Would you rather...?

[EastWest7]

I moved to Saint Mary's precisely because of the availability of the Sacraments. I would not live in a place where I could not assist at Mass and go to Confession at least once a month. And if I did live in such a place, I would be doing all that I could to get the heck out of there.
There is a second thing; I'm an old man,and (by the grace of God) I am going to die a Catholic; but if I was a young married man with children, I would be asking myself: "What is going to happen to my children when they grow up? Without the chance to regularly receive the sacraments, what kind of Catholics will they become? If they want to get married, where will they find a practicing trad Catholic spouse? Surrounded by non-Catholics, chances are they will probably end up in a mixed marriage, with a great peril to their faith, and also that of their children. Secondly what about my children with a religious vocation? Where would they go?
Thirdly, I voted the third option!

I almost wonder if it would be sinful putting my kids into a society that is so heavily Orthodox (and by extension anti-Catholic). The ease to which they could switch to Orthodoxy would be huge, and that would be on me.

Hey LTC,
I never thought I would say it but for several years now I've been envious of people who live in Russia. And also Hungary (Catholic but I hear Mass attendance is low there). I'm probably naive, however if it came down to raising my kids again and I had to choose between Russia and America's current culture, I think I know which one I'd pick.

Although speaking of naivete, I still secretly long for the Catholic Church to return to its pre-Vatican II orthodoxy and there to be a reunion of it and the Orthodox Church. Of course, in the real world I cannot ever see the Orthodox agreeing amongst themselves, let alone returning to unity with Rome. Heck, Constantinople and Moscow are now not even in communion with one another. 

Oh well, if I'm going to dream, I might as well dream big. 

 

[Heinrich]

I picked other. I would prefer to live in 1938 Munich. Laus, I(and many others) are eagerly awaiting your anecdotes, assessments, and compare/contrasts of your trip. Also, curiously, what are the nationalities of the Society priests serving the mission there? Spasseeva.

Sure thing - what exactly would you like to know?

The one priest is Russian [speaks English] and the other one, I believe, is Ukrainian (I think he's from SSJK but I'm not 100% sure- doesn't speak English)

Standard of living compared to US/Canada: infrastructure(roads, bridges), cost of living, crime, cleanliness, friendliness, etc.

[LausTibiChriste]

I picked other. I would prefer to live in 1938 Munich. Laus, I(and many others) are eagerly awaiting your anecdotes, assessments, and compare/contrasts of your trip. Also, curiously, what are the nationalities of the Society priests serving the mission there? Spasseeva.

Sure thing - what exactly would you like to know?

The one priest is Russian [speaks English] and the other one, I believe, is Ukrainian (I think he's from SSJK but I'm not 100% sure- doesn't speak English)

Standard of living compared to US/Canada: infrastructure(roads, bridges), cost of living, crime, cleanliness, friendliness, etc.

I haven't spent too much time on the roads, but they seem fine. There is a TON of construction going on for new highways, massive apartment complexes etc. In Moscow the public transport is phenomenal and cheap and they're always building (they built 70km of new metro since I was last here 2.5 years ago).

Cost of living relative to their salaries is fine, not great. If you can swing a remote job and get paid in $ you'd be living large.

Crime is very low in Moscow - no one is dumb enough to mess with Moscow police.

City is kind of dirty but actual dirt...not trash. At least in the suburbs where I am, but it's due mainly to the mud drying up and the construction nearby I guess. Otherwise the city, especially in the center, is very tidy.

Russians are incredibly hospitable and kind - case in point, I was out with an American and a Frenchman two days ago and we had multiple people come up to our table and say hi, welcome to Russia etc. But if you walk around and smile and say kak dela to strangers (as Canadians do) they'll think you're certifiably insane. Russians are cold on the outside and warm on the inside.

Groceries here are plentiful and you can still find a lot of Western products despite the sanctions (I had a Budweiser today). It's definitely more Russian-centric (my Italian-food tastebuds aren't having the best time out here but there are worse things I guess). Speaking of food, there's a steakhouse chain call The Bull and most of their menu is 350rub ($3.81USD)...so you can get a chicken caesar salad and a 6oz New York for less than 8 bucks and it is GOOD....one of the many signs that life is good here.

Overall country is thriving and you wouldn't even know there's a war going on. Russians are perfectly happy staying here and living their life in Russia - sanctions mean nothing to most of them.

Anything other questions, fire away, I'd be happy to answer what I can.

[LausTibiChriste]

Hey LTC,
I never thought I would say it but for several years now I've been envious of people who live in Russia. And also Hungary (Catholic but I hear Mass attendance is low there). I'm probably naive, however if it came down to raising my kids again and I had to choose between Russia and America's current culture, I think I know which one I'd pick.

Although speaking of naivete, I still secretly long for the Catholic Church to return to its pre-Vatican II orthodoxy and there to be a reunion of it and the Orthodox Church. Of course, in the real world I cannot ever see the Orthodox agreeing amongst themselves, let alone returning to unity with Rome. Heck, Constantinople and Moscow are now not even in communion with one another. 

Oh well, if I'm going to dream, I might as well dream big. 

 

There's definitely a lot to be envious of. I don't think I'll end up moving here, but even if we don't we'll still spend a significant amount of time here.

If the Catholic & Orthos ever united and I could freely commune at the Churches here, then I would 110% move.

