How to act properly in Latin rite Churches as an Eastern Catholic

[NicholasL]

Greeting everybody!
I just got a little bit confused recently. I convert from " no religion preference" to Catholicism during high school- a Latin rite school. Almost all the Mass I’ve attended and all I learned are in Latin rite. But the priest who baptized me (I confirmed at the same time-chrismation) is a theology teacher in the school and in Romanian rite Church. Thus I am a Romanian Catholic now. The thing is I still have to go to Latin rite churches since they are the only churches near my home- I know they are the same. The question is when I am in these churches, should I still keep Eastern tradition which differs in the way to sign the cross- three fingers, right to left and receive Holy Communion ( sometimes I recieve it by hand, but my priest tell me only recieve it through mouth) or just do the same as others. Just need some help for a neophyte. Thanks so much and God bless.

 

[Vico]

Greeting everybody!
I just got a little bit confused recently. I convert from " no religion preference" to Catholicism during high school- a Latin rite school. Almost all the Mass I’ve attended and all I learned are in Latin rite. But the priest who baptized me (I confirmed at the same time-chrismation) is a theology teacher in the school and in Romanian rite Church. Thus I am a Romanian Catholic now. The thing is I still have to go to Latin rite churches since they are the only churches near my home- I know they are the same. The question is when I am in these churches, should I still keep Eastern tradition which differs in the way to sign the cross- three fingers, right to left and receive Holy Communion ( sometimes I recieve it by hand, but my priest tell me only recieve it through mouth) or just do the same as others. Just need some help for a neophyte. Thanks so much and God bless.

When priests of different Catholic churches sui iuris concelebrate, they wear their own vestments but follow the rubrics for the type of Mass or Liturgy. I’m not sure if the *faithful *are bound to rubrics, but it shows unity to use the same gestures during the Mass or Liturgy.

Did the Romanian priest baptize you? I am wondering if you were able to receive all three Holy Mysteries of initiation at the same time.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Greeting everybody!
I just got a little bit confused recently. I convert from " no religion preference" to Catholicism during high school- a Latin rite school. Almost all the Mass I’ve attended and all I learned are in Latin rite. But the priest who baptized me (I confirmed at the same time-chrismation) is a theology teacher in the school and in Romanian rite Church. Thus I am a Romanian Catholic now. The thing is I still have to go to Latin rite churches since they are the only churches near my home- I know they are the same. The question is when I am in these churches, should I still keep Eastern tradition which differs in the way to sign the cross- three fingers, right to left and receive Holy Communion ( sometimes I recieve it by hand, but my priest tell me only recieve it through mouth) or just do the same as others. Just need some help for a neophyte. Thanks so much and God bless.

A Romanian Catholic priest working as a teacher in a Latin school may have biritual faculties; so you may have been baptized and confirmed Latin. Best to check with the records. Which do you prefer for your spiritual growth?

 

[NicholasL]

When priests of different Catholic churches sui iuris concelebrate, they wear their own vestments but follow the rubrics for the type of Mass or Liturgy. I’m not sure if the *faithful *are bound to rubrics, but it shows unity to use the same gestures during the Mass or Liturgy.

Did the Romanian priest baptize you? I am wondering if you were able to receive all three Holy Mysteries of initiation at the same time.

Yes, the Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion are at the same time in their tradition.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Yes, the Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion are at the same time in their tradition.

And that is also the custom for adult catechumens in the Latin rite. So that does not necessarily mean you were baptized into an Eastern Church. Someone said the priest may be bi-ritual, so you should check it out for sure.

 

[NicholasL]

A Romanian Catholic priest working as a teacher in a Latin school may have biritual faculties; so you may have been baptized and confirmed Latin. Best to check with the records. Which do you prefer for your spiritual growth?

Thank you very much. I remember the priest said he would baptize me as an Esatern Catholic, and the baptism I believe is in Eastern way. Therefore I believe I am, and I’d like to grow as one.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Thank you very much. I remember the priest said he would baptize me as an Esatern Catholic, and the baptism I believe is in Eastern way. Therefore I believe I am, and I’d like to grow as one.

Wonderful! If you are too far from a physical community, please do use the internet as your resource. Have you ever been on ByzCath.org - it’s a worldwide community of Eastern Christians - both Orthodox, Catholic and Church of the East. Very helpful, friendly bunch.

