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Having 'Borrowed' a computer - one wee comment about practice here in the UK [ Magicsilence's country]

Your Baptism is not recorded on your Birth Certificate EXCEPT in the Church of Scotland [Presbyterian ] - or so it was when my husband was Christened as a tiny. Certainly it was not recorded on my own .

Sometimes getting info out of the Churches here is not easy - can even be downright difficult.

Have fun with your investigations Magicsilence - and don't give up - what you think you are is important - if you feel you are Maronite then be so - paperwork can be sorted out when it is necessary.

This part also happens to be true at least in the United States. Religion or religious affilation are not recorded anywhere except for baptismal records. I think that an earlier reference by Wondering to the birth certificate may have been an error and actually a baptismal certificate was meant instead.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Thats what i thought!!

Ah well, the priest I was talking to told me he didnt think it sounded right, and got me all confused.

Anyway, what this means is that TECHNICALLY speaking, I am a Maronite.

But, Im wondering if my dad (Catholic since birth and a Maronite) would have said anything at my baptism since he is not exactly "clued up" on rites etc...

And thus, if it would have been recorded on by baptismal certificate that i was Latin rite.

Anyhow, Im gonna go and root around for it (I didnt even know they gave certificates for baptism).

Thanks for all your help everyone!

Dear MagicSilence,

If you can not find your baptismal certificate, try to find out what parish you were baptised at. They can issue a copy of the original baptismal record. I hope this helps.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

If you cannot find your own baptismal certificate, find your father's.

Canonically, you belong to your father's rite, *OR THE RITE HE SHOULD HAVE BELONGED TO IF HE DIDN'T*...

So, if you can find your father's certificate, you can prove your own.

Staro

Magicsilence they give certificates for everything. They also write everything down as well and store them in ledgers.

Forgive me, I of course meant baptismal certificate and not birth certificate. At one point in history, they were the same thing; not having lived during that time or in those places, I must get the difference through my head.

And Neil is correct to point out that in the east, one belongs to a particular church and not to the rite which that church uses. For our Maronite friend, it doesn't really make a difference, but for any Byzantines reading it would. They do not belong to the Byzantine Rite, but to one of the churches which use that rite.

In any case, it appears our friend has enough information to track down the paper trail and (if necessary) correct his. So welcome to you both!

Dear Wondering,

I quit enjoyed your explanation. It was very easy for my simple mind to follow and I appreciate that. I know there are technical terms and really the proper terms are best. But.... there are those times when words that everyone understands are very useful in these matters.

So thankyou for the time and effort you put into explaining it.

Pani Rose

Alice and Pani Rose,

Thank you for your comments on the icon avatar. I am most pleased with the representation of Constantine, Helen, and the True Cross.

In addition to his role in the official establishment of Christianity in the Roman Empire, I have always admired the Emperor Constantine as a figure who represents both the West and East.

If I recall correctly, he was raised in Britain before seeing the vision of the chi-rho, re-unifying the Western and Eastern Empires, and building the magnificent walls of Constantinople. (Your comments on Constantine and Helen will have me digging again into the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, who sat at Constantine's side at Nicea.)

And John,

Thank you for your comment. You will come across Ms. Carruther's work again in chapter
two of Memorize the Faith! I had not actually discovered her Book of Memory (and two others) until well into the production of my book.

The book that provided my "formation" on the art of memory and the history of its religious applications was another delightful book called, The Art of Memory, by Frances Yates. (I'll be checking out the link you provided too.)

Welcome too, to all other newcomers.

Pax et bonum,

Kevin Vost

Hollow laughter - not always they don't and things can also getlost

Sadly I have to say that records are only as good as the person that makes the entries

Oh they do too!

Latins also belong to their diocese of origin. All records are kept at that parish of Baptism regarding all the major events in life such as Marriage and Religious Profession (including dispensations) Changes of Rite, Holy orders. Information is fed back no matter where they occur in the world for recording in the ledger. Everybody belongs somewhere. Is that not comforting to know

Andre:

Although you are a Londoner, your "first name" is French-sounding enough that you must be a Maronite!

Amado