Catholic and Orthodox: Best of both worlds

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From a Catholic and Orthodox perspective, I woudl like to hear opinions on this question. Can a Catholic be in two worlds: attend Divine Liturgies vs. the Mass (except for days of Catholic obligation), grow in holiness as a result of practicing the tenets of Orthodoxy outside of reception of the Sacraments, and at the same time remain technically Catholic?

Interesingtingly I read a declaration from the Conference of Catholic Bishops that Catholics married to Orthodox spouses may raise their children Orthodox with the blessing of the Catholic Church so that a family would be combining the two faiths.

DJL
 
DJLake said:
From a Catholic and Orthodox perspective, I woudl like to hear opinions on this question. Can a Catholic be in two worlds: attend Divine Liturgies vs. the Mass (except for days of Catholic obligation), grow in holiness as a result of practicing the tenets of Orthodoxy outside of reception of the Sacraments, and at the same time remain technically Catholic?

Interesingtingly I read a declaration from the Conference of Catholic Bishops that Catholics married to Orthodox spouses may raise their children Orthodox with the blessing of the Catholic Church so that a family would be combining the two faiths.

DJL
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I’m inclined to think that you couldn’t, that it wouldn’t be sustainable. I think a Catholic might imaginably profit from this or that aspect of Orthodoxy-- an icon, or the Jesus prayer, or reading a certain Orthodox theologian.

But why be Catholic, unless you believe that the Catholic community is a conduit for God’s grace and a necessary part of your salvation? I think to really, effectively be in communion means to entrust oneself to the practices of the community, to its liturgy, sacramental life, social ministry, traditions, friendship, mutual care…

For me personally, in the long run, I would never find being ‘technically Catholic’ sufficient.

Blessings,
Charles
 
Have you looked at Eastern Catholicism? These are rites of the Catholic Church that historically have been Orthodox but have renewed Communion with the See of Peter. They practice the Divine Liturgy the same as their Orthodox brethren. Any Catholic in good standing may receive the sacraments in any Eastern Catholic church.

You can find out more about them at ByzCath.org or by asking in our own Eastern Catholicism forum.
 
DJLake said:
From a Catholic and Orthodox perspective, I woudl like to hear opinions on this question. Can a Catholic be in two worlds: attend Divine Liturgies vs. the Mass (except for days of Catholic obligation), grow in holiness as a result of practicing the tenets of Orthodoxy outside of reception of the Sacraments, and at the same time remain technically Catholic?

Interesingtingly I read a declaration from the Conference of Catholic Bishops that Catholics married to Orthodox spouses may raise their children Orthodox with the blessing of the Catholic Church so that a family would be combining the two faiths.

DJL
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You could become an Eastern rite Catholic and not have to go to both.
 
DJLake said:
Can a Catholic be in two worlds: attend Divine Liturgies vs. the Mass (except for days of Catholic obligation), grow in holiness as a result of practicing the tenets of Orthodoxy outside of reception of the Sacraments, and at the same time remain technically Catholic?
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Are you saying can a Catholic skip the Catholic Liturgy in favor of the Orthodox? If so, I do not believe it is Church teaching to attend Orthodox Liturgy as a substitute unless only that is available to someone traveling or something like that.
And as to Orthodox “tenets,” I am not sure what tenets toward holiness the Orthodox practice that contradict Catholic teaching. Did you have something in mind?
 
I wish I had a dollar for everytime someone mentions Orthodoxy here and someone will respond with “have you tried Eastern Catholic Churches?” I would have singlehandedly funded for our new church building.
 
DJLake said:
From a Catholic and Orthodox perspective, I woudl like to hear opinions on this question. Can a Catholic be in two worlds: attend Divine Liturgies vs. the Mass (except for days of Catholic obligation), grow in holiness as a result of practicing the tenets of Orthodoxy outside of reception of the Sacraments, and at the same time remain technically Catholic?

Interesingtingly I read a declaration from the Conference of Catholic Bishops that Catholics married to Orthodox spouses may raise their children Orthodox with the blessing of the Catholic Church so that a family would be combining the two faiths.

DJL
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There is more to Orthodoxy than receiving the Sacraments. Orthodoxy is a way of life.
 