 

[St_Francis]

Greeting everybody!
I just got a little bit confused recently. I convert from " no religion preference" to Catholicism during high school- a Latin rite school. Almost all the Mass I’ve attended and all I learned are in Latin rite. But the priest who baptized me (I confirmed at the same time-chrismation) is a theology teacher in the school and in Romanian rite Church. Thus I am a Romanian Catholic now. The thing is I still have to go to Latin rite churches since they are the only churches near my home- I know they are the same. The question is when I am in these churches, should I still keep Eastern tradition which differs in the way to sign the cross- three fingers, right to left and receive Holy Communion ( sometimes I recieve it by hand, but my priest tell me only recieve it through mouth) or just do the same as others. Just need some help for a neophyte. Thanks so much and God bless.

I make the Sign of the Cross in the Eastern way (because I would switch if I could!) and for the 15+ years I’ve been doing that, only a couple of people have said anything to me about it, and one was Orthodox.

And I too receive on the tongue, but that is because I was taught to do so long ago in the Latin rite.

So I would not worry about either of these.

Welcome to the Church

 

[Brian_Kerzetski]

Greeting everybody!
The thing is I still have to go to Latin rite churches since they are the only churches near my home- I know they are the same. The question is when I am in these churches, should I still keep Eastern tradition which differs in the way to sign the cross- three fingers, right to left and receive Holy Communion ( sometimes I recieve it by hand, but my priest tell me only recieve it through mouth) or just do the same as others. Just need some help for a neophyte. Thanks so much and God bless.

It depends on what you feel comfortable with. There is nothing wrong with making the sign of the cross or receiving the Eucharist in the eastern tradition. Latins traditionally receive on the tongue as well; however, crossing one’s arms is unfortunately misinterpreted as requesting a blessing in many Latin parishes. Just use common sense. If it seems that your posture or actions are going to cause a distraction or commotion, then it might be a good idea to refrain from doing them, i.e. standing instead of kneeling during the consecration, kissing the cheek instead of a hand shake during the kiss of peace, omitting the filioque (just kidding). You can’t go wrong by doing what everyone else is doing, but that shouldn’t discourage you from performing discreet actions you are more comfortable with or accustomed to.

As an aside, I was raised in the Latin church, so am very familiar with the prayers and responses of the 80s and 90s. I returned to my rite in the late 90s and only attend Mass for special occasions. Being in the east, I have learned the value of the congregation being responsive during the liturgy. Therefore, I am not shy about being vocal during the appropriate parts. That being said, it was a bit of a personal train wreck when I attended Mass a while after the prayers were changed in the Latin rite. I quickly quieted down and laughed at myself when I realized everyone was saying something different than me

 

[Wandile]

When in Rome, do as the Romans do

 

[RyanBlack]

When in Rome, do as the Romans do

Not really necessary. When Latins attend our parish, some of them genuflect, which is not part of our tradition–we bow. Some of them kneel during the anaphora, which is not part of our tradition—we stand. They make the sign of the cross the Latin way, instead of the Byzantine way. Some of them kneel for prayers upon entering the Church, instead of standing to pray. I’ve never heard anyone complain that they were not observing our traditions. On the other hand, when I attend a Roman Mass, I cross myself in the Byzantine way, and I bow instead of genuflecting (although I probably would genuflect if it weren’t for the lower back issues I have). The only time anyone ever said anything was once when someone sitting next to asked me after Mass if I’m Russian Orthodox. Honestly, I doubt most people even notice.

 

[5Loaves]

When in Rome, do as the Romans do
RyanBlack;12189463:

Not really necessary. When Latins attend our parish, some of them genuflect, which is not part of our tradition–we bow. Some of them kneel during the anaphora, which is not part of our tradition—we stand. They make the sign of the cross the Latin way, instead of the Byzantine way. Some of them kneel for prayers upon entering the Church, instead of standing to pray. I’ve never heard anyone complain that they were not observing our traditions. On the other hand, when I attend a Roman Mass, I cross myself in the Byzantine way, and I bow instead of genuflecting (although I probably would genuflect if it weren’t for the lower back issues I have). The only time anyone ever said anything was once when someone sitting next to asked me after Mass if I’m Russian Orthodox. Honestly, I doubt most people even notice.

