www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Give Roman Catholics the Eastern Option?

Milliardo:

These are the 2 Orthodox parishes nearest to you. The first is in your neighborhood! (But don't 'dox, OK? )

Annunciation Orthodox Church
B2 L1 Filipinas Avenue
United Paranaque 5 Subdivision
San Isidro (Sucat-YP), Paranaque, Metro Manila

Rev. Philemon Castro
Telephone & Fax : (632) 829-1377
Mobile: (917) 5000489
e-mail: orthodox@philonline.com


Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
Sitio Sampaguita, San Antonio, Los Banos, Laguna

Rev. Father Tarasios Velasquez
Telephone: (049) 249-4794
Mobile Phone (0918) 260-6192

If I am not mistaken, both priests (or one of them) were former Catholic priests!

Amado

Interesting. Didn't know an Orthodox church was just nearby us. All this time I never saw it (I often do see the big INC edifice there [I don't call theirs (INC) churches, but that's another discussion]). Of course, I'm not going Orthodox. I read what they believe in, and I remain Catholic.

INC = Iglesia ni Cristo?

Is calling itself Orthodox church?

Is outrage!

Uh, no. I said I see the big INC edifice there, but haven't seen yet the Ortodox church there. Must be inside the subdivision. I would be outraged as well if the INC calls itself Orthodox.

Orthodox are borrowing the INC facilities to hold services? I'd be careful if I were them...

Magandang gabi.

We must be having a miscommunication somewhere, hehe!

I would consider myself a "Tridentine Catholic"
in the sense that I would exclusively attend
Tridentine Masses if there were any available
anywhere near me, but there aren't. For the
last five years or so, I have been attending
Eastern Catholic (Ruthenian and Ukrainian)
Liturgies exclusively, and I have no use
whatsoever for the "Novus Ordo". I realize
that Eastern and traditional Western theology
and spirituality are different, and I respect
that fact. Because I have a traditional Western
outlook, I am about 80% comfortable with the
Eastern Churches, whereas I would be only about
10% comfortable attending what's left of the
Roman Mass, and I'll take 80% over 10% any day.
The important difference between me and the
"troublemaking Tridentines" is that the 20% of
the time that I don't feel comfortable in the
Eastern Church, I keep my BIG LATIN MOUTH SHUT
and respectfully defer to Eastern traditions,
and would NEVER attempt to "remake" the Eastern
Churches into something they are not.

This is a topic I'd love to address. I'm a Latin Mass Catholic who frequently attends Divine Liturgy at a Ukrainian Rite Church, and I can say from my own experience that I know of quite a few of my fellow Latins who occasionally attend Eastern Rite churches. To the very best of my knowledge, none of them go for the purpose of "re-educating" Eastern Rite Catholics. In fact, I've listened to Tridentine Catholics explaining the do's and don't's when attending a Divine Liturgy to those who have never gone to one.

In regards to negative experiences with Tridentines in Eastern Rite Churches, I can also say from experience that ironically these "true catholics" probably show up more often at Latin Masses than anywhere else (wish they'd go to liberal parishes). Yes, I've heard it all from these people regarding what the Blessed Mother said in such and such spurious vision, and who's in hell and who's going there, and believe me they find plenty to complain about at Latin Masses as well. Still, I would say such types are a tiny, though noisy minority.

And finally, why do myself and others like me often attend Divine Liturgy ? Two reasons. First, a genuine attraction and appreciation for the beauty and sense of tradition in Eastern Rite Catholicism, and second, a real sense of disappointment in what we see in so many Latin Rite parishes. Unless it's a church that offers the Latin Mass, or at least is staffed by priests from Opus Dei, I'll go to the local Ukrainian Rite church every time.

See, that's what we're missing here in the Philippines--the beauty of the Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Churches. I long to see that beauty, and to live it as well.

I'm still new to this forum, and again, have to admit I am completely enjoying reading all your wonderful and insightful posts.

I have a dilemma, and I'd like to run it past you all, especially those who were raised in the Eastern rite.

