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Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

I'm a Roman Catholic and long-time lurker of the forum who has finally decided to come into the open. I've attended a local Ruthenian Byzantine church semi-regularly for years, but I will be seriously discerning whether to make the switch permanently over the next year or so.

I appreciate you all having me!

Christ is in our midst!

EMagnus,

My question is for you, but could also be addressed to others with your story. Why is it so necessary to make a canonical switch? Can you not attend a Ruthenian parish without doing that? I'm sure that no one would object to you becoming involved with parish activities without a formal commitment.

I notice you say "semi-regularly." What does that mean? Once per month? Twice? Is it distance? To make a canonical switch it would seem to me that you ought to be able to be absolutely regular.

I'm not sure it is strictly necessary to make a switch. I have a young family, and I want to ensure everyone (including future children) can receive the Mysteries. My children were baptized in a Latin Church. The Ruthenian pastor is not comfortable Chrismating them at this time. Maybe that would be different if we were long-standing members, but the situation raises the thought that my family does not have the same canonical rights as others in the parish.


No, distance is not an issue. The church is very close to my house. There have just been periods in my life when I was attending more and less frequently. Before I was married, I was attending weekly for about three years. My wife and I started attending a Roman Catholic parish primarily for the first six years of marriage. We would attend a Divine Liturgy about one Sunday a month, and maybe a few other times outside that (Weekday Liturgy or Matins).

We've slowly made our way back to the Byzantine Rite, and now we are attending almost every Sunday. Because of the Chrismation issue, I am attending one Sunday a month at our canonical Latin parish to ensure we have a relationship there.

Christ is in our midst!!

EMagnus,

Is your issue that your children cannot receive the Eucharist at the Ruthenian parish because they are not confirmed/chrismated? What do you mean by "canonical rights"? That seems to be be an overly legalistic issue. What does the priest at the parish say in answer to your concerns?

The priest is the one who told me that he's not sure whether he can Chrismate the children. He has not pushed for me to make a canonical change, but he was also honest in saying that he does not know how to handle this situation. This is the first time he's dealt with a young family coming over from the Latin Church since he has been the pastor. I am respecting what he tells me.


I'm not sure. I have not asked if the children can receive the Eucharist.


I mean that one has a right to receive the sacraments/mysteries from the church if one is properly disposed. If I were canonically a Ruthenian, or indeed a member of any of the Eastern Churches that use the Byzantine Rite, there wouldn't be any reason to withhold the Chrismation. They've already been baptized, and they are being raised in a Christian home.

The situation might work itself out, and I have every reason to believe that it will. I don't think anyone is operating with bad faith. But it makes me think, will I face similar issues if any future children that need to be Baptized/Chrismated? If my children want want to be married?

A person who was baptized (or received) into the Roman Catholic (Latin) Church is subject to her regulations. If this person has also received Confirmation and Eucharist in that Church, that person can freely receive the Eucharist in any Catholic Church, so long as he is not in grave sin.

If a person has not received Confirmation or Eucharist in the Latin Church, he may not normally receive them in a non-Latin Church (e.g., a Byzantine Church) before receiving them in his own Church. For a Byzantine (Ruthenian, Maronite, etc.) priest to administer these Mysteries, he would need to be granted authority by the Latin bishop. The same is true for a Byzantine looking to receive these Mysteries in the Latin Church.

Of course, in danger of death or a serious health issue, any Catholic priest can administer these Mysteries.

This is a simple summary and is not intended to rise to the standard of canon law. Ask your pastor to check with his bishop.