www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall A question for Eastern Catholics

My entire life I have grappled with this dilemma. My parents left the Roman Church in the late 60's. I had attempted several times in my adult life to reconcile with the church but failed. Mercifully I was rescued by an Eastern Catholic priest.

I worry immensely should he retire, be replaced or repose that I be left shepherdless anew. It is an eight hour drive round trip to the next Divine Liturgy. I do have an Eastern Orthodox alternative within 20 minutes. Has anyone contemplated that option?

I have had a tough weekend. Horrible news today. I am taking it as a sign from God, no more second guessing anything. I believe I will be leaving my lifeboat. I see land. No more floundering.

Jova,

This is a question to discuss with your spiritual father.

Prayers,

John

Exactly, my spiritual Father is my heavenly Father.

Jova,

The Lord gave us earthly spiritual fathers to help us understand the will that the Lord has for us. When you say that "my spiritual father is my heavenly Father" you set yourself up for failure. Spiritual fathers provide an objective view of one's situation that one cannot see himself.

I again recommend that you speak with your pastor or confessor to discuss your spiritual direction.

Prayers,

John

Jova,

I, personally, would rather go to an Orthodox church before going to a Roman Catholic church if there were no other Eastern Catholic churches within an hour or two commute from where I live. I would look to see if there were any other eastern Catholic churches (i.e. Ukrainians, Melkites, etc) in the area, then find an Orthodox church. I look at my own spirituality having grown up with both sets of parents, grandparents, great-grandparents as Byzantine Catholics (Ruthenian and Slovak) and how "eastern spirituality" permeates my life. No matter how many times I attend a "Roman" mass, I never feel as though I have been to church. Call me weird.....but that is me. So for me, I would rather attend liturgy at one of my "eastern" sisters churches than that of the western church. I commend you for driving 8 hours.....but I fear that since you are afraid of your priest moving, etc. that it would create an upheaval for you, my sage advice is this: I do not go to a particular church because we like the priest, I have been steadfast in my love of the Byzantine Catholic church and through the upheaval of 10 different priests at the church were I was baptized and married.....two priests were alcoholics and stole money from the church, 1 priest was trying to make us "more" orthodox, 2 priests left to get married, and the current priest is moving us back toward the Latin rite (he is bi-ritual).....ugh, which is very disheartening. Again, for me, it is a difference between eastern and western spirituality, I will choose the eastern church. If our bishops were smart, they should be working with the Orthodox churches to unite us "Eastern Rite churches" -- get rid of the Catholic and Orthodox words....since we seem to be under threat from the western catholic church and the radical Muslin groups in the middle east....but that can be a different discussion. For your own peace of mind, if you LOVE the eastern spirituality that calls to you, then go to the Orthodox church 20 minutes away, it will certainly reduce the stress of driving 8 hours.

My priest has an Orthodox, Eastern Catholic parish yet it is non-byzantine EC. He has tried to 'turn' back latinizations. I have spoken with an Orthodox (right teaching) RC priest and was given his permission to avoid the NO Mass. I have Catholic friends who invite me to their Mass and now I can decline without feeling guilty. I writhe in spiritual agony at those masses.

Even though I cannot partake of the mysteries, I feel at home in EO. Though I recognize them as sisters and brothers in the faith, they do not recognize me. It is the cross He has given me to bear.

As a Latin Rite Catholic who has only attended a Byzantine Divine Liturgy once, what do some of you mean when you describe Eastern vs Western spirituality? How would the Byzantine Rite describe it's spirituality?

For me, I am Eastern, it is a relationship with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, study of the scriptures and prayer and contemplation. Seeking to be ever closer to God. I do not know 'what' Western spirituality is, as I have not seen it or recognize it, as they have not recognized me.

Read the selected stories of Everyday Saints here (it is Eastern but Orthodox)


http://www.everyday-saints.com

I can't answer for the Byzantine Rite, but I can tell you how it looks to me.

Eastern spirituality is less focused on death and a highly juridical view of sin and salvation, but focuses more on resurrection and theosis.

Obviously, Divine Liturgy is longer and much more formal than the typical mass at a Latin-rite church. People who like long and formal as opposed to short and modern tend to be the same way in their personal lives. (not everyone, this is a generalization, but I think accurate)

The Eastern Sacraments are unchanged and remain in their original order.

I could go on, but there is a difference.

DocT,
Please explain to me what you mean by modern, why does modern mean short ? Thank you in advance for clarifying.

Hi Michele,

The Novo Ordo mass is modern and shorter in length than Divine Liturgy. At least that's my experience.

I've seen the gamut from traditional hymns and all the rubricks to my most recent N.O. Mass in Punta Del Este recently, where the only song was "Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan, a deacon or someone? played guitar and sang.

In every case, the N.O. mass was shorter in length and seemed much more up-to-date than Divine Liturgy.

Thank you for your explanation. I always look at the Divine Liturgy as being Timeless,never old fashioned or out of date. Like diamond stud earrings ,always in fashion . Not sure how to describe the NO, it certainly has many variations, sometime wonder if it is ...Catholic. Some NO remind me of Joel Olsteen but with the Eucharist. Funny how you can have 100 different people and a 100 different places where each one is spiritually and of course each one think their way is the only way. 😊