Does the Eastern Church pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

[Sunflower15]

One very important principle to remember is that there isn’t and never has been one, monolithic universal Rite called Catholicism - the Church has always been united but never uniform.

Even in the West (Latin Church), there are different Traditions, although most have been absorbed by the Roman Rite - Gallican, Mozarabic, Ambrosian, Sarum…

The Eastern Churches also are not monolith:

Byzantine spiritual practices, although similar in some ways, is very different from Syriac, Coptic, or Armenian for example.

Each are unique and beautiful, and equally Valid! That is the beauty of the Universal Church! We can never learn everything, not in 10 lifetimes, why leave Her to find “truth” in other places - there’s so much right here at home!!

Are the Coptic Catholic or Orthodox? Or neither? Don’t they have their own Pope?

 

[dixibehr]

There are Coptic Catholics in Egypt (and elsewhere) and Coptic Orthodox (who are technically Monophysite, but not really).

The Patriarch of Alexandria for both Coptic Orthodox (non-Chalcedonian) and Greek Orthodox (Chalcedonian) have the title “Pope and Patriarch of the God-protected City of Alexandria”, though “pope” in this context doesn’t have the same connotations that it does for Roman Catholics.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

One thing that I think needs to be pointed out regarding de-Latinization, is that the people who are opposed to it, are for the most part, Eastern Catholics themselves. A few Roman Catholics like myself may think there’s nothing at all wrong with a statue or two, the rosary, stations of the cross, Sacred Heart devotions etc in an Eastern Church, but at the end of the day, most of us are too busy with the Latin Rite parishes we attend, and so our opinions remain exactly that, just opinions, having for all intents and purposes, zero effect on what eventually happens in the Eastern churches.

The reason for some of this is that these Eastern Catholic have grown up with the latinizations so, in essence, these are the traditions that they know. This shows that there is a need for education in this.

                         Personally, I think de-Latinization has already gone too far. Popes have called certain devotions universal, and so I can't understand why anyone would think they're some how inappropriate to have in an Eastern Catholic Church. One can only wonder where it will all end. Should sacred art considered to be a Latinization, be removed from a Church, even if it goes back to the 19th century ? Should church names like Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Purgatory be changed ? But don't bother asking me. Instead, ask a Maronite or a Ukrainian Catholic over 50.

While some have stated that certain devotions are universal, that does not mean that they should replace the public prayers of the Church.

 

[Diak]

While some have stated that certain devotions are universal, that does not mean that they should replace the public prayers of the Church.

Excellent point, and even universal private devotions do not replace immemorial public liturgical tradition, especially the Divine Praises.

 

[Seamus_L]

And what Latin devotions are displacing Eastern ones ? To my knowledge, about the only one I know of that’s still practiced is the rosary, and that tends to be said sporadically by individuals, sometimes in less than 15 minutes. Can’t see how a handful people here and there saying it, is stopping some authenic Eastern devotion.

 

[theistgal]

And what Latin devotions are displacing Eastern ones ? To my knowledge, about the only one I know of that’s still practiced is the rosary, and that tends to be said sporadically by individuals, sometimes in less than 15 minutes. Can’t see how a handful people here and there saying it, is stopping some authenic Eastern devotion.

When the Rosary is said in church, it usually takes about half an hour. That half hour could be used for an Akathist or a Moleben, or if before the Liturgy starts, for Matins.

 

[Diak]

That half hour could be used for an Akathist or a Moleben, or if before the Liturgy starts, for Matins.

Or the Little Hours, or the traditional Canon and Rule for receiving Holy Communion, among others.

 

[Seamus_L]

In my personal experience over the years, I’ve seen small groups or individuals quietly saying the rosary. I seriously doubt they were taking 30 minutes as is often the case in a Roman Catholic Church. Even then it was probably not that widespread a practice to my knowledge. Still not comprehending how this prevents others from saying molebens, akathists, etc.

 

[theistgal]

In my personal experience over the years, I’ve seen small groups or individuals quietly saying the rosary. I seriously doubt they were taking 30 minutes as is often the case in a Roman Catholic Church. Even then it was probably not that widespread a practice to my knowledge. Still not comprehending how this prevents others from saying molebens, akathists, etc.

I think there is some miscommunication going on. (What? Miscommunication on the Internet? Unbelievable! )

No one is saying that individuals can’t “quietly say the Rosary” on their own in an Eastern Church - just that it should not be presented as a public service in an Eastern Church. Do you see the difference?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

In my personal experience over the years, I’ve seen small groups or individuals quietly saying the rosary. I seriously doubt they were taking 30 minutes as is often the case in a Roman Catholic Church. Even then it was probably not that widespread a practice to my knowledge. Still not comprehending how this prevents others from saying molebens, akathists, etc.

I think there is some miscommunication going on. (What? Miscommunication on the Internet? Unbelievable! )

No one is saying that individuals can’t “quietly say the Rosary” on their own in an Eastern Church - just that it should not be presented as a public service in an Eastern Church. Do you see the difference?

Not only that, if the parish is praying a public service such as matins before the Liturgy then no one should be praying a private devotion as the public service is the prayer of the Church.

