Questions about the Maronites

[Ridgerunner]

I hope a Maronite Catholic can help me with the following, and please take no offense if I’m wrong. Maronites are really a variation of “Latin Catholics”, right? In other words, some of the practices of Eastern Catholics, like the organizational situation with Patriarchs and councils and the primarcy of bishops; some doctrinal differences. Maronites don’t have that, whereas, say, Syriac Catholics do. Is that correct?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Am I also correct in believing Maronite liturgies are in Arabic, except that some places in the U.S., for example, they’re in English? In other words, am I right in thinking Maronites don’t exaclty have a “liturgical language” different from the vernacular in use where Maronites have parishes?

 

[bpbasilphx]

<<Maronites are really a variation of “Latin Catholics”, right? In other words, some of the practices of Eastern Catholics, …>>

Yes, you are wrong. Maronites are a special form of the West Syrian Liturgical family, not a variation on Latin Catholics, though because they’ve been in communion with Rome the longest, you might find more Latinisms.

Maronites are also a patriarchal church.

<<Am I also correct in believing Maronite liturgies are in Arabic, except that some places in the U.S., for example, they’re in English?>>

At my most recent assistance at the Maronite liturgy, a mixture of Arabic, English, and Syriac was used. However, the Words of Institution are always said in Aramaic, regardless of the language of the rest of the Liturgy.

The classical liturgical langauge of the Maronites is Syriac, though Arabic has been used for centuries, except for the Words of Institution, Trisagion, and a few other parts.

 

[jimmy]

I hope a Maronite Catholic can help me with the following, and please take no offense if I’m wrong. Maronites are really a variation of “Latin Catholics”, right? In other words, some of the practices of Eastern Catholics, like the organizational situation with Patriarchs and councils and the primarcy of bishops; some doctrinal differences. Maronites don’t have that, whereas, say, Syriac Catholics do. Is that correct?

No, Maronites are a Syriac Christian church. They follow similar tradition and spirituality and tradition and liturgy to that of the Syrian Catholics and Chaldean Catholics and other middle eastern churches. They stem from the same area the Syrian Orthodox stem from, west Syria. They have a Patriarch.

 

[jimmy]

Am I also correct in believing Maronite liturgies are in Arabic, except that some places in the U.S., for example, they’re in English? In other words, am I right in thinking Maronites don’t exaclty have a “liturgical language” different from the vernacular in use where Maronites have parishes?

A large portion of the anaphora is in Aramaic/Syriac. THe hymns are Arabic usually and many prayers are sung in English. Aramaic is the liturgical language I think.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Is the use of Arabic, Syriac and Aramaic universal among Maronite parishes in the US? Or are some in English with, say, only the Institution in Aramaic? My impression is that most Maronites in the US are Lebanese, and a lot of Lebanese have been the US a very long time. I would have thought most of it wold be in English now.

 

[jimmy]

Is the use of Arabic, Syriac and Aramaic universal among Maronite parishes in the US? Or are some in English with, say, only the Institution in Aramaic? My impression is that most Maronites in the US are Lebanese, and a lot of Lebanese have been the US a very long time. I would have thought most of it wold be in English now.

Yes, they are mostly Maronites. They are very ethnic. The hymns are Arabic, the words of Institution are Aramaic/Syriac and many of the other prayers are in English. That is how my parish is. I can’t speak for others.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It’s a shame any Maronite parish is so far from here! Looks like about 250 miles or so. I would very much like to attend a liturgy. One of these times. If I get a chance to do that, I suspect I would do well to ask someone in here what to do and what not to do. Genuflecting, for instance. I think I read that Maronites don’t genuflect before entering a pew.

 

[Harpazo]

It’s a shame any Maronite parish is so far from here! Looks like about 250 miles or so. I would very much like to attend a liturgy. One of these times. If I get a chance to do that, I suspect I would do well to ask someone in here what to do and what not to do. Genuflecting, for instance. I think I read that Maronites don’t genuflect before entering a pew.

That’s correct. They bow towards the altar. If you have the opportunity to attend a Maronite Qurbono, I strongly recommend it. It’s so incredibly beautiful. I doubt you’d end up leaving without tears welling up.

Pace e Bene
Andrew

 

[Ridgerunner]

Harpazo:

I have seen that word “Quorbono” on here before. What is it?

 

[yeshua]

Harpazo:

I have seen that word “Quorbono” on here before. What is it?

It is Aramaic for “Sacrifice” or “Offering.” Qorbono is used by the Western Syriacs, Qurbana is used by the Eastern Syriacs, usually preceding a Qadisho/Qadisha meaning “Holy.”

Peace and God Bless!

 

[ronyodish]

In addition to what Yeshua said, Qurbana/Qorbono is the Aramaic equivalent of Eucharistia, from which Eucharist is derived.

The Bible actually mentions this term in Mark 7:11 in Aramaic, and then gives a translation of it in the same verse.

God bless,

Rony

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is Aramaic for “Sacrifice” or “Offering.” Qorbono is used by the Western Syriacs, Qurbana is used by the Eastern Syriacs, usually preceding a Qadisho/Qadisha meaning “Holy.”

Peace and God Bless!

Please forgive my ignorance. This really is embarrassing! In other words, it is the same thing as the Mass?

 

[Irish_Melkite]

Please forgive my ignorance. This really is embarrassing! In other words, it is the same thing as the Mass?

RR,

Yes, it is the name for the liturgical service of worship in those Churches. A few others …

Soorp Badarak - Armenian Catholics & Apostolics

Qorbono Qadisho - West Syriacs (Syriac/Syrian Catholics & Orthodox, Maronites, Syro-Malankara Catholics, Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox, Indian Orthodox, Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian, Thozhiyoor or Malabar Independent Syrians)

Qurbana Qadisha - East Syriacs (Syro-Malarbarese Catholics, some usage by Chaldeans & Assyrians)

Raza Qaddisha - Chaldean Catholics, Assyrians, Ancient Church of the East

Divine Liturgy - Byzantine/Constantinoplian Churches - Catholic & Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox & Catholic, Ethiopian Catholic & Orthodox, Eritrean Catholic & Orthodox

Many years,

Neil

 

[ebed_melech]

Here is an excellent presentation/introduction on the Maronite Church, a wonderful tradition within the communion of Catholic Churches.

stmaron.org/origin_identity.html

Hopefully you find this helpful!

God bless!

In ICXC,

Gordo

 

[lak611]

Yes, they are mostly Maronites. They are very ethnic. The hymns are Arabic, the words of Institution are Aramaic/Syriac and many of the other prayers are in English. That is how my parish is. I can’t speak for others.

Are the Maronite parishes welcoming to visitors who are not of Middle Eastern nationality? Also, how is Communion administered in the Maronite Church?

 

[Woodstock]

Are the Maronite parishes welcoming to visitors who are not of Middle Eastern nationality? Also, how is Communion administered in the Maronite Church?

Yes, you are welcome to go.

Communion is administered by intinction by the priest. It is a host like in the Latin Church which the priest would place in your mouth after intincting it in the wine.

 

[lak611]

Yes, you are welcome to go.

Communion is administered by intinction by the priest. It is a host like in the Latin Church which the priest would place in your mouth after intincting it in the wine.

So, the Maronite Church uses unleavened bread like the Latin Church?

 

[Woodstock]

So, the Maronite Church uses unleavened bread like the Latin Church?

Yes.

 

[lak611]

Yes.

Maybe that is why the OP thought that the Maronite Church was the same as the Latin Church. Do all of the other Eastern Churches besides Maronite use leavened bread for Communion?