What do you like best (liturgically/devotionally) about your Rite?

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What do you like best that’s distinctive about your Rite compared to other Rites? I mean primarily with regard to the Liturgy and major devotions, but some arcitectural stuff can be in there too. I’d rather not focus on theology, and please do not talk badly about other Rites or why you converted, if you did. Just what you love about your Rite liturgically and devotionally.

Roman Rite people, what do you like about the Roman Rite? Byzantines? Chaldeans? Melkites? Anybody else? Let’s hear all the great stuff!

I’m from the Roman Rite. I love genuflecting, kneeling, the Confiteor, the Roman Canon, Latin, Gregorian Chant, the organ, Sanctus bells, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, statues, the Rosary, High Altars, Corpus Christi processions, devotion to the Sacred Heart, daily Mass, the Te Deum and Gloria, and plenty of others. If I think of others that are important I’ll post more later.
 
The music! -to hear the entire congregation singing the Divine Liturgy responses together, so the air is filled with harmony. I miss that when I attend Mass, because hardly anyone there sings.

On the other hand, I also appreciate the times of perfect silence in the Mass. It gives us a chance to “be silent and know that I am God”.
 
Bbigam, what a great idea for a thread!👍
I have to agree with Maryika and say number one for me is the music-the chanting of the liturgy of the priest and people back and forth. I guess second , a very close second, are the icons.
 
I’m of the Roman Rite.
  1. The variety of uses in the Roman Rite. Thanks to Pope Benedict XVI, the Roman Rite has multiple expressions, three that I know of (Ordinary Form, Extraordinary Form 1962, and Anglican Use), allowing many people to express their worship in multiple yet unified ways.
  2. The Ordinary Form Divine Office (i.e. the Liturgy of the Hours as published by authority of Pope Paul VI). Thanks to this reform I as a layman can participate, even if alone, in the official Prayer of the Church even in its entirety. I can’t do this using the Byzantine books.
  3. The simplicity of the Rite’s expression. However, the grandeur of the Byzantine rite is also what love about that. That’s why I also occasionally attend our local Ukrainian church.
 
What do I love about the Roman rite? Well, this list of things:
  • Latin Mass
  • Cassock+fascia
  • Rosary
  • Litanies
  • Divine Mercy devotion
  • Roman chasubles
  • Statues
  • Sacramentals such as the brown scapular, St. Benedict medal, holy water, etc.
  • Gregorian chant
  • Altar rails (where they occur)
  • Adoration
  • Genuflecting/kneeling
  • The great devotion to Our Lord’s passion
  • The theological influence of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine
  • Cenobitic monasticism
 
I thought of another one. I love that in the Roman Rite there are a variety of expressions of the religious life/evangelical counsels - not only cloistered monks and nuns, but also mendicant friars, priestly societies, societies of apostolic life, religious congregations with active apostolates, etc.
kitkatty said:
Bbigam, what a great idea for a thread!👍
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Thanks! I hope it catches on.
 
Have to love the Ruthenian Rite for the Chanting as others have said. Also the icons, incense, vestments, Theotokion, Blessed Bread (Litja especially), St. Nicholas (Big Feast in Byzantine Churches, at least Ruthenian and Ukranian), Chotki (Jesus Prayer), Prostrations (Especially my buddy St. Andrew of Crete and his 100+ Prostrations Service), Vital Monasticism (Pretty much all Bishops are Monks), Married and Celibate Priests, Riassa, Skufia, and Kamilavka (Those Three are basically things the Tonsured can wear, Last 2 are hats and the First looks like a Wizard’s Robe almost 🙂 well that is my short list for now.

Oh One Note that I forgot to mention: Monasticism as you know comes in 3 Forms Eremitic, Cenobitic, and Skete. Often times if you hear of the Old Desert Fathers they practiced Eremitic such as Anthony of Egypt, for even “hermits” had contact with society. Big today in the East is Skete which is a Monastic Community where You live in Separate Cells, but go to Liturgy and sometimes eat together. Cenobitic if I am right occurs more in the West where they are actually with the people. Finally, one important note is that even Monastics in the East are not “cloistered” to their monastery, if they have a calling to go out then they may receive permission from their hegumen (abbot) and they can teach, or give speeches etc. But they are still in some form connected with the Monastery and are not Cenobitic more like they go to the monastery and during certain times leave to be with the people, but they go back.

Edit of the previous note. We do have cenobitic in the sense that it is monks in a community, just not often times roaming around in a town is what I mean. Since I understand Cenobitic can be a monastery community of monks or one where the monks just live in a town perhaps.
 
