Growing Interest in Eastern Church - Help Wanted

  • Thread starter Thread starter StevenDunn
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

StevenDunn

Guest
Hello everyone. I am a Latin Catholic who converted from agnosticism/atheism about 2.5 years ago. I attend the Latin Mass and am heavily involved at my parish. I am also discerning the priesthood or religious life.

About six months ago my interest in monasticism led me to the local Eastern Orthodox church, and it was my first introduction to the Eastern Church. Since then I have been greatly impressed by its traditions (broadly speaking - I know there is not one Eastern tradition, but many) and have been attending the Divine Liturgy regularly while also maintaining my Sunday obligation.

I feel uncomfortable attending two churches each Sunday, and to complicate matters the Orthodox church I attend is not fond of Catholicism. There are no Eastern Catholic churches in my state, let alone nearby. :banghead:

What would you all recommend to someone who wants to grow and explore further in the Eastern Church but does not have access to Eastern Catholic parishes? This troubles me very much, because if this is where God wants me to be, then I shouldn’t be a Latin priest, but a priest of an Eastern-rite. Since I have been thinking very seriously about being a priest, this would change everything, from the general timeline to languages to even the possibility of married life (which I had obviously ruled out).

Thank you all very much! I love reading this forum and it has taught me very much! Peace and God bless!
 
Well, I would recommend the Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware. Its obviously about the Orthodox Church, but it covers a lot that would apply to Eastern Catholics as well, both in history and today in relations with the Orthodox Church. Also, check out the writings of the easern Fathers. You might check out byzcath.org, a byzantine Catholic forum.

Remember, that the Eastern Churches do not require celibacy for anyone who is married at the time of their ordination (except for Bishops. In the Orthodox Church only monks can become Bishops, and I assume its the same in the Eastern Catholic Churches).
 
narrowpath said:
In the Orthodox Church only monks can become Bishops, and I assume its the same in the Eastern Catholic Churches).
Click to expand...
No. In the Ukrainian Catholic Church, celibate parish priests are also eligible for becoming bishops, archbishops. God Bless!
 
Too often, however, candidates for the Orthodox episcopacy made a pro-forma profession, though they may never have spent a day in a monastery.
 
narrowpath said:
Well, I would recommend the Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware. Its obviously about the Orthodox Church, but it covers a lot that would apply to Eastern Catholics as well, both in history and today in relations with the Orthodox Church. Also, check out the writings of the easern Fathers. You might check out byzcath.org, a byzantine Catholic forum.
Click to expand...
More correctly, only to the 14 churches sui iuris of the Byzantine Rite. the other 8 churches do not share the same praxis nor theological base.
narrowpath said:
Remember, that the Eastern Churches do not require celibacy for anyone who is married at the time of their ordination (except for Bishops. In the Orthodox Church only monks can become Bishops, and I assume its the same in the Eastern Catholic Churches).
Click to expand...
Sorry, wrong. a few do. At least 2 of the 23 catholic churches require celibacy of their priests; ISTR it being 3. (The Maronite Synod, IIRC, voted not to open the priesthood to married men.) Several more do not allow married men outside their traditional sees to be ordained priests…
 
If you want to remain as a catholic, you must join Syriac Catholic church. Learn its traditions and know the truth.
 
Aramis said:
(The Maronite Synod, IIRC, voted not to open the priesthood to married men.)
Click to expand...
No, that’s not correct. In the Patriarchal Territories, married men have traditionally been, and remain, eligible for priestly ordination. The situation in the diaspora is dependent on the local Ordinary.
 
Woops:o my mistake.

Has the Ukranian Catholic Church always allowed married men to be bishops? I know there is a movement in Orthodoxy to allow this as well.
 
narrowpath said:
Woops:o my mistake.

Has the Ukranian Catholic Church always allowed married men to be bishops? I know there is a movement in Orthodoxy to allow this as well.
Click to expand...
Sorry my messaging notifications aren’t perfect for some reason on this thread. No, Narrowpath, I believe you misunderstood my post. I said that celibate non-married parish priests (not just monks) could become bishops and archbishops in the Ukrainian Catholic Church. This has always been the case as far as I remember.

