My Anecdotal Evidence of the Pluses and Minuses of the Pre-Vatican II Church

Fr McDonald was only 12 when the Council ended but here he shares his memories of 'before'. He has ten 'pluses' and only two 'minuses'!

From Southern Orders

By Fr Allan J. McDonald 

Of course, I was a mere child but from the first time I remember the Catholic Church, around 4 years old in Atlanta, Ga which would have been around 1957, I have great memories. I’m kind of an idiot savant in that regard. So here goes:

THE PLUSES FIRST:

1. The Mass was awe inspiring, filled with sacred silence before, during and after Mass, a true sense of wonder and awe before the throne of God and a realization that God is God and we aren’t! The mystical presence of God was palpable!

2. People were filled with reverence and constantly praying, not fearful of private devotions going on as the Mass progressed—it was so edifying and a wonderful example.

3. Masses were packed but not everyone went to Holy Communion—they understand the graces of the Holy Sacrifice even if they would not receive Holy Communion at that Mass.

4. There appeared to be discipline among the clergy and the nuns and they tried to set the example in teaching us about Christ, virtue, sin, modesty and immodesty, etc

5. No one complained about their clergy, the bishop or the pope, there was unity and pride in being Catholic with our unique liturgy, devotions, customs and practices, especially fasting, abstinence and ember days, not to mention the strict discipline of the Lenten season.

6. Catholic homes were filled with prayer, devotions and sacramentals.

7. The Catholic Church is the true Church, no if’s, and’s or or’s about it!

8. Catholics knew the basics of the Catholic Church and her 6 precepts. They knew what the Baltimore Catechism taught.

9. Catholics knew what sin was, developed a scrupulous conscience and went to confession regular, many weekly

10. There was a clear Catholic identity, what was and what wasn’t Catholic and the same held true of the distinct identity of the priests, nuns/sisters and brothers/monks.

THE MINUSES:

1. Paternalism, not so much clericalism, was rampant and adults were treated as children

2. Clericalism, meaning not a clear priestly identity or the authority that came with that identity, was an abuse of authority and a haughtiness as it concerned the priestly identity. It was also authoritarianism, meanness and strictness that went beyond correction to abuse. A deference offered to clergy concerning their foibles because they supposedly sacrificed so much, especially sex…

3. There was an unfortunate ignorance about the Scriptures and conversational prayer.

Can’t think of any other minuses…