Maronite?

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ChristopherJFB

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Hello all,

I searched for an answer to this question, but didn’t find an answer that was specific to my set of circumstances, so I apologize if this has been asked and answered before.

I’ve been away from the church for years, and recently I have decided to start attending again. It was actually the St. Therese Novena that has drawn me back to the church, which didn’t surprise me as I have a long standing devotion to her.

But now that I am planning on attending church again, my question is whether or not I can, or should, consider myself a Maronite Catholic. Please understand these events took place when I was around the age of 13-15 and I am now 42, so I may not recall specific details.

For background, I was born to Protestant parents who did not baptize me. They waited until I was older and told me that I could pick the church/denomination I wished to attend (if any) and be baptized into that denomination. Around the age of 13 I became interested in Catholicism. I began attending mass at a local Maronite church, actually a Shrine (Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine in Ohio - a replica of the shrine at Harissa, Lebanon). I was very interested and very active at the shrine and decided I wanted to be baptized into the Catholic church as a Maronite.

I attended a catechism class at the shrine, presented by the Maronite rector, but then was baptized at a local Roman Catholic parish by a priest who was aware of my involvement in and devotion to the Maronite church (there was no implication that I would become a member of his parish, he knew I was a member of the shrine - there were several of us in the catechism class who were baptized there as a courtesy).

So I am not sure if I am technically a Maronite (as I would like) or if I am a Roman rite. I have read that if you convert from protestant to Catholic you are automatically Roman Catholic and then must request a change of rite. And, in any case, if it really makes a difference - as it is my understanding that I am free to attend and belong to a Maronite church in either case.

Thank you so much for you answers.

Christopher
 
ChristopherJFB said:
Hello all,

I searched for an answer to this question, but didn’t find an answer that was specific to my set of circumstances, so I apologize if this has been asked and answered before.

I’ve been away from the church for years, and recently I have decided to start attending again. It was actually the St. Therese Novena that has drawn me back to the church, which didn’t surprise me as I have a long standing devotion to her.

But now that I am planning on attending church again, my question is whether or not I can, or should, consider myself a Maronite Catholic. Please understand these events took place when I was around the age of 13-15 and I am now 42, so I may not recall specific details.

For background, I was born to Protestant parents who did not baptize me. They waited until I was older and told me that I could pick the church/denomination I wished to attend (if any) and be baptized into that denomination. Around the age of 13 I became interested in Catholicism. I began attending mass at a local Maronite church, actually a Shrine (Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine in Ohio - a replica of the shrine at Harissa, Lebanon). I was very interested and very active at the shrine and decided I wanted to be baptized into the Catholic church as a Maronite.

I attended a catechism class at the shrine, presented by the Maronite rector, but then was baptized at a local Roman Catholic parish by a priest who was aware of my involvement in and devotion to the Maronite church (there was no implication that I would become a member of his parish, he knew I was a member of the shrine - there were several of us in the catechism class who were baptized there as a courtesy).

So I am not sure if I am technically a Maronite (as I would like) or if I am a Roman rite. I have read that if you convert from protestant to Catholic you are automatically Roman Catholic and then must request a change of rite. And, in any case, if it really makes a difference - as it is my understanding that I am free to attend and belong to a Maronite church in either case.

Thank you so much for you answers.

Christopher
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I honestly don’t know I know a kid that is not an altar server that told me that his dad is canonically a Latin and I know that would make him a Latin but since as you pointed out your parents were Protestant that would not work by the way, that is a very good question I would ask someone who knows a bit about canon law
 
Hi, I stole this from the Byzantine forum. I hope it helps.

Re: What does it mean to be a “*** Rite” Catholic?
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John
Member

Registered: 11/02/01
Posts: 6347
Loc: Virginia
Welcome, Mike S, to The Byzantine Forum!

The use of terminology like �Latin Rite Catholic� is common but it really isn�t correct. The correct terminology is simply �Roman Catholic� or �Latin Catholic�. Each of the different Catholic Churches (Roman, Byzantine, Chaldean, etc.) brings to the entire Church a unique and wonderful living way of being Catholic. All of these different approaches are equally Catholic yet each is a unique living organism complete with a distinct way of worshipping the Trinity and expressing doctrine. The term �rite� refers only to the particular rituals involved and is, therefore, a very incomplete description.

To be a �Latin Catholic� or �Roman Catholic� is to be a member of the particular Church which matured in Rome. It is to live following her distinctive way of being Catholic.

