What To Do When You're Home Alone--But Not By Choice

"Home Aloners" is the name given to those misguided souls who think that because of a lack of Ordinary jurisdiction in a time of sedevacante, they must stay "home alone" and cannot attend Mass with Traditionalist priests. It's like a spiritual rerun of the 1990 movie "Home Alone" minus the joyful conclusion. I've written on that subject before, especially in regards to the teachings of former Protestant minister turned Feeneyite Home-Aloner, Gerry Matatics. (See my post of 4/8/13)

 My purpose in this post is to address the concerns of my readers who, for reasons beyond their control, do not have access to a Traditionalist Church or Chapel. Such people would love to attend a real Mass and associate with fellow Traditionalists, but cannot due to distance, infirmity, etc. These Traditionalists, dear to Our Lord, find themselves "home alone" and  don't want to be. I will discuss the options for such people, so they can make their Traditionalist Catholic way as best possible in this world gone mad during the Great Apostasy. I wish to credit and acknowledge the ideas of Fr. Anthony Cekada and Bp. Daniel Dolan, who have written on this topic before. I have taken from their ideas and have added my own.

•  The Morality of Staying Home on Sundays and Holy Days

According to theologian Jone,  "Any moderately grave reason suffices to excuse one from attendance at Holy Mass, such as considerable hardship or corporal or spiritual harm either to oneself or another." Therefore, those who would be excused include: the sick, convalescents, those that have a long way to church, people hindered by the duties of their state (e.g. policemen on duty, etc), those who care for the sick, etc. (See Moral Theology, The Neumann Press, Maryland, [1962] pgs. 125-126).

• Consecrate Your Home to The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Most Immaculate Heart of Mary

 Set up a home "altar" placing on it blessed statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Include your patron saints too. Have blessed candles when you pray there. How do you get them blessed? You can buy them online and arrange to have them mailed (with return shipping and boxes provided) to a Traditionalist priest that will perform the proper blessing and mail it back to you. You can ask them to send Holy Water and blessed candles, which most will gladly do for a nominal fee.  Perform the Enthronement ceremony to make the Sacred Heart of Jesus the King of your home.(Copies of the ceremony can be obtained from most Traditionalist priests either free or for a nominal fee) This is a good place for you and your family to gather for prayer; especially on Sundays and Holy Days.

• Make the Most of Sacramentals

 The Church has many sacramentals, most of which are not used as frequently by the faithful as they should. Besides statues and crucifixes, how many of you use: Chaplets (a great way to engender different devotions throughout the year), St. Benedict medal (and Crucifix-Medal), the Cords of St. Joseph, St Francis of Assisi, and St. Philomena, the Five Fold Scapular, the Green Scapular, St. Joseph Oil, St. Philomena Oil, The Pardon Crucifix, etc. Pray the Rosary.

• Use the Breviary (in English or Latin) and follow the Proper of the Mass

Use of the Breviary and reading the Proper of the Sunday Mass, followed by the Rosary is a great way to Keep Holy the Sabbath. You may want to read and meditate on Fr. Goffine's Devout Instructions on the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays and Holy Days.

• Follow Mass on the Internet or DVD

 You can follow a live Mass via Internet or by DVD. There is a great DVD put out by the CMRI.

• Use Social Media to Fellowship with other Traditionalists

 While 34% of the websites are pornographic, and a good percentage more are spreading evils and errors, we can still make good use of technology. Meetup.com, is a way you can start a group of Traditionalists seeking to know the Faith and live it. Perhaps you can "meet up" on Sundays at someone's house to pray together and learn the Faith. Remember 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you." With all the attacks on religion from the "new atheists," to attacks on Traditionalists in particular, it is important to know your Faith. I suggest reading theologian Ott's one volume Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. Then proceed, slowly but surely, through the 12 volume work on dogmatic theology by theologian Joseph Pohle. You can study together.

 Twitter is another way to meet Traditionalists (I'm on it too). Read good websites and blogs. The two best out there are "Novus Ordo Watch" and "Daily Catholic.org" I would caution you to stay off "Catholic" Internet chat sites where there is much disinformation, misinformation, and even heresy. People will often chat with the intention of controversy for the sake of controversy. There are good points, but unless you are both firmly grounded and strong in the Faith, please avoid them.

• Get a Traditionalist Priest to visit you or even start a chapel

 If you are successful in starting a Traditionalist group in your area, as I described above, perhaps you could get a priest to come out with a portable altar once a month to offer Mass and hear Confessions! If you all chip in for his travel expenses and give him lodging and a stipend, chances are you will get one. Make sure he is reputable, properly trained, validly ordained, and not in union with the Vatican II sect. If enough of you come together, you might even eventually be able to build a chapel. This was done in New Jersey by the congregation following the late, great Fr. Paul Wickens, whom I  knew personally.

  Lastly, thank God for the gift of the Integral Catholic Faith, without which no one gets to Heaven. Offer up your spiritual suffering for the conversion of sinners. I hope this post has provided those of you who are in this situation with good ideas, and given you hope. My spiritual father, Fr. Gommar DePauw, used to say, "Any true priest who offers the real Mass, even if I never met him, I consider that priest my friend in Christ." In similar fashion, I say to all my Traditionalist readers that I consider you my friends in Christ. I remember you all at the Most Holy Sacrifice every Sunday and Holy Day, and in my daily Rosary. There are not many of us, so let's do well to remember the words of Galatians 6:10, "So then, as we have occasion, let us do good towards all, and especially towards those of the household of faith."