Rite jurisdiction and attending Orthodox Mass to fulfill Sunday Obligation

[andypl]

PAX DOMINUS VOBISCUM

Hello All,

I had two questions…

Q.1. My friend was baptized in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Rite. However, he has received his Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Latin Rite (Novus Ordo). He now frequently attends the Tridentine Mass in our area and he has plans to get married…

Since, he has received most of his Sacraments under the Latin Rite (Novus Ordo), does he formally become a Latin Catholic or still is retained under the jurisdiction of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church… At the same time, if he plans to marry a Latin Rite girl, will the wedding rites take place as per the Rubrics of the Syro-Malabar Rite or the Roman (Tridentine Rite) “which he aspires to…”/ Latin (Novus Ordo) rite…?

Q.2. Suppose we live in an area where Catholic Churches are few and there is a large Orthodox Christian population. Is it OK for me as a Latin Rite Catholic to attend an Orthodox Mass to fulfill my Sunday obligation and receive Holy Communion…?

I suppose, like in my friend’s case (read above) who was baptized in the Syro-Malabar Rite who have some understanding with the Syrian Orthodox Church (post the East/West schism) about the unity of each other’s rites…

However, I would appreciate if the audience lists out a list of Orthodox Churches which a Catholic could attend to fulfill one’s Sunday obligation and receive Holy Communion in the absence of Catholic Churches in the area / city / province / country (as in the case of countries like Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, etc.)

Thanks in advance…

 

[PaulfromIowa]

"My friend was baptized in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Rite. However, he has received his Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Latin Rite (Novus Ordo)…

Since, he has received most of his Sacraments under the Latin Rite (Novus Ordo), does he formally become a Latin Catholic…?"

That would be very unusual. Eastern Catholics usually receive all
three sacraments, Baptism, Chrismation, and Communion, at the same time. He would still belong to the Church that he was baptized in.

Please note that there is no “Latin Rite (Novus Ordo)”.

“Q.2. Suppose we live in an area where Catholic Churches are few and there is a large Orthodox Christian population. **Is it OK for me as a Latin Rite Catholic to attend an Orthodox Mass to fulfill my Sunday obligation and receive Holy Communion…?”

No. Catholics are obligated to attend Mass in a Catholic rite. Eastern Orthodox will generally not offer Communion to a Catholic and you should respect their wishes.

 

[andypl]

"My friend was baptized in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Rite. However, he has received his Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Latin Rite (Novus Ordo)…

Since, he has received most of his Sacraments under the Latin Rite (Novus Ordo), does he formally become a Latin Catholic…?"

That would be very unusual. Eastern Catholics usually receive all
three sacraments, Baptism, Chrismation, and Communion, at the same time. He would still belong to the Church that he was baptized in.

Please note that there is no “Latin Rite (Novus Ordo)”.

Actually, in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Rite, Baptism is administered to infants and Holy Communion and Confirmation are together administered when they reach 7 years of age. My friend received his First Holy Communion in a Latin Rite parish since, by then he had become accustomed to attending a Latin Rite Mass and could not (till today) grasp the Syriac-Malayalam language of liturgy of the Syro-Malabar Rite…

I was referring to the Novus Ordo Mass…

“Q.2. Suppose we live in an area where Catholic Churches are few and there is a large Orthodox Christian population. **Is it OK for me as a Latin Rite Catholic to attend an Orthodox Mass to fulfill my Sunday obligation and receive Holy Communion…?”

No. Catholics are obligated to attend Mass in a Catholic rite. Eastern Orthodox will generally not offer Communion to a Catholic and you should respect their wishes.

What if I were travelling in Russia or Ukraine or Greece for that matter…? And I would feel guilty to miss Mass on a Sunday… Would you still stand by your answer…?

[P.S. Not challenging your view… I just wanted to know on a case-by-case basis…]

 

[Vico]

…

1. The sui iuris church of ascription is based upon a combination of factors: the age of baptism and the Catholic parents or guardians sui iuris church. For infants it will be the sui iuris church of the father, unless both are Catholic and they agree that it be that of the mother. It does not change due to reception of the sacraments in another ritual church.

Easten Canon law (CCEO):

Canon 29 -

§1. By virtue of baptism, a child who has not yet completed his fourteenth year of age is enrolled in the Church sui iuris of the Catholic father; or the Church sui iuris of the mother if only the mother is Catholic or if both parents by agreement freely request it, with due regard for particular law established by the Apostolic See.

§2. If the child who has not yet completed his fourteenth year is:
1° born of an unwed mother, he is enrolled in the Church sui iuris to which the mother belongs;
2° born of unknown parents, he is to be enrolled in the Church sui iuris of those in whose care he has been legitimately committed are enrolled; if it is a case of an adoptive father and mother, 1 should be applied;
3° born of non-baptized parents, the child is to be a member of the Church sui iuris of the one who is responsible for his education in the Catholic faith.

