Which calendar do I follow?

[AaronK]

I was baptized in the Latin rite, but I have been attending a Byzantine church quite a bit and may become a member there. One point of confusion for me has been which calendar I am supposed to follow. January is a good example: January 1st is a holy day of obligation only in the Latin rite; January 6 (Theophany) is a holy day of obligation only in the Eastern rite. I attended Mass on Jan. 1st, but I didn’t even know about Jan. 6 until the following Sunday.

I would assume that one is bound to the laws of the rite one is confirmed in, even if one registers as a member of the parish (barring an official change of rites). However, a while back the bulletin said that a certain holy day was obligatory to all members and regular attenders, or something to that effect… so I was a little uncertain.

This question would apply to fasting rules as well – the East is generally more strict, but I have also noticed that Fridays following certain feasts are expressly NOT days of fasting in the East, while in the West almost every Friday is a day of penance.

 

[Aramis]

one is bound to the rules of the church sui iuris of one’s enrollment, unless one has domicile or quasi-domicile in a place without one’s own rite; one may in that latter case, follow the rules of the local ordinary.

In general, attending in an EC parish, you should follow both for purposes of holy days of obligation. (1st & 6th, for example), and the stricter of the fasting requirements, but you are only required to follow the one of your canonical enrollment.

 

[Cluny]

One thing–being a registered parishioner of a Byzantine Church does not change your being canonically enrolled in the Latin Church.

For this, you must apply for a change of sui juris church.

 

[AaronK]

unless one has domicile or quasi-domicile in a place without one’s own rite; one may in that latter case, follow the rules of the local ordinary.

By this, do you mean that if I do not have access to the Latin rite, I may follow the Byzantine laws?

Or perhaps more commonly in the US, Eastern-rite Catholics may follow Latin laws if they do not have an Eastern Catholic church in the area?

In general, attending in an EC parish, you should follow both for purposes of holy days of obligation. (1st & 6th, for example), and the stricter of the fasting requirements, but you are only required to follow the one of your canonical enrollment.

So this is just your suggestion, in order to participate fully in your parish, I take it?

 

[Madaglan]

I was baptized in the Latin rite, but I have been attending a Byzantine church quite a bit and may become a member there. One point of confusion for me has been which calendar I am supposed to follow. January is a good example: January 1st is a holy day of obligation only in the Latin rite; January 6 (Theophany) is a holy day of obligation only in the Eastern rite. I attended Mass on Jan. 1st, but I didn’t even know about Jan. 6 until the following Sunday.

I would assume that one is bound to the laws of the rite one is confirmed in, even if one registers as a member of the parish (barring an official change of rites). However, a while back the bulletin said that a certain holy day was obligatory to all members and regular attenders, or something to that effect… so I was a little uncertain.

This question would apply to fasting rules as well – the East is generally more strict, but I have also noticed that Fridays following certain feasts are expressly NOT days of fasting in the East, while in the West almost every Friday is a day of penance.

The Mayan Long Count Calendar is best for dating Apocalyptic destruction of the world, but Aramis’ advice is good too.

Until you actually make a change of sui iurus Church, you should follow the calendar of the Church in which you are a canonical member.

 

[Aramis]

By this, do you mean that if I do not have access to the Latin rite, I may follow the Byzantine laws?

Or perhaps more commonly in the US, Eastern-rite Catholics may follow Latin laws if they do not have an Eastern Catholic church in the area?

Pretty much; there are few places a Latin will find that the case, and many that an Eastern (Byzantine, Syriac, Copt or Armenian rite) will find no local ordinary of their own Rite… and in such cases, one is permitted to follow local custom.

So, if Latin, unless moving to Russia, Ethiopia, or to a remote Iraqi village, or similar place, you are still expected to follow the calendar and obligations of your Latin diocese of domicile or quasi-domicile. You can fulfill them in the EC parish, tho’.

In the same manner, when a Latin travels, he holds to the calendar of his home diocese, unless he moves (domocile) or takes long-term transient lodging (quasi-domocile) within another diocese.

So this is just your suggestion, in order to participate fully in your parish, I take it?

Yes. Well, not just mine. Late Eparch George’s as well. (Van Nuys.) And Rev. Fr. Steve Greskowiak’s, too.

 

[Diak]

I would disagree with several of the posts above. If you belong to a parish, follow the liturgical life of that parish, East or West. The domestic Church should be the extension of the parish, and not something in a sort of dualistic opposition.

Regardless of what your “official” enrollment is on paper, if it is for your spiritual benefit you can follow any particular tradition of the Catholic Church.

One cannot fully appreciate any Eastern particular tradition without partaking of some of the spiritual riches offered through the liturgical life of that Church’s calendar.

In fact, this is a good thing if you are considering the eventual transfer of particular Churches; it makes much more sense to be familiar with the spiritual practices of that particular Church having lived them “on a trial basis” rather than transferring without understanding what you are getting into.

This, of course, does not preclude your attending uniquely Latin devotions and liturgical services.

 

[gloria97000]

I agree with Diak – If it is your church and your community, it is where you probably should express your commitment and belief. Further, Holy Days on another calendar could easily slip your mind or memory if you are not regularly attending a church of that discipline. When “checking out” a new sui juris church, however, I can appreciate the confusion…your heart can be telling you to follow one, or the other, or both traditions at the same time! The intention certainly isn’t to make you scrupulous regarding which calendar you follow, just to know that you are following a faithful expression of Catholicism. Among some Eastern traditions, formal canonical transfer isn’t necessarily exercised all the time - but my church continues to be my church, and I will follow its calendar and disciplines as best I understand.