Eastern Catholics - what do you admire about the Latin Rite?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Polycarp86
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Polycarp86

Guest
I’m a Latin Rite Catholic exploring the east more and more. I can’t help but notice a trend for Latin Rite Catholics to admire the Eastern Rites for their liturgy, spirituality, etc. but I haven’t found much of this coming from Eastern Catholics towards the Latin Rite. For the Eastern Catholics out there, is there anything you particularly admire about the Latin Rite (liturgy, saints, devotions, theology of the body, etc.)?
 
While I prefer the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom to the Mass, I don’t at all dislike the Mass. Same goes for saints and private devotions. When it comes to the tradition of sacred art and religious statues in the Latin Rite, I am adamantly opposed to their use in Eastern Catholic Churches. However, I do admire those western traditions, and I love traditional Roman Catholic architecture, sacred art, and religious statues, and I love to visit parishes where these things are on display. Also, while I do prefer eastern approaches to theology, I have great admiration for the Roman Catholic theological tradition.
 
RyanBlack said:
While I prefer the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom to the Mass, I don’t at all dislike the Mass. Same goes for saints and private devotions. When it comes to the tradition of sacred art and religious statues in the Latin Rite, I am adamantly opposed to their use in Eastern Catholic Churches. However, I do admire those western traditions, and I love traditional Roman Catholic architecture, sacred art, and religious statues, and I love to visit parishes where these things are on display. Also, while I do prefer eastern approaches to theology, I have great admiration for the Roman Catholic theological tradition.
Click to expand...
That nicely sums up my general sentiments, as well. 🙂 As Ryan has noted, the “sensory” experiences of the Latin Church associated with classic architecture, sacred art and sacred music are surely appealing to Eastern Catholics.

That said, as my mom was raised (and her side of the family faithfully remains) Roman Catholic, me and my siblings were well exposed to both traditions in our upbringing and formation. I do feel strongly that my grounding in the teachings of the Church has been greatly enhanced by the experience in both traditions.

Specifically though, as St. Joseph is my patron saint, I do appreciate the particular devotion to St. Joseph that is more prominent in the Latin Church and tradition.
 
One thing I admire about the Latin Church is the HUGE diversity in spiritual/mystical traditions. Most people don’t realize just how spiritually diverse the West is, but it is something that has always appealed to me. Among the writings of the great Western mystics I’ve encountered everything from the very legalistic to the very mystical and everything in between. Although my preference is, obviously, for Eastern/Byzantine spirituality (within which there is also a certain amount of diversity), I still have a deep love for Western spirituality, particularly since that is the tradition within which I originally grew up.
 
I would say Eucharistic Adoration except that St. Basil the Great instituted that when he set aside a part of the Eucharist in a golden dove so that he and his monks could adore the Eucharist so technically that would be an eastern innovation 🙂

However, that really didn’t catch on in the East and we do not have services in general of Eucharistic adoration like they do in the West and I hope we can revive that one day.
 
There is absolutely no evidence from any Pope or Patriarch that we should NOT pray the holy Rosary or show devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of mary as well as other private devotions and have them in our Eastern Catholic parishes.

Vatican II instructed that Eastern Catholics keep to their traditions and encourages Latin Catholics to stick to theirs. But this does not mean devotional traditions. It’s talking about Liturgical traditions. As Catholics who are universal and with much diversity there is no problem with Devotion to the Sacred Heart ( something which Jesus came and told us to do himself, I dont remember him saying ‘‘oh and by the way, this doesnt apply to eastern Catholics and I want them to refrain from putting icons of my Scared Heart in their churches’’ ) for eastern Catholics.

Likewise there is no problem for the latin west to practice the Jesus prayer and show devotions to Eastern private devotions.

I am not even going to come back to this thread. main reason being that I DESPISE any talk of people refusing to Honor the Hearts of Jesus and Mary or ignoring her Holy Rosary. Afterall every single person on earth at the end of the world will kneel down and pray her Rosary.

Go ahead and stand in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and say ‘‘Jesus I do not want your Sacred Heart in my Parish’’ and see how you feel after saying it.
 
Stephentlig said:
There is absolutely no evidence from any Pope or Patriarch that we should NOT pray the holy Rosary or show devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of mary as well as other private devotions and have them in our Eastern Catholic parishes.

Vatican II instructed that Eastern Catholics keep to their traditions and encourages Latin Catholics to stick to theirs. But this does not mean devotional traditions. It’s talking about Liturgical traditions. As Catholics who are universal and with much diversity there is no problem with Devotion to the Sacred Heart ( something which Jesus came and told us to do himself, I dont remember him saying ‘‘oh and by the way, this doesnt apply to eastern Catholics and I want them to refrain from putting icons of my Scared Heart in their churches’’ ) for eastern Catholics.

Likewise there is no problem for the latin west to practice the Jesus prayer and show devotions to Eastern private devotions.

I am not even going to come back to this thread. main reason being that I DESPISE any talk of people refusing to Honor the Hearts of Jesus and Mary or ignoring her Holy Rosary. Afterall every single person on earth at the end of the world will kneel down and pray her Rosary.

Go ahead and stand in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and say ‘‘Jesus I do not want your Sacred Heart in my Parish’’ and see how you feel after saying it.
Click to expand...
This post is totally unnecessary and serves no purpose other than to be argumentative, but I’ll take the bait anyway.

