Over the centuries Catholics have felt called by the Holy Spirit to approach God in a variety of ways. St. Francis, for example, felt called by God to "rebuild my Church," which led to a spirituality of radical poverty and reliance on God's divine providence.
His way of approaching God was never intended to be embraced by all people, but was an open invitation to those who felt a similar desire to give up everything and follow Jesus Christ.
Recently there has grown a new spiritual movement, especially among young people, that has created a new word: Tradismatic.
Fusing tradition and openness to the Holy Spirit
The word combines "traditional" and "charismatic" into a unique spirituality for the modern age. In an article for First Things, Clement Harrold wrote that, it is "a spiritual renewal that offers hope to the American Church: a unique blend of the 'traditional' and 'charismatic' liturgical-spiritual elements that in many other places are pitted against each other. It is a synthesis that appeals to head and heart alike, suggesting what the Church might become in the twenty-first century."
This spirituality has appealed to many young people, as it combines both traditional liturgy, and an openness to the movements of the Holy Spirit. While it does value the importance of tradition, it is not cut-off from what God is trying to speak to his people in the present day.
Henri d’Anselme, a Catholic who is most well-known backpacking across France and stopping a knife attack, also explained this spirituality in an interview with Rod Dreher:
I have no problem going to both the Novus Ordo and the traditional Latin Mass. I prefer the Latin mass, but I don’t care what kind of liturgy it is, as long as the priest really believes what he’s doing, and people are being converted. I am part of a generation we call “tradismatic” — a mix of traditionalist and charismatic.
In some ways this spiritual movement is a response to what some may call "extremes" in both traditionalist and charismatic communities. It tries to achieve a healthy middle ground, having a deep respect for the traditions of the Church, while also not denying that God is actively working in the world today.
Often a "Tradismatic" Catholic loves a more traditional liturgy (it doesn't have to be the Latin Mass), while also being comfortable listening to praise and worship music.
It is difficult to pigeon-hole someone who adopts a "Tradismatic" spirituality, as they do not conform to modern labels and could upset radical views on both ends of the spectrum.
Similar to St. Francis' spirituality, it may not be for everyone, but it is likely to continue to gain ground.
