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LordNecro
Guest
What in your opinion makes Eastern better than Roman? I mean this solely in the context of, why exactly are you Eastern instead of Roman? I am a Latin-rite Catholic looking into the Eastern stuff. Please help!
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Eucharisted
Guest
It depends on your preference of rites. There are different rites in the Catholic Church.
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Eucharisted
Guest
Rites of the Catholic Church: mncuf.org/rites.htm
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mardukm
Guest
Dear brother LordNecro,
On the subjective level, of course, there is such a thing as “better.” This is conditioned on which Church or Tradition can best serve or inspire you spiritually - and THAT is the key question. For instance, those who believe apophatic theology is more spiritually edifying will choose the Eastern or Oriental Churches; those who have a thirst for the rational and intellectual dimension of faith will probably find a better home in the Western Church. There are many other considerations, of course. A common one is the Liturgy: those who believe beauty and grandeur and sense of solemnity to be more spiritually edifying will find a “better” home in the Eastern/Oriental Churches; while those who prefer what they perceive to be “better” participation in the Liturgy, or more connectedness with the celebrant will probably prefer the Latin Church that celebrates according to the NO. There are, of course, overlaps. For example, the rational/intellectual dimension of the Faith is also present in the Eastern and Oriental Churches (for Easterns, it is primarily in theology; for Orientals, particularity the Copts, it is part of our spirituality); again, beauty/grandeur/solemnity is certainly not absent from a traditional NO mass, and is certainly present in a TLM.
In short, your only criterion should be: which Tradition do I feel inspires me the most in my relationship with God.
Blessings,
Marduk
I hope you understand that “better” is a purely subjective quality. Objectively speaking, Eastern, Western or Oriental Catholic Churches are not “better” than any other one. They each have the same Grace, and can dispense the same Grace, that any other Catholic Church can.
On the subjective level, of course, there is such a thing as “better.” This is conditioned on which Church or Tradition can best serve or inspire you spiritually - and THAT is the key question. For instance, those who believe apophatic theology is more spiritually edifying will choose the Eastern or Oriental Churches; those who have a thirst for the rational and intellectual dimension of faith will probably find a better home in the Western Church. There are many other considerations, of course. A common one is the Liturgy: those who believe beauty and grandeur and sense of solemnity to be more spiritually edifying will find a “better” home in the Eastern/Oriental Churches; while those who prefer what they perceive to be “better” participation in the Liturgy, or more connectedness with the celebrant will probably prefer the Latin Church that celebrates according to the NO. There are, of course, overlaps. For example, the rational/intellectual dimension of the Faith is also present in the Eastern and Oriental Churches (for Easterns, it is primarily in theology; for Orientals, particularity the Copts, it is part of our spirituality); again, beauty/grandeur/solemnity is certainly not absent from a traditional NO mass, and is certainly present in a TLM.
In short, your only criterion should be: which Tradition do I feel inspires me the most in my relationship with God.
Blessings,
Marduk
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samcarter14
Guest
I don’t think the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church are “better”. But I prefer the style of worship in the Eastern Church. I prefer the traditions of infant communion, face-to-face confessions, standing throughout Liturgy, the Divine Liturgy itself, written by St John Chyrsostom.
The Divine Liturgy is the manner of worship that speaks most fully to my spirit. There are those who find the Latin Mass, or the Ordinary Form of the Mass, to speak most fully to them. The beauty of the Church is that there is room for all these different expressions of worship.
The Divine Liturgy is the manner of worship that speaks most fully to my spirit. There are those who find the Latin Mass, or the Ordinary Form of the Mass, to speak most fully to them. The beauty of the Church is that there is room for all these different expressions of worship.
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Cluny
Guest
Generally speaking, in Latin parishes, you’re limited to two types of worship: Mass and made up devotions like novenas, adoration, Stations of the Cross, Benediction, and others that are not strictly liturgical.
In the Byzantine tradition especially, Vespers, Matins, and other parts of the Divine Office are publicly celebrated as well as the Eucharistic Sacrifice. (Of course, in one sense, even the Divine Office and our other services are “made up”; people had to be involved in their composition.)
Latin prayerbooks for the laity are (except for hand missals) made up of all sorts of private devotions; their contents vary. Eastern prayerbooks will have some of these, but mostly will be composed of extracts from the Divine Office during the year; their contents will therefore not vary as much.
I’m not saying this to imply that one is better than the other, but simply to point out a difference.
Latin prayerbooks for the laity are (except for hand missals) made up of all sorts of private devotions; their contents vary. Eastern prayerbooks will have some of these, but mostly will be composed of extracts from the Divine Office during the year; their contents will therefore not vary as much.
In the Byzantine tradition especially, Vespers, Matins, and other parts of the Divine Office are publicly celebrated as well as the Eucharistic Sacrifice. (Of course, in one sense, even the Divine Office and our other services are “made up”; people had to be involved in their composition.)
Latin prayerbooks for the laity are (except for hand missals) made up of all sorts of private devotions; their contents vary. Eastern prayerbooks will have some of these, but mostly will be composed of extracts from the Divine Office during the year; their contents will therefore not vary as much.
I’m not saying this to imply that one is better than the other, but simply to point out a difference.
Latin prayerbooks for the laity are (except for hand missals) made up of all sorts of private devotions; their contents vary. Eastern prayerbooks will have some of these, but mostly will be composed of extracts from the Divine Office during the year; their contents will therefore not vary as much.
