Question re "Orthodox believers" in the Canon

[The_Reginator]

After my O.F. Mass this morning I went through my Latin Missal. The word orthodox jumped out and made me wonder what exactly the Church is referring to:

At the beginning of the Canon:
The Prayers Before the Consecration
“… accept and bless these … Sacrifices, … we offer Thee for Thy holy Catholic Church … as also to preserve, unite, and govern it … together with … and all orthodox believers …”

“… all orthodox believers …” –
Would that include all Christians whose beliefs are not opposed to the Church, or simply those who have not as yet officially become Catholics? Such as anyone in the process of converting.

It doesn’t refer to the Orthodox Church, right?

 

[RoryMcKenzie56]

I’ve seen that and thought about it also The Reginator.

The first prayer is for the Church as a body, as a community “in the first place”. Next in order is for the successor of Peter and our local bishop, and finally a prayer for all the faithful as individuals too. All of those who have orthodox beliefs. In my opinion, orthodox in this instance means “right beliefs”. I cannot possibly see this as a specific reference to Eastern Christians. In context, I think it has to be for those who can recite the Filioque and all the Nicene Creed in good faith. It clarifies the meaning to be “all…professors of the Catholic and Apostolic faith.” The prayer does not seem to extend to those who would deny this faith, even if they are nominally Catholic, but could include those who may not yet be visibly attached to the Church.

Rory

 

[The_Reginator]

I’ve seen that and thought about it also The Reginator.

The first prayer is for the Church as a body, as a community “in the first place”. Next in order is for the successor of Peter and our local bishop, and finally a prayer for all the faithful as individuals too. All of those who have orthodox beliefs. In my opinion, orthodox in this instance means “right beliefs”. I cannot possibly see this as a specific reference to Eastern Christians. In context, I think it has to be for those who can recite the Filioque and all the Nicene Creed in good faith. It clarifies the meaning to be “all…professors of the Catholic and Apostolic faith.” The prayer does not seem to extend to those who would deny this faith, even if they are nominally Catholic, but could include those who may not yet be visibly attached to the Church.

Rory

Thanks Rory!
Reg

 

[otjm]

I’ve seen that and thought about it also The Reginator.

The first prayer is for the Church as a body, as a community “in the first place”. Next in order is for the successor of Peter and our local bishop, and finally a prayer for all the faithful as individuals too. All of those who have orthodox beliefs. In my opinion, orthodox in this instance means “right beliefs”. I cannot possibly see this as a specific reference to Eastern Christians. In context, I think it has to be for those who can recite the Filioque and all the Nicene Creed in good faith.

I don’t know that I would roar down that path; it is my understanding that at least some of the Eastern rite Churches do not use “filioque” in their recital of the Nicene Creed - that they may use the original creed which did not state that. Perhaps someone more familiar with the Eastern rites may come along and clarify.

 

[RoryMcKenzie56]

otjm
I don’t know that I would roar down that path; it is my understanding that at least some of the Eastern rite Churches do not use “filioque” in their recital of the Nicene Creed - that they may use the original creed which did not state that. Perhaps someone more familiar with the Eastern rites may come along and clarify.

Rory
Thanks for the tip. I will keep your warning in mind.

 

[malphono]

The first prayer is for the Church as a body, as a community “in the first place”. Next in order is for the successor of Peter and our local bishop, and finally a prayer for all the faithful as individuals too. All of those who have orthodox beliefs. In my opinion, orthodox in this instance means “right beliefs”.

The use is “orthodox” with a lower-case “o” so yes, that’s just about right.

I cannot possibly see this as a specific reference to Eastern Christians.

No, it has nothing to do with the East per-se, other than to include all who profess the orthodox faith (again with a lower-case “o”), whether Western, Eastern, or Oriental.

In context, I think it has to be for those who can recite the Filioque and all the Nicene Creed in good faith. It clarifies the meaning to be “all…professors of the Catholic and Apostolic faith.”

At the same time, though, the filioque has no place in the determination of that faith, at least not beyond the Western (Latin) Church.

The prayer does not seem to extend to those who would deny this faith, even if they are nominally Catholic, but could include those who may not yet be visibly attached to the Church.

If someone denies the faith, he certainly cannot be considered to be orthodox (lower-case “o” again). Nor can someone who does not profess the faith.