"Simply" Catholic Mamas - Easter through Christ the King - Page 4

[Ann15]

Hi Ladies!  I haven't had a chance to be on here in a while (at least not long enough to type out a post, anyway), but a very belated "thank you" for the perspectives on homeschooling and taking children to mass alone.  I still haven't managed to have the three of us up and ready while still helping DH get out the door for work, but I really want to go one morning this week. 

I've actually been to mass three days in a row, and it feels like such a blessing!  Friday I attended the funeral of the priest who was the pastor of my parish growing up. He celebrated my First Communion with mass in our home, and in his retirement was an honored guest and co-celebrant of my wedding at my college church.  It was the most beautiful funeral mass, and I felt such gratitude that I was blest to have such a kind and devout priest to help guide my early faith life (of course it took me twenty years to fully appreciate it). The back of the funeral programs included this quote, "How gifted each one of us is. How blest we are to be called children of God."

Yesterday I was feeling nostalgic for all the weekday masses that I served with our late pastor, so I decided to go to 7:30am mass at my childhood parish and 3-year-old DD wanted to go with me.  She did really well, so I am hopeful that she and 5-year-old DS will cooperate one of these mornings.  Their behavior wasn't great at mass this morning, but DS has been staying up late and getting up way too early the last few days, so that leads to general inattention and lots of fidgeting. JMJ, I really like the reminder for others in the church to be patient with the children in mass.  They won't ever learn how to behave if they don't have the opportunity to practice.

I hope everyone has a blessed week!

[mt_gooseberry]

I'm really struggling with internet forums right now.  I'm a pretty shy and sensitive person, and the anonymity of the internet has allowed me to express my opinions as I haven't been able to do IRL.  However, my opinions don't seem to be acceptable anywhere I go, and, anonymous though everything is, the criticism has been hitting me hard.  On Catholic forums I get criticized for my AP tendencies and my tendency to attach my beliefs to otherwise nonrelated concepts, on MDC I'm too conservative, on NFP forums I'm too Creighton-biased (not true!  I think Billings and STM rock!), heck, I even got slammed for admitting I like sun tea on a knitting forum!  About the last place I still feel comfortable is here on this thread...but maybe I would upset you all too, if you knew about my "extreme" views.  I try so hard not to come off as judgemental or intolerant, but maybe I am.  So I am going to ask you all to be honest with me.  Would the following opinions upset you terribly?

I don't think it is appropriate to wear a tube top to Mass.

I kind of feel like CHOOSING not to breastfeed is bordering on sinful.

The same with C-section.  (Obviously these two things < ^ are when it's not for a medical reason).

I think pornography is disordered and harmful.

I think it's OK to co-sleep and not wear pajamas (or even engage in the marital act near a sleeping infant).

So please tell me, am I some kind of extreme freak?!

Edit to fix grammar

[countryangels]

Hello Mamas,

I am as ole fashion as they come  And I love the Traditional Latin Mass.

I love the FSSP as well as the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

I was hoping to find a part of the country that was crunchy, in the sense of

attached parenting, love of organic food, love for Famer Markets, etc. But, also with a

nice Church community, preferably a Latin Mass community.

It would be nice if there was a Catholic Homeschoolers network in the area as well.

I submit to all of the Churches teaching.  I believe

in Modesty in Church & out, in family values, etc.

I do not believe in abortion, I believe in LIFE all the way.

And it would also be great if the Parish offered classes in Latin & or Greek!

So, if you know of a place like I have described, please share with us!

If by any chance you happen to live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Idaho, New England, Nebraska,

please share about your area.

Any Catholic homeschooling Mamas out there who

might love the Traditonal Latin Mass? Where are you?

I have been lost looking for the Traditional Catholic forum, I hope I posted in the right section....Sorry, if I am in the wrong area...

God bless.

Thank you!

