Ok to choose Rite at will?

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wretched_sinner_1

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Hello all. This is my first post and I’m hoping someone could help me figure something out.
I was born and baptized into the Melkite Catholic church.
I was not raised in the church and so did not go to Mass until I was in my mid to late twenties when I lived in a country where there was only a Roman cahtolic parish. At this time, my faith began to grow and I was attending Mass more than once a week sometimes daily.
After I moved to Canada 5 years ago, I now have the option to go to to the Melkite church which is only 20 minutes away; but I currently choose to attend mass with my family at our local Latin rite parish.

Now, I don’t know why I remember this, but I think I read (appears to me that it was quite some time ago) something that led me to believe that one should always strive to attend Mass and be an active member of the parish of his/her rite. Possibly something to do with preventing people shifting rites at will or preserving culture… I’m not sure. I’m also not sure how strongly this is recommended or obligatory or not even an issue. Does anyone know?

Now the reason why I prefer to attend Mass at the local Latin parish is not that I have anything against the Melkite rite, I actually love to attend there on various times especially on some holy days but I’ll list some of the reasons here:
  • My wife and I find that, while the Mass at the melkite parish is beautiful, the people attending are in general not very reverent, and sometimes noisy even during Eucharistic prayers.
  • I’m more used personally to the liturgy (and calendar) of the Latin rite and love it.
  • In addition, my wife and I do not really like the priest there much. I know this should not affect anything but for some reason it does a little.
The question: Is it ok for me to just choose which parish I attend Mass at according to my preference? is there a thing as changing your own ‘rite’? or am I just mainly confused?

Thank you in advance; and by the way, I love these forums.
 
wretched_sinner said:
Hello all. This is my first post and I’m hoping someone could help me figure something out.
I was born and baptized into the Melkite Catholic church.
… but I currently choose to attend mass with my family at our local Latin rite parish.
Click to expand...
wretched_sinner said:
oops… I just found a thread (forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=460562) talking about this same issue… sorry if this is redundant.
Click to expand...
Welcome to CAF and the Eastern Catholicism section. 🙂
Glad you found that thread. Without rereading all of it myself I just want to point out that from your description your children are also canonically Melkite even if their baptism was done in a Latin Church. (You mention your “family” so I’m guessing that means you have children.) They retain your Church sui iuris since you the father are canonically Melkite. That would be recorded in their baptismal records. At the very least it has significance for them for future marriage and holy orders.

That seems like a good thread scanning it quickly. There have been other threads as well on the topic.

Given the concerns you raise I would suggest you check with your chancery to see if there are some bi-ritual priests near by who might be able to provide you some guidance. Our Canon laws East and West give part of the story. A qualified spiritual father can assist with the other parts. Sometimes there is a priest’s wife or a deacon who may be a better guide than a priest. You are far from alone as an EC/OC who has grown up in the Latin Church and has little affinity with their Church sui iuris.

I had the pleasure of assisting at a Melkite Divine Liturgy for the first time last Sunday. There was indeed a definite contrast to my experiences in my local Russian Catholic and Orthodox Divine Liturgy.
 
I am no theologian or clergyman; however to my understanding if you are Baptized into the Roman Catholic Church, you may attend any parish in Communion with the Holy See.
In certain circumstances ( such as if there is no Catholic parish locally or the priest is preaching Heresy) you may attend an Orthodox Mass ( and recieve the Sacraments) as the Orthodox have valid Holy Orders ana Liturgy steeped in Apostolic Tradition. However you may NEVER recieve “sacraments” from any Protestant denomination for they are heretics and as our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI said they (Protestants) are not true churches.
 
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