed to do by just keeping the old ways. The opportunity to bring large groups of Catholics over to tradition did not exist until the internet and the death of John Paul II.

IMO the younger folks should be organizing themselves to get the word out, there is nothing stopping us.

ora pro me · « **Reply #5 on:** September 03, 2011, 06:47:59 PM »

Matthew,
You have voiced concerns and ideas that I think of and worry about often. Your quote "No one gives what he doesn't have" is something that I have frequently pondered within myself and also voiced here on Cathoinfo. The examples and Catholic education that we give to our children or lack thereof is often a fear of mine, considering the responsibility we parents/grandparents have in the raising of our grandchildren and the generations to come.

I believe another quote that I contemplate upon frequently can be the foundation or building block to your quote and that is:
Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

I believe that the lack of gratitude or even the lack of enough gratitude for our Faith is what causes many of our young folks to lose their Faith, but that brings up a question I ask myself: Did those who leave their Faith behind ever have it to begin with? Did they only go to Church or maybe attend a Catholic school or put in their time with their Catholic homeschooling because it was what their parents expected? Did they only tow the line? Our children have to do more than tow the line, and we parents and grandparents have to exert more influence on their spiritual lives.

Teach your children how to obey the Ten Commandments in spirit not just in practice. Teach your children how to love Jeus and Mary through True Devotion to Jesus through Mary. If they complain about having to look different or act differently than their neighbors, challenge them to be Soldiers of Christ. We are different than worldlings. We need to be different than the world. We need to worry if we can fit in with worldlings.

Let's all keep up the good questions on how we can teach our kids to be Followers of Christ and Heirs to Heaven. Parents, keep up the hard work and don't let your guard down.

Our reward will be great in heaven, but I shudder at the thought of our punishment for not doing God's Will in raising our children as He wills.

ora pro me · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2011, 06:56:59 PM »

After posting my last post I was thinking about some friends who mourn for their children who have left the Faith. This is such a heavy cross and parents torture themselves thinking and wondering about how they would do it over if they had another chance to raise those children. Sometimes they think that surely they did everything they could and ask what they could've done differently.

This is such a cross for them but carrying this cross and continuing to pray for their now adult children will continue to earn graces for their children and for themselves.

To the folks here who are grieving over adult children who have lost their Faith, I urge you to assist at Mass as frequently as you can, pray many Rosaries for them and entrust them frequently to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Pray to Our Lady Refuge of Sinners and to St. Monica.

Oh, yes, AND give them a green scapular or hide it in their homes and say the prayer on the scapular for your kids.

May Jesus and Mary console your grieving hearts.

TKGS · « **Reply #7 on:** September 03, 2011, 08:27:47 PM »

I think the greatest danger for the next generation of traditional Catholics is indifferentism.

Any traditional Catholic that worships in any indult community necessarily teaches, by example, that the Novus Ordo is not really a bad thing and that the reason for attending the traditional Mass is merely a matter of preference.

There is some danger in that, also, in those cases where the family worships in non-indult communities who fully accept the claims of Rome for there is a certain lesson of disobedience to lawful authority that is taught.

I believe that the next generation of Catholics must constantly be reminded of the reasons we parents are traditional Catholics and we must work hard to make sure our actions agree with what we teach them. I've had only one child leave home so far and she has joined a fully traditional community as a postulant candidate and she hopes that she will be a professed sister in about five to eight years.

Jacafamala · « **Reply #8 on:** September 03, 2011, 08:31:50 PM »

You just can't be worrying about these things, Matthew or satan will turn your worries into despair. Our Lord is so much greater than all our problems and our fears. Just do what you can each day for your children--your best--and trust the rest to our loving Lord Jesus. He loves them more then you do!

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #9 on:** September 03, 2011, 10:36:46 PM »

Quote from: Jacafamala

You just can't be worrying about these things, Matthew or satan will turn your worries into despair. Our Lord is so much greater than all our problems and our fears. Just do what you can each day for your children--your best--and trust the rest to our loving Lord Jesus. He loves them more then you do!

I'm glad you are in a position where you can relax and not take the future seriously like we do.

Vladimir · « **Reply #10 on:** September 03, 2011, 11:56:17 PM »

Quote from: Catholic Samurai

Quote from: Jacafamala
You just can't be worrying about these things, Matthew or satan will turn your worries into despair. Our Lord is so much greater than all our problems and our fears. Just do what you can each day for your children--your best--and trust the rest to our loving Lord Jesus. He loves them more then you do!

I'm glad you are in a position where you can relax and not take the future seriously like we do.

Or perhas she has learned to resign peacefully to the Divine Will and offer up to Providence those things beyond her power to influence.

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #11 on:** September 03, 2011, 11:59:22 PM »

Quote from: Vladimir

Quote from: Catholic Samurai
Quote from: Jacafamala
You just can't be worrying about these things, Matthew or satan will turn your worries into despair. Our Lord is so much greater than all our problems and our fears. Just do what you can each day for your children--your best--and trust the rest to our loving Lord Jesus. He loves them more then you do!

I'm glad you are in a position where you can relax and not take the future seriously like we do.

Or perhas she has learned to resign peacefully to the Divine Will and offer up to Providence those things beyond her power to influence.

It is a possibility.

Jacafamala · « **Reply #12 on:** September 06, 2011, 07:03:42 AM »

Quote from: Catholic Samurai

Quote from: Jacafamala
You just can't be worrying about these things, Matthew or satan will turn your worries into despair. Our Lord is so much greater than all our problems and our fears. Just do what you can each day for your children--your best--and trust the rest to our loving Lord Jesus. He loves them more then you do!

I'm glad you are in a position where you can relax and not take the future seriously like we do.

You wear your name very well, Catholic Samurai. Good grief.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #13 on:** September 06, 2011, 09:32:18 AM »

Quote from: Jacafamala

Quote from: Catholic Samurai
Quote from: Jacafamala
You just can't be worrying about these things, Matthew or satan will turn your worries into despair. Our Lord is so much greater than all our problems and our fears. Just do what you can each day for your children--your best--and trust the rest to our loving Lord Jesus. He loves them more then you do!

I'm glad you are in a position where you can relax and not take the future seriously like we do.

You wear your name very well, Catholic Samurai. Good grief.

Well, CS is right that we should take the future seriously. And there's nothing wrong with Matthew asking these questions, but you are also right that we can't go into despair. Concerning ourselves over the future is ok, but it is important to make sure you don't worry yourself over it.

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #14 on:** September 06, 2011, 11:35:19 AM »

So it means that none of you believes in child psychologists who say that if you insist on something your children will hate it, and not to forbid anything or your children will crave it even the more?