Our priests of course are allowed to be married before priesthood, but if they do, they are unable to rise in the hierarchy to bishop, etc. I hope this is clear. God Bless.🙂
 
I am going to be creative here and suggest that a Latin Catholic who has become familiar with Orthodox spirituality and praxis (through regular visits) and has made an effort to observe the feast days and fasts on an Orthodox calendar can establish a long-distance relationship with an eastern Catholic parish by registration. EC catechetical materials can be obtained that are (although less common) as good as anything available through an Orthodox source.

I am not suggesting that such a person stop attending or communing at the local Latin parish.

It may involve a few visits with the EC priest at the parish of choice (a long drive?), and ideally include some sort of financial commitment to the parish (tithes can be mailed). If one can make a long trip to go fishing, one can make a long trip to see a priest.

One can build upon this and even arrange for a canonical transfer based upon this after a few years if one is sincere about it, and it shows.

Most EC bishops would appreciate the sacrifice and commitment. They themselves must often drive hundreds of miles alone in bad weather just to see their spread out flock.

Along with bishop Ware’s books (already mentioned) I would suggest “The Face of God” by Archbishop Joseph Raya of blessed memory.
 
StevenDunn said:
Hello everyone. I am a Latin Catholic who converted from agnosticism/atheism about 2.5 years ago. I attend the Latin Mass and am heavily involved at my parish. I am also discerning the priesthood or religious life.

About six months ago my interest in monasticism led me to the local Eastern Orthodox church, and it was my first introduction to the Eastern Church. Since then I have been greatly impressed by its traditions (broadly speaking - I know there is not one Eastern tradition, but many) and have been attending the Divine Liturgy regularly while also maintaining my Sunday obligation.

I feel uncomfortable attending two churches each Sunday, and to complicate matters the Orthodox church I attend is not fond of Catholicism. There are no Eastern Catholic churches in my state, let alone nearby. :banghead:

What would you all recommend to someone who wants to grow and explore further in the Eastern Church but does not have access to Eastern Catholic parishes? This troubles me very much, because if this is where God wants me to be, then I shouldn’t be a Latin priest, but a priest of an Eastern-rite. Since I have been thinking very seriously about being a priest, this would change everything, from the general timeline to languages to even the possibility of married life (which I had obviously ruled out).

Thank you all very much! I love reading this forum and it has taught me very much! Peace and God bless!
Click to expand...
As a person who converted from Orthodoxy to Catholicism, I would advise that you go where you feel God wants you. If I felt more comfortable and integrated in an Orthodox Church I would convert to Orthodoxy. May God lead you.
 
Something else.

There’s no such thing as “the Eastern Church” as you put it.

There are Eastern CHURCHES.
 
A word of caution:

In my youth I became captivated by the beauty and spirituailty of the East. I loved the liturgy, the iconography, and all the things that made it unique. I ‘jumped ship’ to the Ruthenian church in a great deal of haste. I never really took the time to deeply explore the traditions and spirituality of the Western church. To make a very long story short, I ended up thinking that the Ruthenian church wasn’t ‘vostochny’ enough - Eastern enough - and left the Church for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, albeit in a Greek usage parish. I thought I had finally ‘found it’, but like all things, eventual disappointment set in and I found myself spiritually wandering all over the map. It took 15 years to bring me around back home - to the Latin Rite - where I transferrred to and remain a faithful member today.

My only caution to you is to beware that you don’t lose your faith because of the trappings - they’re there only to enhance our faith experience, not be a substitute for it. It would be a tragedy to lose you to the Orthodox church, which, despite its having valid Sacraments and Apostolic Succession, doesn’t stay in union with Peter. Maybe, not to be too bold, you ought to ask yourself that question - is Peter the Rock and how important is it to be in union with him?

Another possibility is, frankly, to move to be in the vacinity of a Byzantine Catholic church.

Just my $.02
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top