Away from Tradism
The beginnings of this new phase en mi vida began less than a year ago. While maintaining the doctrinal, didactic, aesthetic, artistic, theological, symbological, ceremonial, superiority of the extraordinary form of the Roman Mass, compared to the ordinary form (my studied opinion), I had become increasingly dissatisfied with my place in the community/ies which have come to call themselves "traditionalists". If you are interested in what those concerns are, speak with me; I have shared my concerns with any and all who have asked.
Some, may think I have backtracked, backpedaled, or if you are a convert and still have some vestiges of protestantism in you, "backslid", towards my more liberal days. Not so. I just no longer believe in these cookie cutter groups that we are all supposed to fit ourselves into. Every one of them thinks their way is the best way, and everyone else is, protestantized, liberal, conservative, progressive, unbaptized in the spirit, un-slain, reprobate, etc. You name it. It's always the others, which don't quite have the fullness of the Catholic faith.
I'm tired of it.
A wise man, who I have tangled with on any number of theological, liturgical, and doctrinal issues once emailed me, in the height of my tradism, the phrase "In medio stat virtus". I asked him to translate. He said, "Virtue lies in the middle". I told him that comment smacks of indifferentism, liberalism, and whatever else. I asked him where he got this heresy from. St. Augustine. Oh... Well... One of his victories over me (I let him win sometimes; lol). As of late, the topics and tone of my writing have shifted. I rarely write on apologetics, theology, and the Mass. I write on psychology; something which I actually have formal studies in. This same wise man said that he noticed a change in me. He continues to pray for me, and is excited to see where God is leading me. I told him in response, that I intend to write a piece titled "Virtue Lieth in the Middle: A Radical on Neither Side". It will be a tribute to him and the seed which he planted some years ago.
Thank you, Paul! You might not like the Latin Mass, but I don't like Communion in the hand, so we're even.
God Bless,
Laurence G.
Some, may think I have backtracked, backpedaled, or if you are a convert and still have some vestiges of protestantism in you, "backslid", towards my more liberal days. Not so. I just no longer believe in these cookie cutter groups that we are all supposed to fit ourselves into. Every one of them thinks their way is the best way, and everyone else is, protestantized, liberal, conservative, progressive, unbaptized in the spirit, un-slain, reprobate, etc. You name it. It's always the others, which don't quite have the fullness of the Catholic faith.
I'm tired of it.
A wise man, who I have tangled with on any number of theological, liturgical, and doctrinal issues once emailed me, in the height of my tradism, the phrase "In medio stat virtus". I asked him to translate. He said, "Virtue lies in the middle". I told him that comment smacks of indifferentism, liberalism, and whatever else. I asked him where he got this heresy from. St. Augustine. Oh... Well... One of his victories over me (I let him win sometimes; lol). As of late, the topics and tone of my writing have shifted. I rarely write on apologetics, theology, and the Mass. I write on psychology; something which I actually have formal studies in. This same wise man said that he noticed a change in me. He continues to pray for me, and is excited to see where God is leading me. I told him in response, that I intend to write a piece titled "Virtue Lieth in the Middle: A Radical on Neither Side". It will be a tribute to him and the seed which he planted some years ago.
Thank you, Paul! You might not like the Latin Mass, but I don't like Communion in the hand, so we're even.
God Bless,
Laurence G.
It makes me happy to see your energy being channeled in what promises to be a productive enterprise.
ReplyDeleteIf I recollect correctly, and it is possible that at my age that I cannot recollect at all, never mind correctly. I do seem to have this feeling that I made some point about the middle being a dynamic locus of productive energy, resulting in the flowering of a new reality. I think I even made reference to Karl Marx and his Thesis vs Antithesis = Synthesis. This of course was "invented" many hundred of years after the "In medio stat virtus" axiom. I like it because it infuses dynamism into the "virtus".
So you see, Laurence, it is better to be opposed than to be even. "Even" is neutral; "opposed" is dynamic and generates creative energy. Down deep, you believe that. I know that because no matter what we discussed, you maintained a keen intellectual honesty about both sides and were not afraid to enlighten yourself with the changed realities caused by the discussion.
Finally, I am glad that you have begun this blog. I will set my blogs to "follow" "Virtus Stat in Medio." May God bless your new endeavor.
Thank you Paul. Yes, now I recall. You did say that. I do agree with that principle of Marx, inspite of the backlash I am sure to receive for now affirming Marxism. lol. I'm sure Marx believed in gravity, and so do I; doesn't make me a Marxist. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are right, it is better to be opposed than to be neutral. Jesus vomits the neutral out of his mouth according to the Apocalypse of St. John.
I am a bit uncomfortable with this statement however, "...the middle being a dynamic locus of productive energy, resulting in the flowering of a new reality." I would say, it gives rise to a new subjective experience or understanding of reality. The objective reality never changed, but, we sometimes forget that we all have a subjective experience of reality, which may get in the way of realizing the truth which is staring at us right in the face.
Oh and by the way, "In medio stat virtus" was taken as a name for another blog, and so using the principle I learned in my brief stint in a Latin class, you can change the order in any way you want, and it will say the same thing.
God Bless you, Paul.
Thanks Laurence. I've sort of had the same experience. The photo is particularly telling. From reading a couple of "trad" blogs, the comments always seem to go something along the lines of "As much as I like this pope, I knew he was a sissy" or "I knew he would back down. He's just a liberal at heart." After a while I came to realize that I can't associate myself with anything like that. I think that all of the pastors, bishops, and the Holy Father are in very tough positions, and they can't make everyone happy. I'm not trying to be a heretic, but I think we should assume the best of everyone, in charity. So anyways, I find I largely agree with what you're saying, and I think you're making a move in the right direction. I hope to see some of your psychology work on here too. Best.
ReplyDeleteHi Alfredo,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Some of my psychology work will be on here. It will be in brief form since attention spans are not as good as they used to be. Wait, what were we talking about? Stay tuned.
Laurence.