Eastern Catholicism and the Universal Church

Onepeterfive ^ | December 3, 2014 | JONATHAN CARIVEAU

[NYer]

Jonathan Pierre Cariveau is a Minnesota native and a convert to Eastern Catholicism from Evangelical Protestantism. He writes on Eastern Catholicism, Church history, liturgical theology, and Catholic life in the 21st century.

[NYer]

Historical, ping!

[Steve_Seattle]

Back in the early 90s, I attended an Eastern rite Catholic church in south Seattle. It was a refuge for Catholics disaffected by the growing liberalism of the local Roman Catholic parishes, which has continued apace ever since.

I recall the pastor as a gruff-but-humorous old-school guy. I remember once I called and asked what time Christmas Eve midnight Mass was, and being told in an irritated voice, "At midnight!" (Chrismas Eve services at other Catholic parishes typically begin at 9, 10, or 11 p.m.).

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Later in life and late in my search for more authentic religion

And that really is the problem - searching for “authentic religion” instead of eternal life and a relationship with God.

[Old Yeller]

Yep. Religionism.

[campaignPete R-CT]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3zurm-jcVU

INTRO to the Divine Liturgy of EASTERN CATHOLICS

[NYer]

I remember once I called and asked what time Christmas Eve midnight Mass was, and being told in an irritated voice, "At midnight!" (Chrismas Eve services at other Catholic parishes typically begin at 9, 10, or 11 p.m.).

My sympathies with both you and the "gruff" pastor. In ALL of the Eastern Churches, Midnight Mass is at midnight. At one time, the same was true in the Latin Church. As a child (pre VCII), I begged my grandmother to take me to Midnight Mass; eventually she conceded. It was such a beautiful experience. Post VCII, however, western Catholics lost the will to make the sacrifice and asked for the mass to be held earlier, and earlier and earlier. As you probably recall, though Latin Catholic, I now practice my faith in a Maronite (Eastern) Catholic Church where the traditional practice prevails for theological reasons. Just prior to Christmas, the phone calls begin from local area Catholics inquiring about the time for Midnight Mass. We just let them roll over to the vm announcement ... probably to prevent a "gruff" response.

Thanks for the post and ping!

[campaignPete R-CT]

“eternal life and a relationship with God” results from following an authentic Gospel.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“eternal life and a relationship with God” results from following an authentic Gospel.

Exactly. And not a specific church denomination. It takes the one and only Savior and entrusting ourselves to Him and His Gospel of Grace.

[annalex]

The One Holy Catholic Church is not a “denomination”, it is one Church Jesus Christ built.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“The One Holy Catholic Church is not a “denomination”, it is one Church Jesus Christ built.”

Obviously, if you are a Roman Catholic, you believe that.

Hundreds of millions of us read the scriptures and understand it is a denomination.

[campaignPete R-CT]

“Hundreds of millions of us read the scriptures and understand it is a denomination”

The author of this article reads the scriptures and has a different understanding. The eastern churches are not denominations.

[Biggirl]

Such a search does help one in one’s relationship with God.

[Biggirl]

....Or believing in God through the Savior.

[Biggirl]

I do believe what happened is that a number of Western or Latin Catholic Churches, begining in the cities because of issues in regards to SAFETY towards parishoners and visitors started the trend towards having the Christmas midnight masses start an hour or two early and that is how it spread.

[NYer]

“Hundreds of millions of us read the scriptures and understand it is a denomination”

The author of this article reads the scriptures and has a different understanding. The eastern churches are not denominations.

Pete and annex are correct. Let me try to put this into perspective.

Although it is not widely known in our Western world, the Catholic Church is actually a communion of Churches. According to the Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, the Catholic Church is understood to be "a corporate body of Churches," united with the Pope of Rome, who serves as the guardian of unity (LG, no. 23). At present there are 22 Churches that comprise the Catholic Church. The new Code of Canon Law, promulgated by Pope John Paul II, uses the phrase "autonomous ritual Churches" to describe these various Churches (canon 112). Each Church has its own hierarchy, spirituality, and theological perspective. Because of the particularities of history, there is only one Western Catholic Church, while there are 21 Eastern Catholic Churches. The Western Church, known officially as the Latin Church, is the largest of the Catholic Churches. It is immediately subject to the Roman Pontiff as Patriarch of the West. The Eastern Catholic Churches are each led by a Patriarch, Major Archbishop, or Metropolitan, who governs their Church together with a synod of bishops. Through the Congregation for Oriental Churches, the Roman Pontiff works to assure the health and well-being of the Eastern Catholic Churches.

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.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes this nicely:

"From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God's gifts and the diversity of those who receive them... Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions. The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church's unity" (CCC no. 814).

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:

CATHOLIC RITES AND CHURCHES

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).

A Roman rite Catholic may attend any Eastern Catholic Liturgy and fulfill his or 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.

Please freepmail me if you would like more information on the Eastern Catholic Churches.

CARDINAL LUCIAN MURESAN - Syro=Malabar Catholic Church

Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis - Syro-Malankara Church

Bechara Cardinal Rai - Maronite Catholic Church

And there are many others from the Chaldean, Ukrainian and other Eastern Catholic Churches, all united with the pope.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“The author of this article reads the scriptures and has a different understanding. The eastern churches are not denominations.”

Claim it all you wish. They are denominations.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Such a search does help one in one’s relationship with God.”

Searching is always the first step. It is necessary. Finding Saves.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I see now. The catholic churches have rites just like the protestant churches.

[GreyFriar]

Biggirl wrote: “issues in regards to SAFETY towards parishoners and visitors” — Is the reason for our congregation having its Christmas eve service at 7:30 pm. Many older members cannot drive at night, thus are picked up and brought to the service by others in the congregation. Thus not having the traditional “midnight service” (which usually began at 11pm) was moved earlier to where it could be celebrated by the majority of the congregation and not just those who are able to drive at night, especially with the traffic here in DC.