Tradition and Remembrance

The death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and all the ceremonial doings around her passing and funeral got me reflecting on the value of “tradition.”  Tradition is seemingly – and rightfully – everywhere.

The queen’s passing occurred at the same time as the yearly Scottish Irish festival celebrated in my mountain community. That festival is lively tradition on display.

Besides the Celtic heritage, American patriotism is also on display. For three days, there was a nightly military tattoo of military service bands from the states, Canada, and the UK. The bond among our three nations was more than just acknowledged. It was a display of brotherhood.

At the festival, I wore my kilt and my military beret, and us vets heard “thank you for your service mate” all day long. When the bagpipe bands played throughout the day, there was not a dry eye on the field, including mine. And all of this occurred in 40 degree misty weather that didn’t seem to bother anyone.

The festival occurred on the anniversary of 9/11 so an added dimension and meaning was expressed throughout all the events. The numerous divisions in our nation and between our nations were forgotten for three days. For most in attendance, there is a mutual sense that the Celtic traditions are tied to many of our American traditions.

For an old codger of 80, the expression of tradition floods the mind with a multitude of memories both good and bad. However, the most overwhelming one was that of continuity. It’s almost like I was a young man again being in the middle of things.

Tradition leads to remembrance

The communication of those traditions expressed in the festival served to provide a focus for the importance of “remembrance.” There was the traditional playing of Taps at the end of the day and the bagpipe rendition of Auld Lang Syne that facilitated the remembrance of comrades lost and friends no longer with us.  Just saying their names keeps their memory alive.

All this reminded me of how tradition and remembrance are key and necessary elements of our faith. As a Church, we have recently initiated a Eucharistic renewal. That initiative, by definition, contains many traditions (the acts that are part of the sacramental process) that are based on remembrance. After all, our Lord said at the last supper “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19).

Would the Jewish people have survived over the centuries without their traditions? Would Christianity have survived without Holy Tradition and the small “t” traditions? Without tradition, can we really remember what we should to know about our faith or what we should practice in our faith? I doubt it.

The value of tradition

Tradition helps to define who we are and where we came from.  It also reminds us of who and what we are related to, and of what we are part.

As such, the traditions within Catholicism and broader Christianity as a whole are not just old fashioned habits. They reflect the remembrances of Jesus and the Apostles passed on through the centuries.

Some elements of Catholic tradition have been codified as dogma and doctrines. Likewise, many traditions such as making the sign of the cross serve us as “reminders.”

In this day and age, we live in a secular anti-Christian culture.  There are also efforts by progressive elements in the Church to disregard traditions and to “modernize” the faith. So we need all the reminders we can get to stay on course. Traditions serve that purpose.

We in the Church can learn from the Celtic heritage festivals about practicing vibrant traditions. They can help to maintain memories of not just our cultural heritage but our faith heritage as well. It does that for me.

”Therefore brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were
taught either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).