"Individual" Full Communion for a Greek Orthodox & Roman Catholic?

[GaryTaylor]

What are your thoughts on the OP?

That the debate about “true faith” continues. But we shouldn’t’ be in a spiritual sense distracted as a result imho. The doctrinal aspect which assumes to dictate truth of either, simply shouldn’t distract from spiritual growth in consistency when its a priority. I do think these differences are over inflated and can be distracting though.

That said with spiritual advisors, there are many who are excellent, and others who perhaps its safe to say some just can’t connect with.

For me for example I could easily attend a Eastern Catholic Church. I could also attend a Catholic Church a good deal of my friends attend. I attend the parish I do exactly because of the spiritual direction. Which have nothing to do with doctrine but salvation. And if the doctrinal aspect distracts than it is this and not the spiritual which needs a break imho.

I don’t envy your situation.

 

[MonsterOfThomas]

What are your thoughts on the OP?

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What I said above about the separate communions–and orthodo[xies]–is essential to the question asked by the OP. As importantly, now it is subsequent posters who are not answering the OP. The OP inquires about the Greek Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. It is factually incorrect to claim that Greek communion within the orthodoxies represents a sacramental, doctrinal and ecumenical unity that is the “second largest communion]”–the Greek Orthodox is a communion within the falsely a presumed monolith, within which there is contravening dogmatic diversity and incompatibility, and the Russian communion the majority. There is not the OP’s requisite sacramental, doctrinal and ecumenical unity when digging into the details of those two communion --the Catholic Church–note, this is a communion], is different on the basis of the OP’s problem–how to find full, sacramental unity that is dogmatically and ecumenically consistent as to being the One True Church.
[/quote]

 

[wynd]

I’m having trouble finding anything that indicates that the Catholic Church teaches that it is mortally sinful for a Catholic to take communion at an Orthodox Church, or vice versa. The Code of Canon Law says outright that if an Orthodox Christian asks for communion and “is properly disposed” that it may be granted by the Ordinary. catholic.com/quickquestions/what-is-the-rule-is-for-non-catholics-to-receive-the-eucharist

It is not a sin in the Catholic view to receive communion in an Orthodox church, but it IS a mortal sin in the Catholic view to attend an Orthodox service when a Catholic service is available. So unless he plans on attending both Mass and Divine Liturgy every weekend, I don’t see how this could work.

 

[Tomdstone]

The someone of the OP has related that the spiritual father (Orthodox) insists on doing nothing Catholic period and that there isn’t an equivalent in the Catholic Church to a spiritual father in the Roman Catholic; however, the someone of the O.P. also says Catholic Church teachings themselves include some kind of condemnation (eternal condemnation?) for a person who was at one time a Catholic, but left the Catholic Church.

I’m not sure about the Catholic rules, but the someone of the O.P. has been studying all this for decades.

If he does not find a RC spiritual father and an EO spiritual father that both agree that ir is OK for him, then he has to choose one or the other for Communion, but he can attend religious services, Mass, Divine Liturgy, etc., in both, but not communion in both. The only way he should (IMHO) receive in both, is if he has permission from both spiritual fathers (or confessors) RC and EO.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

I know of someone who has spent a couple of decades praying and studying the Greek Orthodox Church & Roman Catholic Church both current authors and ancient fathers trying to decide which of them is the “True” Church and during that time has converted to both at different times and has admittedly failed to progress spiritually because of the overwhelming confusion and going back & forth. The priests in each tradition, naturally, have advised theirs is the " True" Church and is what should be attended. This person even tried multiple different Eastern Catholic Churches through out the years.

With the recent visit of the Pope to the Ecumenical Patriarch and with Roman Canons allowing inter-communion, this person had revealed to me that they’re is seriously considering forgetting about which is “True” participating fully in both Faiths.

The question is, for someone stuck in this situation for decades, can they, or should they, simply be in full communion with both by regularly going to Confession, regularly attending both Mass & Divine Liturgy, maintaining stricter of the Fasts, attending holy days in both, keeping the Prayer Hours, daily praying both the Rosary & Jesus Prayer - essentially just fully practice both Faiths daily (so progress in each could be made) rather than continuing to do a 180 toggling back & forth every few months? Why, or why not?

To be in communion is to accept (and at a minimum to assent and not disagree with) all the teachings of each communion.

Except for extra-ordinary circumstances, I cannot think of a legitimate reason to regularly be in communion with 2 (Or more for that matter) conflicting theologies.

That would only make the poor soul drink and eat judgement to itself. From both communions, nonetheless.

As to prayer, that is a very personal relationship with our Lord. And because of His grace, we are able to communicate with Him. Personally, I enjoy the LoH, the Rosary, the Jesus Prayer, among others. And most of all, Scriptures.

 

[Nektarios_Lady]

So unless he plans on attending both Mass and Divine Liturgy every weekend, I don’t see how this could work.

Yes, that is precisely what the person is considering.

 

[wynd]

Yes, that is precisely what the person is considering.

Everyone’s different, but I did that for a while and it was rough. Double the time commitment and trying to be formed by two dissimilar spiritualities.