Recently one of my RC friends (I am also RC, but always loved the DL) told me she was looking for a wonderful parish to join as she was new to a particular area of NJ. I mentioned a Byzantine rite (Ruthenian) Church near her and recommended she call the parish office to get info on both the DL schedule as well as confession.

(I have to also tell you--she had recently been through a tough time, and the other reason I recommended her to this parish is because I know the pastor to be wonderful and felt he'd be a great consolation to her in confession).

When she called the parish office, Father "X" wasn't around, so she asked the parish secretary for info. As soon as she found out that my friend was RC, she completely discouraged her from attending DL and all the rest. She said the secretary never became "nasty" in her tone, but made her feel most unwelcome. She told her she should go to her own RC church and also to an RC priest for confession, adding (rather strangely), "Don't worry--they don't yell anymore."

I really don't feel this lady was speaking for the pastor, a man I knew some years ago but lost touch with. Knowing him, I feel he would have been more welcoming and encouraged her to attend.

I wonder if any of you can shed some light here. Is this typical, or was this experience an anomaly? And, should I contact Father "X" to let him know what happened?

My friend is not hurt, but rather perplexed. I feel she should just ignore the secretary and attend DL there. (Who would stop her? There must be other RC folks there.) I just wonder how many other people this secretary has turned off or turned away.

I have known some wonderful parish secretaries and also some for whom the whole thing is a power trip and a sense that they can make some decisions in behalf of Father.

I've heard of this problem before. And yes, I agree with you; many Traditionalist Catholics I've come across seem almost Protestant in the ways they shun the Magesterium's interpretation in favor of their own.

I disagree. The Novus Ordo is nothing like the Lutheran service. The details look the same in some cases, but the Lutheran service is just a pale imitation of the Mass. The entire Mass revolves around the Eucharist; there is no valid Eucharist in the Lutheran service.

Ron, I've read that you attend St. Basil's in Lincoln, Rhode Island. I had the pleasure of attending my first Divine Liturgy there last month. I thorougly enjoyed it! I hope to visit again soon.

I've only attended one Byzantine parish, and my experience was very positive. Perhaps you could bring this up with the priest.

I'm a Latin Catholic who's been interested in Eastern Catholicism for over a year now. I'm not a Traditionalist who's disgruntled by the Novus Ordo or anything like that; I'm simply a Latin Catholic who's interested in the riches of the Eastern Churches.

I have a few Eastern friends, and they've always encouraged me to explore Eastern Christianity. They've never pressured me into anything; they've always encouraged me to see for myself. I did, and I liked what I saw (of course!).

I'm always a bit put off when Eastern Catholics speak of Eastern Catholicism as being superior to Latin Catholicism -- and vice versa. Personally, I love both the Mass and the Divine Liturgy. I could never say that one's objectively better than the other.

I think you are overlooking the fact that the very reason Paul VI promulgated the Novus Ordo was to reconcile Protestants. He deliberatly consulted Protestants to see if they found it favorable. And Bugnini, the architect of the Mass professedly desired to remove every "stumbling block" to the Protestants. This is all documented very well. The New Mass imitates Protestantism, not the other way around.

I too am a frustrated Traditional Catholic. I grew up in the Novus Ordo, but found the Traditional Mass has been what I've longed for. I still attend the Novus Ordo now and again, though.

And I too LOVE the Eastern Liturgy. A deep reverence for liturgical history, (apart from some latinizing lapses and modernist architecture here and there), is readily apparent. The DL was never radically altered. I can sympatize with those Latins who want to take refuge in the East. But as others pointed out, the East is DISTINCT. A Latin must be supremely respectful of Eastern social norms, traditions, etc..

I can also sympathize with annoyance at disgruntled Latins, but if there is one thing I would like to say to Easterns about Latins, it is this. We are really, really, really struggling with sooo many different issues. Please have pity on us, don't despise us, even when we make fools of ourselves.

Pax Christi
Usque