2. There is no obligation for the Mass when there is no Catholic Church available. We cannot give the impression of religious indifference. It is still a holy day to be observed regarding abstinence from labors.
Canon 30 - Anyone to be baptized who has completed the fourteenth year of age can freely select any Church sui iuris in which he or she then is enrolled by virtue of baptism received in that same Church, with due regard for particular law established by the Apostolic See.

Latin Canon law (CIC):

Can. 1248
§1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.

§2. If participation in the eucharistic celebration becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause, it is strongly recommended that the faithful take part in a liturgy of the word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families.

 

[andypl]

1. The sui iuris church of ascription is based upon a combination of factors: the age of baptism and the Catholic parents or guardians sui iuris church. For infants it will be the sui iuris church of the father, unless both are Catholic and they agree that it be that of the mother. It does not change due to reception of the sacraments in another ritual church.

But would it be possible for my friend to change his rite officially as per archdiocesan norms, if he wants to be married in the Tridentine Rite…? Since, he has been completely dissociated with the Syro-Malabar Rite since childhood…

 

[PaulfromIowa]

If there is no Catholic liturgy available, he is not obligated to attend another Church. He could certainly attend an Orthodox liturgy if he wished.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

An Eastern Catholic could be validly married in a Roman Catholic parish, without any need to change rites.

 

[Vico]

…

Answer by Robert J. Flummerfelt, J.C.L. on 11-20-2004:

2. If an Eastern Catholic marries a Latin Catholic before a Latin Catholic priest, the marriage is valid. No dispensation is necessary in this instance. In addition, no permission is needed if the parties marry in the Latin bride’s Church sui iuris for a just cause. If a just cause is lacking, then the PERMISSION [implies for liceity, NOT validity] not DISPENSATION [implies for validity] is needed for such a marriage to take place.

http://www.ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage_print.asp?number=419409&language=en

Also once married, the eastern catholic can follow the fasting and abstinence, penitential periods, and holy days of obligation of the Latin Church, which is allowed in the eastern canon law. The children, with agreement of both of the Catholic parents can be enrolled in the Latin Church when baptized.

 

[andypl]

Thanks a lot for the clarifications, PaulfromIowa

:latin_crossAX ET BONUM…!

 

[andypl]

Thanks a lot for the clarification, (name removed by moderator)

:latin_crossAX ET BONUM…!

 

[andypl]

Thanks a lot, Vico for the clarification…!

I just had 2 final questions related to this case (but just twisting the scenario)…

Q.1. Suppose my friend wants to convert to the Latin Rite from the Eastern Rite, would it be possible by any sort of ecclesiastical action…? (Let’s leave the marriage part in this scenario)

Q.2. Suppose an Eastern Catholic wants to become a priest of the Tridentine Rite, would it possible for him to do so…? (Just a general clarification needed)

 

[Vico]

Thanks a lot, Vico for the clarification…!

I just had 2 final questions related to this case (but just twisting the scenario)…

Q.1. Suppose my friend wants to convert to the Latin Rite from the Eastern Rite, would it be possible by any sort of ecclesiastical action…? (Let’s leave the marriage part in this scenario)

Q.2. Suppose an Eastern Catholic wants to become a priest of the Tridentine Rite, would it possible for him to do so…? (Just a general clarification needed)

CCEO Can. 32 §2. In the case of Christian faithful of an eparchy of a certain Church sui iuris who petition to transfer to another Church sui iuris which has its own eparchy in the same territory, this consent of the Apostolic See is presumed, provided that the eparchial bishops of both eparchies consent to the transfer in writing.

The same possibility exists for the Latin Church sui iuris, by rescript for CIC 112.1 in 1993.

Otherwise it is by the Congregation of the Eastern Churches. There is not guarantee that a transfer will be granted. For becoming a priest I think one cannot choose the use of the Extraordinary Form because a priest is incardinated (placed under the jurisdiction of a particular bishop or other ecclesiastical superior) when receiving Holy Orders. The bishop would determine the details of the priests service in his jurisdiction of the Catholic Church.

 

[andypl]

Brilliant response, Vico…! It cleared all doubts…!

Just a little curious : You’re a Byzantine Catholic, right…? Which rite under the Byzantine Catholic Church do you belong to…?

 

[Vico]

Brilliant response, Vico…! It cleared all doubts…!

Just a little curious : You’re a Byzantine Catholic, right…? Which rite under the Byzantine Catholic Church do you belong to…?

You are welcome. I am enrolled in the Byzantine Catholic Church (USA).