You are members of each other says St. Paul. Whether you know it or not you are a member of the Eastern Catholic Church just as they are members of Rome’s. Your Church does not entirely belong to you but it is opened to all who are within that Communion and who are in Communion with each other.
Are you assuming that God wants only one rite to be practiced? The Catholic Church, receiving its authority from God, approves both rites, both of which are the same in essentials, but different in rubrics. They are both the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I think we have something analogous with the two Masses we have in the Western Church, the Extraordinary Form and the Novus Ordo Form. Both are the same in essentials, but quite different in rubrics, the prayers, what the priest does, what the people do, etc.But you have two sets of different rites ( Eastern & Western )… These were put forth by the Early Church fathers of the East and of the West… Which one is correct?.. You see ? You are trying to separate what God wishes to unite…
What would you say now ? Both rites were bound by Apostolic Fathers… What now ? Does this mean that you have to choose ONLY ONE ??? God wished that we understand & experience BOTH… understand & experience… This is what the late Blessed Pope John Paul II said… God speaks through him…
You see…
I think that depends… The bishops can implement what they want… But ULTIMATELY… God will have the last say… example… Do we really know that people who commit suicide are really in hell ? How do we REALLY know that ? Of course, we can only give our reason for it… But we can NEVER KNOW YET (as we are still on earth) what God really did to the person… Right ?
That is why, it DOES NOT MEAN that if we become a member of God’s true church, then we will receive salvation… Rather, it ONLY DEPENDS upon our relationship/love with God, and upon our love for neighbor ( through apostolate and true concern ) .
Just a comment: Some things are common to all Rites/Churches, some to a few, and some are unique, so such a drastic simplification will very likely cause some confusion.In a VERY SPECIFIC sense, there are more than just one Eastern rite… But I prefer to make my discussions simple… Eastern Rite & Western Rite
No, “re-baptism” is not possible. Neither Baptism nor Chrismation (nor, for that matter, Holy Orders) can be repeated once validly administered.
Therefore, a Roman Rite Catholic CAN become a member of an Eastern Catholic Church. Period.Just a comment: Some things are common to all Rites/Churches, some to a few, and some are unique, so such a drastic simplification will very likely cause some confusion.
No, “re-baptism” is not possible. Neither Baptism nor Chrismation (nor, for that matter, Holy Orders) can be repeated once validly administered.
That said, I’ve no idea what it is that you are asking [post=10451805]SyroMalankara[/post] to explain or clarify
No. Of course not.
I have always known this and this has always been my understanding.
I’m happy to see we agree.I have always known this and this has always been my understanding.
“Love” ALWAYS involves action. These are what I mean when I say “Love”.
I have always believe this. …basically… I have always believe this.I think it is possible for a Roman to attend an Eastern Catholic Church and if you want to attend regularly, you could register there even though you did not formally join the Eastern Catholic Church. Do you Eastern Catholics agree?
“Love” ALWAYS involves action. These are what I mean when I say “Love”.
Love for God, involves
Love for neighbor, involves
- worshipping God ( through the Holy mass be it East or West )
- constant prayer/communication to God. must daily examine one’s conscience. must constantly stay in the state of grace.
- ( from the daily prayer/communication to God), accomplish the derived resolutions ( for God and for the care & safety of our neighbor )
But, of course, for those whom God has chosen to be revealed…
- bringing our neighbor closer to God ( i.e. the apostolate, regard for God’s Church )
- communication/peace with our neighbor ( i.e. regard for God’s Church )
- actions that will ensure care & safety for our neighbor ( i.e. regard for God’s Church )
Much like ourselves, I would, of course, believe that the Church
CAN be a helpful tool in our salvation.
The Church, definitely, CAN be a help for attaining salvation. Our
“Love” extends towards the Sacraments and more especially so that
we belong to the True, One, Holy, Catholic, & Apostolic Church…
BUT…
What will happen to those people who do not know God ? Let’s say,
they know how to love their neighbor ? Let’s say, NO Christian
ever approached them for apostolate. Take note. These kinds of
people do not belong to God’s Church… What will happen to them
when their time comes? … Surely, God must have something nice
for them as well… Right ?
