Orientale Lumen

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Our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters are very conscious of being the living bearers of this tradition, together with our Orthodox brothers and sisters. The members of the Catholic Church of the Latin tradition must also be fully acquainted with this treasure and thus feel, with the Pope, a passionate longing that the full manifestation of the Church’s catholicity be restored to the Church and to the world, expressed not by a single tradition, and still less by one community in opposition to the other; and that we too may be granted a full taste of the divinely revealed and undivided heritage of the universal Church(2) which is preserved and grows in the life of the Churches of the East as in those of the West.

vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_02051995_orientale-lumen_en.html

I’ve got to say that recent events here have not contributed to this vision.😦 😦 😦 😦
 
St_Benedict said:
Our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters are very conscious of being the living bearers of this tradition, together with our Orthodox brothers and sisters. The members of the Catholic Church of the Latin tradition must also be fully acquainted with this treasure and thus feel, with the Pope, a passionate longing that the full manifestation of the Church’s catholicity be restored to the Church and to the world, expressed not by a single tradition, and still less by one community in opposition to the other; and that we too may be granted a full taste of the divinely revealed and undivided heritage of the universal Church(2) which is preserved and grows in the life of the Churches of the East as in those of the West.

vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_02051995_orientale-lumen_en.html

\QUOTE]

well said
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St_Benedict said:
Our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters are very conscious of being the living bearers of this tradition, together with our Orthodox brothers and sisters. The members of the Catholic Church of the Latin tradition must also be fully acquainted with this treasure …

I’ve got to say that recent events here have not contributed to this vision.😦 😦 😦 😦
Click to expand...
As a Latin, I would say that one reason I am fascinated by the Eastern Churches is that the Eastern theology offers a different perspective on the inexhaustible mysteries of the faith.

In light of that, it seems like we Latins should actively seek to understand how Eastern approaches can be expressed in our tradition, and that conversely, Eastern Catholics should actively seek to do the same. As some of the recent threads have shown, this can be difficult to do, but Christ’s will for the unity of the Church requires this of us.

I am amazed and impressed by the fact that the Vatican has developed Christological agreements with the Coptics (1988) and Assyrians (1996). This should show all of us that the theological differences between the Latin and Eastern traditions within the Catholic communion should be entirely surmountable. Even if a solution is not immediately evident, we should be ready to trust the Holy Spirit to help us clarify the matter in time.

So as to “put my money where my mouth is”, I will attempt to do this right here, with regard to mortal vs. venial sin. In one of the other threads, one of the Eastern posters stated that he did not believe in this distinction, which triggered a lengthy and heated discussion. I do not want to reiterate that particular discussion, but I do want to show how I, as a Latin, might attempt to understand and articulate his beliefs:

–Since the early Church distinguished between the group “murder, adultery, apostasy” and lesser sins, it does seem that a distinction between mortal and venial has always been the teaching of the church in principle. Nevertheless, since all sin is offensive to God, it is appropriate that we should confess all the sins we remember when we go to Confession, without classifying their severity. It follows that it would be only reasonable to go to communion with a “fresh” confession. Classifying severity can, after all, be a troublesome exercise. For example, although theft could be venial or mortal, depending upon the amount and circumstances, this classification may be of little help to the soul seeking salvation.–

Now, while the above paragraph does not reflect my own practice, and I do not entirely agree with the argument on a prudential level, I can see how a Catholic could act and believe according to those ideas without deviating from the teaching of the church.

I invite any follow-ups to this post to be in the spirit of trying to discern convergences and building understanding, avoiding acrimony as much as possible.
 
There really is quite a problem here - and so often there is this impression given that if we shout loud enough and long enough people will understand.

It’s similar to the old myth that when people who do not speak the language of the country they are visiting they , when asking someone in a shop for instance - speak more slowly and much more loudly than usual and are surprised when that still doesn’t do the trick.

I’m not saying that it has happened on this thread but many Latin Catholics , give the impression that they do not listen to us when we explain that basically please note that word basically ] we believe the same things BUT occasionally the emphasis is slightly different.

Somehow we Eastern folk do not like having everything spelt out to us - we like a bit of mystery.

Our Sacraments are referred to as Mysteries - well do you understand exactly how, and the precise minute when the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Saviour ? We don’t want to know things like this - it’s enough that we know it does happen.

Again - take this thing about Mortal Sin - even some Latin Priests will say that there is no such thing - they prefer to talk about grave or serious sin . We are simple folk we sin and leave it to our priest /confessor / Spiritual Father to tell us how grave is that sin we have just confessed to Christ .

I could go on and on and on and o… about this topic - but I don’t want to be boring.

Honey attracts

Vinegar causes a sharp intake of breath and a gasp and the feeling of YEUCH - I do not want that again.

Please remember we are Catholic - just like you , and your Priest .

I’ll finish this one with a wee true story

I was at DL one day in Lourdes and after it I noticed a small pilgrimage Group coming into the Church - they were to have Mass there with their Priest celebrating it. It’s a tiny little Church and the RC Masses are always served at the Tetrapod . So I waited to speak with some of these pilgrims afterwards so I could help answer any questions they had about the Church. All of them liked it 🙂 The Priest , an elderly Irishman who had not lost his accent at all , turned to the wee lass who had been his server and told her that we Eastern Catholics were just as good catholics as he was and she was , BUT said he , " they have the most wonderful Liturgy you could ever attend - they sing wonderfully , they are so attentive and remember - they are Catholic "
 
Somehow we Eastern folk do not like having everything spelt out to us - we like a bit of mystery.

As I have said, we’re perfectly happy living with unresolved paradoxes. Yea, we embrace them.
 
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