I absolutely DESPISE any talk that Eastern Catholics who do not pray the Rosary are wrong for not doing so, or that we do not honor the Theotokos. Just come to one of our Divine Liturgies, and it will be absolutely obvious that we have great honor for the Theotokos. Furthermore, there is no reason why we are obligated, or even need to observe the western devotions to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We have our own liturgical and private devotions. Those who chose to pray the Rosary, or have devotions to the Sacred Heart or to the Immaculate Heart of Mary are certainly free to do so; however, we are not obligated to do so. Lastly, who has revealed that at the end of time everyone will kneel down and pray the Rosary? I know of no such official teaching.
 
Stephentlig said:
There is absolutely no evidence from any Pope or Patriarch that we should NOT pray the holy Rosary or show devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of mary as well as other private devotions and have them in our Eastern Catholic parishes.

Vatican II instructed that Eastern Catholics keep to their traditions and encourages Latin Catholics to stick to theirs. But this does not mean devotional traditions. It’s talking about Liturgical traditions. As Catholics who are universal and with much diversity there is no problem with Devotion to the Sacred Heart ( something which Jesus came and told us to do himself, I dont remember him saying ‘‘oh and by the way, this doesnt apply to eastern Catholics and I want them to refrain from putting icons of my Scared Heart in their churches’’ ) for eastern Catholics.

Likewise there is no problem for the latin west to practice the Jesus prayer and show devotions to Eastern private devotions.

I am not even going to come back to this thread. main reason being that I DESPISE any talk of people refusing to Honor the Hearts of Jesus and Mary or ignoring her Holy Rosary. Afterall every single person on earth at the end of the world will kneel down and pray her Rosary.

Go ahead and stand in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and say ‘‘Jesus I do not want your Sacred Heart in my Parish’’ and see how you feel after saying it.
Click to expand...
What in the world are you talking about? The only person to mention private devotions on this thread has been complimentary of them. To suggest that an Eastern Catholic who follows their own tradition in terms of veneration of our Blessed Mother is wrong or ignoring her; or, to suggest that an Eastern Catholic who does not practice the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is somehow wrong is completely false and not at all in keeping with Church teaching.

Reactions such as yours serve no purpose other than to drive a wedge between those who should be brothers and sisters.

Your post has been reported to the moderation staff.
 
For me it’s the vibrant active religious life.

In the East religious are monastics. The people go to the monasteries. In the West the religious goes out to the people, though they do have their monastics as well.

I think this is why I joined a Latin Order.
 
Stephentlig said:
( something which Jesus came and told us to do himself, I dont remember him saying ‘‘oh and by the way, this doesnt apply to eastern Catholics and I want them to refrain from putting icons of my Scared Heart in their churches’’ ) for eastern Catholics.
Click to expand...
Yeah right :whacky:
 
Stephentlig said:
There is absolutely no evidence from any Pope or Patriarch that we should NOT pray the holy Rosary or show devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of mary as well as other private devotions and have them in our Eastern Catholic parishes.

Vatican II instructed that Eastern Catholics keep to their traditions and encourages Latin Catholics to stick to theirs. But this does not mean devotional traditions. It’s talking about Liturgical traditions. As Catholics who are universal and with much diversity there is no problem with Devotion to the Sacred Heart ( something which Jesus came and told us to do himself, I dont remember him saying ‘‘oh and by the way, this doesnt apply to eastern Catholics and I want them to refrain from putting icons of my Scared Heart in their churches’’ ) for eastern Catholics.

Likewise there is no problem for the latin west to practice the Jesus prayer and show devotions to Eastern private devotions.

I am not even going to come back to this thread. main reason being that I DESPISE any talk of people refusing to Honor the Hearts of Jesus and Mary or ignoring her Holy Rosary. Afterall every single person on earth at the end of the world will kneel down and pray her Rosary.

Go ahead and stand in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and say ‘‘Jesus I do not want your Sacred Heart in my Parish’’ and see how you feel after saying it.
Click to expand...
I thought this was supposed to be a thread about what Easterners (particularly Eastern Catholics) admire about the West, not what Westerners despise about the East. 🤷
 
ByzCath said:
For me it’s the vibrant active religious life.

In the East religious are monastics. The people go to the monasteries. In the West the religious goes out to the people, though they do have their monastics as well.

I think this is why I joined a Latin Order.
Click to expand...
👍
 
Good old-fashioned Gregorian chant is godlike. And while I don’t particularly like or connect with a lot of Latin devotions such as the Rosary or Stations of the Cross, they are useful for those who want to practice them or develop their own variations.
 
Stephentlig said:
There is absolutely no evidence from any Pope or Patriarch that we should NOT pray the holy Rosary or show devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of mary as well as other private devotions and have them in our Eastern Catholic parishes.
Click to expand...
Nor do any of them say that such devotions are necessary or required of any Catholic.
Vatican II instructed that Eastern Catholics keep to their traditions and encourages Latin Catholics to stick to theirs. But this does not mean devotional traditions. It’s talking about Liturgical traditions. As Catholics who are universal and with much diversity there is no problem with Devotion to the Sacred Heart ( something which Jesus came and told us to do himself, I dont remember him saying ‘‘oh and by the way, this doesnt apply to eastern Catholics and I want them to refrain from putting icons of my Scared Heart in their churches’’ ) for eastern Catholics.
Click to expand...
I am coming around to the school of thought that no devotional practices should be in the parish at all. When they are introduce they become para-liturgical.

The problem is when these Latin devotions take the place of true Eastern practices and Liturgies. Matins (Orthos) is the Liturgical prayer that should take place before the Divine Liturgy not the private devotion of the rosary.

As for an Icon of the Sacred Heart, that violates the tradition of iconography which states that internal organs are not depicted
 
I’ve seen a booklet published by the UGCC in 2009 which shows an iconic Sacred Heart.
 
I like the opportunity to kneel in quiet prayer and reflection after receiving Communion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top