Went to an Eastern Rite today-WOW

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JohnCarroll

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Hi
My wife and i went to an Eastern Rite Catholic Parish today( Rutherian) and was it ever beautiful. The whole Mass was sung and with no instruments --just the Congregation-- who did a wonderful job. There were probably only 150 people there but they made as much volume as the 800 at our Latin rite Church. Gives this ex- episcopalian hope for the future of Catholic Singing.
 
I should add that after seeing this Mass I no longer feel that less is more–from now on More is More.
 
I am so happy that you had a wonderful experience at Dvine Liturgy. As we Easterners say that the Liturgy is a taste of heaven, so heaven must be wonderful!

Glory be to Jesus Christ! GloryForever!
 
The Eastern Rite is soooo amazing and reverent!!! I know a lot of Catholics on this forum struggle with liturgical abuses at some of the Novus Ordo Masses and look for Tridentine Masses. The Eastern Rite is reliable for awesome reverence, and I’ve never heard any watered down theology during the homily.
Next Sunday is the Feast of the Assumption. In the Eastern Rite they call it the Dormition. In the Eastern Rite they are fasting and praying to PREPARE for the Feast, and there are special services in the two weeks before. At the Eastern Rite Catholic Church that I frequently attend (and I will for sure this coming Sunday) there will be a procession with a cloth symbolizing the burial cloth of Our Lady (Theotokos) and a “tomb” which we place flowers to be blessed.
If anybody is curious about the Eastern Rite and loves Our Lady, this would be the Sunday to visit an Eastern Rite Catholic Church.
 
I love it when someone goes to their first Eastern Rite or Tridentine Mass and gets all excited about being Catholic again. Almost like falling in love.
 
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diaconate:
I am so happy that you had a wonderful experience at Dvine Liturgy. As we Easterners say that the Liturgy is a taste of heaven, so heaven must be wonderful!

Glory be to Jesus Christ! GloryForever!
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Ii’s Heaven on Earth for sure!

Each portion of the Church Assembly has a role in the Divine Liturgy. The priest and the altar servers, the Cantor and Choir, and the People.
When EVERYONE is doing their parts and in unison, it is coregraphed and sent to Heaven. (Of course, Heaven does their part too!)

go with God!
Edwin
P.S. I still hadn’t heard the WHOLE Divine Liturgy done in Old Church Slovanic!
 
Let me say a little more about my experience at St. Basil the Great in Irving Tx. We heard there were only 80 families in the parish and so have one mass on Sunday. My wife and i arrived about half an hour early. We thought we had arrived too late because several folks and the priest were in the sanctuary doing something. We waited out side when I ask a very nice man what was going on. He said it was the divine office as a preparation for mass. He spent several minutes explaining the history of the Byzantine Church and asked us to sit with him so he could Help us with the MANY different books needed during the Mass. We did and he did . VERY beautiful. All this really made a good impression --as you can tell. After all the sign of the Christian is Love.
 
I’ve been to a few Divine Liturgies ( mostly Chaldean). In fact, the closest Catholic church to me is actually a Chaldean church. I have to drive past it each Sunday to get to my Roman parish

They are absolutly Beautiful!

I’m probably going to take my 6 year old son to one soon. We drove past a nearby Rutherian church a few days ago, and now my son wants to “go to Mass at the church with the golden dome and the tippy cross”
 
Unfortunately, the Eastern Catholic Churches are also infected with Modernism, and their liturgies with Latinizations, Modern or otherwise.

We Latins might not notice it too much, but many of our more traditional Eastern brethren would.

Most Eastern Catholic liturgies are a joke, at least to Orthodox who visit and see them. One even told me it was like a Latin Catholic going to an Anglican liturgy; it’s a parody.

Sad, but true.
 
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DominvsVobiscvm:
Unfortunately, the Eastern Catholic Churches are also infected with Modernism, and their liturgies with Latinizations, Modern or otherwise.

We Latins might not notice it too much, but many of our more traditional Eastern brethren would.

Most Eastern Catholic liturgies are a joke, at least to Orthodox who visit and see them. One even told me it was like a Latin Catholic going to an Anglican liturgy; it’s a parody.

Sad, but true.
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What do you mean by this? Can you tell me where how this happens and what signs of Modernism to look out for?
Where I go, it is the complete Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and takes about 1 1/2 hours.
I am very interested in this subject and would appreciate if you could give me some insight as to what you are referring to.

thanks.
 
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DominvsVobiscvm:
Unfortunately, the Eastern Catholic Churches are also infected with Modernism, and their liturgies with Latinizations, Modern or otherwise.