[mylilmonkeys]

Originally Posted by mt_gooseberry 

I'm really struggling with internet forums right now.  I'm a pretty shy and sensitive person, and the anonymity of the internet has allowed me to express my opinions as I haven't been able to do IRL.  However, my opinions don't seem to be acceptable anywhere I go, and, anonymous though everything is, the criticism has been hitting me hard.  On Catholic forums I get criticized for my AP tendencies and my tendency to attach my beliefs to otherwise nonrelated concepts, on MDC I'm too conservative, on NFP forums I'm too Creighton-biased (not true!  I think Billings and STM rock!), heck, I even got slammed for admitting I like sun tea on a knitting forum!  About the last place I still feel comfortable is here on this thread...but maybe I would upset you all too, if you knew about my "extreme" views.  I try so hard not to come off as judgemental or intolerant, but maybe I am.  So I am going to ask you all to be honest with me.  Would the following opinions upset you terribly?

I don't think it is appropriate to wear a tube top to Mass.

I kind of feel like CHOOSING not to breastfeed is bordering on sinful.

The same with C-section.  (Obviously these two things < ^ are when it's not for a medical reason).

I think pornography is disordered and harmful.

I think it's OK to co-sleep and not wear pajamas (or even engage in the marital act near a sleeping infant).

So please tell me, am I some kind of extreme freak?!

Edit to fix grammar

You're okay by me! 

[LessTraveledBy]

Yes, I share all those views. I have had to stay away from some Catholic forums due to getting upset by people's views on breastfeeding and spanking. I think as Catholics we should know better than to follow some Protestant ideas of discipline...

[JMJ]

mt_gooseberry, you make me smile.  I think a lot of us here have a hard time finding people who are both "simply" Catholic and have AP tendencies.  It seems like most of the people I relate to are one or the other but not both.  It seems strange to me since I feel the two are very connected.  I think of AP as the natural extension of being pro-life before birth to being respectful of life after birth, through the tender stages of childhood.  After all, my life and my will are no more valuable than that of my children.  Not to say that I don't have authority to make decisions for the good of the family and to lovingly discipline my children to help them overcome original sin by growing in virtue, but it needs to be that, not my own selfishness and lack of self-control.

I think that there's also a very fine line between standing up for what we believe and judging others.  If saying and doing the right thing wasn't hard enough, our audience is even harder, and the larger and more diverse the group, the more difficult it is (for me, at least).  It seems like someone is going to label my ideas "bigoted," and somebody is going to think I'm not taking a strong enough stand.  One will listen to half of what I say, and the other will listen to the other half, and it's anybody's guess if both of them will go away thinking we agree or that I'm crazy, especially online.  I don't want to discount the online relationships that I do have, but in general, I share information online and form relationships in person.  I have to have a little bit more of a barrier put up online because people can and do say things that are incredibly hurtful, and I have to know that I can't take them seriously, that I have people who know me and love me.  I'm a child of God, and I know my worth, regardless of what anybody online (or IRL for that matter) says.

[LessTraveledBy]

Originally Posted by JMJ 

 I think of AP as the natural extension of being pro-life before birth to being respectful of life after birth, through the tender stages of childhood.  After all, my life and my will are no more valuable than that of my children.  Not to say that I don't have authority to make decisions for the good of the family and to lovingly discipline my children to help them overcome original sin by growing in virtue, but it needs to be that, not my own selfishness and lack of self-control..

Very well put!!

[mylilmonkeys]

Please pray.  Dear Catholic friends of ours just lost their child four days before the scheduled induction.  It sounds like it was an abruption, and I'm not certain if mom is out of ICU yet.

[JMJ]

I just heard about it.  Do any of you know anything about Catholic homesteading families moving next to the Clear Creek Abbey in OK?  Of anything similar in the Western US?  (in vax/homebirth friendly states)

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080323_1_A1_spanc15125

http://www.devinrose.heroicvirtuecreations.com/blog/2010/07/12/monastic-neighborhoods/

http://catholichomesteadingmovement.freeforums.org/

[mt_gooseberry]

Originally Posted by JMJ 

I just heard about it.  Do any of you know anything about Catholic homesteading families moving next to the Clear Creek Abbey in OK?  Of anything similar in the Western US?  (in vax/homebirth friendly states)

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080323_1_A1_spanc15125

http://www.devinrose.heroicvirtuecreations.com/blog/2010/07/12/monastic-neighborhoods/

http://catholichomesteadingmovement.freeforums.org/

This is the first I've heard about it.  That's pretty awesome, though. 

