Considering a transfer to the Byzantine Catholic Church

[Augustine]

I think there may be a language issue here.

It wouldn’t surprise me that Google Translator is to blame…

 

[carefullytread]

It wouldn’t surprise me that Google Translator is to blame…

Do the forum rules allowed posting in languages other than English? Many of us speak Spanish, so maybe we can encourage people like kdbueno to post in Spanish and someone other than google can translate?

 

[AXO]

Do the forum rules allowed posting in languages other than English? Many of us speak Spanish, so maybe we can encourage people like kdbueno to post in Spanish and someone other than google can translate?

Agreed.

 

[elizaveta01]

For the OP. I didn’t read all the posts, so if this has been covered already I’m sorry for the duplication.

When I was still Roman Catholic (before converting to Orthodoxy) I checked into changing from the Latin to the Byzantine rite.

I was told that the only acceptable reason for a change in rite is if you are strongly attracted to the rite itself. Being dissatisfied with things Roman/Latin is not an acceptable reason to change and you will be denied the right to change if this is the case with you.

Also, a change in rite is only allowed if you have attended an eastern rite parish for a long time (I think it’s one year, although it might be longer). This is so that you, and the Church, can both be reasonably sure that the change is in everyone’s best interests.

I also know that some people are denied the right to change if the priests involved feel that your reasons aren’t acceptable.

So I guess the best thing would be for you to find an eastern rite church and start attending there regularly. Speak to the priest about your wants and go from there.

 

[JosephHope]

I do not think that you need to convert, I am a melkite who attend Maronite and Latin masses, I only find confession at a Latin church, as long as you are baptized, I do not think that there is a problem.

 

[Dmitri77]

I do not think that you need to convert, I am a melkite who attend Maronite and Latin masses, I only find confession at a Latin church, as long as you are baptized, I do not think that there is a problem.

Of course if the person is Catholic they can attend any Catholic parish. That being said there may be psychological and spiritual reasons for actually transferring. It can make you feel like you truly belong.

 

[kdbueno]

Byzantine liturgy is cool, it supposes for us an understanding of the songs of the divine and cosmic Israel.

 

[Athanasiy]

For some background, tomorrow is my 5 year anniversary of entering into the Church and I have been having some kind of struggle lately with the Roman Rite, specifically devotions and the treatment of some aspects of our faith. Many who convert struggle with Mary and Marian doctrine, I can say that this was never a problem for me and in fact I would credit Mary with having the greatest impact on the ease of my conversion and enhancement of my faith. I have always been known as a major devotee to Mary.

Since December I have developed a great affinity for the Byzantine Catholic Church and strongly feel that I may end up transferring rites in the near future. Probably the #1 reason that I desire to transfer is because I have had a strong desire to deepen and grow in faith but it seems I am dead-ending in every way I have sought to do that in the Latin Church.

For 5 years I have been going to Daily Mass 6 days a week, have only missed Sunday Mass one time, pray the Rosary almost every day, go to confession at least once a month, regularly attend adoration, spiritual direction, etc. I don’t want to go on and on giving everyone my resume as a Catholic but every time I have asked anyone for advice on advancing in my faith life they just tell me to do what I have already been doing. Most recently I have just felt like my faith life primarily boils down to Mass attendance and a series of devotions. In case you are wondering, yes I have sought to discern a vocation to the priesthood and religious life (multiple dioceses and orders) and nothing has developed.

I am doing everything as prescribed and now feel more disconnected with the Roman Rite faith than ever. I’ll even go so far to say I am feeling Pharisaic as a Latin Catholic. Why I have become interested in the Byzantine Catholic Church is because I have had nothing but wonderful experiences, particularly as it relates to faith enhancement. The specific parish I attend is primarily comprised of former Roman Rite Catholics who have transferred to the Byzantine Catholic Church in large part for feeling like I am now. They have been very warm and welcoming and take a genuine interest in each other. It really starting to feel like home to me much like my original parish was only it is getting me far more engaged in my faith than I have ever been.

Has anyone else had such an experience?

Look at Savior !
May the Lord be your example!
People are disappointing and certainly will disappoint.
People are imperfect.
Turn to the Lord as a child, and then institutions and people will not be a measure and disappointment.

 

[YoungApologist3]

I empathize with your struggle. A life of Spirituality has periods, sometimes long periods, of dryness. If you read the Saints you will see many have experienced the same condition.

Including our newly canonized Saint Teresa of Calcutta. She even had visions of Jesus early in her spiritual life, but for the next 50 years, up until her death, she had that spiritual dryness.