Thanks for the link! My comments, as you well understand, are based on my limited experience based on what I have read, experienced and discussed over the past 1 1/2 years. Even then, they are confined to one small parish, under the jurisdiction of a new bishop (an awesome and holy man whom I have had the privilege to meet). That said, my first observation is that NewAdvent needs to update the information posted at that link (and I will personally email them). According to the article:
The immediate predecessor of the present (1910) patriarch, Mgr. Hoyek, was John Peter Hadj (1890-99).
His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir was elected Maronite Patriarch for Antioch and all the East on April 19, 1986, nearly 20 years ago. He is the 3rd Maronite Cardinal and the 76th Patriarch of the Maronite Church.
The true founder of the Maronite nation, the patriarch St. John Maro, would have lived towards the close of the seventh century, but, unfortunately, his very existence is extremely doubtful.
Here again, there seems to be a lack of communication or questionable research. The fouder is St. John Maroun. According to everything I have read, the name Maronite points out a particular relationship with the saint monk whose name was Maroun in Syriac and Maron in Greek. He is mentioned in a letter written sometime before the year 407 by the powerful patriarch of Constantinople, John Chrysostom. He is also mentioned about thirty years later by Theodoret, Bishop of Cyr (d. 466), who described the profound devotion which the monks of the monastery Beth-Maron had to their departed spiritual father Maron. If it were not for these two references, the only indication of the saint's existence would be the oral tradition of the Maronite community itself.
Invented history? Somehow I doubt that. Our eparchy is named for this saint. As Catholic and Orthodox christians, we both accept Tradition. Perhaps his history was burned along with the liturgical texts, by the Latin visitors ;-).
Without breaking down all the different elements of the NewAdvent link, these two stand out in stark contrast.
As to the "latinization" of the Maronite Church, they don't hold any grudges. According to one very respected Maronite historian, Fr. Anthony J. Salim,
For Maronites, the process (of latinization) began far back in the Tradition. Contact with the West in the earl Middle Ages (12th century), especially with the Crusaders, began the latinization process, which took its toll on Maronite traditions. On the one hand, there was pressure from Rome for Maronite Catholics to conform to a more western model of Catholicism. On the other hand, Maronites were eager to proclaim their communion with and loyalty to Rome; thus, Maronites readily embraced Rome's latinizing.
As my Abouna once explained, both benefited from the process; the Maronite texts were checked for errors and corrected. In return, they were given liturgical vestments, sacred vessels, western sacramentals and a seminary in Rome! The Maronites are resourceful. Over the centuries they have been invaded by many oppressors. In the process they have learned to take the best while rejecting the worst.
If you have the time and patience, I believe you will find the following history of the Maronites to be informative. If nothing else, it makes for an interesting read. (Note that the 'official' history is presented in segments. You will have to use the Back icon of your browser to return to the list.)
And, lastly, I would suggest you return to the NewAdvent page and read up on their description of the Greek Orthodox Church. It may be necessary to point out some corrections :-)
The reason I linked to the New Advent page was to demonstrate that even now a Roman encyclopedia is publishing stuff from 100 years ago. Frankly, I found the piece disturbing, arrogant and not a little bit chauvinistic. Unfortunately, it bespeaks a certain mindset still extant in the Roman Church which all of us not part of that Church should be both aware and beware of. I can just imagine what it says about the Greek orthodox Church. Still heretical schismatics? :)