Since I’m in transition, here’s what I like from both the Roman Rite, and the Ukrainian tradition of the Byzantine Rite

Byzantine-Ukrainian
  • hymns, particularly the musical sets we use
  • worshiping with all the senses (incense, iconostasis hymns and chanting, kissing icons)
  • children kissing the Book of Gospels during the Little Entrance, and holding candles during the reading of Gospels. I take my son for this.
  • Poetic prayers
  • Good flow of Liturgy, hardly any lull moments except for Homily
  • Participation. Since you’re singing throughout the Liturgy, you feel you are a part of offering prayers to God
Roman Rite - OF
  • Old Testament readings. I had a priest who does wonderful Homilies and he ties in the Old Testament reading with the Epistle with the Gospel.
  • Participation
  • Short and concise, especially for weekdays. I don’t mind a 1.5 hour Liturgy on Sundays, but on weekdays you have to get to work.
 
The synthesis of all the senses together - the cloud of incense in which the temple is immersed, the iconastasis, the chant, the frequent crossings and prostrations, all combined together.

Somebody else expressed it in better words than I ever could, though:
We went to Greece, and the Greeks led us to the edifice where they worship their God, and we knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth. For on earth there is no such splendor or such beauty and we are at a loss to describe it. We only know that God dwells there among men, and their service is fairer than the ceremonies of other nations. For we cannot forget that beauty. Every man, after tasting something sweet, is afterwards unwilling to accept that which is bitter.
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porthos11 said:
I’m of the Roman Rite.
  1. The variety of uses in the Roman Rite. Thanks to Pope Benedict XVI, the Roman Rite has multiple expressions, three that I know of (Ordinary Form, Extraordinary Form 1962, and Anglican Use), allowing many people to express their worship in multiple yet unified ways.
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Most older religious orders (Benedictine, Dominican, and Carmelite for example) also have their own distinct ritual variations.
 
I forgot to add that in the OF, because of the 3-year Liturgical cycle, you get to go through most of the Gospels
 
Hi,

I am of Syro-Malabar Rite. I think many of you don’t hear speaking about it often. 🙂 I would suggest googling it out if you want to know more since this post is not intended for that.

But to give you a some back ground info

“The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is an East Syrian Rite, Major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Catholic Church. It is one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian denominations with more than 3.6 million believers.[2] It is also the second largest Eastern Catholic Church in communion with the Bishop of Rome”

To be honest till around 5 years ago that means till I was 23 or so, I didn’t know that there was another catholic rites. I thought around the world the rites are same. But lately I got for both Latin and Syro Malabar rite Mass and other liturgy.

We have llots in common

Rosary
Litanies
Divine Mercy devotion
Statues
Sacramentals such as the brown scapular, St. Benedict medal, holy water, etc.
Adoration
Genuflecting/kneeling
The great devotion to Our Lord’s passion
The theological influence of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine
Way of the Cross
Feasts
Novenas
And many more.

The difference is the entire structure of the liturgies especially of the Holy Mass.

I love roman rite and I attend it too. I hope I am not offending anyone here. I feel the ordinary roman mass is very short. I am not speaking of extra ordinary form. I have never attended it. I have never attended a mass in Latin either. I also feel from entrance Hymn to the readings it goes really fast. and a long sermon and after the sermon the mass gets over really fast.

May be because I am so used to the Syro Malabar rite, which has a strong influence of syrian church, has a very poetic language, elaborate prayers and much more lay participation in prayers and singing. In Roma rite I feel there is not enough time between offertory and sacramental words reciting part.

What is so special about my rite , its people participation, strict guidelines and observations of Lent, feasts, elaborate mass, the singing, poetic language. And During the mass I have plenty of time to pray, offer, ask forgiveness, pray for the whole world, meditate on the entire salvation process.

Now I am waiting to learn more about other rites.

Joe
 
If there were one practice I would single out in my rite that I love the most, it would be infant communion.
 
joeantony said:
We have llots in common

Rosary
Litanies
Divine Mercy devotion
Statues
Sacramentals such as the brown scapular, St. Benedict medal, holy water, etc.
Adoration
Genuflecting/kneeling
The theological influence of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine
Way of the Cross
Novenas
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Actually the vast majority of these are Latinizations, i.e. they were introduced into your Rite in an effort to make your Rite look more Latin. As the Holy Father has instructed that the Eastern Rites should reclaim their heritage and restore your ancient practices, don’t be surprised of your patriarch orders them abolished in the future.
The difference is the entire structure of the liturgies especially of the Holy Mass.
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I love roman rite and I attend it too. I hope I am not offending anyone here. I feel the ordinary roman mass is very short. I am not speaking of extra ordinary form. I have never attended it. I have never attended a mass in Latin either. I also feel from entrance Hymn to the readings it goes really fast. and a long sermon and after the sermon the mass gets over really fast.
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No need to fear. We Romans know that our Rite is known for its simplicity and brevity (aka shortness) as the Eastern Rites are known for elaborate ritual and grandeur. Such is the appeal of the various Rites.
May be because I am so used to the Syro Malabar rite, which has a strong influence of syrian church, has a very poetic language, elaborate prayers and much more lay participation in prayers and singing. In Roma rite I feel there is not enough time between offertory and sacramental words reciting part.
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What is so special about my rite , its people participation, strict guidelines and observations of Lent, feasts, elaborate mass, the singing, poetic language. And During the mass I have plenty of time to pray, offer, ask forgiveness, pray for the whole world, meditate on the entire salvation process.
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Now I am waiting to learn more about other rites.
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Joe
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Actually, our Rites are quite related as St. Peter made his first see at Antioch, the Patriarchy of the Syrian Rites. From there he moved to Rome, but I’m certain our own Roman Rite would have carried over some elements of the Antiochene, although it would develop on its with its beauty and noble simplicity.