Anyway, I'm just here to complain about the last Mass I attended.  Once a month they hold a Spanish Mass about an hour-and-a-half away from us, and DH likes to attend since it's his primary language.  It is so fruity with clapping and tambourines and awful music and....  That is one of the big reasons that I left the Lutheran Church was that the liturgy had become watered down in favor of "feel-good" shenanigans.  There is a huge exodus right now of Latinos leaving the Catholic Church for Evangelical churches, and Hispanic Masses are trying to compensate or something.  For me, the old rituals are just so much more powerful!  The closer you get to the time of Christ, the closer you come to the original ceremony, the Real Deal.  How does that compare to a bland, jangly tune tune and sappy lyrics?!

[JMJ]

Originally Posted by mt_gooseberry 

This is the first I've heard about it.  That's pretty awesome, though. 

Anyway, I'm just here to complain about the last Mass I attended.  Once a month they hold a Spanish Mass about an hour-and-a-half away from us, and DH likes to attend since it's his primary language.  It is so fruity with clapping and tambourines and awful music and....  That is one of the big reasons that I left the Lutheran Church was that the liturgy had become watered down in favor of "feel-good" shenanigans.  There is a huge exodus right now of Latinos leaving the Catholic Church for Evangelical churches, and Hispanic Masses are trying to compensate or something.  For me, the old rituals are just so much more powerful!  The closer you get to the time of Christ, the closer you come to the original ceremony, the Real Deal.  How does that compare to a bland, jangly tune tune and sappy lyrics?!

We're actually really looking into this.  I think the next step is to contact somebody from there.  DH has a class in OK next month, and it looks like we might make a detour to check this place out.  Honestly, the way things are going, the more we think and pray about it, the more we wonder if God is calling us to protect our consciences and our children by going and living under the poverty line on a farm someplace where we can grow/raise/hunt/gather most of what we need.

It's interesting, though, that in thinking about it, one of my worries is the liturgy.  I have only been to one EF Mass in my life, and between trying to read off the missal of the 8-year-old who was sitting next to me helping me follow along and chasing my 1-year-old who was in a particularly difficult stage of attending Mass and had to be taken out at least once or twice in the middle of it, I really enjoyed the beautiful singing of the choir at the High Mass, but I was in way over my head as far as what was going on in the Mass.  My strategy for getting her to pay attention had been to whisper in her ear what was going on ("Look!  The priest is preparing the altar for Jesus to come!"), but I had no clue myself, much less to be able to explain it to my daughter, so climbing around in the pew was far more fascinating to her.  Oh, I could get used to it.  It would be beautiful.  I would figure out what was going on, and I would love it.  My children and I would learn Latin... at least liturgical Latin, and we would be at home.

It's just that I was raised with the more charismatic elements of the Church.  I fell in love with those jangly tunes and sappy lyrics, and I fell in love with God himself.  I danced for joy, singing and praising with all of my heart.  I feel like God spoke to me through some of those lyrics, those sappy, repetitive lyrics gave me time to meditate on their meaning, really praying those words.  Songs are so often the start of a prayer for me.  It doesn't have to be in Mass.  I really love a praise and worship time outside of Mass, praying, dancing, singing song after song.  It's really a prayerful time for me.  It's how I learned how to pray.  I do think the Mass should be more reverent, and I do really appreciate the rich tradition of our Church, but I love both, and I'm afraid of not being able to have that anymore.  I know prayer is not about feelings, but this is giving me empathy for those who grew up loving the Traditional Latin Mass and were suddenly told that they were not allowed to use it anymore.  This charismatic worship is something that I grew up with.  It's how I fell in love with God and my husband.  I'm sure I'm over-thinking this.

