Author Topic: best area for posts when a convert (me) has ?s (Read 1584 times)

mara · « **on:** March 18, 2013, 04:02:59 AM »

Hiyall,
Where is the best place to post questions from a new Catholic like me about things not seeming right at Mass or questions about +Fr's advice/comments?
I currently attend an NO mass and TLM is available in my diocese but I'm not able to make it there at the moment.
Basically how does one know if it's enough to stop attending my primary Parish? When is it just me being very conservative?
Current example:
+Fr chewed my tail about fasting to much...
mind you I -did- get a bit faint in Mass and I know Fr. was concerned. But do I now alter my Lenten resolves? Do I start following the more moderate form of Lenten fasting? In this case is relaxing my Lenten Sacrifices acceptable re: Fr's counsel and the health thing?
Perhaps trying to fast as I have been is more pride than it should be?
Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Addendum: I understand asking a Priest is likely always best! Just not terribly realistic at times... Father is extremely busy! Thus my asking for thoughts/advice...
Also, yes I am praying and reading on it... again, thus asking here. :)
Thank you in advance! ConvertMe always has a zillion questions and isn't 100% sure about the more liberal counsel/info I receive...
And yes, I know, 'Mara, get thyself to tlm asap' -big grin- I'm working on that!
ETA: I sooo wish I lived 5minutes from the TLM parish sometimes!

Iuvenalis · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2013, 11:49:34 AM »

General Discussion should be fine. It is, by definition, general.

Since you're new, I'll warn you in advance that you shouldn't be too sensitive.

Someone inevitably will not know you're new and you'll say something naive that gets your face melted off or you step on a landmine and look down to see nothing left below your knee.

Don't leave over such stuff. Remember, they don't know you, so they're directing their invectives at a mental fiction created to represent you, often this effigy is constructed of straw.

You'll discover who the more even-keeled people are. If something seems way over the top to you or just disproportinate to what you asked or said, it probably was.

To answer your question, mortification is valid, who can argue with Saints who found it invaluable?? It can be an occasion of pride, however. You'll need to enlist the aid of a good spiritual director/confessor, as flying solo without someone to point out sources of pride, etc is prone to the types of perils you describe.

Find a good, trad priest and set up regular spiritual direction and confession.

Third orders can also be helpful fellowshipping for such work.

Matto · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2013, 11:58:30 AM »

I remember when I went to the Novus Ordo. When it was time for communion I would always avoid the extraordinary ministers and receive from the priest on the tongue, though I did not kneel. I would always get upset when the priests said something heretical, and I didn't like how one of the ushers was a girl who never dressed modestly. I don't get upset now when I go to Mass like I used to in the Novus Ordo.

mara · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2013, 12:05:19 PM »

Thanks for the response and words of wisdom, especially about forum patience and napalm. :)
I think I'm going to stick with my Lenten fasting... been praying and saying the Rosary about it. Also, it's such a short time left to give to Our Lord.
One more question:
What is a Third Order, please? Is it like SSPX, FSSP, or like an Opus Dei?
-mara

Quote from: Iuvenalis

General Discussion should be fine. It is, by definition, general.

Since you're new, I'll warn you in advance that you shouldn't be too sensitive.

Someone inevitably will not know you're new and you'll say something naive that gets your face melted off or you step on a landmine and look down to see nothing left below your knee.

Don't leave over such stuff. Remember, they don't know you, so they're directing their invectives at a mental fiction created to represent you, often this effigy is constructed of straw.

You'll discover who the more even-keeled people are. If something seems way over the top to you or just disproportinate to what you asked or said, it probably was.

To answer your question, mortification is valid, who can argue with Saints who found it invaluable?? It can be an occasion of pride, however. You'll need to enlist the aid of a good spiritual director/confessor, as flying solo without someone to point out sources of pride, etc is prone to the types of perils you describe.

Find a good, trad priest and set up regular spiritual direction and confession.

Third orders can also be helpful fellowshipping for such work.

mara · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2013, 01:36:52 PM »

I do that! The changing lines! Our usher girls (urg) wear robes...
I love the people there. They are great. Just a bit...casual? Ya know? I don't mind being the only one veiled. I'm grateful people don't try to 'correct me' for it. I can kinda sorta cope with women reading the first readings as early Mass and Wednesday Mass don't have many attending; but reading the Gospel or being ELM's no... just no.
I'm working on transportation to a Thursday TLM.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Tis appreciated!

Quote from: Matto

I remember when I went to the Novus Ordo. When it was time for communion I would always avoid the extraordinary ministers and receive from the priest on the tongue, though I did not kneel. I would always get upset when the priests said something heretical, and I didn't like how one of the ushers was a girl who never dressed modestly. I don't get upset now when I go to Mass like I used to in the Novus Ordo.