My experience is similar to yours RyanBlack
And I was in a daily Mass sometime in the past year and after Mass a guy behind me got my attention and asked if I was Eastern Catholic. He had noticed I was crossing right to left. It happened to be a feastday I wasn’t aware of and so there was a little procession across the street to their parish hall where there was a meal. This guy and I sat together and discovered the many friends and places we had in common. Now we commute to a class together, and I actually have run into him quite a few places. It’s odd we didn’t meet before, and lucky he happened to be sitting behind me that day.

One time in RCIA I said something about the thumb between index and middle finger handshape that many Lationos use and I crossed myself with the thumb between index and middle finger. My team laughed, in a good way, at me because I was crossing right to left. It’s so hard wired that even when I thought I was thinking about how to cross myself the Latin way but with that handshape I still did the auto pilot for the sequence.

 

[5Loaves]

A Romanian Catholic priest working as a teacher in a Latin school may have biritual faculties; so you may have been baptized and confirmed Latin. Best to check with the records. Which do you prefer for your spiritual growth?

I agree that OP should check the Baptismal record since there are some issues of canon law that would matter depending on whether in fact he was ascribed to the Romanian Church, under the CCEO, or to the Latin Church, under the CIC.

I think there would have needed to be permission from the Latin ordinary if the Romanian priest was not a parish priest in an EC parish where he then had his faculties from his bishop. One needs faculties wherever one is in order to do these rites, unless it’s in the case of near death. If he wasn’t a parish priest attached to an EC Church then it seems likely the Latin ordinary was the one he was under if he wanted to exercise faculties in that area, under the jurisdiction of the Latin ordinary. Again, I would just ask to have the baptismal record checked to see what was recorded there.

 

[Vico]

Yes, the Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion are at the same time in their tradition.

When an adult (age 14 or older) that is not already validly baptized, receives Christian initiation into a Catholic Church, they have the right to choose the Church sui iuris. So your choice would be noted on the baptismal record.

Eastern Canon Law (CCEO)
Canon 30
Anyone to be baptized who has completed the fourteenth year of age can freely select any Church sui iuris in which he or she then is enrolled by virtue of baptism received in that same Church, with due regard for particular law established by the Apostolic See.

 

[NicholasL]

When an adult (age 14 or older) that is not already validly baptized, receives Christian initiation into a Catholic Church, they have the right to choose the Church sui iuris. So your choice would be noted on the baptismal record.

Eastern Canon Law (CCEO)
Canon 30
Anyone to be baptized who has completed the fourteenth year of age can freely select any Church sui iuris in which he or she then is enrolled by virtue of baptism received in that same Church, with due regard for particular law established by the Apostolic See.

Thank you, just wonder how to check the record since I am far from the church I was baptized now, is there a website I could get access to?

 

[5Loaves]

Thank you, just wonder how to check the record since I am far from the church I was baptized now, is there a website I could get access to?

Just call or write the parish and ask them to mail you a copy.

 

[NicholasL]

Just call or write the parish and ask them to mail you a copy.

Thank you very much and God bless!

 

[Vico]

Thank you, just wonder how to check the record since I am far from the church I was baptized now, is there a website I could get access to?

I obtained my own baptismal record by requesting a copy, by letter, from the parish where I was baptized. (I would mention that you want it with the notation of which church you were enrolled in marked on it, so it is not neglected.)

 

[Miserissima]

At Mass, my dad would make the Latin Sign of the Cross but hold his fingers like an Eastern.

At Divine Liturgy, I’ve been caught genuflecting before I get into the row of chairs to sit.

And at Mass, I have to consciously not tilt my head back when I receive.

At first, I could easily switch between the two rites. I think God is leading me to “get off the fence,” as it were.

 

[Vico]

At Mass, my dad would make the Latin Sign of the Cross but hold his fingers like an Eastern.

At Divine Liturgy, I’ve been caught neglecting before I get into the row of chairs to sit.

And at Mass, I have to consciously not tilt my head back when I receive.

At first, I could easily switch between the two rites. I think Good is leading me to “get off the fence,” as it were.

And I went forward to receive in a Latin church with my arms crossed over my chest, crossed at the wrists, and the priest asked my twice if I wanted to receive. It seems to be a signal for a blessing only.