www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Just getting my tippy toes wet

Hey all.

I am a new member just joined up yesterday. I am extremely interested in the goings on in the other Catholic rites.

Especially the Byzantine Rite.

I grew up cradle Catholic, Novus Ordite. I am young just passed 34, have a wife and one child a girl about 9 months.

I reverted about four years ago, my wife converted (RC) at the same time. Most of our families are fallen away.

I have recently been attending a pretty conservative NO parish , and also a diocesan TLM on and off. I work at the NO parish school and am "registered" at that parish.

Now the problem is that the NO parish seems to be descending into the pits of nice nice (indifference disguised as charity, no mention of last things, just mercy - typically leads me to lukewarmness) and the diocesan TLM seems the exact opposite, surrounded by the enemy, extremely turned in on oneself not "judgmental" but definitely lacking in christian charity.

My problem is that the NO church (and other NO churches in area)seems to be going the way of the contemporary Western rite in America, politically conservative but sluffing off orthodoxy for fear of seeming pardon the phrase, byzantine.......

The TLM is the opposite.

How do I rectify the situation, it is almost as if I need the best of both worlds........A true charitable parish......that hasn't had it's liturgy destroyed by the "innovations and spirit" of Vatican II and still remain in obedience to the church in Rome (the Pope)?

I am not looking for a 1950's Roman Catholic Church per se.....but on the Western side that is the closest example of what I want to raise my family in.

I am not a disgruntled Latinite wanting to stick it to the Pope, his pontificate has befuddled me to date, but he is still holding the sacred office of Peter.

I was a bit like a boat tossed in the wind, fearing capsizing, looking to other traditions, confused....seemingly lost until I discovered the 22 other rites of the Church......

Then my eyes were opened. I began to think and pray that maybe the Eastern Catholic tradition could be my saving grace......

I am not a pie in the sky idealist who thinks perfection can be found here in this life....but certainly I think my family deserves a truly Christian and Divinely Liturgical parish within the tradition of the Catholic Church I mean just from a stability point of view.

Well here I am. Joined the forum and any info would greatly please me. I am just starting my discernment and will be attending a liturgy soon (God Willing).......

What should I read? Any books do well for a discern-er like me?

Am I bonkers crazy?

Should I just suck it up?

Prayers and discussion could very well help......

Before deciding to/or not to join the East, spend at least 1-3yrs in your chosen Eastern Church - whether Byzantine, Syriac, Copt, Armenian, Chaldean, Syro-Malabar, or Syro-Malankara. Decide if your family feel like they 'fit'. Your family is your primary vocation, even before your preference in Liturgics and Catholic Culture. After this 'trial', if you think its a match, consider prayerfully, a change of Rite - this isn't absolutely necessary, and you are free to worship in any Catholic Church without doing so - however, if you discern this is correct for you and your family, become totally a member of the Eastern Church that you fit into.

You would probably be welcome in most anything, except for ordination to the Holy Priesthood. Most bishops won't consider you for priesthood because you were originally Latin, very few may - may(!) after about a decade or so as an Easterner, consider you for the Holy Diaconate.