True Traditionism

“Now I beseech you, brethren, to mark them who make dissensions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them. For they that are such serve not Christ our Lord but their own belly: and by pleasing speeches and good words seduce the hearts of the innocent.” (Romans 16:17-18)

“There are six things the Lord hates,yes, seven are an abomination to him; Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that plots wicked schemes, feet that are quick to run to evil, The false witness who utters lies, and the one who sows discord among kindred.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

There are people running around on Facebook and other social media who have hijacked the term “Traditional Catholics” and apply it only to themselves and those who agree with them. They spend time bad-mouthing the Church, the Pope and any who attend the Novus Ordo Mass. They delight in obsessing on some aspect or another and telling YOU why you aren’t faithful Catholics for doing it. Their favorite whipping boys are things such as holding hands during the Our Father, the Sign of Peace and, of course, Communion on the hand. They are pseudo-traditionalists or “RadTrad” (a camp which is even divided within itself with some holding Sede Vacante beliefs…not valid Pope sine at least 1958)

After all, if you were a faithful Catholic, you’d join them and ONLY attend a Latin Mass… or at the very least ONLY receive Communion kneeling and on the tongue. There is nothing wrong with the Latin Mass as a preference, but plenty wrong when made an Article of Faith. I saw a video on YouTube the other day that is being spread around on Facebook RadTrad supporters as if it is a good thing.

There is a Bishop serving Communion and a woman is kneeling at the Rail. He has made it plain that he doesn’t want people kneeling for whatever reason (most likely because of the line wanting to receive from him). He makes the person stand up and he serves the Host on her tongue. Another woman comes up immediately behind her and kneels. The server assisting the Bishop makes the woman stand up. When the Bishop offers her the Host she angrily turns her head and walks away.

She thinks she is being faithful but what she has just done is commit mortal sin on several levels. For one thing, she is in rebellion against the authority ordained by the Lord to shepherd her insisting on her own way despite his instruction. Scripture tells us that rebellion is as serious a sin as witchcraft. Secondly, she has just refused to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord said that if we refuse that, then we don’t have eternal life and won’t be raised in the First Resurrection. I pray that this woman will go to Confession before again presenting herself for Communion or she will be guilty of yet another mortal sin in receiving Communion unworthily.

The Marks of TRUE Traditionalists
TRUE traditional Catholics aren't looking to create sects within the Church. They recognize that the holiness of the Mass is not in the form or the language but in the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

TRUE traditional Catholics still believe "Tu est Petrus" and the Lord's promise that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church. They don't usurp the authority Christ ordained nor set up mini popes to follow such as Marcel Lefebvre and others. TRUE traditional Catholics accept the three-legged stool of sound doctrine: Scripture, Sacred Tradition AND the teaching Magisterium.

In Conclusion
The only "tradition" RadTrads and Sede Vacantists follow is the tradition of Martin Luther. As Saint Paul said, “…avoid them” or resist them if you are equipped to do so.