How to distinguish churches generally?

[tifischer]

What terms are used to distinguish churches that recognize Saints, sacraments, religious orders, Mass or a “Mass” like celebration vs those that do not?

In looking in to this I have come across a number of terms…Offertory, celebratory, high church, low church, traditional but not sure what the best term was.

 

[Ontheway]

What terms are used to distinguish churches that recognize Saints, sacraments, religious orders, Mass or a “Mass” like celebration vs those that do not?

In looking in to this I have come across a number of terms…Offertory, celebratory, high church, low church, traditional but not sure what the best term was.

The web site of your diocese or archdiocese will list all the churches that belong to it. This will tell you if the church is Roman Catholic.
Other than that, look for a church that offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

[Jestersage]

Yeah, Just go to one that is posted on your diocese’s webpage. Any others, even if claiming “Catholic”, is illicit at least (eg: SSPX)

 

[PaulfromIowa]

What terms are used to distinguish churches that recognize Saints, sacraments, religious orders, Mass or a “Mass” like celebration vs those that do not?

In looking in to this I have come across a number of terms…Offertory, celebratory, high church, low church, traditional but not sure what the best term was.

The Catholic Church distinguishes between Churches with valid bishops in apostolic succession and all seven valid sacraments; and those Christian ecclesial groups which do not have valid bishops. The latter groups, mostly Protestants, have valid baptisms and marriages, but not the other five sacraments. Some Protestant groups, particularly some Lutherans and Anglicans, retain many Catholic traditions and forms of worship. Many modern Protestants reject the concept of clergy in favor of “the priesthood of all believers.” High Church and Low Church are terms to distinguish between different liturgical styles within Anglicanism.

 

[Jestersage]

Throw a curveball in here: How should we classify the Old Catholics and the SSPX?

 

[PaulfromIowa]

The SSPX have valid bishops and some priestly faculties in the Catholic Church. The Old Catholics and Polish National Catholic Churches generally have valid bishops.

 

[poche]

Throw a curveball in here: How should we classify the Old Catholics and the SSPX?

Eventually they will be categorized as churches which have valid mass and the other sacraments. Let us pray for a reconciliation between these groups and the Catholic Church.

 

[otjm]

The Catholic Church distinguishes between Churches with valid bishops in apostolic succession and all seven valid sacraments; and those Christian ecclesial groups which do not have valid bishops. The latter groups, mostly Protestants, have valid baptisms and marriages, but not the other five sacraments. Some Protestant groups, particularly some Lutherans and Anglicans, retain many Catholic traditions and forms of worship. Many modern Protestants reject the concept of clergy in favor of “the priesthood of all believers.” High Church and Low Church are terms to distinguish between different liturgical styles within Anglicanism.

I have seen the same term (High Church) applied to some of the Lutherans.

My partner and I had a secretary from Astoria; when she was getting married we went to the service. To my great surprise, while it was Lutheran, it sure followed very closely the Mass.

 

[Brendan_64]

Throw a curveball in here: How should we classify the Old Catholics and the SSPX?

The SSPX is part of the Catholic Church, but is in a canonically irregular situation at the moment, and their Masses are valid but illicit (although Pope Francis has granted them faculties to hear Confession).

The Old Catholic Church is not part of the Catholic Church. Although there are some lines a Apotolic Succession there and some of their clergy are valid (but illicit) I believe they now accept women priests and I think they are in communion with the Anglican Church. They are not part of the Catholic Church.

 

[Fuerza]

Yeah, Just go to one that is posted on your diocese’s webpage. Any others, even if claiming “Catholic”, is illicit at least (eg: SSPX)

Not necessarily true. Within my diocese are located both a mission chapel and a national shrine that are completely independent of the diocese and not named on the diocesan parish listing. Both are, however, fully part of the Catholic Church. The mission chapel, in particular, offers confessions for six hours per day six days per week and can be seen referenced as a place to receive the sacrament on several parish websites.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Shrines or chapels which offer Catholic sacraments to the public are under the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishop and should be noted on the diocesan website. Why don’t you suggest that to them?