Dear Cheverus,
You may want to repost this with paragraphs.
sitetest
"As I observed the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, an explosion of genetic responses went off deep inside me. The sounds, the smells, the melodies, the movements, the gestures, the prayers, the people--all struck a nerve."
So true, so true, especially, believe it or not, the "genetic" part.
"Many Orthodox Christians look to Eastern Catholics and see how they have been treated as orphans and how they have been deprived of their true spiritual inheritance. Many Orthodox Christians look to Eastern Catholic churches as mirrors in which they see themselves if they were to enter into the Roman communion."
He's absolutely right, you know. While I have heard this from Orthodox Christians, I never have from a Greek Catholic. In fact, this whole article is enlightening since, aside from the well known story of +Alexis Toth, the usual word we Orthodox hear from Latin Rite Catholics, both here on FR and out in the world, about Eastern Catholics is how very awful the Orthodox have been to them and that any misunderstandings which existed in the 19th century have long since been cleared up.
Ping to a long, but very thoughtful article on Eastern Rite Catholicism from one of its own.
Yes, paragraphs are your friend. A few judicious less-than-sign P greater-than-sign combinations sprinkled throughout will get some of us who will otherwise skip the post to read it.
From Byzantine to Roman Catholic Over the last twenty-one years as a teacher of liturgy in Roman Catholic theological colleges, as a lecturer to adult education series in Roman Catholic parishes, and simply as a participant in talks about the Catholic Church with other Roman Catholics, it seems that, whenever I ask them to consider Christian churches other than their own, more often than not, they immediately refer to the Reformation churches and the free church traditions of today. Less often do they mention the Orthodox churches, the Oriental churches, the churches of the East, and even less often do they have within their scope the Eastern Catholic churches, those Eastern churches in union with Rome.
The first wave of immigrants to the US came from Western Europe, bringing with them their Roman Cathoic faith. The Eastern Catholic Churches arrived about 100 years ago and set up missions in the large cities that also drew immigrants from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. As fraticidal wars continue in the ME, more immigrants have arrived on our shores and they are now establishing their particular rites. The Syro-Malabar (Indian) Church now has a parish in the Bronx, NY.
ALL of these Churches are authentically Catholic - same faith, different flavor. I would strongly encourage our Latin Catholic freepers to follow the recommendations of JPII and discover the rich heritage of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The only recommendation I would add is that when you do, make the effort to attend at least 3 times. The first visit is disorienting; the second more familiar but by the 3rd visit, you can relax with the liturgy and begin to participate.
While this diversity within the one Catholic Church can appear confusing at first, it in no way compromises the Church's unity. In a certain sense, it is a reflection of the mystery of the Trinity. Just as God is three Persons, yet one God, so the Church is 22 Churches, yet one Church.
Although there are 22 Churches, there are only eight "Rites" that are used among them. A Rite is a "liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony," (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 28). "Rite" best refers to the liturgical and disciplinary traditions used in celebrating the sacraments. Many Eastern Catholic Churches use the same Rite, although they are distinct autonomous Churches. For example, the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are distinct Churches with their own hierarchies. Yet they both use the Byzantine Rite.
To learn more about the "two lungs" of the Catholic Church, visit this link:
The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15).
To locate an Eastern Catholic Church in your community, follow the following link:
Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S.
A Roman rite Catholic may attend any Eastern Catholic Liturgy and fulfill his of her obligations at any Eastern Catholic Parish. A Roman rite Catholic may join any Eastern Catholic Parish and receive any sacrament from an Eastern Catholic priest, since all belong to the Catholic Church as a whole. I am a Roman Catholic practicing my faith at a Maronite Catholic Church. Like the Chaldeans, the Maronites retain Aramaic for the Consecration. It is as close as one comes to being at the Last Supper.
Even without paragraphs, this is a good article. Makes me glad I'm worshipping in the Ruthenian rite. :o)