Brother-in-Law Interested in Eastern Rite

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My brother-in-law is making noises about attending an Eastern rite Parish with his family (wife, three kids). We’ve always been a Latin rite family (mine and all of our in-laws). What should I know about switching and how our extended family might integrate two rites (my immediate family is not switching)? Is it really no big deal?
 
Yes, no big deal from the perspective of the extended family.

I guess one thing to keep in mind is that the season preceding Christmas, somewhat corresponding to the season of Advent, is called St. Philip’s Fast. It begins on November 15th and runs through Christmas Eve. The entire season is a time of fasting, with Christmas Eve is a day of strict fasting. It would probably be helpful to hold off family Christmas celebrations until Christmas has actually begun.
 
Thank you, both. As Latin Rite Catholics we do not celebrate Christmas during Advent. It is a penitential time for the whole family. So hopefully no issues there. Are there any special times during the year that Latin and Eastern rites may not mix well?
 
Good morning,

First off, no need to switch rites. A Catholic of any rite can attend another rites liturgy. Many in my parish are Latin Catholics who have been coming to liturgy for many, many years. Find an Eastern parish in your area and attend the liturgy and see what you think. Let us know how your experience was! No need to pick up a book and follow along, most of the responses are simple enough.

As far a switching rites, if that is something that your brother-in-law truly desires (again, there is no need to switch) he will have to live as part of the community for some time, maybe a year or so, and request a canonical transfer.

One thing to keep in mind, Eastern Catholics are not Roman Catholics with a different liturgy and more glamorous vestments. We are specific Churches with our own liturgies, theology, etc.

Wish you and your family the best of luck!

ZP
 
Eastern Catholic churches are in communion with the bishop of Rome, but many would argue with you saying that they are subject to the bishop of Rome.

Our differences in expressing the faith go deeper than just culture. There are significant theological differences in our understanding of the truths of our mutual faith. These differences are entirely compatible with each other, mostly just emphasizing different aspects , but it would be wrong to minimize them or write them off to simply cultural differences.

The best place to learn about an Eastern Catholic Church is in an Eastern Catholic Church, experiencing The Divine Liturgy. If that is not an option, I highly recommend the three volume catechism series, Light is Life. I’m on my phone right now, but when I am at my computer, I will look up links for you and update this post.
 
Yes we do and a different Liturgical calendar. As @babochka mentioned above, although there a differences, they are entirely compatible with the West. If you are interested in any Eastern Catholic resources let us know. Many here will be glad to offer some to you.

Do you know which Eastern Catholic Church your brother-in-law is interested in? I’m assume Byzantine Catholic?

ZP
 
lola5555 said:
What should I know about switching and how our extended family might integrate two rites (my immediate family is not switching)? Is it really no big deal?
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It shouldn’t make much of a difference to you at all, he is still Catholic, his kids are still Catholic. If he is faithfully attending eastern liturgies, he is just as qualified to be a Godfather to your kids if you were looking to ask him. If his children get married in an Eastern church or they get buried there, you can still attend and fully participate in their liturgy too.

He’s still a member of the Latin Rite, unless and until he decides to officially transfer to a different sui juris church. And there is no requirement that he do so, he can attend the Eastern Rite church for the rest of his days if he likes, receive sacraments, volunteer to roll pyrohy for the parish food fest, all without officially transferring.
 
lola5555 said:
Thank you, both. As Latin Rite Catholics we do not celebrate Christmas during Advent. It is a penitential time for the whole family. So hopefully no issues there. Are there any special times during the year that Latin and Eastern rites may not mix well?
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It isn’t so much the season being penitential as it being a prescribed season of fasting. In addition to St. Philip’s Fast, there is the Great Fast (Lent), the Dormition Fast (August 1-14), The Apostles Fast (varies, but ends with the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul) and a few other fasting days scattered throughout the year. (This is for Byzantine Churches. Other Eastern Churches have different fasts.) Also, there is variation in the level of observance of the fasts; it is something that you grow into.

Your family might feel like they’re missing out on the joy of celebrating First Communions and Confirmations separately from Baptisms.This can be replaced with the joy that your nieces and nephews are receiving our Lord in Holy Communion from the earliest days of their lives as Christians and that they will grow into maturity with the gifts of the Holy Spirit present in their fullest sense.

A few Ukrainian Churches are still on the Julian calendar, so that would really mix things up!
 
lola5555 said:
Oh, Eastern rite has a separate theology? I didn’t realize.
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Not entirely separate. The truths of the faith remain, but in many cases, our understanding of those truths differ and our explanations differ. The Byzantine East is much more comfortable with mystery and much less dependent upon the role of reason and intellect in understanding the faith. These are very general categories, of course. One could spend a lifetime studying the theology of East and West and not exhaust what is there.

One of the more visible differences is in marriage. In the West, the ministers of the sacrament are the couple themselves. In the East, the minister of the sacrament is the priest. A marriage celebrated by a deacon is not valid if one of the couple is Eastern Catholic. There are no wedding vows because the exchange of consent is not what makes the marriage.
 
Thank you for your help. This information will be a great start for me to learn more. I appreciate it!
 
Are you doing a complete canonical switch or rites, or are you just attending Byzantine Divine Liturgy exclusively now?
 
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