ConstantineTG said:
I wish I had a dollar for everytime someone mentions Orthodoxy here and someone will respond with “have you tried Eastern Catholic Churches?” I would have singlehandedly funded for our new church building.
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Might have something to do with this being Catholic Answers, not Orthodox Answers. 😉
 
ConstantineTG said:
I wish I had a dollar for everytime someone mentions Orthodoxy here and someone will respond with “have you tried Eastern Catholic Churches?” I would have singlehandedly funded for our new church building.
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Many are simply unaware there is such a thing. The OP certainly didn’t give any indication of awareness in his post (I re-read it carefully prior to responding).

It seems to me charitable to offer relevant information in such cases.
 
JMJ_coder said:
Might have something to do with this being Catholic Answers, not Orthodox Answers. 😉
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My point is that Eastern Catholics and Orthodox are not the same. Telling people that they are getting Orthodoxy in the Eastern Catholic Church is misleading them. You think you are preventing them from becoming Orthodox, but it is a more sure fire way that they become Orthodox. Because they go to the Eastern Catholic Church and find out what they are looking for is not there, so where else do they go to but the Orthodox Church.
 
ConstantineTG said:
My point is that Eastern Catholics and Orthodox are not the same. Telling people that they are getting Orthodoxy in the Eastern Catholic Church is misleading them. You think you are preventing them from becoming Orthodox, but it is a more sure fire way that they become Orthodox. Because they go to the Eastern Catholic Church and find out what they are looking for is not there, so where else do they go to but the Orthodox Church.
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If someone is interested in or drawn to the spirituality and liturgy of the East then they will find that in Eastern Catholic Churches.
 
Surnaturel said:
Theosis.
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Not quite. Though that is the soteriology. The Orthodox Way of life is so much more. Theosis is the end goal, the spirituality is what will take you there.
Surnaturel said:
Can you tell me why, in your opinion, Eastern Catholics don’t teach the spirituality of the Eastern Fathers?
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From my own experience as an Eastern Catholic prior to converting to Orthodoxy, there was too much emphasis on the externals of the traditions without much teaching, understanding and practice of these traditions. Also they have integrated much of Latin practice beyond the usual Latinizations we see with the Liturgy. The externals may look Eastern, but the underlying spirituality isn’t.
 
I suppose our understanding of theosis is different. I believe it to be the relationship with God that is nurtured in this life and comes to full actualization in eternal union with God. Spirituality is necessarily a part of theosis and in fact cannot be separated from it.
 
Surnaturel said:
I suppose our understanding of theosis is different. I believe it to be the relationship with God that is nurtured in this life and comes to full actualization in eternal union with God. Spirituality is necessarily a part of theosis and in fact cannot be separated from it.
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Definitely. But spirituality has to be practiced before Theosis even begins. When we are divinized we already have the light of Christ shining within us. There’s lots of work to be done to get to that point. That is what I am talking about.
 
ConstantineTG said:
they have integrated much of Latin practice beyond the usual Latinizations we see with the Liturgy. The externals may look Eastern, but the underlying spirituality isn’t.
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I speculate that this is in part due to the large proportion of Latins who are drawn Eastward but don’t realize how much of the West they are bringing with them. Many Eastern pastors purge these Latinizations when they are discovered, but that requires both their discovery and the pastor’s determination to purge them. Knowledgeable laypersons can assist with both as long as they can do so charitably.

As with all reforms, this takes time. As we know from the many saints who suffered while implementing reforms, it isn’t easy, either.
 
SonCatcher said:
I speculate that this is in part due to the large proportion of Latins who are drawn Eastward but don’t realize how much of the West they are bringing with them. Many Eastern pastors purge these Latinizations when they are discovered, but that requires both their discovery and the pastor’s determination to purge them. Knowledgeable laypersons can assist with both as long as they can do so charitably.

As with all reforms, this takes time. As we know from the many saints who suffered while implementing reforms, it isn’t easy, either.
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The Eastern Catholics are less than 2% of all Catholics in the world. A lot of them over the years have relied on the West for education and for spirituality. A lot of them do not have their own monasteries and monks who would pray and contemplate and provide guidance to the rest of the Church. Where else will they get all these stuff if not from Western monastics and theologians? I have had a recent discussion with somebody and this guy wouldn’t believe me that there are Byzantine Jesuits. But there are. But isn’t it kind of ironic? Jesuits by its very nature is a Western Society. I think it is very hard, if not impossible, to be true to one’s Eastern spirituality, and be part of a Western Order or Society or whatever you want to call them.
 
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