Greetings to the Eastern Catholicism Forum,
I just wanted to say that I am starting out to embark upon learning about the Eastern Churches and am excited to do so. I have a wonderful friend who is answering all of my basic questions and any other questions.
I wanted to let you guys know, that I wanted to start reading a bit more in this forum, and I may be asking questions that you guys might seem to know that they are basic and all, but it is going to be done out of sincerity and a desire to learn.
Now the first question I would like to ask is this. If you are a member of the Easter Churches, those in communion with Rome, or even the Orthodox, what draws you to that particular Church? Can you share with me some of the beauty and the things that mean the most to you in your traditions?
NOTE: I wish for this thread to be sharing of experiences and not a debating thread. I am not interested in learning who is right or wrong, or who’s way is better. I want to find out what’s common between the two Traditions and to learn more about my brothers and sisters in the Eastern Church.
God Bless.
Anathama Sit
For me I see it as catholic. I find the universal nature and catholic church to be boundless and capable of addressing all people and spiritual needs and growth. Attending the Byzantine, Antochian, alexandrian, armenian, assyrian traditions allows me to see the view of the kingdom from the other side of the river.
First its harder for me to attend. What i mean is I have to pay more attention and I can’t just follow along without thinking. As such I work harder and get more out of church. The differences and similarities let me ask the basic endless question for faith to blossom, why? I learn not just from the differences but also the similarities. When attending an ecc I still attend rcc. So I tend to look more carefully at a rcc, the liturgy, and mass with a more discerning eye and then I realize there are even more similarities I never realized.
Second, because I attend both I get to more fully embrace theology that is expressed differently but has uncontradictory, even complimentary meaning. Ecc seems even more profoundly different impart because of Vatican II. But there in we see the blessings of Vatican II and what we left behind. I can say I more fully appreciate the dogmas of Mary. I even view the hail Mary with a more offline understanding of the churche’s complete view. I get to view my faith more explicity.
Ecc also let’s me see how to improve my own experience in an rcc. For example, my daughter loves ecc because the adults talk to her. So now I find my self in rcc more willing to talk to children (in frontof theirmparents). The key here is to engage them. Another thing, in an ecc, kids do not leave, so I am much more accepting now in rcc when I hear a baby cry. I even welcome it. In an ecc because the parish is small, I realize more than ever how important congregating is to furthering our spiritual and community growth.
Ecc also let’s me feel more open about what I do in church and rather put more emphasis into how I pray and focus and put effort into,those things. In other it’s not the kneeling or the exact prayer words, but the fAith and love and hope and belief behindmthose words.
I suppose I could have grown spiritually without going into a ecc, but, for me I needed that comparison and contrast and change in environment of expression and liturgy to confront and push my own spiritual growth.
Thank you for making that clearer than I did. 
I usually try to abstain from it anyhow simply because my family uses it all the time (my wife comes from a VERY Italian family) - we almost never use butter; I think I buy butter once a year.