We Latins might not notice it too much, but many of our more traditional Eastern brethren would.

Most Eastern Catholic liturgies are a joke, at least to Orthodox who visit and see them. One even told me it was like a Latin Catholic going to an Anglican liturgy; it’s a parody.

Sad, but true.
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This post is so offensive!!! So people outside of the Church are supposted to be a standard for people inside the Church? Orthodox have enough of their problems. Orthodox insult the Traditional Latin Mass also. Its to “Gallican” and “Frankish” some of them say. Orthodox are taught to hate things that are Catholic. WHy is St.Josaphat called amongst them, a criminal worse than Hitler on a mainstream Ortodox website? Why is Mark of Ephsesus a saint amongst them? Because he rejected the council of Florence, which had ended the Greek schism for a short time and brought the Greeks under the Pope’s control for a short time.
 
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Magnificat:
Where I go, it is the complete Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and takes about 1 1/2 hours…
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My family and I attended a Byzantine liturgy a few weeks back. I had heard much about it and was excited to go. It was a bit disappointing, but I get the feeling that the one we attended was not a good examble of the genre.

The liturgy was over within 45 minutes. It seemed incredily rushed - almost to the point that the chanting seemed silly. There was very little participation by the congregation. Basically just the priest and the cantor.

I could see the potential from reading the missal. However, the reality didn’t do it justice. I would like to attend another one in a different church to give it another chance. I think it was just a poor example.

Blessings.
 
Most Eastern Catholic liturgies are a joke, at least to Orthodox who visit and see them. One even told me it was like a Latin Catholic going to an Anglican liturgy; it’s a parody.
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Dom, are you not painting with a rather broad brush here?

A more honest statement might have been to say “Some Orthodox who have visited some Eastern Catholic Liturgies think them to be a joke”

Remember the Orthodox are still in Schism.

Also let me paraphrase your statement and see what you think about it.

"Most* Indult Masses are a joke, at least to SSPX who visit and see them*. "

I have heard statements like this too.

I might even like to say that Most NOM Masses are a joke but I can’t because I have not been to all the Normative Masses in the world and as long as there is a valid consecration, I would never say any Mass or Divine Liturgy is a “joke”.

What I can, in all honesty say, is that “Most Normative Masses I have attended do not comply with the GIRM nor the intent of Vatican II”.

Am I nit picking - yes but sometimes it is necessary to be precise and not generalize.
 
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DominvsVobiscvm:
Unfortunately, the Eastern Catholic Churches are also infected with Modernism, and their liturgies with Latinizations, Modern or otherwise.

We Latins might not notice it too much, but many of our more traditional Eastern brethren would.

Most Eastern Catholic liturgies are a joke, at least to Orthodox who visit and see them. One even told me it was like a Latin Catholic going to an Anglican liturgy; it’s a parody.

Sad, but true.
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It seems to me there are at least two sides to this: what is said at Mass and how it is said. Interesting that you feel that way about the Anglican Mass. I would be back at my old Episcopalian Mass in a heart beat if it was suddenly catholic. The Book of Common Prayer is generally acknowledged to be among the most beautiful words in the English language. Here comes the second part, Do the Priest and People BELIEVE IT? If yes , it has great power, if not, and is said in a half hearted way, it falls flat. So two parts, what is said and done must have great meaning and the people must believe it. This has to be true of Novus Ordo, Tridentine, or Eastern. The eastern Mass I attended had both parts–I think it would be a good match for me if I got to sing a few Hymns I know.
I have to admit i get a little nervous at all this talk about form. I am a little embarrassed that I am so affected by form in my worship–but I am.
 
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OhioBob:
My family and I attended a Byzantine liturgy a few weeks back. I had heard much about it and was excited to go. It was a bit disappointing, but I get the feeling that the one we attended was not a good example of the genre.
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Bob,

You are probably correct in your assessment, but please don’t indict the entire Byzantine community or, for that matter, even the parish you attended. Let me explain…

I grew up in the Byzantine Catholic Church (Ruthenian) during the 50s and 60s. During this time period and before, many accommodations were made with regard to Byzantine worship in order to make it more “Latin” in feel. No need in this thread to rehash the “whys” behind this; trust that many if not most Byzantine parishes back then laid aside quite a bit of their traditions and roots in favor of a more “mainstream Catholic” feel for their worship practices. For example, my own parish church had pews and kneelers and even lacked an ikonostos (altar screen). As a young altar boy, I even wore garb that was identical to my Roman Catholic counterparts down the street.

