More questions for Eastern Catholics

[followingtheway]

1. 
   *]Do Eastern Catholics believe in Papal infallibility and Papal supremacy (if that’s the right term)?
   *]The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles contain different Biblical cannons. Which do the Eastern Catholics follow?
   *]Do you as an Eastern Catholic use Latin devotions such as the rosary and other chaplets and believe in Latin private relevelations such as Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe, Divine Mercy etc?
   *]I’m interested in visiting a local Eastern Catholic Church. It’s Ukrainian. I’ve visited a Greek Orthodox Church 90% of the Divine Liturgy was in Greek, so I didn’t understand a thing. What will be the case for the Ukrainian Church I wanna visit as in terms of the language during the mass?
   *]Is there a purgatory? Do the Eastern Catholics believe the same thing about the afterlife as Western/Roman/Latin Rite Catholics do (like Heaven, Hell etc)?

 

[bzkoss236]

Eastern Catholics are just as Catholic as the Roman or any other Catholic rite. Part of that is being subject to the Pope. They are required to believe in Papal infallibility and supremacy, and purgatory. Every doctrine of the Catholic Church must be believed by all rites, however, the theology need not necessarily be the same.

 

[ExGratia]

Eastern Catholics are just as Catholic as the Roman or any other Catholic rite. Part of that is being subject to the Pope. They are required to believe in Papal infallibility and supremacy, and purgatory. Every doctrine of the Catholic Church must be believed by all rites, however, the theology need not necessarily be the same.

theology = a system of religious beliefs or ideas (Webster’s dictionary)

How can you say they must believe xy and z but that the theology (the beliefs) can be different? That is a contradiction.

 

[bben15]

theology = a system of religious beliefs or ideas (Webster’s dictionary)

How can you say they must believe xy and z but that the theology (the beliefs) can be different? That is a contradiction.

Well, Latin Catholics and Byzantine Catholics have different views on purgatory. Both believe that it is a place where you are purified of sins. But, Byzantine Catholics usually don’t believe in a “purging of fire” type of purgatory, while Latin Catholics do.

 

[PennyinCanada]

What will be the case for the Ukrainian Church I wanna visit as in terms of the language during the mass?

Some Ukrainian Churches have 2 Divine Liturgies (They are not called Mass) and one may be in Ukrainian, the other in English. Our parish is smaller so there is one liturgy and it’s mostly English, some Ukrainian. The readings and homily are entirely English. You’ll have to find out what’s what at the church you are planning on visiting.

As an Eastern Catholic, I can use whatever devotions I like in the privacy of my home. Of course! It’s a personal preference.

 

[bben15]

What will be the case for the Ukrainian Church I wanna visit as in terms of the language during the mass?

Some Ukrainian Churches have 2 Divine Liturgies (They are not called Mass) and one may be in Ukrainian, the other in English. Our parish is smaller so there is one liturgy and it’s mostly English, some Ukrainian. The readings and homily are entirely English. You’ll have to find out what’s what at the church you are planning on visiting.

As an Eastern Catholic, I can use whatever devotions I like in the privacy of my home. Of course! It’s a personal preference.

As a Latin Catholic, I can use whatever devotions I like in the privacy of my home. I can also use Byzantine devotions in a Latin church. I have no problem praying the chotki in a Latin church.

 

[bzkoss236]

theology = a system of religious beliefs or ideas (Webster’s dictionary)

How can you say they must believe xy and z but that the theology (the beliefs) can be different? That is a contradiction.

Well, Latin Catholics and Byzantine Catholics have different views on purgatory. Both believe that it is a place where you are purified of sins. But, Byzantine Catholics usually don’t believe in a “purging of fire” type of purgatory, while Latin Catholics do.

Also, Eastern Catholics, and I assume Eastern Orthodox as well, when coming to understand the Eucharist, aren’t likely to use Transubstantiation to describe what happens, but rather, leave it strictly as a mystery of the faith.

Theology is not the same thing as doctrine, but rather what we use to define doctrine, which is why it can be different while the doctrines remain the same.

 

[capablanca911]

1. 
   *]Do Eastern Catholics believe in Papal infallibility and Papal supremacy (if that’s the right term)?
   *]The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles contain different Biblical cannons. Which do the Eastern Catholics follow?
   *]Do you as an Eastern Catholic use Latin devotions such as the rosary and other chaplets and believe in Latin private relevelations such as Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe, Divine Mercy etc?
   *]I’m interested in visiting a local Eastern Catholic Church. It’s Ukrainian. I’ve visited a Greek Orthodox Church 90% of the Divine Liturgy was in Greek, so I didn’t understand a thing. What will be the case for the Ukrainian Church I wanna visit as in terms of the language during the mass?
   *]Is there a purgatory? Do the Eastern Catholics believe the same thing about the afterlife as Western/Roman/Latin Rite Catholics do (like Heaven, Hell etc)?

1. 1. Yes, but while many in the west believe everything from papal bulls to every encyclical is infallible, the east views it much more narrowly.
   2. Excellent question…
   3. Mary delivered the rosary to the East hundreds of years before she did so in the west, though eastern prayer doesn’t focus on ‘the visible’ as much. The west focuses on the senses a lot in meditative prayer: graphically picturing each scourge, each trickle of blood from the thorns, etc. Eastern prayer focuses more on internal emptiness and using internal silence to quench our passions.
   4. There is a strong push for the vernacular. If there is a heavy Greek ethnic makeup it very well might be in (modern) Greek. Or Russian. Or whatever. My local Russian Orthodox parish is in English…
   5. The east doesn’t deny a purgative change before seeing the beatific vision in Paradise, but any other speculation is usually taboo per the Union of Brest.