This would be the same thing as someone praying the rosary during Mass or the Divine Liturgy.

 

[Diak]

This would be the same thing as someone praying the rosary during Mass or the Divine Liturgy.

Which I saw regularly (usually at Low Mass, but occasionally during a choral High Mass) while teaching at an SSPX school.

 

[Diak]

This would be the same thing as someone praying the rosary during Mass or the Divine Liturgy.

I saw the Rosary being prayed (especially at Low Mass) on a regular basis when I was teaching at an SSPX school in the 1980s. The entrance bell for a low Mass was usually followed by the mass clinking of rosaries in the chapel. After being distracted by this I started moving to the front. When I began to also recite the responses with the servers I was asked to not do that, either.
FDRLB

 

[Diak]

Still not comprehending how this prevents others

That’s the whole point - the Church intends her congregational public offices for participation, not private devotions simultaneously.

A few pertinent reminders from the most recent Council of the Church as expressed in Sacrosanctum Concilium:

But these devotions should be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some fashion derived from it, and lead the people to it, **since, in fact, the liturgy by its very nature far surpasses any of them. **

Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy.

From Orientale Lumen:

It has been stressed several times that the full union of the Catholic Eastern Churches with the Church of Rome which has already been achieved must not imply a diminished awareness of their own authenticity and originality.

So restoring the Divine Praises and other traditional services is demanded, not asked, by both Rome and our own bishops. Everyone is free to pray any private devotion on their own outside of liturgical services. No one is calling for the banishment of the Rosary or any other private devotion, but rather fidelity to our legitimate tradition as well as the directives of Rome and our own Synod.

 

[Sunflower15]

I can completely understand that nothing, regardless of how beautiful, should replace your tradition, which is not only beautiful but also didactic. We don’t want that lost for posterity either!

I am enjoying the prayers you and other Easterners are sharing with me!

I pray them on my own time, not while the Liturgy is going on…

I guess, we all should pray more, with all these gorgeous, deeply spiritual prayers we have to share…

I think what we Latins mean is that an extra 20-25 min of prayer won’t hurt anyone *; but I DO understand that when a pendulum goes too far one way, then unfortunately, it sometimes has to be pushed too far in the opposite direction to bring a healthy balance.

I can see the issue at stake when the teaching is done this way rather than with a Catechism.

Regardless, it’s a moot point…obedience is obedience, in the East as in the West!*

 

[Diak]

Some of the Hours, especially Compline and the Midnight Office, as well as the Little Hours, are easily taken alone at home.

Likewise an Akathist or Canon can also be prayed at home following the “beginning prayers”, Psalm 50 and the Creed.

 

[Sunflower15]

Some of the Hours, especially Compline and the Midnight Office, as well as the Little Hours, are easily taken alone at home.

Likewise an Akathist or Canon can also be prayed at home following the “beginning prayers”, Psalm 50 and the Creed.

I don’t know what these prayers are…especially the Akathist…

 

[Aramis]

I don’t know what these prayers are…especially the Akathist…

the prime Akathist, the oldest, is to the Mother of God. An Akathist is a service to sing an Akathist Hymn, a hymn of praise which is inspired by the person to whom it is sung, and it teaches the importance of the person sung to to those singing it. Generally lead by a priest, but often by a deacon or even a reader.

It has a paraliturgical set of entrance prayers, some psalms, the akathist hymn, and a dismissal. Some are short, some are not.

 

[Tidus]

In my personal experience over the years, I’ve seen small groups or individuals quietly saying the rosary. I seriously doubt they were taking 30 minutes as is often the case in a Roman Catholic Church. Even then it was probably not that widespread a practice to my knowledge. Still not comprehending how this prevents others from saying molebens, akathists, etc.

Don’t worry, a lot of Eastern parishes still do rosary.

 

[Seamus_L]

I’ve heard more than a few EC’s on various forums say things like “There’s nothing wrong with saying the rosary at home, but it doesn’t belong in an Eastern Church”. It’s that attitude and the belief that if it originated in the Latin Church, it’s wrong for the East that I find so offensive.
By all means restore Eastern traditions. There's 7 days in a week and 24 hours in a day, and that leaves alot of time for various devotions that could get people used to coming more than 1 day a week.

 

[Diak]

If the full traditional liturgical cycle were taken in most eastern Churches it would be likely greater than 9 hours per day. The priest has precious little time to celebrate the traditional* lex orandi *as it is congregationally with the limited time to compress the traditional liturgical cycle, and be consistent with following the teachings of the Church and his Synod.

No one has said anything negative about the Rosary or its origin, and everyone is free to pray it at home or other appropriate place outside of the liturgical worship of an Eastern Church. For those who have not been catechized about the received tradition of their particular Church, the propriety and necessity for liturgical worship, the desire of both Rome and the particular Churches for the restoration of the authentic liturgical life of each particular Eastern Catholic Church, that is one thing. For those who refuse or are otherwise resistant to the teachings of the Church and the Synods of their respective particular Churches on these liturgical and spiritual matters, that is another thing entirely.