Inquisitor very confused

[IneedGod]

I attended a wonderful Palm Sunday Mass today. I loved it. I “think” it was Eastern rite.
As an inquisitor I am confused by the differnt “rites - types”.
Are they all under the Pope and in communion?
How do I know which one to attend or does it matter?
Do any still believe in a woman covering her head or is this a no no?
I dont know where to post this bit of good news but I am proceeding in my walk with God.
I have attended Mass several times now and got a Rosary yesterday.
I am trying to learn to pray the Rosery with the help of a pamplet-guide I got at church.
Thank you for answers and encouragement!

 

[grandfather]

I attended a wonderful Palm Sunday Mass today. I loved it. I “think” it was Eastern rite.
As an inquisitor I am confused by the differnt “rites - types”.
Are they all under the Pope and in communion?
How do I know which one to attend or does it matter?
Do any still believe in a woman covering her head or is this a no no?
I dont know where to post this bit of good news but I am proceeding in my walk with God.
I have attended Mass several times now and got a Rosary yesterday.
I am trying to learn to pray the Rosery with the help of a pamplet-guide I got at church.
Thank you for answers and encouragement!

God bless you. The pope is the visible head of the Catholic Church. The various rites in the Church recognize him as their leader, as the successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome.

If you want to be Catholic or attend Catholic Masses and Divine Liturgies you may attend any Church where you are comfortable. If you become Catholic you will have to choose a rite to join, but you may still attend any Catholic church at any time.

The different rites within the Church believe the same spiritual truths, but the way they express the faith is different, similar in ways as well as different.

It is understandable that you are confused seeing something new and probably overwhelming. Anyone would be confused in that situation. Take your time. Understanding grows little by little as you discover more and more. The faith is very deep. There is always something new and beautiful to learn and discover.

God loves you. Above all that is the most important thing to know.

 

[Nine_Two]

Orthodox Churches which also celebrate in the Eastern Rite, are not under the Pope - however if they were celebrating Palm Sunday today, it wasn’t an Orthodox Church (unless you’re in Finland).

 

[Alexander_Roman]

God bless you. The pope is the visible head of the Catholic Church. The various rites in the Church recognize him as their leader, as the successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome.

If you want to be Catholic or attend Catholic Masses and Divine Liturgies you may attend any Church where you are comfortable. If you become Catholic you will have to choose a rite to join, but you may still attend any Catholic church at any time.

The different rites within the Church believe the same spiritual truths, but the way they express the faith is different, similar in ways as well as different.

It is understandable that you are confused seeing something new and probably overwhelming. Anyone would be confused in that situation. Take your time. Understanding grows little by little as you discover more and more. The faith is very deep. There is always something new and beautiful to learn and discover.

God loves you. Above all that is the most important thing to know.

Actually, a “rite” is simply a way of celebrating liturgy etc. As such, a 'rite" can’t do anything - but an Eastern Catholic Particular Church can. There are a couple of dozen EC Particular Churches in communion with Rome, some of which share the same rite.

Alex

 

[Vico]

See the attachments:

 

[IneedGod]

Thank you so much for your answers

I am beginning to undersand…

This site is awsome!!

 

[Cinoeye]

See the attachments:

The middle image presenting Ortohodx Chruches is Wrong. The Serbian Orthodox Church achieved autocephalous status in 1219 - By the Patriarch of Constantinople-under the leadership of St. Sava, becoming independent Archeparchy of Žiča.

 

[Nine_Two]

The middle image presenting Ortohodx Chruches is Wrong. The Serbian Orthodox Church achieved autocephalous status in 1219 - By the Patriarch of Constantinople-under the leadership of St. Sava, becoming independent Archeparchy of Žiča.

Like Bulgaria, it should have two numbers.

 

[Vico]

The middle image presenting Ortohodx Chruches is Wrong. The Serbian Orthodox Church achieved autocephalous status in 1219 - By the Patriarch of Constantinople-under the leadership of St. Sava, becoming independent Archeparchy of Žiča.