 

[bben15]

Also, Eastern Catholics, and I assume Eastern Orthodox as well, when coming to understand the Eucharist, aren’t likely to use Transubstantiation to describe what happens, but rather, leave it strictly as a mystery of the faith.

Theology is not the same thing as doctrine, but rather what we use to define doctrine, which is why it can be different while the doctrines remain the same.

They also don’t say that it turns into the Eucharist the moment the priest says “This is my body,” “This is my blood.” They say it changes sometime between the Epiclesis and before the priest receives.

 

[followingtheway]

though eastern prayer doesn’t focus on ‘the visible’ as much. The west focuses on the senses a lot in meditative prayer: graphically picturing each scourge, each trickle of blood from the thorns, etc. Eastern prayer focuses more on internal emptiness and using internal silence to quench our passions.

Oh, okay. But does that mean Eastern Catholics don’t have the mysteries or practice things like the Stations of the Cross?

 

[bben15]

Oh, okay. But does that mean Eastern Catholics don’t have the mysteries or practice things like the Stations of the Cross?

Many Eastern Catholics pray the Rosary and Stations of the Cross.

 

[5Loaves]

I am a proud young Hispanic Roman Catholic from NYC.

Are you still in NYC. If so perhaps you can visit our sister parish St Michael’s Russian Catholic Church

You might find the Word from the Wise Youtube series interesting. Check out Eastern Catholic Theology with Fr. Abbot Nicholas of Holy Resurrection Romanian Catholic Monastery PART 1 and PART 2

If you click on “Show more” you can look at the questions Catherine Alexander asks in each segment. See also “Who are Eastern Catholics?” with Father Maximos of HRM PART 1 and PART 2.

Unrelated to any of your questions, but the final two in this Word from the Wise series are Feasting in the Byzantine Church Year with Fr. Moses of HRM and Fasting in the Byzantine Church Year with Fr. Moses.

 

[Aramis]

Well, Latin Catholics and Byzantine Catholics have different views on purgatory. Both believe that it is a place where you are purified of sins. But, Byzantine Catholics usually don’t believe in a “purging of fire” type of purgatory, while Latin Catholics do.

In part, because the canonical & dogmatic definition doesn’t include purgatorial fires.

 

[Peter_J]

They also don’t say that it turns into the Eucharist the moment the priest says “This is my body,” “This is my blood.” They say it changes sometime between the Epiclesis and before the priest receives.

Hmmm … you should double check your source; I think you might be misremembering what he/she said.

 

[malphono]

Hmmm … you should double check your source; I think you might be misremembering what he/she said.

Well … I’ve mentioned this before, but in the Syriac Churches (both Eastern & Western), there are those who hold that the action is not completed until the Rite of Fraction. I think a similar concept exists among the Copts. That’s not to say the Rite of Fraction itself is consecratory, but simply that without it, the action is incomplete.

 

[Peter_J]

Well … I’ve mentioned this before, but in the Syriac Churches (both Eastern & Western), there are those who hold that the action is not completed until the Rite of Fraction. I think a similar concept exists among the Copts. That’s not to say the Rite of Fraction itself is consecratory, but simply that without it, the action is incomplete.

OIC. I’m afraid I’m still not terribly knowledgeable about many areas of Syriac life.

 

[MorEphrem]

Eastern Catholics are just as Catholic as the Roman or any other Catholic rite. Part of that is being subject to the Pope.

With all due respect, I think if this was intended for Latins to comment on how they perceive an externality it would’ve been posted in another forum.

I am not a “subject” of the Pope; I have one king, and it’s not a human being. Such coarseness of terminology also ignores the entire concept of a separate sui iuris Church being in communion with the Roman Church. There’s a difference to the Pope having primacy and all Patriarchs being “under” him. One should temper their Papal fervor as it’s very bad for discussing things of substance.

In terms of the “completion” of consecration pertaining to the Fraction Rite, I’m always a bit confused as to how it is included. I understand the theological significance but does the fractioning complete the fact that it is the divine body or does it complete the passion?

 

[malphono]

In terms of the “completion” of consecration pertaining to the Fraction Rite, I’m always a bit confused as to how it is included. I understand the theological significance but does the fractioning complete the fact that it is the divine body or does it complete the passion?

Remember that our (i.e, the Syro-Maronite) Rite of Fraction includes (a) the Fraction, (b) the Consignation, and (c) the Commingling. The idea of “completion” comes, I think, because of that, but of course the Rite of Fraction isn’t consecratory in itself. A look at the traditional prayers (not the neo prayers which are abbreviated to say the least) of the Fraction should help clarify.

 

[Wandile]

With all due respect, I think if this was intended for Latins to comment on how they perceive an externality it would’ve been posted in another forum.

I am not a “subject” of the Pope; I have one king, and it’s not a human being. Such coarseness of terminology also ignores the entire concept of a separate sui iuris Church being in communion with the Roman Church. There’s a difference to the Pope having primacy and all Patriarchs being “under” him. One should temper their Papal fervor as it’s very bad for discussing things of substance.

A certain Pope St.Gregory the Great once said :

As to what they say of the Church of Constantinople, who doubts that it is **subject ** to the Apostolic See?

Being subject to someone does not make that person or authority your king. It just means they have a certain degree of authority over you.

 

[malphono]

With all due respect, I think if this was intended for Latins to comment on how they perceive an externality it would’ve been posted in another forum.

I am not a “subject” of the Pope; I have one king, and it’s not a human being. Such coarseness of terminology also ignores the entire concept of a separate sui iuris Church being in communion with the Roman Church. There’s a difference to the Pope having primacy and all Patriarchs being “under” him. One should temper their Papal fervor as it’s very bad for discussing things of substance.

This. I second that motion.