Disoriented: East or West

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Philonella

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If anyone can help point me in the right direction, I would appreciate your ideas. I was a cradle Catholic, who was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, received First Communion (after an unfortunate first Confession), was not confirmed, and drifted away from the Church with my parents post-Vatican II. After flirting with Buddhism, functional atheism, and spending 16 years in liturgical protestant church, I was introduced to the Eastern Orthodox Church in the context of my spouse’s death. Eventually, I was received into the Orthodox Church by Chrismation, but never settled into that parish. Living in a metropolitan area with a wealth of churches, I wandered between EOC parishes and jurisdictions, occasionally visiting RC and Byzantine Catholic parishes. This Lent I realized I needed to take a “vow of stability” and returned to EOC where I was chrismated. Very soon I began to wonder if stability might mean a return to my Catholic roots. My question is where and how do I return? I am more attuned to the BCs than RCs. It seems that one is not supposed to “cross the line” between BC and RC without a good reason. I’m not sure where I belong or how to sort this out. I still have my childhood dread of confession, so I’d like to get this right the first time. Thanks for reading and offering your thoughts.
 
The simplest is Roman since you were baptized in the rite already and likely know its liturgical norms given your upbringing.
 
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Welcome to my world. The feeling of lost lambs is mutual. Where do we belong, Lord?

As far as I am concerned, the church of our youth ceased to exist. It’s reboot thanks to JPII and especially BXVI, is but a shadow of its former self, in reference to the old mass in Latin.

I was a cradle journeying through protestantland with my husband, last stop was also a liturgical one when we dabbled in EO. But then my husband attempted to convert to Roman Catholicism and I tried to revert the church failed us. I read this quote here on CAF, when your too Catholic to be Orthodox and too Orthodox to be Catholic. We are now Eastern Catholic, or as I like to say, Catholic Orthodox.

I wish you well in your journey.

Edited it add: disoriented, East or West. I call that being on the fence. You do not want to be there long. It’s a desert and your soul shrivels up. You need to jump off into the pasture. Sure, once you choose sides, the pasture looks greener on the other side. There will always be that internal struggle. May the Lord have mercy on us all.
 
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Philonella said:
I am more attuned to the BCs than RCs. It seems that one is not supposed to “cross the line” between BC and RC without a good reason. I
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Finding more spiritual nourishment there is “good reason” to cross in either direction (EC & RC, not EO).

And EC & RC can join a parish of the other without switching.

hawk
 
Thank you for your responses. Casilda, you are right about fence sitting. After nearly 10 years in the OC compared to 11 years in the RCC as a child, I am more familiar with the EC than the RC Church. How did you become an Eastern Catholic? Was it just a matter of attending Divine Liturgy, supporting the parish financially, and talking with priest about participation in the sacramental life? Is attending Mass at an RC parish acceptable if EC services are not available/accessible? As someone with a similar background, I appreciate your experience and perspective.
 
Thank you for that information. I can’t imagine Lent without the Great Canon of St. Andrew or the story of St. Mary of Egypt, but it would be wonderful to access to a weekday morning Mass, too!
 
Philonella said:
Thank you for that information. I can’t imagine Lent without the Great Canon of St. Andrew or the story of St. Mary of Egypt, but it would be wonderful to access to a weekday morning Mass, too!
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That’s no problem at all. You are perfectly free to enroll at an EC parish, and attend RC daily Mass.

There are very few EC parishes in the US large enough to support daily Divine Liturgy . . .

hawk
 
How did you become an Eastern Catholic?

I had actually given up on reverting but my husband found a holy priest who heard our story. He just examined us, took a few visits. (I was easily received as my spouse was now EC, I did not have to write the bishop). Several RC friends had to do that.

Is attending Mass at an RC parish acceptable if EC services are not available/accessible?

No. I will leave it at that unless you want to private message.
 
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Casilda said:
Is attending Mass at an RC parish acceptable if EC services are not available/accessible?

No. I will leave it at that unless you want to private message.
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That is incorrect. Even if your own is available, attending at the other is permissible.

hawk
 
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