www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy The Revised Divine Liturgy Help!

I have been reading, pondering, praying over these threads since I joined on 3/25/07. To say I am overwhelmed is such an understatement. I have a strong urge to let "the authorities" know my concerns about the Revised Divine Liturgy. Yet, I don't know where to begin, what to say, who do say what to. I have figured out one thing. There are a handful of members who consistently write the very thoughts I have and would really appreciate direct contact with them. Is this possible? If so, how? Specifically, the members I am referring to are: Recluse, Im, Corsair, Monomakh, Ung-Certez, Serge Keleher, 1 Th 5:21.

You can always send private messages to them through the forum; click on their underlined named by a post, then click "Send a PM" in the small pop-up window.

Yours in Christ,
Jeff

Greetings true faith,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

You will be able to find names and adresses of those whom you can send letters expressing your concern about our reformed Liturgy at the thread titled, "keep writing letters". There are many here who have been scandalized by the new Liturgy and our consciences will not allow us to stop opposing it. It is an uphill battle because this reformation has been promulgated and approved. Our Church does not seem to want to hear the voices of those who cry in agony with a broken heart. We are largely brushed aside and written off as an inconsequential "cyber revolution" which will fade away in time. The reversal of this secret reformation will take time--someone here has said that it may take a generation. That is difficult for me to swallow. I cannot wait for a generation because I fear that my young daughter will be catechized improperly by the ideas of the reformers. If it was only me and my wife, perhaps I could bear it. However, I am encouraged by what I hear regarding some Ruthenian Catholic Churches which refuse to celebrate the novus ordo Divine Liturgy and others which will not even purchase the books. This may precipitate a fairly quick reversal. If not, I fear there will be a schism in the Church. Alas, many including myself, may pilgrimage to the Holy Orthodox Church where they can celebrate their love for Eastern spirituality while worshipping God through the beauty of a Traditional Divne Liturgy. My posts are as honest as I can be. I open my thoughts, my heart, and my soul, to others here who are experiencing a similar pain. Please feel free to PM me any time you wish.

Peace and blessings to you and your family,
Recluse

Recluse, the whole new liturgy is a scandal. No matter how much they pretend it is simply an updated translation and slight changes to the music anyone with eyes and ears can see it is really bad. If Rome will not respond to us and allow us to have the real Byzantine liturgy then we will have to leave and go elsewhere. It hurts to be told that you are stupid when you can see that they are the ones that don't get it.

Yes. I have been told on more than one occasion that I am not the expert so I have no right to question the changes.....

....yet my heart says otherwise.

It hurts to be told I have no eyes nor ears.

Desert,

If you are in Phoenix, you can always journey over to Saint john of the Desert Melkite Church. We would love to have you for Saturday Vespers and Sunday Divine Liturgy!

I have been to St. John's and may join there. We went to Holy Archangels a few times and liked it, too. Right now I am so upset that I am finding it difficult to go anywhere for liturgy. I now understand why some people avoid organized religion.

Desert,

Please remember that you are not alone in your struggle. You will easily find with whom you can share it. Ironically, many of them in organized religion.

Is it mostly Arabic or English?

English, with some Arabic and a touch of Greek. We use more Arabic on feast days. Mostly, i'd say about 96% English. ON feast days, about 85% English.

I hope it won't take that long. There are all kinds of rumors around, some of them might be true. I heard that the bishop-chairman of the Revisionist committee has resigned, and that could change things. I also heard that there are going to be changes in the staff at the seminary (where this whole scheme of revising our Liturgy and Music was brewed up).

There are interesting things happening in some of the Churches, where those who haven't walked out of the parishes, are refusing to sing, and refusing to give, unless the pastor brings back the old books. A few Churches are going back to home-made printed sheets. (...a great leap backward of about 30 years).

So, there are signs that it won't take a generation. There are rumors going around that the committee has been told not to meet for a while, and some of them are looking for 'professor-ships' elsewhere.

Nick

Prayer, fasting, work and returning to the real holy traditions...
the quicker, the better the Ruthenian Church will be.

Please understand that we should not leave a Church because we do not like something. This is indicative of a much deeper spiritual problem. If you are a Byzantine Catholic, you must be that because you feel it is the truth. While something such as a "translation" change of the Divine Liturgy might pain you greatly and cause you to send up endless cries to the Lord (who does hear you), it should not cause you to leave. Then you are in essence saying, this is not the truth now. But if you go somewhere else, then aren't you asserting that now that is the truth?

If this is the case, then what was true just changed. That doesn't seem possible if the truth is profoundly united.

Yet how can the Church of Christ change? She may be Divine, but she is certainly human as well.

I just implore you, beseech you to offer your sufferings to the Lord and to continue to work for change in the Divine Liturgy.

You are right about that! We need to work for change, and demand better translations, accurate translations, and much better books. There is no reason why we have to put up with the garbage that we've been given.

Nick