But it’s the beautiful ritual and language that makes me love the Ukrainian Byzantine Divine Liturgy as well, as much as I love a reverent Roman Rite Mass in both forms (Ordinary and Extraordinary). It’s great that you uphold and love your Rite and you should make the effort to educate other Catholics who know so little about the other Rites and Churches in the Catholic communion.
 
For me with the Divine Liturgy it is everything. Using all of our senses in our worship. The incense, the constant bowing and crossing ourselves, everyone singing the responses. The flow and movement of the Liturgy. All the icons, the candles.

I would also add that I think just as important as all this is to me is also the fellowship after the Liturgy. The Byzantine parishes I have been to (Ruthenian and Melkite) everyone goes to the fellowship (coffee hour some would call it in the Roman Church) after the Liturgy and spends time with each other. For me this is a very important aspect of our tradition.

Something that I miss when I must attend the Mass on a Sunday.
 
Being beaten soundly about the head with the theology both in church architecture and the Liturgy texts.

Byzantine theology is in your face in the liturgy. Always, and everywhere, present.
 
The children are actively involved. All the boys are invited to serve with Father not just two on schedule like in my daughters Roman parish. At the Hymn of the Incarnation the children (our candle bearers) girls and boys may come forward and take a candle for the Little Entrance Procession. Some days there are more children in the procession then adults in the pews. 😃 At the Evangetion (Gospel) the children are invited to come before the Altar for the reading of the Holy Gospel. After the Gospel Reading the children are permitted to kiss the Book and return to their seats.
At the Cherubic Hymn the children again come forward to be the candle bearers for the Great Entrance Procession.
So many more ways this is so special to me.
The smells and the blessings and so many times we cross ourselves. It is just so much that I can’t divide it.
 
KathleenElsie said:
The children are actively involved. All the boys are invited to serve with Father not just two on schedule like in my daughters Roman parish. At the Hymn of the Incarnation the children (our candle bearers) girls and boys may come forward and take a candle for the Little Entrance Procession. Some days there are more children in the procession then adults in the pews. 😃 At the Evangetion (Gospel) the children are invited to come before the Altar for the reading of the Holy Gospel. After the Gospel Reading the children are permitted to kiss the Book and return to their seats.
At the Cherubic Hymn the children again come forward to be the candle bearers for the Great Entrance Procession.
So many more ways this is so special to me.
The smells and the blessings and so many times we cross ourselves. It is just so much that I can’t divide it.
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We don’t do the Great Entrance thing, but we pretty much have everything else. The children hold the candles during the Gospel reading. I would be among them, 10 month old son on one arm, candle on the other 😃 sometimes my son would try to slam dunk on the candle holder :eek:

We kiss the Book of Gospels at the Little Entrance and again after the Gospel reading. All other children are on the floor but the altar server would be at the top of the steps with the priest. Hopefully my son will agree to serve when he’s older. Can’t wait for that.
 
The OF in Latin of the the Latin (Roman) Church:

-Gregorian chant of Latin propers by schola, Mode V Gloria & Credo sung by all, chanted Roman Canon, chanted Gospel and intercessions by deacon
-incense (Holy Smoke!)
-chanted dialog between priest and people
-altar rail
-communion by intinction
-clergy wear decent vestments and altar servers/readers decent albs

The Anglican Use of the Latin (Roman) Church:

-choral ordinary of the Mass, chanted creed, spoken but texturally rich Roman Canon, chanted Gospel and intercessions by deacon
-chanted minor propers
-chanted dialog between priest and people
-altar rail
-quality hymns with organ
-incense
-communion by intinction
-solemn use of holy water by priest in Lent during singing of Latin chant
-clergy wear decent vestments and altar servers/readers decent albs
-choral Evensong (Vespers)
-schola singing Latin propers during major Holy Days (Easter Sunday, etc.)
-Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols during Advent

-Blessing of throats in Latin Church
-Easter Vigil with opening ceremony at baptismal font
-solemn declaration of Christmas at Midnight Mass

The Maronite Catholic Church:

-chanted dialog between priest and people
-sung consecration by priests in Syriac
-communion by intinction
-incense
-clergy wear decent vestments

And this list is by no means exclusive.

And while I’m at it, Happy Feast of St. Maron (1600 years since his passing)!
 
I have to agree with Maryika and say number one for me is the music-the chanting of the liturgy of the priest and people back and forth
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