Maronite "Rite of Peace"

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Going through the recent revisions of the Maronite liturgical texts, I came across the Easter “Rite of Peace” celebrated after the homily on Easter Sunday. I noticed that in the most recent revision of the Qurbono this rite is nowhere to be found (nor is the “Rite of Forgiveness” on Holy Saturday [or any rites for Holy Friday for that matter]). Does anyone know if this/these rites have been abandoned in the most recent revisions, or are they retained, but contained in separate liturgical books? I certainly hope that they haven’t been abandoned as they are quite beautiful celebrations of the Paschal Mystery.

 

[Jimdandy]

strafkadenver.org/tp50/page.asp?ID=298695

 

[MorEphrem]

Rite of Peace on Easter? To my knowledge, the Tekso dShlomo is supposed to be done on Holy Saturday. And the Tekso dShoobqono was never properly done in the US as far as I know since it’s supposed to include a general absolution and the… “versions” I’ve encountered have individual confessions (apparently not even the Lord has authority to forgive our sins any way He’d like).

Anyway, the Kitab al Ritbi (the Book of Rites) has always been [historically] separate from the liturgical books - our tradition doesn’t have one consolidated book, hence why we also have the Ktobo damshamshone (The Book of Deacons), the Manarah (a book of liturgical rubrics) and the Fenqitho (propers for feasts). The Liturgical Commission has not finished “revising” the Kitab al Ritbi (or perhaps recently just finished) - which I have been told by certain bishops of the synod is the most Latinized liturgical book we’ve produced yet.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Rite of Peace on Easter? To my knowledge, the Tekso dShlomo is supposed to be done on Holy Saturday. And the Tekso dShoobqono was never properly done in the US as far as I know since it’s supposed to include a general absolution and the… “versions” I’ve encountered have individual confessions (apparently not even the Lord has authority to forgive our sins any way He’d like).

Anyway, the Kitab al Ritbi (the Book of Rites) has always been [historically] separate from the liturgical books - our tradition doesn’t have one consolidated book, hence why we also have the Ktobo damshamshone (The Book of Deacons), the Manarah (a book of liturgical rubrics) and the Fenqitho (propers for feasts). The Liturgical Commission has not finished “revising” the Kitab al Ritbi (or perhaps recently just finished) - which I have been told by certain bishops of the synod is the most Latinized liturgical book we’ve produced yet.

Hi MorEphrem!

I certainly understand multiple books for liturgical use, coming as I do from the Melkite/Byzantine tradition (although growing up Roman Catholic).

Perhaps I was somewhat confused since I’ve not yet participated in all the Holy Week and Paschal celebrations of the Maronite tradition. I thank you for the clarifications.

I noticed, however, that in the new Qurbono book there is no reference to the other books or other liturgical services celebrated during Holy Week and Easter. I presume this does not mean that these services are not celebrated. What books would I look to in order to find the various rites for this time of year? Do you know if/where they are available in English?

It saddens me greatly to hear that the Maronite Synod seems hell-bent on the continued Latinization of the Maronite tradition. If it is, in fact, a further Latinization, how is it that they see these revisions as a restoration of the Maronite tradition and not a further deformation of it?

 

[malphono]

I noticed, however, that in the new Qurbono book there is no reference to the other books or other liturgical services celebrated during Holy Week and Easter. I presume this does not mean that these services are not celebrated. What books would I look to in order to find the various rites for this time of year? Do you know if/where they are available in English?

There are “pew books” for the occasional services. Best, I think, to ask at the local parish if they might be able to spare a copy.

It saddens me greatly to hear that the Maronite Synod seems hell-bent on the continued Latinization of the Maronite tradition.

It no longer saddens me as much as it disgusts me. The underlying mentality is revisionism at it’s very worst and, for a variety of reasons, that’s as much as I’ll say on the matter.

If it is, in fact, a further Latinization, how is it that they see these revisions as a restoration of the Maronite tradition and not a further deformation of it?

Excellent question. But I wouldn’t exactly call it “continued latinization” since it actually goes well beyond that. To reiterate my oft used expresssion, it’s Novus Ordo-inspired neo-latinization which is far more insidious than anything that came before.

 

[MorEphrem]

Hello. Nice to see you about on the forum again.

I noticed, however, that in the new Qurbono book there is no reference to the other books or other liturgical services celebrated during Holy Week and Easter. I presume this does not mean that these services are not celebrated. What books would I look to in order to find the various rites for this time of year? Do you know if/where they are available in English?

Well the intent of the new liturgical prerogative is to basically eliminate anything that isn’t a sacrament, the ritual on Holy Thursday or the Entombment on Good Friday. However, there are still some places in the US that use the translations of Bishop Doueihei to perform the ill-placed Rite of the Lamp on Wednesday of Holy Week, the Tekso dShoobqono (err - kind of) and Tekso dShlomo. I think even the Rite of Kneeling on Pentecost has been discontinued for the most part. As for the availability of English texts, if you ask your local Maronite pastor they should be able to help. I can’t recall if Fr. Amar did a translation of some rites or not. They exist in English, I know that for a fact.

