By Anonymous

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up, and what was your level of exposure to Catholicism as a child and as a young adult?

I grew up in a small city in Iowa and was educated at the area Catholic school. I never heard anything about the Latin Mass growing up. For me, nothing existed before the 1960s except for Fatima.

2. What experience first piqued your interest in traditional Catholicism?

I can recall attitudes and beliefs among my family and parish that today would be described today as “traditional.” My parish had two beautiful old churches that never quite fit in with the New Mass; I could see this even as a child. In college I found out about the Latin Mass online. I particularly recall watching a video of a High Mass at Saint Nicolas du Chardonnet. 

3. What issues did you wrestle with during your discovery of traditional Catholicism, and how have you found resolutions to those concerns?

The only real issue that I wrestled with was how this would look with my Catholic community back at home. Going to the Latin Mass can be seen as a condemnation against those who you grew up with. There is no resolution to this until the Church gets back in order. I can only take solace in the fact that this problem is shared among a majority of Catholics who go to the Latin Mass today.

4. Why did you settle on the SSPX as opposed to some other TLM community?

I believe the SSPX emphasis on the priesthood is the proper way to address the main problems facing the church. I also like that the SSPX is a large organization that offers Mass all around the country. It’s always enjoyable to visit other SSPX chapels and meet people there who share your values. 

5. Now that you are a traditional Catholic, what are the greatest challenges that you face?

The greatest difficulty with the Catholic faith is that it is true. There are sacrifices you have to make physically, spiritually, and financially in order to practice the faith to its fullest.

6. Do you have any advice for the reader who may be considering, but not yet committed to, traditional Catholicism?

Traditional Catholicism has a strong community behind it due its the struggle it has undergone since the Second Vatican Council. Communities and social organizations have been dying around the country due to the growth of suburban life and the online world. It’s wonderful to be part of the community of Latin Mass Catholics who are working together to continue practicing the faith of our ancestors.