Is one bound to a particular Church? One is definitely enrolled in a particular Church and should, therefore, follow her customs and drink deeply from the well of her liturgy and doctrine. One is not, however, tied to that particular Church for life.

Is it strictly personal choice? Kinda. Sorta. One can certainly choose which particular Church they wish to live and grow in but many people who have moved from one Catholic Church to another Catholic Church speak of finding the place where the Lord want them to be planted.

Who determines which Catholic Church one belongs to? Those baptized into the faith as infants automatically become members of the same Catholic Church as their parents (unless the parents declare otherwise at that time). Those who convert as adults may choose which Church they wish to be enrolled in. Adults can make a change if they so desire and enlist the support of their pastor (who assists them with the paperwork). There is no canonical waiting period but most bishops ask that an individual be an active member in the new Church for at least a year before granting a change. This allows the individual time to discern that the new Church is where the Lord is calling him or her to grow.

Hope this helps!

Admin

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ChristopherJFB said:
I attended a catechism class at the shrine, presented by the Maronite rector, but then was baptized at a local Roman Catholic parish by a priest who was aware of my involvement in and devotion to the Maronite church (there was no implication that I would become a member of his parish, he knew I was a member of the shrine - there were several of us in the catechism class who were baptized there as a courtesy).

So I am not sure if I am technically a Maronite (as I would like) or if I am a Roman rite. I have read that if you convert from protestant to Catholic you are automatically Roman Catholic and then must request a change of rite. And, in any case, if it really makes a difference - as it is my understanding that I am free to attend and belong to a Maronite church in either case.
Click to expand...
Had you been baptized in a Protestant denomination, you would have been inscribed in the Latin Church by default. (In most such cases, a Protestant baptism is considered valid, and one could not have been baptized again.) However, since you had not been previously baptized at all, you would have been free to select. But what’s done is done.

In any case, you could contact the parish where the baptism took place to see if the priest made the required annotation “Maronite” is in the baptismal record but, considering that there is a Maronite parish in Youngstown itself, I doubt it. However, if the annotation is there, the question is answered and you will only have to present yourself to a Maronite priest for Chrismation (Confirmation).

Now if, as I expect, there is no such annotation, and if you have again become active in a Maronite parish, you will have to petition for a transfer. Best is to discuss the matter with the local Maronite pastor.
 
Thank you everyone for the responses! I have reached out to the parish where I was baptized to get a copy of the records and I am waiting to hear back from them.

Thanks again,
Chris
 
ChristopherJFB said:
Hello all,

I searched for an answer to this question, but didn’t find an answer that was specific to my set of circumstances, so I apologize if this has been asked and answered before.

I’ve been away from the church for years, and recently I have decided to start attending again. It was actually the St. Therese Novena that has drawn me back to the church, which didn’t surprise me as I have a long standing devotion to her.

But now that I am planning on attending church again, my question is whether or not I can, or should, consider myself a Maronite Catholic. Please understand these events took place when I was around the age of 13-15 and I am now 42, so I may not recall specific details.

For background, I was born to Protestant parents who did not baptize me. They waited until I was older and told me that I could pick the church/denomination I wished to attend (if any) and be baptized into that denomination. Around the age of 13 I became interested in Catholicism. I began attending mass at a local Maronite church, actually a Shrine (Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine in Ohio - a replica of the shrine at Harissa, Lebanon). I was very interested and very active at the shrine and decided I wanted to be baptized into the Catholic church as a Maronite.

I attended a catechism class at the shrine, presented by the Maronite rector, but then was baptized at a local Roman Catholic parish by a priest who was aware of my involvement in and devotion to the Maronite church (there was no implication that I would become a member of his parish, he knew I was a member of the shrine - there were several of us in the catechism class who were baptized there as a courtesy).

So I am not sure if I am technically a Maronite (as I would like) or if I am a Roman rite. I have read that if you convert from protestant to Catholic you are automatically Roman Catholic and then must request a change of rite. And, in any case, if it really makes a difference - as it is my understanding that I am free to attend and belong to a Maronite church in either case.

Thank you so much for you answers.

Christopher
Click to expand...
As long as you were age fourteen at baptism you could choose your Catholic Church sui iuris. If you were at least fourteen, then Maronite should be noted on your baptismal record, if not, you can get it corrected through the Maronite bishop or at least the Congregation for Oriental Churches (in Rome).
 
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