Author Topic: Its hard to NOT be a Trad Catholic (Read 747 times)

Matthew · « **on:** March 24, 2014, 11:10:12 AM »

I'm re-posting this post of mine, because it was buried in another thread, and I think it's a good topic for discussion.

Quote from: Guest

It's very hard for a single young man in this world to be a trad.

I agree that we need to be charitable towards everyone, including new converts. We should also be pleasant, non-judgmental, and NOT think the worst of people.

However, as hard as it is to be a trad in this world today, it's even harder not to!

Don't think the apostates and heretics have a better life, even in this world. Once you grant that, you're already halfway to apostasy yourself.

Don't think the burden of the Catholic Faith is anything but sweet and light (cf. "My yoke is sweet and my burden light").

If you think you'd be happier "free of the yoke" -- think again. At best, you'd become a slave to your passions, you'd be miserable more often than not, and finally die in despair.

If you think it's hard being a single young male Traditional Catholic, because it's hard to find a spouse (for example), remember that it's even worse to be married to a non-Traditional Catholic. Imagine having a wife that insists on being co-equal with you, who insists on working (and consequently forms a close bond with several male co-workers that rivals your own relationship with her -- simply due to # of hours spent together!) Then you eventually get cheated on, then divorced, forced to pay support to her and/or your children whom you rarely see, and you now have your imagination thinking about how some other man is now with your ex-wife...

No thanks. All the commandments God gives us are for our own good. Even "victimless crimes" like self-abuse are more harmful than most people think.

Matthew · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2014, 11:18:09 AM »

I have a cousin, who used to be my best friend as a teenager, who apostatized.

Looking at his life now, I'm not the least bit jealous, not even of the "forbidden fruits" he's partaking of.

He is currently divorced from his "wife" (who he married in Las Vegas) and has 2 children with her. He is currently into modeling of some kind -- not bodybuilding, but "physique". He's supposedly an expert at working out each of various muscle groups and whatnot. He must spend a lot of time maintaining that physique he's so proud of.

I saw one picture of him -- he was shirtless on this stage, with pink shorts, showing off his physique.

He also compulsively blasphemes. He goes out of his way to use Our Lord's name in vain -- because he knows that it's bad. He's trying desperately to kill off his conscience, but so far he's doing a lousy job. You can tell he's miserable. He's trying to perfect his body, hoping that will bring him happiness.

He even had a nose job, because he always had a "Roman nose", and he knew that was one of his weak points. He also had braces to perfect his teeth.

He was into indie movie-making, and did a few short independent films, one of which was about the downsides of a "threesome".

He actually admitted to the Internet a few years ago that he gave up Catholicism because it was "too hard". That puts him in a worse place than most of humanity -- think of all the protestants and non-Catholics who don't know the truth. But he knows it, and is running away from it.

Anyhow, this is the TRUE face of apostasy. No thanks! I'll keep my traditional Catholic life.

If you have a prayer to spare, please pray one for my cousin's conversion back to the Catholic Faith. He grew up Trad -- so he knows the truth very well. Deep down, he's still a real Catholic and he's fighting it tooth and nail.

The millions of young men who leave the Novus Ordo are better off than my cousin. At least they were scandalized by a protestantized church that obviously isn't true. They never got exposed to the true Faith.

And for some of you out there -- He wasn't even raised on the 1962 Mass! The missal at our old independent chapel was from the 50's I think. We used to go to catechism class together, serve (traditional) Mass together, etc.

Nishant · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2014, 11:23:40 AM »

To doubt this would be to doubt the assurance of Jesus in the Gospel,

Mk 10:28 And Peter began to say unto him: Behold, we have left all things, and have followed thee. 29 Jesus answering, said: Amen I say to you, there is no man who hath left house or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 Who shall not receive an hundred times as much, now in this time; houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions: and in the world to come life everlasting.

God, as the Saints say, "cannot be outdone in generosity". Whenever we give up anything for God, it comes back to us a thousandfold, often in this life itself, at least in terms of the peace and joy of Christ that accompanies a holy life. Those who are going through tough times with help, prayer and encouragement should persevere. The reward God promises and that they will assuredly have will be proportionately great for those who face material or other hardships in the course of carrying their daily cross. The same when evildoers seem to prosper, as the Psalmist says, esp. in Psalm 72. King David says he could not understand this, until he perceived it in light of their last end. St. Thomas says as well that God allows difficulty to come to some in this life, but those who in this life seem to have less chastisements will face severe and everlasting punishment in the end.

Mabel · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2014, 11:37:36 AM »

I have a relative that I grew up with, same age, we went through RCIC as children together in the Novus Ordo. We had the same amount of attention given to our religious instruction, maybe more for her. We lived across the street from one another and spent every day together. As teenagers we prayed the rosary together with our entire extended family, every Wednesday. We were exposed to elements of true Catholicism, though we were in the Novus Ordo.

My last meeting with her 12 years ago was a dinner before I moved away. I begged of her and urged her towards virtue. I moved a week or so later and began to live out my life as a traditional Catholic. This is when the judgement of everyone, including her, came down hard. I "take that religion stuff too seriously."

Last month she was arrested in front of her children and live-in, while I sat here with my children having a homemade dinner. We prayed the rosary that night and went to bed, and we woke up happy the next morning. I don't know how my relative got through the night, she wasn't missing her children or relying on God to see her through, she was waiting to get out to get her next fix.

The lot of the worldlings is hard, the yoke of Our Lord is indeed sweet and light.

PerEvangelicaDicta · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2014, 12:04:19 PM »

Quote

Deep down, he's still a real Catholic and he's fighting it tooth and nail.

The Hound of Heaven

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
'All things betray thee, who betrayest Me'.

I'm grateful for the inspiration that prompted you to create a separate thread on this issue Matthew. Indeed,, living in the true Faith, knowing the meaning of life, is indescribably peaceful and a treasure beyond description. I find no difficulty in the least, except for the magnified awareness of sin and my own fallen nature. Now that part of it is harder!

I pray for your cousin.

PerEvangelicaDicta · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2014, 12:10:06 PM »

Quote

I "take that religion stuff too seriously."

Or another classic "you need to have balance".
You know, novus ordo style. :dancing-banana:

soulguard · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2014, 12:18:33 PM »

Yeah its hard to not be a traditional Catholic 7 days a week. One only has to look around them the other 6 days of the week to see people who contradict us and dont care about their souls trying to drag us to hell with them. We are persecuted in the name of Christ, and our enemies are wrong to do this, and they will be punished for it. There is strength in numbers, and that is why it is important to go to church regularly. We need to reinforce each others strength in the faith.