Considering Eastern Catholicism - Advice Please

[thewanderer]

Hi, I have always belonged to the Roman Church but have been introduced to (and fallen in love with) the Byzantine Divine Liturgy this past year. Because if this I have begun to consider changing to an Eastern Catholic Church. I am looking for advice on a couple of issues.

1. How does one decide that they should change churches? Obviously one must be willing to accept the laws of the particular Church they are entering, and participate in it’s liturgy to the extent that one is able. Is there anything else that one ought to accept and appreciate such as traditions and spirituality? To what extent must one be willing/desirous of leaving behind their old spirituality in order to change churches?
2. Are there any good websites/books etc to help understand the differences between the Eastern Churches?
3. If I don’t actually change churches, to what exten is it allowable to attend the Divine Liturgy as opposed to Mass? Obviously there is nothing wrong with a Roman Catholic attending the Divine Liturgy, but to me it seems as though there would be something wrong with attending the Liturgy of a differed Church almost exclusively if the Liturgy of your own is easily accessible. I mean, the Liturgy is one ofthe most important differences between the Churches.

I realize this is a decision that needs much discernment and prayer, but any advice and help you can give would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[SonCatcher]

Hi, I have always belonged to the Roman Church but have been introduced to (and fallen in love with) the Byzantine Divine Liturgy this past year. Because if this I have begun to consider changing to an Eastern Catholic Church. I am looking for advice on a couple of issues.

1. How does one decide that they should change churches? Obviously one must be willing to accept the laws of the particular Church they are entering, and participate in it’s liturgy to the extent that one is able. Is there anything else that one ought to accept and appreciate such as traditions and spirituality? To what extent must one be willing/desirous of leaving behind their old spirituality in order to change churches?

That’s between you and your Spiritual Director. I would suggest looking into the particular teachings and understanding of the Sacraments, as well as attending Divine Liturgy.

1. Are there any good websites/books etc to help understand the differences between the Eastern Churches?

I have yet to find one that covers more than a few things. There are Orthodox resources out there, but they tend to treat the Latin Church in a most disparaging manner (even some Eastern Catholic resources do so).

1. If I don’t actually change churches, to what exten is it allowable to attend the Divine Liturgy as opposed to Mass? Obviously there is nothing wrong with a Roman Catholic attending the Divine Liturgy, but to me it seems as though there would be something wrong with attending the Liturgy of a differed Church almost exclusively if the Liturgy of your own is easily accessible. I mean, the Liturgy is one ofthe most important differences between the Churches.

Nothing wrong. I’ve even heard of Latin Catholics having their children baptized in an Eastern parish (though the child, like his parents, would be Latin and only baptized; not chrismated nor communicated).

I realize this is a decision that needs much discernment and prayer, but any advice and help you can give would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Good luck. For my part, I still thrive on what I can learn here.

 

[John_of_Patmos]

Hi, I have always belonged to the Roman Church but have been introduced to (and fallen in love with) the Byzantine Divine Liturgy this past year. Because if this I have begun to consider changing to an Eastern Catholic Church. I am looking for advice on a couple of issues.

1. How does one decide that they should change churches? Obviously one must be willing to accept the laws of the particular Church they are entering, and participate in it’s liturgy to the extent that one is able. Is there anything else that one ought to accept and appreciate such as traditions and spirituality? To what extent must one be willing/desirous of leaving behind their old spirituality in order to change churches?
2. Are there any good websites/books etc to help understand the differences between the Eastern Churches?
3. If I don’t actually change churches, to what exten is it allowable to attend the Divine Liturgy as opposed to Mass? Obviously there is nothing wrong with a Roman Catholic attending the Divine Liturgy, but to me it seems as though there would be something wrong with attending the Liturgy of a differed Church almost exclusively if the Liturgy of your own is easily accessible. I mean, the Liturgy is one ofthe most important differences between the Churches.

I realize this is a decision that needs much discernment and prayer, but any advice and help you can give would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

As long as it is an Eastern catholic church, NOT an Orthodox one, then you can fulfill your Sunday obligation every week.

 

[ConstantineTG]

If there is one Eastern parish close to you, attend faithfully for a year and be active in the parish. Over the course of the year you will know if you belong there or not.

