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

[kitkatty]

I always loved some of the older traditional hymns of the Latin Church.

 

[smad0142]

I am jealous of the huge school system they have and post-Communion silence.

 

[system]

I have to say, the things that impress me the most about the Latin Rite, in no particular order, would probably be as follows.

The school system, (of which we Catholics invented the college system!)

The mass in general, the music in the US is astounding. I was at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton for ordinations and the choir/musical ensemble was absolutely astounding.

The college seminary formation, of which is almost unheard of for Eastern Catholics in the US.

The sheer strength and size of the Catholics in the West that the Roman Rite did very well at evangelizing.

The further understanding (slow but steady) amount of Awareness that is starting to take a hold in the US of Eastern Catholicism. With the help of sites like this with an EC forum, I always see the most spiritual and inquisitive questions occupying the forum (for the most part )

 

[rciadan]

I am jealous of the huge school system they have and post-Communion silence.

I would love to find a good Byzantine college for my daughter to attend. She is actively seeking campuses with a Byzantine Church nearby…
As for silence after communion; I have never experienced that in the OF (ordinary form). I have in the EF though, but, the Tridentine Mass is dying a sad death in the Latin Church. May God help the SSPX keep it alive till they and the Holy See can re-unite…
I do love the mystics though. St John of the Cross, Theresa of Avila, etc.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

I would love to find a good Byzantine college for my daughter to attend. She is actively seeking campuses with a Byzantine Church nearby…

Byzantine college? If you find one, please let me know!

But seriously, two thoughts:

The University of Scranton, although a Jesuit institution, has strong ties to the Byzantine Catholic community and hosts a Center for Eastern Christian Studies. Ciszek Hall, named after Servant of God Fr. Walter Ciszek S.J. who hailed from the area, is a Byzantine Chapel located on campus.

Ciszek Hall - University of Scranton

Also, for many years, Duquesne University was the default undergraduate school for those discerning the priesthood in the Byzantine Catholic Church. Of course, based in Pittsburgh, there is no shortage of Byzantine Churches in the area.

 

[rciadan]

Byzantine college? If you find one, please let me know!

But seriously, two thoughts:

The University of Scranton, although a Jesuit institution, has strong ties to the Byzantine Catholic community and hosts a Center for Eastern Christian Studies. Ciszek Hall, named after Servant of God Fr. Walter Ciszek S.J. who hailed from the area, is a Byzantine Chapel located on campus.

Ciszek Hall - University of Scranton

Also, for many years, Duquesne University was the default undergraduate school for those discerning the priesthood in the Byzantine Catholic Church. Of course, based in Pittsburgh, there is no shortage of Byzantine Churches in the area.

Thanks! I will forward this information to her.

 

[Diak]

The only program in North America is the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute at St. Paul University, Ottawa (UGCC). Several colleges teach individual classes, such as CUA (I myself teach one at Benedictine College here in Kansas) with an Eastern Catholic parish nearby, but not an actual “Byzantine college”. The Scranton program has greatly declined over the years, and I am not familiar with the current status of Duquesne. But an actual college with a regular Eastern liturgical life doesn’t exist save MASI. There is an on-campus chapel of Sts. Joachim and Anna in addition to parishes in the area. I had the great gift of having Frs. Andriy Chirovsky and Peter Galadza as my teachers in diaconal formation, and there is nothing to compare in North America. sheptytskyinstitute.ca/

 

[rciadan]

Thank you!

 

[5Loaves]

For the Eastern Catholics out there, is there anything you particularly admire about the Latin Rite (liturgy, saints, devotions, theology of the body, etc.)?

There is so much I value in the Latin Church. First and foremost I admire the wonderful priests, deacons and religious of the Latin Church. I very much appreciate the new translation of the Roman Rite. I was at Mass today in the local Dominican priory and a beautiful version of the Eucharistic Prayer was prayed. What came to mind earlier are the Rites of the Church, foremost rites of ordination. I’m involved with catechesis in the RCIA and I especially appreciate the minor rites we celebrate in the RCIA, for example The Presentation of the Creed (3rd Week of Lent). The preparations for these rites and the rites are both important and offer so much to all who take part.

Theology of the Body as taught by our Eastern Catholic priest Fr Tom Loya has been a very important aid to me and something I think has a clearly inherent unity with Eastern sacramental liturgical world view.

