Defining a term

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The reader mentioned in the post below did not define the term 'traditional' - but from correspondance I would like to posit what I think was meant by that term.
I think that it means a Catholic who is in agreement with and obedient to the Magisterium, both the ordinary and the extraordinary. This person, when faced with a question of faith, morals, or practice would consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church to see just what the church actually teaches on the matter. This person prefers that liturgies be conducted according to the norms of the General Instructions of the Roman Missal, and has strong opinions about the proper conduct of worship.
A traditional Catholic probably has an attachment to various traditions (and Tradition) including the Rosary, veneration of the saints (especially the BVM), the Stations of the Cross, daily prayer both formulaic and spontaneous. He or she sees being Catholic as an integral part of self, not just something frosted on the top. The precepts of the church, the works of mercy, the Sacraments, are all very important to his or her daily life.
This person also would recognize that Catholicism is incarnational, and that God gave us the things of this earth for proper use and enjoyment. This contrasts to the Puritan (Jansenist) appproach. Hence some of the blogs on cooking, drinking, cigars, poetry, healthy sexuality, etc. The stress here would be on the proper order and the natural law.
In seeming contrast to enjoyment of the gifts of God (but actually more complementary) is the reminder that 'dust we are, and to dust we shall return', with a necessary attention to mortification and alsmgiving.
I could go on for a long time here - but I would appreciate your feedback!

2 Comments

More to the point, she is one who is deeply concerned with the silent conflict that is growing in the Church militant between the current trends in ecumenism, political philosophy, (death penalty, bioethics, just war theory, the primacy of conscience, interpretations of religious liberty, the separation of Church and state etc.) that seem to be leading the Church, from the highest to the lowest level, in a new direction away from that deposit. The liturgy, you will note, is not really a central part of this, but, as the liturgy always is, merely an expression of the conflict that is being experienced but not admitted everywhere.

I've been thinking about the difference between 'Traditional' and 'Orthodox.' I've determined that 'Traditional' Catholics are (or at least should be) a subset of 'Orthodox.'

Someone who is Traditional would prefer some of the older traditions (note small-t) that an Orthodox yet non-Traditional person doesn't feel strongly attached to.

For example, I consider myself to be very Traditional. I like Chant and Altar Rails. My younger self liked it when we had the 'Agnus Dei' in latin during Lent, but would think it'd be silly to have it year-round. That same younger self prefered more modern music most of the time (although the occasional older hymn would be okay). Both my younger and current selfs are Orthodox, yet only one I would call Traditional.

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This page contains a single entry by alicia published on March 30, 2004 9:38 PM.

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