It saddens me greatly to hear that the Maronite Synod seems hell-bent on the continued Latinization of the Maronite tradition. If it is, in fact, a further Latinization, how is it that they see these revisions as a restoration of the Maronite tradition and not a further deformation of it?

The missal foreword and the recent “encyclical letter” of the patriarch are actually very illuminating. The letter basically said that there is historical and liturgical propriety, such as ad orientem, but Sacrosanctum Concilium commands us to use the novus ordo as a template for the ideal liturgy - not only are these claims simply untrue, but they’re anachronistic in nature and contradict the very substance of Sacrosanctum Concilium (especially the part where it says its meant specifically for the Roman rite). Ah well… No arguing with them it seems when the Patriarchal liturgist tells you it’s a terrible thing that the youth apparently want a reversion to the older rituals in Syriac.

 

[JasonLovesJesus]

Hello. Nice to see you about on the forum again.

Well the intent of the new liturgical prerogative is to basically eliminate anything that isn’t a sacrament, the ritual on Holy Thursday or the Entombment on Good Friday. However, there are still some places in the US that use the translations of Bishop Doueihei to perform the ill-placed Rite of the Lamp on Wednesday of Holy Week, the Tekso dShoobqono (err - kind of) and Tekso dShlomo. I think even the Rite of Kneeling on Pentecost has been discontinued for the most part. As for the availability of English texts, if you ask your local Maronite pastor they should be able to help. I can’t recall if Fr. Amar did a translation of some rites or not. They exist in English, I know that for a fact.

The missal foreword and the recent “encyclical letter” of the patriarch are actually very illuminating. The letter basically said that there is historical and liturgical propriety, such as ad orientem, but Sacrosanctum Concilium commands us to use the novus ordo as a template for the ideal liturgy - not only are these claims simply untrue, but they’re anachronistic in nature and contradict the very substance of Sacrosanctum Concilium (especially the part where it says its meant specifically for the Roman rite). Ah well… No arguing with them it seems when the Patriarchal liturgist tells you it’s a terrible thing that the youth apparently want a reversion to the older rituals in Syriac.

Hey heretic, what are you doing here?

Get back over to OC where you belong!

 

[malphono]

… and Tekso dShlomo.

That’s even more of a “kind of” than the preceding one.

I think even the Rite of Kneeling on Pentecost has been discontinued for the most part.

The cited version of that its itself something beyond an abbreviation. Might as well not bother with it at all.

As for the availability of English texts, if you ask your local Maronite pastor they should be able to help. I can’t recall if Fr. Amar did a translation of some rites or not. They exist in English, I know that for a fact.

Those are, for the most part, no longer used. They were abandoned in favor of the cited person’s “abbreviations” (for lack of a better word). :banghead:

The missal foreword and the recent “encyclical letter” of the patriarch are actually very illuminating. The letter basically said that there is historical and liturgical propriety, such as ad orientem, but Sacrosanctum Concilium commands us to use the novus ordo as a template for the ideal liturgy - not only are these claims simply untrue, but they’re anachronistic in nature and contradict the very substance of Sacrosanctum Concilium (especially the part where it says its meant specifically for the Roman rite). Ah well… No arguing with them it seems when the Patriarchal liturgist tells you it’s a terrible thing that the youth apparently want a reversion to the older rituals in Syriac.

Yes sir … the Maronites are ever more Roman than Rome. :banghead:

 

[SyroMalankara]

The question is “why?!” Who are they trying to impress? So far they’ve failed to impress the Maronites themselves, and failed even more so among Latins, and failed 10-fold as far as the Oriental Churches are concerned. Other than making themselves unique to the point where they can probably now claim they need to be separate in the case of a future reunion with the Syriac Churches, this seems to be done for no apparent reason except someone Tradition-hater’s whim.

 

[malphono]

The question is “why?!” Who are they trying to impress? So far they’ve failed to impress the Maronites themselves, and failed even more so among Latins, and failed 10-fold as far as the Oriental Churches are concerned. Other than making themselves unique to the point where they can probably now claim they need to be separate in the case of a future reunion with the Syriac Churches, this seems to be done for no apparent reason except someone Tradition-hater’s whim.

Thanks for that post. It just about sums things up in a nice, neat little package.

The “reasons” they give are all rooted, as MorEphrem mentioned earlier, in the dreaded “spirit if Vatican II” and an erroneous insistence on following a document specifically intended for the Roman Rite while at the same time ignoring anything that actually pertains to the restoration (aka de-latinization) of the Oriental Churches.