Now, let’s talk about a Catholic Church member. He constantly
sins against God and sins against his fellowman. Will he be saved ?
When his time comes, he might rush in to receive the Sacrament of
Penance/Reconciliation. But, of course, we know well that he may
have a lukewarm heart for God. The priest blesses him finally.
The priest believes God has forgiven that person because what
they bind on earth is also bound in heaven. But actually, the true
forgiveness is still entirely up to God… Right ?
If God does not forgive, where is salvation now ? Salvation only
depends upon God’s true forgiveness for a person. If one is
forgiven, then we are bound to God… we are with God.
Membership in ANY Church does not guarantee salvation…
Membership in Catholic Church CAN provide one with all the
true sacraments that God has handed down to us… But…
It all depends upon our actions. Actions CAN yield “Love”.
Actions also CAN yield “Hatred”…
It looks like “Love” is all there is to it
But, of course, for those whom God has chosen to be revealed…
Much like ourselves, I would, of course, believe that the Church
CAN be a helpful tool in our salvation.
The Church, definitely, CAN be a help for attaining salvation. Our
“Love” extends towards the Sacraments and more especially so that
we belong to the True, One, Holy, Catholic, & Apostolic Church.
This is a gross understatement. And the part about, “How do we know for sure that God forgives us?” We know from the teaching of the Church, which as you say is the “True, One, Holy, Catholic, & Apostolic Church,” that all we need is imperfect love, that is, fear of the loss of heaven or the pains of hell, to be forgiven by God. Will He forgive us?. We have His Word and the word of the Church that He will. Helpful tool? I’ll say! It is so much more difficult to enter heaven from outside the Church than from within that we should pray daily in the Name of Love for God to bring more and more people into His wonderful Church. I’d like to discuss this more with you, but I have to run for an appointment. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I hope we can continue at a more opportune time. No personal offense intended by any thing I said. Yours in Christ. James
Understatement??? I was not even specific yet. God forgives us alright. God’s love for us is truly great. But what I specifically mean is that, we must not take for granted the Sacrament of Penance just because it is always there for us. We must not be lukewarm in our relationship with God. God TRULY forgives us… … But … … …
You “snuck” one in on me. lol
The two rites belong to the same Church… Eastern is welcome in Latin and visa versa…I was raised in the Latin Catholic Church and visited a Byzantine (Romanian) Rite Church a few weeks ago. The liturgy was excellent and the Eucharist was Christ.
I wouldn’t be too hard on those who might believe they are not forgiven at Confession. This same scenerio happened to a older nun when she talked to Maria Faustina, the Divine Mercy saint. The nun complained she didn’t have any peace. Maria told her to tell this to her confessor. She did so and still she has no peace. Then she grabbed Maria’s hands and said to her that Maria speaks and sees Jesus. That night Jesus did come to Maria and said this to her, “Tell her that her disbelief in Me wounds My Heart more than her own sins.” Maria did so the next day and the older sister burst out into tears. She was finally releaved. When people do not get relief at Confession in this life God’s mercy can extend to them after death in Purgatory. That is why we have Purgatory. It gives the soul the right antidote they need to have their pains and hurts fully taken care of.
Could you kindly explain this a little more? I thought a Roman Catholic could take the Eucharist in an Eastern Catholic Church as long as he was in the state of grace and had fulfilled the fasting requirements? Do you have a source which supports your statement?
You can receive Holy Communion from an Eastern Catholic Church if you are a member of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the same for the Eastern Catholic receiving in any Roman Church. This same principal is also in the Eastern Orthodox Churches. A Greek Orthodox for instance is permitted to receive Holy Communion in an Antiochian Orthodox parish or Russian Orthodox parish. Since the Eastern Orthodox Churches are in Communion with each other they are permitted to receive within their various juridictions. There are no restrictions if you are in Communion with each other.
Of course. You can certainly participate in more than one parish church at a time, too. We have some large families in our parish who go back and forth between our church and the local Latin Rite parish, because that church, being much larger, has lots of family events and classes which our smaller parish can’t offer.