It's not reverence. It's not nostalgia. The real reason young Catholics are drawn to tradition is far deeper and more sophisticated than either traditionalists or progressives understand.

Young Catholics are chasing tradition and both sides of the Catholic culture war think they know why. Catholic conservatives think it's about reverence; Catholic progressives think it's about nostalgia — but they're both wrong.
Here's the secret: it's not about tradition. It's not about the Mass. What they're really seeking is what they've been denied in the world — something that goes straight to the heart of a person's identity. They're looking for clear Catholic culture. Culture is not optional, it's something the human person cannot function without. If you think you already have this figured out, you probably need this episode more than you know.

POST SHOW NOTE about Fr. James Martin Drama (promised in the episode)

• (00:00) - Culture Wars Setup
• (02:48) - Holiness Not Optional
• (23:21) - Trad Revival And Culture
• (46:25) - Culture and Identity Crisis
• (48:22) - Why Tradition Attracts
• (01:09:27) - Red Flags in Traditionalism