Continuity - Our Past Is WHO We Are

So for those of you that follow this blog somewhat regularly, you might know that we are traveling 4000+ miles in the next few days, and have the opportunity to have our first child baptized with our family and friends back in Michigan. You may also know that the Baptism will take place in the older rite, the usus antiquior, or Extraordinary Form. The Church where we will be having the Baptism and attending Mass (Our daughters first) will also be in the usus antiquior.

Where the Baptism will take place is in a church that is over a 100 years old. What is fascinating about all of this is that I was told today that my Great Aunt was baptized in that very church over 80 years ago.

This is why our Traditions in the faith are so important. This link will span 4 generations, 4 families, 80+ years, thousands of days, - but only 1 church, 1 Sacrament, and 1 Form. This is what Universal is SUPPOSED TO MEAN! There is an importance to commonality and universality that is important to our Faith, and to our humanity. There is a reason people dress alike, talk alike, and generally conform to one another when they are in some proximity (whether geographic, emotional, or spiritual) with one another. Such universality bonds us to other humans. Why do we possess the emotion of sentimentalism? Why do we cry when aged loved ones die? Because who we are is born out of who they WERE. A word that many people are fond of is CONTINUITY, and I am likewise fond of it.

Christ's death on the Cross is not simply an ancient event, but at Pope Benedict explains it is a "once FOR ALL" event. Meaning, that it was done and is done constantly throughout time. His love for us is never-ending there is a continuity to the past with our Faith because God made his gift unceasing and therefore it is the PERFECT SACRIFICE even today, thousands of years later.

So why are we so desirous of CHANGING? Are we really so short sited that our personal comfort and enjoyment trumps our desire and innate longing for our past? Are protestant praise and worship songs really necessary for the one hour a week that many give back to the God that gave us everything?

I understand why people are more comfortable at Modern Rite churches. I even get why some of the liturgical practices have developed in the past 40 years. I also understand why people prefer the vernacular. Yet... why must the form change continually? Why must we destroy continuity of the past and refuse to replace it with ANY continuity, even that of a modern quality? If we come from our families past, and one day are intended to do the same for our children; what happens when we break that chain? They are not longer linked to us... and the past which created us. While this may be OK for some, the question that is not often asked is this:

When we destroy the continuity of our Faith and our Past, are we destroying a part of who we are?

So while many are more "comfortable" in the modern I look to the Traditional. I'll admit... it isn't an every week thing. [Mostly because I live in Alaska and the closest usus antiquior celebration is 4 hours away.] The Tradition in our Faith is what has made our Faith what it is. Without that tradition our faith would be malleable and weak. In fact, there would be no continuity or universality at all.

In a few days time I will celebrate that continuity - and when I look to the Cross, when I receive the Body of Christ, and when my daughter's original sin is wiped clean I will think of the tie that binds us all together - Christ. For it is HE that links us all and gives us the opportunity to live with him forever and ever with all of those that have gone before us and laid the path upon which we walk.

-Posted by: Joe