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LordNecro
Guest
Cheers guys. I’m aware that one isn’t better than the other in an objective sense, as Marduk pointed out - I was talking purely in anyone who had anything to say’s subjective sense. This has been pretty helpful, thank you.
What is the difference between Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox?
What is the difference between Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox?
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crickett54
Guest
I am a cradle Byzantine Catholic and can’t imagine being anything else.The candles, the incense, the beauty of the icons, the chanting of the liturgy involve all my senses in worship.Just being something my ancestors were and carrying that on is important to me.I am Byzantine to the bone and wouldn’t have it any other way
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FK04US
Guest
In the Roman Rite we have the Liturgy of the Hours, whose contents are not up to the individual to change, really. If I am not mistaken, they are fixed for the liturgical year and are the same for all that pray with them.
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ziapueblo
Guest
What I love about the Catholic Church is Her diversity. I grew up Latin-Rite and am now attending a Byzantine-Rite Church on a regular basis. Because of my work schedule I attend weekday Mass in the mornings at a Roman Catholic Church (the Byzantine Catholic Church has its Mass at noon and I cannot make it), on Saturday nights I attend Vespers and the Divine Liturgy, and on Sundays I attend Matins and the Divine Liturgy. In this way I feel that I am able to fully encompass the beauty of our Church.
Does anyone else do something like this? Should I even be “mixing it up” like this?
God bless,
ZP
Does anyone else do something like this? Should I even be “mixing it up” like this?
God bless,
ZP
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wynd
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In a nutshell, Eastern Catholics are in communion with the Pope. Orthodox are not.
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Eggnotz
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One has to be in a place where they feel spiritually integrated. Been East. Didn’t work. Now I’m Latin. Your mileage may vary…
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Cluny
Guest
In the Roman Rite we have the Liturgy of the Hours, whose contents are not up to the individual to change, really. If I am not mistaken, they are fixed for the liturgical year and are the same for all that pray with them.
Yes. All the Apostolic Churches have the Divine Office in some form.
However, it never became a staple of parish worship in the Latin Church, alas, though devout individuals have always recited at least some of it privately.
It IS generally publicly celebrated in Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox Churches, at least on Sundays.
Yes. All the Apostolic Churches have the Divine Office in some form.
However, it never became a staple of parish worship in the Latin Church, alas, though devout individuals have always recited at least some of it privately.
It IS generally publicly celebrated in Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox Churches, at least on Sundays.
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Aramis
Guest
True; the Hours are likewise fixed in Byzantine use.
Latins, however, have a wide array of non-hours non-liturgical devotions (Scapulars, Miraculous Medals, Rosary, and many, many more). The hours are a liturgical devotion, even when taken privately. There are also other latin liturgical and paraliturgical devotions (novenas, group rosaries, Adoration)
Byzantines, by comparison, have liturgical or paraliturgical forms for most devotions; the chotki is non-liturgical, and is a substitute for the hours (historically). Akathists are usually done liturgically. Vespers and Matins are disseminated in priest-lead forms normally, with reader’s forms being available with some digging. Deaconal forms exist in some byzantine jurisdictions, while in others, deacons use Reader’s forms.
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Madaglan
Guest
One major difference between Latin devotions and Byzantine devotions I’ve noticed is that many Latin devotions promise specific graces for the completion of the prayer/action over a set period of time, while Byzantine devotions are not as concerned with promises or specific results.
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Aramis
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Quite true. In fact, there is a directory of indulgences which delineates the traditional indulgence (in terms of time off from purgatory) for all the formally approved devotions.
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Cluny
Guest
Quite true. In fact, there is a directory of indulgences which delineates the traditional indulgence (in terms of time off from purgatory) for all the formally approved devotions.
The days or years of indulgences were NOT time out of purgatory, though popularly believed as such.
They were a statement that this or that pious act was the equivalent of a penance of strict fasting for that long.
The days or years of indulgences were NOT time out of purgatory, though popularly believed as such.
They were a statement that this or that pious act was the equivalent of a penance of strict fasting for that long.
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Madaglan
Guest
You are right about indulgences being rooted in penance.
What is interesting though is that indulgences are also seen as a remission of temporal punishment due to sin. The more that temporal punishments due to sin are remitted in this life, the less temporal punishment due to sin one will suffer in Purgatory. So, while not time out of Purgatory, there is the sense of less suffering of punishments in Purgatory. At least, that’s what the Latin belief seems to me.
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Cluny
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What is interesting though is that indulgences are also seen as a remission of temporal punishment due to sin.
Which is what most of these long penances were. Many of them are still in the RUDDER.
The whole Eastern concept of penances was not for temporal punishment, but for correction and moral and spiritual training.
Which is what most of these long penances were. Many of them are still in the RUDDER.
The whole Eastern concept of penances was not for temporal punishment, but for correction and moral and spiritual training.
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St_Francis
Guest
Altho I tend towards being rational and logical (or at least I think I do 
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I read about a saint once who was trying to decide between two types of monasticism. He felt very drawn towards one, but chose the other, because, he said, the one he chose would stretch him away from his normal self. (I don’t remember which saint this was and I have totally paraphrased his words–sorry about that!) That’s how I feel about the Divine Liturgy.
), if I had my choice, I would be Byzantine. The Divine Liturgy just seems to pick me up and away towards God…I read about a saint once who was trying to decide between two types of monasticism. He felt very drawn towards one, but chose the other, because, he said, the one he chose would stretch him away from his normal self. (I don’t remember which saint this was and I have totally paraphrased his words–sorry about that!) That’s how I feel about the Divine Liturgy.
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