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I'm not even sure I have the right term--recently I came across a priest who had "dual faculties" or "bi-faculties"--and I am not sure what this means.

(Yes, it would help if I knew the term I was looking to have defined.)

It seemed to have something to do with sanction to celebrate both Eastern & Western Catholic liturgies.

I never got to meet the priest, or I would have asked him. He was a Cistercian monk, so I don't know how this comes to be.

Any ideas?

Neil

Neil, I am a former BC who "doxed" more than 25 years ago with my family. The next to last priest we had in my former BC parish, now closed, was a Jesuit who had "bi-ritual" faculties, i.e, he could serve in either the Latin or Byzantine Rites. Problem is, he thought more like a Latin, celebrated private Latin Masses in the rectory when there was no congregation on a weekday, and, as likeable as he was, in the end the message was that the Latin Rite was superior to the Byzantine. Example: after my wife and I taught our kids in Religious Ed the BYZANTINE form of the Angelic Salutation, Father came in and said: "Now we'll pray the 'Hail Mary' the correct way." And he went on to use the Latin version of the prayer. IMHO, bi-ritualism can be a real weakness for the BCC when it has Latin bi-ritual priests who only likes to dress up in Byzantine vestments and display a thin veneer of Byzantine spirituality, but who are more committed to the Latin Rite.

OrthodoxEast

Interesting. Does it ever cut the other way--an BC priest granted RC faculties? I am also curious how this comes about? Does the RC priest just apply?

It just seems an interesting situation to arise.

Neil, most Byzantine miltary chaplains are expected take on Latin faculties because of the pastoral need. Some Greek Catholic priests also because of teaching in RC schools, being a hospital chaplain, etc. take on Latin faculties.

The priest (Greek or Roman Catholic) petitions to the local bishop of the other church to be accepted for consideration of bi-ritual faculties, but must first have the blessing of their own bishop to do this.

Neil,

In my Melkite eparchy we have a priest who, because of the size of his parish, has to work outside the church to support himself. He works at a Roman Catholic high school and has bi-ritual faculties. The interesting thing is that he started as a Roman Catholic, changed Ritual Churches to become a Melkite so he could be ordained.

In India nearly all of the Syro-Malabar priests have bi-ritual faculties -- they serve the Latins as well as their own people.

Edward, deacon and sinner

That is interesting to hear. I was curious if it was just something allowed Latin priests.

I am curious why your pastor changed rites? I am an RC seriously contemplating this, and am always interested to hear stories of people who did it.

Neil

Neil,

The priest I was talking about is not my pastor. However, my pastor also changed Ritual Churches. Although we've discussed his reasons, that is really for him to address.

Edward, deacon and sinner

Fair enough. Thanks!