[Bonaventure]

I moved to Saint Mary's precisely because of the availability of the Sacraments. I would not live in a place where I could not assist at Mass and go to Confession at least once a month. And if I did live in such a place, I would be doing all that I could to get the heck out of there.
There is a second thing; I'm an old man,and (by the grace of God) I am going to die a Catholic; but if I was a young married man with children, I would be asking myself: "What is going to happen to my children when they grow up? Without the chance to regularly receive the sacraments, what kind of Catholics will they become? If they want to get married, where will they find a practicing trad Catholic spouse? Surrounded by non-Catholics, chances are they will probably end up in a mixed marriage, with a great peril to their faith, and also that of their children. Secondly what about my children with a religious vocation? Where would they go?
Thirdly, I voted the third option!

I almost wonder if it would be sinful putting my kids into a society that is so heavily Orthodox (and by extension anti-Catholic). The ease to which they could switch to Orthodoxy would be huge, and that would be on me.

After moving to a Catholic country, I've seen more how much my mind was warped and poisoned by the Protestantism in America. Even though this country would look quite corrupted at first glance, when you're on the inside you see that there is a totally different mindset that is fundamentally influenced by Catholicism.

One area this has been such a blessing in has been marriage and raising children.

In America (which I deeply love and which has many other good qualities) there is a pervasive atmosphere of antagonism between men and women.

The MGTOW and most of the trad-wife movement is just taking a different side in what is fundamentally a bitter and hateful fight.

There is a pervasive fear that your marriage could irreparably break down and there's nothing you or God can do about it.
 

There's a pervasive fear that your children could grow up to hate you and abandon the Faith no matter your best efforts or intentions.

I recently mentioned this to a random driver asking about moving to America
and he agreed and said he did actually notice the same thing when he was living in England and it's true that it's not the case here.

Here, at least in this part, there's usually an underlying love and trust between men and women, even during the most difficult moments, just like Catholicism teaches there should be.

There's an assumption that your marriage will be very happy and last a lifetime, just like God promised you on your Catholic wedding day that it can and should be.

There's an assumption that children will at least always love their mother for life, and usually their father. And while they may lose the Faith, it's often because there were not the best efforts or intentions somewhere along the line, but this love can be a powerful force helping them not go very far and in eventually coming back.

And it's so amazing to think that I could have been living this way my whole life if I had actually been really listening to what the Catholic Church was saying all along like I should have. 

I've lived in Mexico, and in the Philippines. Both have been ravaged by secularism, V2, etc.

However, I completely understand what you mean when you say "Catholic country."

There is still vestiges of it in the Philippines.

Until 2012, contraception was illegal. Divorce and abortion still are, only He knows for how much longer.

When I would be in the supermarket, mall, etc, at 3:00 PM, they'd announce over the intercom the 3 O'clock prayer. Or the Angelus.

I figured everyone would continue to go about their business.

Nope.

The checkers stopped scanning, the lines froze, for the duration of the prayer.

Same thing on all radio stations.

One would see little street shrines, and people kneeling in front of them praying.

All of the churches are packed.

[Bernadette]

I picked other. I would prefer to live in 1938 Munich.

Care to elaborate about why you'd pick that time specifically?

[LausTibiChriste]

I picked other. I would prefer to live in 1938 Munich.

Care to elaborate about why you'd pick that time specifically?

Because it was based af?

[Bernadette]

I picked other. I would prefer to live in 1938 Munich.

Care to elaborate about why you'd pick that time specifically?

Because it was based af?

What?

[Bonaventure]

I picked other. I would prefer to live in 1938 Munich.

Care to elaborate about why you'd pick that time specifically?

https://youtu.be/3HUWUtTZvK4?si=H1IMwitc6nCdA27e

[Baylee]

Given I already live in a woke society with limited access to valid Sacraments (best of both worlds, eh?), I chose an improvement in my affairs by selecting #1 (unwoke society with limited access).

[LausTibiChriste]

Given I already live in a woke society with limited access to valid Sacraments (best of both worlds, eh?), I chose an improvement in my affairs by selecting #1 (unwoke society with limited access).

Are you Canadian?

[Melkor]

I need to save my soul. Wokeness itself doesn't do anything to prevent that. Yeah it's annoying as hell but I have seen a resurgence of common sense in my generation.

Having access to reliable TLM and sacraments is far more important to me.

[Bonaventure]

I need to save my soul. Wokeness itself doesn't do anything to prevent that. Yeah it's annoying as hell but I have seen a resurgence of common sense in my generation.

Having access to reliable TLM and sacraments is far more important to me.

In b4 "hopefully this access is to a man ordained by a bishop consecrated in the pre 1968 rite or else it is invalid."

 

[Kaesekopf]

I need to save my soul. Wokeness itself doesn't do anything to prevent that. Yeah it's annoying as hell but I have seen a resurgence of common sense in my generation.

Having access to reliable TLM and sacraments is far more important to me.

In b4 "hopefully this access is to a man ordained by a bishop consecrated in the pre 1968 rite or else it is invalid."

 

Don't forget - he has to clearly, regularly, and publicly denounce Bergoglio and the Conciliar Church, otherwise it doesn't count.

[Bonaventure]

I need to save my soul. Wokeness itself doesn't do anything to prevent that. Yeah it's annoying as hell but I have seen a resurgence of common sense in my generation.

Having access to reliable TLM and sacraments is far more important to me.

In b4 "hopefully this access is to a man ordained by a bishop consecrated in the pre 1968 rite or else it is invalid."

 

Don't forget - he has to clearly, regularly, and publicly denounce Bergoglio and the Conciliar Church, otherwise it doesn't count.

He also would need to not recognize and resist, but be sedevacantist. Or else his position would be aligned with enemies of Catholicism.