Western Rites

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Cavaille-Coll

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I have always been interested in the surviving Western Rites of the Catholic Church aside from the Roman Rite. These would include the Mozarabic, Ambrosian, Bragan, Dominican, Carmelite, and Carthusian Rites. Forgive my ignorance, but why is it that Eastern Rite Catholic churches continue to spread, but the non-Roman Western Rites do not? Is it possible, for example, to become a Mozarabic Catholic, or to have an Ambrosian diocese, or is the term “rite” referring only to the liturgical practice?
 
A rite refers to a liturgical practice within the 23 churches that make up the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
 
Well, obvously, the Dominican, Carmelite and Carthusian rites are not going to spread. In fact, those orders don’t use their specific rites anymore. Go to the website for Parkminster Abbey and you’ll find that even the Carthusians have “sold out,” so to speak. The other rites have always been regional, as opposed to specific to certain orders. There was never any quesion of them spreading within the Wester Church, because it was always the rule that the Roman Rite prevailed unless a special recognition were given to a certain ancient tradition. These “indults,” if you will, go back to Pius V. Aside from that, what possible motivation could any wester parish have for celebrating an Amrosian or Mozarabic liturgy?

On the other hand, though I am not trying to express approval, it is easy to understand why the Easter Orthodox (particularly the Greek) has spread. It has maintained in a more genuine fashion a more respectful, authentic in a sense of being ancient, solemn and beautiful liturgy. Among other things, and I know there are exceptions, in general if they don’t have both a priest and a deacon plus servers, they just won’t celebrate it at all rather than celebrate it as though out of the back of a truck.
 
Well, obvously, the Dominican, Carmelite and Carthusian rites are not going to spread. In fact, those orders don’t use their specific rites anymore. Go to the website for Parkminster Abbey and you’ll find that even the Carthusians have “sold out,” so to speak. The other rites have always been regional, as opposed to specific to certain orders. There was never any quesion of them spreading within the Wester Church, because it was always the rule that the Roman Rite prevailed unless a special recognition were given to a certain ancient tradition. These “indults,” if you will, go back to Pius V. Aside from that, what possible motivation could any wester parish have for celebrating an Amrosian or Mozarabic liturgy?
To second jbuck’s observation, the non-Roman Western rites differ from Eastern rites in that none of them is the proper rite of a particular church sui iuris. In the Latin church, the (new) Roman Rite is the default rite. Celebration of other rites is, while not necessary by indult in the sense in which we think of the indult for the old Roman rite, nevertheless a special exception. Interestingly, though, I’ve heard that the first time Paul VI celebrated Mass as pope he made some small blunders because he wasn’t use to the Roman rite - he had been archbishop of Milan, which celebrates(/-ed) the Ambrosian rite as its proper rite.
 
Thanks for all of your (name removed by moderator)ut. Marian Carroll’s list was particularly helpful.
 
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