I see, the diagram is only showing the latest autonomy. Autonomy was lost when the Patriarchate was abolished in 1766. Here is the history I have, but I have not double checked it yet.

1219 Autocephaly granted by Constantinople.
1346 Patriarchate established.
1463 Patriarchate abolished at repose of Patriarch Arsenios II.
1557 Patriarchate restored.
1766 Patriarchate abolished.

1831 Autonomy granted by Constantinople.
1832 Autocephaly declared
1879 Autocephaly recognized by Constantinople.
1920 Patriarchate restored.

(This shows granted autocephaly in 1219 and again in 1879. An Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate requires autocephaly.)

 

[Vico]

I updated the chart to show the two dates of autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

 

[grandfather]

I see, the diagram is only showing the latest autonomy. Autonomy was lost when the Patriarchate was abolished in 1766. Here is the history I have, but I have not double checked it yet.

1219 Autocephaly granted by Constantinople.
1346 Patriarchate established.
1463 Patriarchate abolished at repose of Patriarch Arsenios II.
1557 Patriarchate restored.
1766 Patriarchate abolished.

1831 Autonomy granted by Constantinople.
1832 Autocephaly declared
1879 Autocephaly recognized by Constantinople.
1920 Patriarchate restored.

(This shows granted autocephaly in 1219 and again in 1879. An Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate requires autocephaly.)

Do you think any of this helps resolve the confusion or answer the question of the op? I would think it adds to it.

 

[svid2]

The OP may have meant ‘enquirer’, rather than ‘inquisitor’, which term has a specific and, um, sensitive meaning…

 

[JRRTFAN]

Thank you so much for your answers

I am beginning to undersand…

This site is awsome!!

If you want the full panoroama of the beauty of Catholic liturgy you can get it over the next few days. Tonight, probably at 7:00 pm, Lent will end with the clebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, this is the beginning of the Sacred Triduum (3 days).

Mass will not end tonight, the altar will be stripped at the end and the Blessed Sacrament will be removed from the Church.

Tomorrow we will celebrate the Lord’s Passion, probably at 3:00 in your locale.

Saturday night will be the Easter Vigil. It with start with a large fire outside and have a candle procession into the darkened church. This is the Mass where new Catholics are baptised, confirmed and recieve first holy communion.

It’s a magnificent 3 days. Try to attend some or all, you won’t regret it.

 

[anonymous_in_fl]

You can also contact your local Diocesan Office and ask which churches are “official” in your Diocese.

Just a bit off topic: I never had to “check and confirm” if a Catholic church was legitmate until I moved to a particular urban area in South Florida. There was a “catholic” church on every street corner and storefront! It was then that I learned about folks setting up their own “church” and naming it whatever they want - - - including naming it after a saint and making themselves out to be “priests” when they were not. If I had any doubts I would call the Diocesan Office and ask; these days they are even listed on-line in an official directory.

Your Diocesan Office can be a big help to you in determing those churches which are indeed in communion with Rome and under the auspices of the Pope.

 

[Vico]

Do you think any of this helps resolve the confusion or answer the question of the op? I would think it adds to it.

Maybe not. That particular post only shows Orthodox church history and the connection with the Patriarch of Constantinople.

 

[grandfather]

Maybe not. That particular post only shows Orthodox church history and the connection with the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Yes and I am sure very interesting to many people and especially the indiduals discussing it in this thread, but probably not that helpful or interesting to a neophyte asking basic questions about faith here. I could be wrong though.

 

[IneedGod]

Yes and I am sure very interesting to many people and especially the indiduals discussing it in this thread, but probably not that helpful or interesting to a neophyte asking basic questions about faith here. I could be wrong though.

No some of it is beyond me I willl admit. I do need simple answers but I will follow up with more in depth study as my understanding grows. Thanks!