Then came Vatican II. Sweeping reforms were initiated with regard to Latin Catholic worship. Many of these reforms were based upon the ancient traditions of the Churches of the East. Problem was, by this time most of the Churches of the East, at least in America, had lost many of these same traditions to the “Latinizations” I mentioned earlier. The command went out from Rome for those Eastern Churches to recapture and reinstitute those ancient traditions. Many of the Eastern Churches began following this directive immediately, but just as many of them did not… the “Latinizations” had become so ingrained into their worship that they became, by default, the norm to many of these Eastern Catholic faithful - they knew nothing else. They were, quite understandibly, reluctant to forfeit the way they had done things their entire lives - sadly, their very own traditions had become foreign to them!

Fast forward to today… many of those same folks who grew up in the Byzantine Church during the 50s and 60s are now in their own chronological 50s and 60s, age-wise. They never did quite “get it” with regard to recapturing their own traditions and felt (and still do) more “at home” with the Liturgy celebrated as it was when they were growing up. This is probably the sort of parish you and your family attended this past Sunday.

(continued)
 
It’s ironic, but the Eastern Catholic parishes that are more apt to adopt the ancient traditions are the ones with a younger rather than older parishioner base. Today’s “old timers” never really knew those traditions in the first place and are a bit reluctant to give up the comfort of their familiar practices. It’s the youngsters, on the other hand, who are anxious to recapture the glorious roots of their Church. Having not been around during the “Days of Latinization,” they want only to embrace their Eastern Catholicism within the fullness of its ancient traditions. This is reflected in the worship at these parishes.

Yesterday I attended the Divine Liturgy at Annunciation of the Mother of God parish near Chicago. Truly “heaven on earth!” This parish is blessed with both a parishioner base that is younger than the norm in the Byzantine Church and a priest with an energetic zeal for and love of the ancient traditions of our Church. The Liturgy lasted about an hour and twenty minutes. The ikonostos and iconography in this church are nothing short of breathtaking. Father celebrated the Liturgy along with a deacon (often times they use two deacons along with Father!), two altar servers and a robed lector. The cantor intoned the chants and the entire congregation immediately chimed in. Pews were available for those who chose to sit, but empty floor space took precedence in the church for those, like myself, who prefer the ancient tradition of standing through the entire Liturgy. Father was able to punctuate his sermon with visual references to the iconography that covered virtually ever square inch of the interior walls, especially relating to the current feasts of the Transfiguration and the Dormition.

Bob, I know from your name that you are in Ohio… I don’t know how close to the Chicago are you are, but I believe you and your family would truly appreciate Eastern Catholicism with a visit to a vibrant Byzantine Catholic parish like this one. Here’s their web site…

www.byzantinecatholic.com

If you ever have the occasion to bring your family to the Chicago area, your souls would be well-served with a visit to this wonderful parish!

a pilgrim
 
I have to agree with Pilgrim. The old timers are reluctant to change. The old saying “Father you can changes things but wait for us to die first” is prevelent in most parishes. It is a shame. Latininization happened because when the Byzantines first came to this country we weren’t even recognized as Catholics. How can you be Catholic and a married preist. It was sad but true. So I guess that rather than fight we “accepted” things like pews, kneelers, kneeling during consecraction. I guess that the Eastern Church wasn’t immuned to simulation just as every other immigrant culture wasn’t either. Another point to remember is a good deal of the immigrants were of peasant heritage, just as my parents were. They came hear to look for a better life.They weren’t educated as we are and did not know any difference. Many of these people came from regions where the Eastern Catholic church was forbidden. It was Orthodox or Roman Catholic if you came from the Western regions. I persoanly do not blame them. It is up to us, the educated Eastern Catholics to step up to the plate and transform our church to what it is supposed to be. It will be a diffucult journey but we have to do it or there will be no Eastern Catholic church. If there is parishes that seem to be more Western than Eastern give them some time the tide is changing. This is just the opinion and veiws of one person. Just like the saying goes every one has one… . Let us not get from the point that JohnCarroll had a very pleasant and sacred moment in our Eastern Church. Thankyou for stopping by and checking out the rest of the Catholic Church.

Glory be to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
 
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I saw this pic, and im not saying i know it all, but i thought there were no pews in the Eastern Catholic Churches?
 
I am not an Eastern Catholic but I know in the old world the churches both in the East and the West have no pews, at least the ones built in the Middle Ages. Pews were first invented in the Middle ages in England, but never really caught on until the Protestant Reformation. So in order for the Catholics to fit in more in America, they put pews in the churches.
 
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