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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Hello to all!
I have been searching for this site for some time. I was raised Roman Catholic, went to Catholic school K-12 and was an active participate in my parish. In the last couple years, my heart and soul have been feeling less comfortable with my religious practices within the church. As I become more aware of the great Mystery and Love of the Blessed Sacrament, the more I feel the Roman Rite treats is with less respect and reverence than is needed. In addition, it seems that more and more of the Mass is about singing and other things, rather than prayerful devotion. My mother in law was raised Byzantine, and I went to Divine Liturgy with her and the family on Easter. In addition, my husband's uncle is a Cantor there. I can't explain in words what happened to my heart that day, but it was like finding my way home, finally. I have since tried to research this beautiful faith and I am presently attending the Byzantine Church and hope to meet with a Byzantine priest in some time to discuss further. I would like some guidance on readings about the Byzantine Faith as I know very little. I would particularly like readings on the parts of the Divine Liturgy so that when I go there, I will understand more. Lastly, I would be most grateful if you would pray for me. I do not undertake this lightly, and am confident that God is leading me and will strengthen me. With your prayers, I'm sure I will have the extra love and support I need to travel this "road less taken"(at least in my family!). Thank you in advance.
A lowly servant,
MariM
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Hi MariM,
Let me recommend two books. The first is "The Face of God" by Archbishop Joseph Raya, who is Melkite. This isn't a "reference" book so much as it is the heart song of a man passionately in love with God. It's also a very good introduction to how the Eastern Churches look at life & faith.
The second would be "Liturgy and Life" by Fr. Alexander Schmemann. There's one chapter especially that I wish I'd had about 18 years ago when I was blindly stumbling through Divine Liturgy wondering "what's going on here??"
Welcome to "the other lung."
Best,
Sharon
Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com
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Many thanks. I look forward to my prayerful education.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Dear MariM, The best Byzantine education one can get is through liturgical prayer! Here is an excellent on-line set of liturgical resources of all kinds that we may all use: pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/services.htm [ pages.prodigy.net] God bless, Alex [ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ] [ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ] [ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Would it be possible or reasonable for someone such as myself to attend the same classes as those converting from other religions(non-Catholic)?
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Oh, absolutely, tho' most of our parishes are quite small, and programs like RCIA doesn't really exist in most of our churches. (This has both good & bad points, LOL.)
Nosy me - I just checked your profile - what part of "a-hiya" are you in?
Sharon
(in Cow-lumbus)
Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com
[ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Sharon Mech ]
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Hey MiraM, I would also recommend the Life and Worship; An intro to Eatern Theology by God with US Publications. This is a series that kind of breaks things down real easy and explains them. I, like Sharon, want to know where in Ohio...we are originally from Steubenville. OrthoMan put this address up a while back, it is a good place to pray befroe icons. After all it isn't everyday you can pray before an icon on Mt. Athos, well that was before computers and the web. Click on the candles on the right and drag them over to the candle on the icon stand and light it from the lit candle and place it in the stand. Prayer before the icons is one of the swiftest ways to understand the eastern churches. http://www-media.dbnet.ece.ntua.gr/athos/uk/mones/enter.htm Rose  [ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Rose ] [ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Rose ]
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Thanks Rose and Sharon!
I'm in Youngstown. I'm quite certain you've heard of it. Though mostly for negative things. We actually do have nice communities, but many problems politically and economically.
Had the pleasure of speaking with a Byzantine priest this weekend, and he said he would be glad to lend me a few books. He was very kind and told me to just keep coming and I would learn more. Also, my husband's uncle, a very kind man, has offered to lend me his prayer book. I feel so blessed that God is actively leading me.
Could anyone tell me, from a Byzantine view, the main differences in tenents of the Byzantine Rite versus the Latin or Roman Rites? As I understand it(or maybe not), there is some difference in view of Original Sin on the Blessed Virgin. Also, I'm still not clear on the structure of the church, from the Pope down. Do Byzantine Bishops(Metropolitans or Patriarchs) fall directly under the Pope?
Pleas forgive my ignorance and lack of terminology. It will take me some time to learn all this.
In peace,
Mari
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Dear Mari, We humble Byzantine Catholics share exactly the same faith as you Westerners, except that we have a different (and better) way of expressing it!  Unlike you Westerners who at one time allowed Catholics to believe our Lady was born with the "stain" of Original Sin on her soul before the papal dogmatic pronouncement on the Immaculate Conception, we have always believed in her Total Purity and Holiness from her conception and the feast of the Conception of St Ann originated in the East. We've also always believed in her Assumption into heaven, and felt that we didn't need to wait for a Pope to define it . Some of our bishops fall BEFORE the Pope, with some of them actually fighting to see who can fall first and with head to the ground . But we have our own Particular Churches and organize our church lives by ourselves, unless of course Rome wants to do it for us. In that case, some of us argue with Rome to "butt out" while others continue to fall headlong . . . Alex
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Yes Alex, I'm back - sorry Exactly the same faith? Well I guess that would depend on how you define "we". I would certainly hope "you" Eastern Latins have exactly the same faith as the pope, but as for me and Orthodoxy, well, I do not believe for example God "owes a supernatural reward" for a "good work" which was purchased like a side of ham from a saint's "treasury".
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Dear OrthodoxyorDeath,
Here you come back just as I'm leaving!
No one believes God "owes" anyone anything.
Perhaps now that you won't have me to kick around you can learn some basic rules of common and courteous discourse?
Like trying to read a few things about the side you don't agree with?
And being a little respectful, just as the Byzantine Catholics are of you?
You were much better before you left here.
Did you hang around some bad influences?
Sorry, but you're post doesn't deserve acknowledgement, much less a serious response.
You need some growing up to do.
Alex
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Alex, "owes a supernatural reward" was a qoute from the Catholic Encyclopedia. If you don't believe God "owes" then, well, you'll have to take it up with the pope. My oldest son (7) always deserves to be treated with respect and love, but sometimes that includes a smack on the butt to wake him up. Don't mind if I try to smack your theological butt do you?? :p As far as growing up, well, I imagine I will be trying to grow up all my life.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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I'm confused, I thought this community was about GOD. Where GOD is, I don't see room for disrespectful behavior on the part of anyone. Let's remember why we were put on this earth and why we chose to share the Gospel.
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Joined: May 2002
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Way to go, MariM!
Now, to answer your earlier question in an objective manner, Eastern Catholics, who are in union with Rome, are under the Pope with their own bishops. You needn't ask what Eastern Catholics believe. They're supposed to believe the same things as all Catholics, although they may say them in a different way, or emphasize different things. (Traditionally, Eastern Christians don't take as harsh a view of original sin, for example.)
The majority of Eastern Christians are not in union with Rome -- they are Eastern ORTHODOX -- so it IS appropriate to ask what we believe.
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Tim,
Thank you. Would you or anyone care to explain what you mean by Byzantine Catholics taking a less harsh view of original sin?
And I understand that Orthodox have a different view of Original Sin. Would someone please explain it to me? I would be appreciative. Again, I would please ask for patience as I am learning a lot these days, most of which I never knew existed.
In Prayer,
MariM
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