[mt_gooseberry]

Originally Posted by JMJ 

We're actually really looking into this.  I think the next step is to contact somebody from there.  DH has a class in OK next month, and it looks like we might make a detour to check this place out.  Honestly, the way things are going, the more we think and pray about it, the more we wonder if God is calling us to protect our consciences and our children by going and living under the poverty line on a farm someplace where we can grow/raise/hunt/gather most of what we need.

It's interesting, though, that in thinking about it, one of my worries is the liturgy.  I have only been to one EF Mass in my life, and between trying to read off the missal of the 8-year-old who was sitting next to me helping me follow along and chasing my 1-year-old who was in a particularly difficult stage of attending Mass and had to be taken out at least once or twice in the middle of it, I really enjoyed the beautiful singing of the choir at the High Mass, but I was in way over my head as far as what was going on in the Mass.  My strategy for getting her to pay attention had been to whisper in her ear what was going on ("Look!  The priest is preparing the altar for Jesus to come!"), but I had no clue myself, much less to be able to explain it to my daughter, so climbing around in the pew was far more fascinating to her.  Oh, I could get used to it.  It would be beautiful.  I would figure out what was going on, and I would love it.  My children and I would learn Latin... at least liturgical Latin, and we would be at home.

It's just that I was raised with the more charismatic elements of the Church.  I fell in love with those jangly tunes and sappy lyrics, and I fell in love with God himself.  I danced for joy, singing and praising with all of my heart.  I feel like God spoke to me through some of those lyrics, those sappy, repetitive lyrics gave me time to meditate on their meaning, really praying those words.  Songs are so often the start of a prayer for me.  It doesn't have to be in Mass.  I really love a praise and worship time outside of Mass, praying, dancing, singing song after song.  It's really a prayerful time for me.  It's how I learned how to pray.  I do think the Mass should be more reverent, and I do really appreciate the rich tradition of our Church, but I love both, and I'm afraid of not being able to have that anymore.  I know prayer is not about feelings, but this is giving me empathy for those who grew up loving the Traditional Latin Mass and were suddenly told that they were not allowed to use it anymore.  This charismatic worship is something that I grew up with.  It's how I fell in love with God and my husband.  I'm sure I'm over-thinking this.

I'm really glad you responded with this, JMJ!  It helps to get some insight from someone who appreciates the contemporary elements.  I grew up bouncing between Methodist, Baptist, and non-denom churches before my dad got tired of it and started attending the Lutheran Church he grew up in.  My mom was in the Baptist choir for a few years and we used to go to choir practice with her.  Their focus was strongly contemporary.  My mom also loves to play and sing hymns with the piano.  I attached to the more "traditional" music early on.  I love a good Southern Baptist choir singing gospel.  I also love Southern spirituals a la O! Brother Where Art Thou?  And traditional "Protestant" hymns, like "The Old Rugged Cross."  So I can relate to the dancing and singing and praising!  But 95% of the "new stuff" just grates on my nerves.  To me it's...empty.  Vapid.  Shallow.  I guess in the end it just comes down to different tastes.

As far as the homesteading goes, if I didn't have strong bonds tying me to my family, I would really consider that.  It is still my dream to transform our acre here into a semi-self-sustaining food plot.  And I would give so much to be surrounded with other faithful Catholics!  Emphasis on "faithful," as that is something I am not finding here. 

I would love to know more about what you decide to do! 

[JMJ]

Here's another link: http://www.clearcreekcommunity.org/

The only major problem is that it often seems that contemporary worship is accompanied by less than faithful adherence to the teaching of the Magisterium.  It's not true everywhere.  I know, for instance, that Steubenville is both quite contemporary and quite faithful, but I don't know where else.  The faithful part is what is most important to us as well, and moving away from family is also one of our biggest concerns.  We're already several hours of driving away from our families, and this would put us even farther.  Not only that, reducing our income that much would significantly limit our ability to travel.