Matto · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2013, 01:40:09 PM »

Quote from: mara

I don't mind being the only one veiled.

You wear a veil? That's very good.

ora pro me · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2013, 03:09:47 PM »

Mara,
Welcome to the board (a bit late, I know). A couple of good online sources for questions you may have are:

http://www.traditionalcatholicsermons.org/ (for sermons on practically any topic from Tradtional Catholic priests)

and http://olrl.org/ which is an apostolate that I believe is Traditional Catholic or at least quite conservative.
This site has quite a few resources including some small books (pamphlets), under such topics as Church doctrine, Writings of the Saints, questions and answers for Protestants, which are also quite helpful for anyone just learning about the true Catholic Faith such as those coming from the Novus Ordo which is similar to Protestantism in many ways.

Also, may I recommend that you look on Amazon for a good Catholic catechism such as My Catholic Faith by Louis LaRavoire Morrow? Many of the questions that you would have for a priest will be answered in a good Catechism.

Best wishes to you in your study of the Faith.

ora pro me · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2013, 03:24:19 PM »

Mara,
You can read about Third Orders here:
http://www.sspx.org/third_orders.htm

Iuvenalis · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2013, 05:41:03 PM »

Quote from: mara

One more question:
What is a Third Order, please? Is it like SSPX, FSSP, or like an Opus Dei?
-mara

You know what a religious order is, right? Like the Franciscans or Dominicans or Jesuits?

Those are for priests (and religious).

Third orders are for the laity (you and I)

The Carmelites have a third order for example, Dominicans too, etc. Orders are not just for priests and religious sisters. SSPX is a priestly order, but also has a third order. No idea if the FSSP has a third order.

mara · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2013, 05:34:34 AM »

Quote from: ora pro me

Mara,
You can read about Third Orders here:
http://www.sspx.org/third_orders.htm

Wow! Awesome links! Tyvm!

mara · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2013, 06:15:34 AM »

Quote from: Iuvenalis

Quote from: mara

One more question:
What is a Third Order, please? Is it like SSPX, FSSP, or like an Opus Dei?
-mara

You know what a religious order is, right? Like the Franciscans or Dominicans or Jesuits?

Those are for priests (and religious).

Third orders are for the laity (you and I)

The Carmelites have a third order for example, Dominicans too, etc. Orders are not just for priests and religious sisters. SSPX is a priestly order, but also has a third order. No idea if the FSSP has a third order.

Thanks for that easy to understand definition. I know about religious orders but didn't know about third orders.

I don't know how I ended up with these knowledge gaps but I'm going to work on fixing them!

of thanks for everyone here! :decade:

mara · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2013, 07:37:22 AM »

I have
Saint Charles Borromeo
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Second Edition[/i]
on Laudete. Are y'all farmiliar with this one? Is it traditional?
Also, while I'm going nuclear on questions, what are yall's opinions about +Fr. Z's blog? I've been reading it several months now. To me he seems conservative-ish, kinda, sorta with a healthy dose of CY...erm T(ail). But I'm far to knew at this to be making judgement calls like that. I've learned useful things there, like avoid the "Fishwrap". :)
-mara

Mithrandylan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2013, 05:44:01 PM »

Quote from: mara

I have
Saint Charles Borromeo
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Second Edition[/i]
on Laudete. Are y'all farmiliar with this one? Is it traditional?
Also, while I'm going nuclear on questions, what are yall's opinions about +Fr. Z's blog? I've been reading it several months now. To me he seems conservative-ish, kinda, sorta with a healthy dose of CY...erm T(ail). But I'm far to knew at this to be making judgement calls like that. I've learned useful things there, like avoid the "Fishwrap". :)
-mara

That is a very good book for barbecues.

Fr Z is a neo-con. He's fully initiated into and infatuated with the new theology, and his 'appreciation' for tradition and the TLM is merely aesthetic and preferential, he is a servant of the Novus Ordo and makes that much clear.

ora pro me · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2013, 06:18:59 PM »

Mara,
Use a Traditional Baltimore Catechism with a publication date of '62 or earlier or My Catholic Faith by Bishop Morrow.

While you're waiting to purchase one of those, check out the catechism by Fr. William J. Cogan which is reprinted at http://www.olrl.org/Lessons/

Iuvenalis · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2013, 12:46:14 PM »

Quote from: ora pro me

Mara,
Use a Traditional Baltimore Catechism with a publication date of '62 or earlier or My Catholic Faith by Bishop Morrow.

While you're waiting to purchase one of those, check out the catechism by Fr. William J. Cogan which is reprinted at http://www.olrl.org/Lessons/

It's funny how often I see this recommendation from Trads. While there is nothing wrong with the Baltimore, it is for children.

Get a Trent Catechism. It's for adults.