Considering a Byzantine Catholic Church for Confirmation

  • Thread starter Thread starter holdencaulfield
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
guanophore said:
This is the case for me as well. The Divine Liturgy trumps them all. I have also been very put off by liturgical abuses in the Novus Ordo, and I find that the Byzantine Rite has not been contaminated with the "spirit of vatican 2’.
Click to expand...
I’d disagree. The Ruthenians, especially, have their own “spirit of reform” to contend with and major liturgical “abuses” which are widespread. So widespread that the new revision of the Liturgy they promulgated didn’t dare touch them for fear of the revolt they’d have on their hands. Instead of instructing people on why the East doesn’t kneel on Sundays, they skirted the issue by saying, “it is customary to stand.” In the same way, they didn’t tell the priests to do the prothesis before Liturgy but allowed them to continue using pre-cut particles. They also threw in some innovations unlike every other Byzantine Church (Catholic or Orthodox), claiming it is going back to the early church. What you’ve got, in terms a Latin could understand, is a Ruthenian Novus Ordo. By legitimizing abberations and abuses and then by turning a blind eye to certain deviations from the promulgation, the spirit of Vatican II is alive and well in the Ruthenian Church.

The UGCC cut down their fasting days significantly in response to Vat II. Many places still don’t chrismate infants, and many places which do chrismate and commune them then don’t commune the babies again until age 7, which is a flagrant abuse. They’re rampant in the East! Thankfully they are becoming less common, just as the abuses are becoming less common in the Novus Ordo. The Eastern Churches haven’t escaped it.

The difference is that Roman Catholics are comparing the Divine Liturgy to the Novus Ordo and checking for a few key Latin issues and if those are absent they assume everything is done like it should be and how it always has been. That’s not the case.

I love the Eastern Catholic Church and it is my home. I don’t want anyone coming to it thinking it is perfect. What you see today is not how it always has been and is likely to be quite different from what you’ll see in the future as the Eastern Churches reclaim their own heritage. I encourage anyone considering the Eastern Catholic Churches to go to them and participate first so you’ll know what they are, to pray and worship with them, to then read and learn about them, and only then to discern if that is how you will worship the Lord. Don’t go into it comparing them point for point with the Latin Church. It isn’t all vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup on one and caramel syrup on the other. One is cheesecake and the other cherry pie. They stand on their own and need to be tried and appreciated individually.
 
Well then how should I be able to tell if the Ruthenian parish I am going to is traditional. What should I look for to make sure it is reverent. This is one reason I like the Latin Rite, you do it by the book. :confused:
 
Can someone tell me how to tell if the parish I may attend has been “vatican II -nized” because I really would not want that. 🙂
 
Woodstock said:
I’d disagree. The Ruthenians, especially, have their own “spirit of reform” to contend with and major liturgical “abuses” which are widespread. So widespread that the new revision of the Liturgy they promulgated didn’t dare touch them for fear of the revolt they’d have on their hands. Instead of instructing people on why the East doesn’t kneel on Sundays, they skirted the issue by saying, “it is customary to stand.” In the same way, they didn’t tell the priests to do the prothesis before Liturgy but allowed them to continue using pre-cut particles. They also threw in some innovations unlike every other Byzantine Church (Catholic or Orthodox), claiming it is going back to the early church. What you’ve got, in terms a Latin could understand, is a Ruthenian Novus Ordo. By legitimizing abberations and abuses and then by turning a blind eye to certain deviations from the promulgation, the spirit of Vatican II is alive and well in the Ruthenian Church.
Click to expand...
You forgot to mention the adoption of gender-neutral language. 😦
 
I have a few more questions:
  1. Although Byzantine Catholics are not compelled to adopt the Roman Doctrines, for example Purgatory, however do they still have to believe in them. Or things like the Assumption, how could they be part of the Roman Church and not believe an Ex Cathedra statement?
  2. What calendar and feast days/fasting days to the Ruthenians use. Is it the same as the Greek Orthodox Calendar. Furthermore, do they have the same fasting rules?
  3. In the Divine Liturgy what are the main differences between Byzantine Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox?
Thanks.
 
guanophore said:
This is the case for me as well. The Divine Liturgy trumps them all. I have also been very put off by liturgical abuses in the Novus Ordo, and I find that the Byzantine Rite has not been contaminated with the "spirit of vatican 2’.
Click to expand...
Right On !!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top