Ultimate Catholicity!!!
I’ve recently been exposed to the world of Anglo Catholics. People who by definition are “Catholic” deemed by people who are already Catholic. What that means, is that they are the crème de la crème of Catholics. They are hip to everything before they become Catholic, they despise the popular culture, and whenever something they like becomes “mainstreamed,” they in turn call that something —Novus Ordo.— Which then they have to find something completely different to like.
I’m sure you’ve encountered these people before. The people with the persnickety musical taste, and spew about their chants whenever they have the chance to. In reality, does listening to a certain obscure Order’s chants really make you the ultimate hip guy or gal?
People that are usually part of this “Anglo Catholic” culture usually think that they are breaking from the mold of society, breaking from tradition. Therefore they dress a certain way and listen to chants that most people never hear so they can be “different” and so juxtapose themselves into the category of ultimate “catholicity.” At least they think that’s what they are doing consciously or unconsciously.
In reality, and in this case, the reality = my opinions, these “Anglo Catholics/Catholic-ettes (is this the feminine form of the word?? I just made it up)” are just putting themselves into another subculture group which means they really aren’t that different after all, they’re just doing the same old things the Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, the Polish National Catholics and a whole rack of others Catholic groups have already done. So is being different really different?
I’m not quite sure where this pondering is leading to, and if so, anything concrete. So I think I’ll just stop for now, and go out and buy me some unnecessary liturgical thread and find me an Anglo Catholic chick, cuz they’re hot.
Tip o’ the biretta to the Ironic Emperor and the inspiration of Pious and Overly Devotional.
I don’t think that A-Cs are different than Roman Catholics, Orthodox, PNCatholics*, or any other catholics, for that matter. Rather, I’d say that we’re of a same savour. And, really, when one considers the true nature of traditionalism, it’s not a matter that we love All Things Old…but those things that are truly timeless. “Gather Us In” and the Massive Cremation are severely dated, and hopefully, their time will be expired sometime soon…like some package of bad deli meat.
I think “oldness for oldness’ sake” is terrible, actually. We have one guy at our parish, and I have to tell you, sometimes I want to smack him upside the head. He’s one of the few left (most are dead) who are all about things “the way they used to be done” that are best. This is, generally, the reason why most Anglo-Catholic parishes are either dead or turned into Spongish places. Bleack.
I don’t know where I’m going with this. All I know is that I was doing some vanity Googling and I saw mention of my blog here, so I decided I’d drop by and say hello. =)
Pax et Bonum,
-j (Real Ultimate Anglo-Catholic)
BTW, as a point of interest, our parish, the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, was once affiliated in one way or another with the PNCC. I discovered that a few weeks ago in conversation with the aforementioned guy who doesn’t like change. =)
-j
Your original spoof was a great post. I never laughed so hard. I also had a hankerin’ for those gin martinis, although I typically prefer vodka (Polish thing you know).
I enjoy the AngloCatholicPODCast that you do. You’ve got a great voice for such radio type things. It’s really well done and has inspired some of my homilies. The readings from the Fathers are perfect.
I was aware that St. Anthony was a PNCC parish – the only one of Italian heritage.
There was quite a Protestant evangelical movement in the early 1900’s aimed at Italian immigrants. I think the people of St. Anthony’s were looking for the same things the Poles and other Central, Eastern, and Southern Europeans were looking for. Your parish tried it with the PNCC and ultimately found it in Anglicanism.
For a good reference check out: Electric City Immigrants: Italians and Poles of Schenectady, N.Y., 1880-1930, Chapter 4: Protestant Evangelism.
I wish you the best and thanks for the comments. I’ll add you to my blogroll.