On another somewhat related note, my son has gotten to the point that he will only go to sleep at night if he doesn't take an early evening nap, and he will only keep from needing one if he sleeps through the only time Confession is offered at our parish (and most of the other parishes around as well), so it has been too long.  I prefer to just go when Confession is offered, but it's been too long, and I need to put my soul in a better place to discern something so serious.

[Hebaume39]

Look at Madison.  I know the city itself is liberal but the St. Raphael/Cathedral parish is wonderful.  There are alot of wonderful AP and truely Catholic families (I think we have about twenty altar boys every week).  Holy Redeemer has both hispanic and tridentine masses every day (the cathedral parish is two down town churches and no cathedral (it burned down)).  There are at least two catholic homeschool groups in the city.  The website for the parish is isthmuscatholic.org.  We also have a several wonderful catholic high schools and at least one college.

[JMJ]

Wisconsin is another place we kinda consider.  I really admire Bishop Morlino's boldness.  There's a man who is not afraid to tell it like it is.  The biggest issue is that our families are all out West.  Anybody know of any great communities in Colorado or Idaho?

[mt_gooseberry]

Originally Posted by JMJ 

Wisconsin is another place we kinda consider.  I really admire Bishop Morlino's boldness.  There's a man who is not afraid to tell it like it is.  The biggest issue is that our families are all out West.  Anybody know of any great communities in Colorado or Idaho?

Come to Montana!  You and I can start one!  :) ;)

[JMJ]

Haha, mt_gooseberry.  We actually do have family in MT, but I'm not sure I could ever live in that kind of cold weather.

[theboysmama]

I haven't followed this thread in a while. Was unable to follow as I was searching for the traditional catholic mamas. So glad I found you ladies again.

I hope to read through when I get some free time (ha ha).

I just wanted to make sure to post so I was subscribed to the thread.

Some of you may remember that dh and I were really struggling in our faith journey. We tried out several different parishes and just felt like we were still missing something. We met a wonderful family while attending a random mass at a random parish that they don't usually attend either. They told us they attended the Byzantine church and invited us to go check it out. We did and LOVE it. We are so happy. the community is wonderful!!! We feel so welcome and supported in our faith journey. There is a full meal after each liturgy and then sunday school for the kids. It is a small parish so we have to be a part of it (being social is kind of hard for us) and since it is so small we are somewhat accountable because it is very noticable when we aren't there. (I don't think anyone judges us or is keeping track but it keeps me wanting to attend. For the first time I am attending for what we get out of hte liturgy, what we can put into the liturgy not just that it is obligatory.  BUT I am super lost. Do any of you attend a Byzantine Liturgy or have any knowledge of the Byzantine Faith? 

For those of you that don't know it is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. So I am assuming that would still qualify me for this thread :)

Any info any of you have to share or resources such as books, etc. would be much appreciated. We are hoping to meet with the priest sometime this week. (he moved over from the roman catholic mass so am hoping that he will understand where we are coming form and help us with our confusion).

[JMJ]

TBM, sorry to confuse you. I'm glad you finally found us. I don't know much about the Byzantine Rite, but their faith is pretty much the same: Catholic, faithful to the Magisterium. We have some local Maronites that are absolutely wonderful to visit.

We just got back from our trek through (among other places) Oklahoma and the community there. It was a wonderful trip. If only we knew what God wants of us. Prayers for discernment, please.

[theboysmama]

We will meet with the priest tomorrow morning and hoping he can help guide us and give us some resources so we can learn more. I am really so happy there and haven't felt this way since converting so this is wonderful. My children are begging to attend as well and that is so new. I know that the sign of hte cross is in reverse, they are really into icons, the host is received in the blood, and the entire liturgy is sung. Also no meat on fridays and during lint it is m,w,f without meat. There are black fasts (which are vegan) on certain days throughout the year. Also, there seems to be more holy days where liturgy is obligatory. That is just what I have grasped from attending for the last 6 weeks. Looking forward to finding out more tomorrow.

JMJ- we will definately pray for discernment