Liv Homolka

I recently read an interesting article by the Associated Press on the growing number of Catholics embracing traditional Catholicism. Although there was somewhat of a representation of traditional Catholics in a good light, the overall message was that the movement has brought turmoil to parishes across America. That traditional Catholics are prideful, divisive and “far right” extremists.

As a traditional leaning Catholic, I think that the article unfairly misrepresented most faithful Catholics who embrace traditionalism and orthodoxy. My experience with traditional Catholicism has been life changing and forever improved my relationship with Christ.

A few years ago, when I was on a search for Biblical Truth, I, by Divine assistance, stumbled across people speaking about their relationships with Jesus like I had never heard before. Though I had been raised Catholic, I was raised without a focus on the Bible, Church teachings, Church history or the Eucharist. There sure wasn’t veiling, Gregorian chants, or Latin. To hear these people speak of how much these things have changed their lives and seeing the Biblical argument for these things, I was intrigued. Though now familiar and sweet and somewhat nostalgic for me, it was the more modern expression of Catholicism that lead me to megachurch Christianity because it is honestly a much cooler version of what I was already doing. However, after a brush with death due to a septic miscarriage and hemorrhage, in my search for absolute Truth, it was traditional Catholicism and not the Catholicism of my youth that brought me back to the Faith.

Though objectively True to me, traditional Catholicism wasn’t prideful or stodgy. In fact, it was so attractive to me because it was so the opposite. In my experience, traditional Catholicism has been the Gospel lived out in its purest form. We ARE sinners. We DO deserve eternal damnation. But we are SO LOVED by a God who sent His only begotten Son to die for us and save us from this sin. We only need to repent and believe the Gospel and the Good Shepherd will be waiting for us full of perfect love and mercy every time we stray but return to Him. For that reason, He is worthy of only our highest praise and worship. In traditional Catholicism, I recognize that I am a lowly sinner. Pride is slowly being pruned away from my soul and my goal is to decrease as He increases in my life. There is no room for a Pharisaical faith in my life as I recognize that it is not about me and that no matter how many Rosaries I pray or if I veil or how many hours of adoration I attend, it would never be enough on my own. I NEED Christ as King over my life. And for that reason, I give Him every part of my life even the parts that modern society has deemed acceptable.

Now some may say that this was the exact point of the article, that because some Catholics are choosing to live so differently than the modern world they must think they’re better or holier than those that don’t. That is absolutely not my experience. I have absolutely no judgement for those who do not live this way. In picking up my own cross and following Jesus through His Holy Scriptures and Church, I recognize that my sin though possibly different is just as damnable as any. Again, there is no room for pride when you are so humbled in your faith.

With great humility in traditional Catholicism, also comes beautiful worship. Although critics will say that our faith is too pious and in some ways depressing and I would agree if it was just simply focused on rules and morality. However, it is so much more beautiful when you add in the link they so often forget that is the entire focus of our lives: Jesus. I think that because we understand the weight of our depravity, we also desire the highest praise for our Lord and Savior. Something that was highly attractive to me about traditional Catholicism upon my conversion was the beauty of the Liturgy. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was unlike anything else I had ever experienced before. The incense, the chanting, the veils reminded me that I was worshipping the True King of kings. While much of the world focuses on the self, the Mass took me out of this world and allowed me to escape my own inner world and instead transcend into the eternal ethereal beautiful Kingdom of God. At every Mass, I get a glimpse into the beauty, love and grace of Heaven and it’s the perfect antidote for the anxiety of our times. I have often broken down crying at Mass or adoration because it’s just so vastly different and far more beautiful than the day to day experience of this world we live in. For even just a moment you experience the Divine of Jesus Christ in a immensely tangible way.

As far as a lack of charity that the article describes is present among traditional Catholics, I would greatly argue the opposite. As I strive to be more like Christ, I have only grown in charity. While service may be different than the norms of modern social justice, it is no less beneficial (I would argue much more beneficial) to our world. The focus of worldly social justice is retribution and anger while Catholic charity is holistic and seeks to uproot the source of the issues and turn all to the ultimate healer, Jesus. My heart aches for the world as I remember my own broken soul contemplating suicide after the long battle with PTSD I fought after my miscarriage. However, it was not through anything that the world had to offer that brought true goodness to my life but Jesus Christ through true Catholic charity. For that reason, I seek now more than ever to extend what was extended to me whether that is donating to a pregnancy resource center, feeding the homeless woman who begs on the corner or by simply bringing a meal to a bereaved neighbor. True Catholic charity only increases as people strive to live a truly Christ filled life.

Traditional Catholicism is hardly easy. My husband and I often talk about it. It is not easy for us to have four kids six and under especially in this economy. It is not easy to admit your deepest darkest sins before a priest in confession. It is not easy to feel ridiculed for trying to live for Jesus. It is not easy to follow Christ when it is widely available to not. But, in the end, I promise you that it is so worth it. Being a traditional Catholic and adhering to orthodoxy, though difficult, has brought me nothing but beauty and goodness, because it has brought me (and our family) closer to Jesus than ever before.

Traditional Catholicism has brought a fullness of living Biblically into my life. Traditional Catholicism has brought a connection to the early Church into my life. But most of all traditional Catholicism has brought a deepness and intimacy with Christ like never before. For that, I am forever grateful for this expression of our Faith.

Praying many blessings over you.

Stay encouraged in Christ, friends,

Liv