Considering a Byzantine Catholic Church for Confirmation

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holdencaulfield

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I am really considering this. Could someone answer my questions here?
 
I beleive you would need to make a complete change of canonical enrollement to do that, but I am not sure.
 
I don’t think so because I am not Confirmed in the Roman Rite either. I am a convert. Also I don’t know why it would matter because since they are both Catholic Churches I would be permitted to receive the Eucharist in both Roman and Eastern Rite parishes.
 
A question I would like to ask about is Confession. I hear that they do not use Confessionals. Is Confession still private?
 
Yes, I am not a byzantine, but I beleive they say confession before the Icon of Christ in private.
 
I’m torn between a Byzantine Rite parish and a Latin Rite parish. I don’t know which to pick for Confirmation yet. 🤷
 
Note that most Eastern Churches confirm at the time of baptism. I am not sure what provision they have for adult confirmation.

I recently had two Melkite Catholics who were not confirmed at baptism, nor had they received First Communion. With the consent of their pastor they attended our RCIA. It appears that one must be confirmed by ones own bishop. In this case their bishop delegated our pastor to confirm them for him.
 
Formosus said:
Yes, I am not a byzantine, but I beleive they say confession before the Icon of Christ in private.
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There are three different modes in use that I’ve encountered:
  1. a confessional
  2. Standing before the Icon of Christ; the rest of the parishioners present remain back at least half the church distance.
  3. standing in the altar, behind the holy table
My preference is 2, then 1, then 3.

As for confirmation: one is confirmed by one’s bishop. So, if you converted and did so in a latin parish, you are a latin catholic, and must be confirmed by the latin bishop in the latin church, unless exceptional arrangements are made, or no such latin church is available in the area.

You could change rites, and then be confirmed.
 
I recently had two Melkite Catholics who were not confirmed at baptism, nor had they received First Communion. With the consent of their pastor they attended our RCIA. It appears that one must be confirmed by ones own bishop. In this case their bishop delegated our pastor to confirm them for him.
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It’s bizarre that they didn’t recieve the Mysteries of Illumination together.

The consent of the pastor to attend Roman RCIA is very bizarre as well, after all, they are canonically Melkite.

:confused:
Furthermore, I am completely at a lost as to why His Grace Archbishop Cyril would allow a Roman Catholic priest to administer the second two Mysteries of Illuminidation when the poster stated that there was a Melkite Pastor available. The normal administer in of the Holy Mysteries in stead of the Melkite Bishop is the closest Melkite Priest.
 
holdencaulfield,

If you wish to recieve the Holy Mystery of Chrismation in a sui iuris Eastern Catholic Church, you must first request a canonical transfer.

If you wish to be Ruthenian Byzantine and have not yet recieved this Holy Mystery, this actually might expedite the procedure of canonical transfer of Churches.

If you are serious, contact the Bishop of the Eparchy of the Eastern Catholic Church of which we wish to transfer to.
 
I hear that they do not use Confessionals. Is Confession still private?

Confessions are normally heard in a low voice before the iconostas. So it is “private” in the sense that nobody else hears it.
 
Technically any Catholic can receive any of the mysteries in any of the Catholic Churches. Having said that, there is an issue of which sui iuris church you belong to. You say you are a convert, so in all likelihood you are Latin Rite. You may approach the priest of the Eastern Catholic Church you wish to attend and where you wish to receive the mystery of Holy Chrismation. However, he will need to get permission from the Latin Rite bishop for this mystery to be conferred.

If you wish to be Byzantine then I suggest you go through the process to affiliate with the Byzantine Church so that you are no longer subject to the Latin bishop. Then the Byzantine priest can chrismate you.

Deacon Ed
 
LakaYaRabb said:
. . .

:confused:
Furthermore, I am completely at a lost as to why His Grace Archbishop Cyril would allow a Roman Catholic priest to administer the second two Mysteries of Illuminidation when the poster stated that there was a Melkite Pastor available. The normal administer in of the Holy Mysteries in stead of the Melkite Bishop is the closest Melkite Priest.
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My fingers betrayed me. That should have been Maronite.

Their bishop is in St Louis. I have a copy of a nice letter from him authorizing the chrismation at our Easter Vigil, and thanking us for our assistance. I know that the canon lawyers for the two dioceses worked out the details; so it was as official as we could get.

One of them was married a short time later in the local Maronite Church, and our pastor was invited to concelebrate.
 
Let me get this straight for everyone. I am not Catholic. I have been Baptized Episcopal and that’s it. I recently decided to convert to Catholicism. I have yet to be Confirmed. I am not Confirmed in the Latin Rite or any other Rite. I am not even Catholic yet. I also have another question why would any one want to switch rites from Latin to Byzantine or vice versa? Since they are both Catholic Churches you could attend either. Why would you go to the trouble of switching Rites?
 
holdencaulfield said:
I also have another question why would any one want to switch rites from Latin to Byzantine or vice versa? Since they are both Catholic Churches you could attend either. Why would you go to the trouble of switching Rites?
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Because until you switch to the other sui juris church, you are still under the canon law of the original church concerning fasting, holy days, and everything else canon laws cover.
 
Oh I see, however you could still just follow those Holy Days. 😉 I don’t see any problem there.
 
**
Because until you switch to the other sui juris church, you are still under the canon law of the original church concerning fasting, holy days, and everything else canon laws cover.**

I wonder how many Eastern Catholics attending Latin parishes follow the Eastern fasting rules–which as most of you know, are rather strict.
 
holdencaulfield said:
A question I would like to ask about is Confession. I hear that they do not use Confessionals. Is Confession still private?
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My priest uses a little cubby spot to the side of the iconostasis next to the wall. It is separated from the pews and the exit door by enough space so that one’s expressions are not overheard, but it is not screened off.

In addition to different canon laws and practices, there is also a different authoritative structure. It is expected that you make a commitment to the community, and submit yourself to the appointed authority.
 
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