 

[thewanderer]

Thanks for the replies!

I will definately look into the teaching and understanding of the sacraments, and attend the Divine Liturgy as I can, I unfortunately cannot currently attend on a regular basis.

I’ve been thinking about my questions and I think 1 and 3 both stem from me trying to understand what it is that really distinguishes the different churches. As in, is the Liturgy or the Spirituality more important in deciding which Church one should belong to? I guess I ask this because having grown up with Latin traditions and spirituality there are many things I would be very hesitant to let go of, such as Eucharistic Adoration. The reason this has anything to do with 3,(whether it would be ok to remain in the Latin Church and attend almost exclusively the Divine Liturgy) is because to me it seems as though the Liturgy itself ought to be the most important factor in which Church one belongs to. In which case it seems weird to decide you don’t want to belong to a church and then you attend its liturgy almost exclusively.

Also, just a clarification, while I of course welcome any websites or books etc that help to understand the difference between Western and Eastern spiritualities, I was hoping to find something that helps explain the differences between the different Eastern Churches themselves. If I’m going to join one I want to make sure I join the right one for me and I really haven’t been able to find much information about what the differences are between them.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[ConstantineTG]

You won’t really know Eastern Catholicism until you live it. Faith is an experience. There are many things in parish life that books cannot cover. That is why it is best when considering making the switch to live life in the parish, living the tradition.

 

[thewanderer]

You won’t really know Eastern Catholicism until you live it. Faith is an experience. There are many things in parish life that books cannot cover. That is why it is best when considering making the switch to live life in the parish, living the tradition.

Yes, I do realize this, and plan on attending, and remaining afterwards to talk with people, as often as I can. There is a Ruthenian Catholic church a little over an hour away from where I live, but because of my current transportation and financial situation I am not able to attend consistently. I am hoping it will change soon though to allow me to attend more frequently.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Yes, I do realize this, and plan on attending, and remaining afterwards to talk with people, as often as I can. There is a Ruthenian Catholic church a little over an hour away from where I live, but because of my current transportation and financial situation I am not able to attend consistently. I am hoping it will change soon though to allow me to attend more frequently.

I will always stress attending and living over reading. Reading creates a romanticized image in your mind about the Eastern Church. You won’t realize the issues if you don’t live it. And you wouldn’t know how this will affect your own psyche and faith unless you are there. Even parishes who would faithfully live Eastern traditions give no guarantee they would fit your spiritual needs. There is no substitute to being there and discerning as you live it out.

 

[CDB1718]

If there is one Eastern parish close to you, attend faithfully for a year and be active in the parish. Over the course of the year you will know if you belong there or not.

You won’t really know Eastern Catholicism until you live it. Faith is an experience. There are many things in parish life that books cannot cover. That is why it is best when considering making the switch to live life in the parish, living the tradition.

I will always stress attending and living over reading. Reading creates a romanticized image in your mind about the Eastern Church. You won’t realize the issues if you don’t live it. And you wouldn’t know how this will affect your own psyche and faith unless you are there. Even parishes who would faithfully live Eastern traditions give no guarantee they would fit your spiritual needs. There is no substitute to being there and discerning as you live it out.

YES!

Yes, I do realize this, and plan on attending, and remaining afterwards to talk with people, as often as I can. There is a Ruthenian Catholic church a little over an hour away from where I live, but because of my current transportation and financial situation I am not able to attend consistently. I am hoping it will change soon though to allow me to attend more frequently.

You can’t join a community if you can’t be part of the community. God made it easy on you: your reading list is shortened to the Byzantine Catholic Church because that’s the only community around you could join. If you can’t get out there enough to form relationships and get introductory advice then God is making it clear that He doesn’t want you in an Eastern Catholic church right now.

 

[SonCatcher]

You can’t join a community if you can’t be part of the community. God made it easy on you: your reading list is shortened to the Byzantine Catholic Church because that’s the only community around you could join. If you can’t get out there enough to form relationships and get introductory advice then God is making it clear that He doesn’t want you in an Eastern Catholic church right now.

There isn’t any EC community in my area at all - just a Ruthenian mission that celebrates the DL once per month (most of the regulars are Latins, too).

If I lived just 75 miles from my present location, just about every rite would be represented within a reasonable driving distance.