Eastern Catholicism?

[Pietro_Vinardi]

I hope you don’t mind me asking this, but I have been rather curious what Eastern Catholicism is and how it differs from Roman Catholicism. What are the differences between the two? Could a Roman Catholic attend an Eastern Mass to fulfill his Sunday Obligation? Are the two so differently as to be practiced exclusively, or in all are they the same religion yet in a different manner? I always like to keep a charitable and open mind, so if someone could shed some light on this for me I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[The_Fool]

Try “could you please explain eastern catholicism”
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=271663

I think post 2 does a pretty good job of answering, and honestly, I don’t think my own answer would be very coherent. All the same, simply put, Eastern Catholicism is in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. Yes, Eastern Mass as you put it fulfills the same as any one of our Mass.

 

[ziapueblo]

I hope you don’t mind me asking this, but I have been rather curious what Eastern Catholicism is and how it differs from Roman Catholicism. What are the differences between the two?

Orthodox and Catholics split between 1054 and 1204. Parts of the Orthodox Churches established reunion with Rome from 1596 - 1905, and form the different Byzantine Catholic and other Eastern Catholic Churches. Differences are the way in which the Sign of the Cross is made (Byzantine fashion) and the use of Icons to name a couple.

Could a Roman Catholic attend an Eastern Mass to fulfill his Sunday Obligation?

Yes, it is the same representation of the Last Supper as the Roman Rite Mass. What we Roman Catholics call The Mass, Eastern Catholics call The Divine Liturgy. There is no theological difference, both are the same Sacrifice and Eucharist. The word Liturgy comes from the Greek leitourgia which means “public gathering.” Mass comes from the Latin te, missa est meaning “go, you are dismissed.”

Are the two so differently as to be practiced exclusively, or in all are they the same religion yet in a different manner?

They are the same religion. All Catholics, Roman and the Eastern Churches, are in communion with the Bishop of Rome (Pope).

 

[dixibehr]

The best way to understand Eastern Catholicism–or for that matter Orthodoxy or the non-Chalcedonian Churches–is to share in the public worship, especially the Eucharistic Sacrifice (called by various names) and Divine Office.

 

[wynd]

The best way to understand Eastern Catholicism–or for that matter Orthodoxy or the non-Chalcedonian Churches–is to share in the public worship, especially the Eucharistic Sacrifice (called by various names) and Divine Office.

In case you can’t get there quite yet: youtube.com/watch?v=MlUNFhGjpKg

 

[gloria97000]

You would be welcome to attend any Eastern Catholic church any Sunday to fulfill your Sunday obligation – in fact, JP2 encouraged Western (Roman) Catholics to experience the Eastern Churches in Lumen Orientale. There are many- Maronite, Byzantine, Coptic, Melkite, to name a few. Each has its own liturgy, with ancient roots. The Maronite Liturgy, for instance, developed under St Maron, a Lebanese monk- and, thus, the liturgy has a large component of choral-type spoken responses between the priest and the people - much as would occur in monastic prayer. We stand instead of kneel, the Eucharist is given by intinction, the consecration is in Syriac. Some differences in the emphases and expressions of theology are a little different, too, but the faith is one and the same.

If you want to see more, just show up at a Liturgy. Introduce yourself afterward to the priest! If you want to read instead…much less fun …a good resource for explaining Maronite practice is Fr Salim’s Captivated By Your Teachings.