Questions re EC

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Hello! Ive been a roman catholic for 3 years…I have become EXTREMELY interested in both EC and the orthodox faiths recently…

When looking at the eastern orthodox, I am very pulled into this spirituality (theosis) the mysticism, the NON-reliance on logic and reason (proofs of God, etc) - I’m also very inspired by what I see as the compassion - for example, how they use “economy”. I understand they don’t accept the Pope as having higher authority, and don’t accept purgatory as a teaching or indeed to immaculate conception.

But for some reason I’m being very pulled into eastern orthodoxy.

Where does EC fit into all of this?

Thanks!
 
My family left Catholicism when I was a child. I spent a lifetime searching for God, married a Protestant Christian. Our mutual search led us initially to the Eastern Orthodox. Studying under pious monk, all it did was remind me of my Catholic faith. I could however not deny the Pope. That is where my journey into EO ended. My husband joined me in my efforts to reconcile with the Roman Catholic church, I had tried reverting in my teens without success. Likewise, in our local diocese that proved impossible. So my husband converted to Eastern Catholic, where he was accepted upon examination, a lifelong Christian who had studied the ancient faith. I, too, was examined and switched rites. So we have embraced the ancient Orthodox-Catholic faith (or better said, it embraced us) and we can keep Papa Francis. Even though Catholic, one can still attend an EO parish, you may not commune with them, but you are welcomed there. We still attend non-communion vigils.

I have many friends who have left Protestant Christianity and joined Eastern Orthodoxy because of its timelessness, if it wasn’t for my cradle Catholicness, I would have also. My family left the church after the upheaval of the 60’s and the changes in the church. The church no longer was that Christian sanctuary for them. My family kept their home altars and prayer to the saints but didn’t embrace the changes in the church. Walking into an EO or EC church one is transported back into the Holy, sacredness of a sanctuary. Yes, all the smells and bells. Good luck in your journey.
 
Hi Casilda - can you explain a little more about why yo and your husband could become eastern Catholics, but you could not revert to roman catholic? That confuses me! THANKS
 
zaida said:
Hi Casilda - can you explain a little more about why yo and your husband could become eastern Catholics, but you could not revert to roman catholic? That confuses me! THANKS
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I must live in a very liberal Roman Catholic diocese. Priests are extremely busy, one parish of 6000+ families has one priest and two associate priest and a handful of deacons. I had to search parishes because our own ‘home’ parish did not have a priest for two years. We also came across unorthodox teaching, and innovative practices. I say that I tried to revert and didnt recognize the church, and being a pre-vatii cradle Catholic, those in the church didn’t recognize me. I have come to learn I am labeled a Traddie. I can’t help how I was formed, under the care of Franciscan nuns.
 
Thanks Casilda! Im sorry the RC Church let you down…

The reason I am drawn to orthodox is it seems more spiritual and less legalistic…now I know that is simplistic, and it probably has to do with approach, the way things are phrased…I know we (roman atholics) are spiritual too, we work towards divinization (theosis)…I know we have a beautiful mass and Liturgy and one can be RC and still love the icons…

But there is something (just lately) about the legalism that strikes me as “not helpful” in assisting people on their paths…
 
zaida said:
But there is something (just lately) about the legalism that strikes me as “not helpful” in assisting people on their paths…
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The church didn’t let me down, but the evil one who has his minions at work inside of her destroying it and turning away the faithful. Charles Dickens would be amused by the Catholic Circumlocution office. (I had my original baptism certificate, it was deemed invalid. I had to request a certified copy that was within 6 months of issue. Naturally that had expired before I was ever able to talk with a priest to start convalidation paperwork. We had no marriage impediments. I was unaware as a Cradle Catholic I had to ask/receive dispensation from the Bishop to marry my Christian husband in his church by the pastor who raised him. We had been married 30+ years when he wanted to convert. They made sure to tell me my marriage was invalid, illicit, without form, and we were/had been living in mortal sin, then not offer us any recourse to resolve the situation.)

You are correct in your observation about legalism. I call it red tape. Paperwork. After two years I was finally able to make an appointment with a priest and he let his deacon handle the rest of our paperwork. I was going to revert, my husband convert and our marriage convalidated. What did that deacon do? He told us to start the paperwork in our home parish. We reminded him that parish had no priest, only an administrator who didn’t even take confessions. So…
I was turned away and my husband, who wanted to convert was turned away.

We are extremely fortunate, blessed, to have an EC within an hours drive. The EC priest took care of the examinations and paperwork within his diocese with his Bishop and in a week’s time we were settled in the parish.
 
Remember “Papa”…Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church…"

There is a depth of holiness to be taught of in Third Orders, also if there is a Byzantine Catholic Church near you, they are under the pope.
 
Casilda said:
The church didn’t let me down, but the evil one who has his minions at work inside of her destroying it and turning away the faithful. Charles Dickens would be amused by the Catholic Circumlocution office. (I had my original baptism certificate, it was deemed invalid. I had to request a certified copy that was within 6 months of issue. Naturally that had expired before I was ever able to talk with a priest to start convalidation paperwork. We had no marriage impediments. I was unaware as a Cradle Catholic I had to ask/receive dispensation from the Bishop to marry my Christian husband in his church by the pastor who raised him. We had been married 30+ years when he wanted to convert. They made sure to tell me my marriage was invalid, illicit, without form, and we were/had been living in mortal sin, then not offer us any recourse to resolve the situation.)

You are correct in your observation about legalism. I call it red tape. Paperwork. After two years I was finally able to make an appointment with a priest and he let his deacon handle the rest of our paperwork. I was going to revert, my husband convert and our marriage convalidated. What did that deacon do? He told us to start the paperwork in our home parish. We reminded him that parish had no priest, only an administrator who didn’t even take confessions. So…
I was turned away and my husband, who wanted to convert was turned away.

We are extremely fortunate, blessed, to have an EC within an hours drive. The EC priest took care of the examinations and paperwork within his diocese with his Bishop and in a week’s time we were settled in the parish.
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Very sad to hear of your challenges with the Roman Catholic church. I’ve never experienced what you’ve gone through but sympathize with the anguish and pain you must have felt. The church is perfect, it’s the people inside that are in error! This coming from a cradle Catholic who walked away from the Church in my worldly decades and have since returned to the mercy and love of God. My understanding of the EO rite and the Latin rite is that we are no so very different. If we keep focusing on God, we’ll be okay. All the other stuff can lead to distractions. God Bless you on your journey! 👍
 
zaida said:
Hello! Ive been a roman catholic for 3 years…I have become EXTREMELY interested in both EC and the orthodox faiths recently…

When looking at the eastern orthodox, I am very pulled into this spirituality (theosis) the mysticism, the NON-reliance on logic and reason (proofs of God, etc) - I’m also very inspired by what I see as the compassion - for example, how they use “economy”. I understand they don’t accept the Pope as having higher authority, and don’t accept purgatory as a teaching or indeed to immaculate conception.

But for some reason I’m being very pulled into eastern orthodoxy.

Where does EC fit into all of this?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The EC’s share the spiritual heritage and patrimony of their Orthodox counterparts. You canb enjoy must of what is truly wonderful about the Orthodox experience as a Catholic with fellow Catholics who worship according to those traditions.

Sound like you already made a recent change, and are now perhaps considering another. Recommend you do something very Eastern Christian-like and seek a spiritual advisor before considering another change. Perhaps that could be a first step in your journey Eastward …
 
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