This week during some real trials in facing challenging news I have been so grateful that one can find a Latin Catholic Church open at any time of day in which to pray, with the Real Presence present in the tabernacle. This is rarely the case for Orthodox or ECC church buildings here in the US.

My own ECC parish is quite diverse but I don’t think that is typical of either Orthodox parishes, nor ECCs generally. I live in a very diverse area (SF East Bay) and the Latin Church here reflects this diversity. I love the wonderful piety expressed by these faithful.

There are of course very many great saints in the Latin Church. I have a particular devotion to Saint Damien of Molokai. <3

 

[ByzCath89]

Thanks! I will forward this information to her.

Catholic University in Washington has a very good relationship with the Ukrainian Church. The UGCC National shrine is across the street and they just named a Ukrainian priest as Dean of Theology.

 

[Diak]

While there are some classes pertinent to studying Eastern Christian theology, spirituality or liturgy, unfortunately there is not a developed “Byzantine Studies” degree or anything like that at CUA. But as has been mentioned Fr. Mark Morozowich was recently appointed Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies and he is a priest of our UGCC. There are two parishes in the area, one just off campus at the UGCC National Shrine of the Holy Family (which is also adjacent to our St. Josaphat’s Seminary) and another, Holy Trinity, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Also near the CUA campus is Icon and Book Service, a very nice bookstore which is managed by Archimandrite Joseph (Lee), a UGCC hieromonk who also teaches at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.

 

[TheAdvocate]

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.

Eucharistic adoration in the East is something I’ve often wondered about. Great post. But I want to learn more. Can you provide the source for what Basil did?

 

[pollycarp]

I attend both. I prefer the time for quiet prayer in the traditional Latin Mass, but I recently read you should say private prayer at home before the Divine Liturgy because it is a group worship with fellowship kind of thing, and so that works for me also.

 

[TheDoors]

There’s a tiny school in Atlanta called “Holy Spirit College” that I’ve been looking at for my undergraduate studies. They seem to have a good relationship with the East. Has anyone in that region heard of them?

Also, perhaps we should have a thread on colleges.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

There’s a tiny school in Atlanta called “Holy Spirit College” that I’ve been looking at for my undergraduate studies. They seem to have a good relationship with the East. Has anyone in that region heard of them?

Yes, as my brother used to live in the area. The college was actually an extension of their preparatory school, both of which sprang from the Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

One of their faculty members, Fr. Anthony Salzman, is a Greek Orthodox priest.

Also, perhaps we should have a thread on colleges.

Not a bad idea!

 

[GaryTaylor]

(I myself teach one at Benedictine College here in Kansas)

Well regarded college. Probably not as well known as it should be, or that some others are and shouldn’t be.

 

[jwinch2]

"Diak:

(I myself teach one at Benedictine College here in Kansas)

Well regarded college. Probably not as well known as it should be, or that some others are and shouldn’t be.

Would love to see Benedictine College develop an online certificate or degree program in theology with a monastic focus.

hint hint…

 

[Hellenised]

I personally like the ‘approachability’ of the Western Divine Office, especially in the form of the Breviary.

There’s also the art that came about during the Counter-reformation. It makes the ineffable viewable, without loss of awe.

 

[jwinch2]

I was thinking about this thread the other day in the context of what I, as a Latin Catholic, would share with Eastern Catholics if I had the opportunity. One of the things which comes to mind is prayer. Obviously, the Eastern Tradition on prayer is incredibly rich and beautiful. I personally find great inspiration in it. Many times here on CAF, I have heard Catholics talk about how much they enjoy the Eastern approach to prayer and spirituality. I have been one of them on multiple occasions.

However, I think what gets swept under the table sometimes is the deeply beautiful prayer tradition in the Latin Church. With that in mind, there are two books I wanted to recommend to anyone who may have an interest. Both are by a Cistercian (Trappist) Monk and are excellent.

amazon.com/Toward-God-Ancient-Wisdom-Western/dp/0892438908/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346899989&sr=8-1&keywords=michael+casey+western+prayer

amazon.com/Sacred-Reading-Ancient-Lectio-Divina/dp/0892438916/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

Peace of Christ,

Jason

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Thanks for these suggestions. I’ve heard good things about “Toward God”, yet haven’t had a good reminder (until now) to prompt me to order a copy.

I first learned to pray from my Mom and Grandmother, both devout Roman Catholics, and enjoy having a “bi-ritual” prayer life. There is beauty in all the traditions of the Catholic Church, and that’s the point, as Blessed Pope John Paul II and others have reminded us.