Make love your aim

Of late I've seen have had some distasteful experiences - both on and off the blogosphere - with some people (this is not a generalization!) who call themselves traditional Catholics. Arrogance, meanness, and backbiting are not traditional Catholic values - and some "traditional Catholics" do a great disservice and probably turn off many good Catholics who would appreciate beautiful, reverent liturgy and sound doctrine. It would do much good for the Church if we all keep in mind St Paul's beautiful words to the Corinthians - for what is the use of being perfectly proficient in Greek or understanding the nuances of Latin grammar if we have not charity - it becomes as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal; it is not enough to have an encyclopedic knowledge of liturgy and Church history, or even to have faith enough to remove mountains: without charity, we are nothing. 

Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Without at least trying (trying - because we all fail now and then; the important thing is that we keep desiring and trying) to be charitable, an enthusiasm for traditional Catholicism looks like a mere fixation on liturgy and Latin, and becomes a matter of style, a fancy - or at worst a vanity - rather than a part of one's spirituality. 

"Make love your aim." 

- 1 Corinthians 14:1