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BListon
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For the Roman Catholics here a t CAF, what is your favorite eastern rite of the Church and why?
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Peter_J
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Interesting question, although I don’t know how many people here have attended more than one eastern rite. (Plus, keep in mind that many people identify more with church than with rite – for example, I would be more likely to say “Melkite” when describing myself than “Byzantine Rite”.)
In my case, I’ve experienced the Maronite Rite (which is used by only one church, the Maronite Church) and the Byzantine Rite (which is used by about 14 Catholic churches, of which I’ve attended Melkite and UGCC). But I think I’ve attended the Maronite liturgy too few times, and too long ago, to have much of an opinion about it.
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mymamamary
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Hungarian Greek Catholic Liturgy. I used to be able to Altar Serve, very beautiful MASS, lots of Incense and Prepartion. I Altar Served the Divine Liturgy QUITE extensivley…
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BVMFatima
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As a Latin Catholic, my favorite sui juris Church of the east is the Maronite church.
Why? 1. They Never seperated from Rome.
2. I love there liturgy and Lebanese culture.
3. I love there history and there Saints, especially Saint Rafqa of Lebanon
Why? 1. They Never seperated from Rome.
2. I love there liturgy and Lebanese culture.
3. I love there history and there Saints, especially Saint Rafqa of Lebanon
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BusterMartin
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Well, I’ve only been able to experience 2 rites: Maronite and Byzantine (UGCC and Ruthenian). Out of those, I don’t know if I could pick a favorite, really. They are all beautiful in their own way. If all three were equidistant from me, I’d probably alternate evenly between all three. Right now I go to my local Ruthenian parish often (weekly, if possible) since it’s very close and the others are substantially farther away.
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Seamus_L
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Ukrainian Catholic and Maronite for the distinctly Catholic feel to them.
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ConstantineTG
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Interpretation: severe Latinizations
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ByzCathCantor
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Respectfully, that is extraordinarily judgmental, and fails to acknowledge the realities of many of the Churches that “reunited” with Rome.
Further, these reunited Churches (once more commonly referred to pejoratively as “uniates”) became outcasts among their Orthodox brethren, and the odd stepchildren of the Catholic Communion, accepted by neither. It’s taken hundreds of years to attempt to reverse that attitude on both sides.
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BVMFatima
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I don’t know why you are taking this in such a negative way, never have i said that the other churches are lesser. The OP asked my favorite.sui juris Church, all I’m doing is.expressing why i like the Maronite Church, sorry i offended you
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ByzCathCantor
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Not to belabor the point (and notwithstanding questions regarding the historical veracity of the claim of never having “separated”), but when the number one reason cited for loving the Maronites is that they “never broke with Rome”, especially when posted in an Eastern Catholic subforum, suggests a defect with all other Eastern Churches (Catholic and Orthodox) which can surely be taken as offensive to members of those Churches.
Further, it takes away from the observation and point. The Maronite Liturgy is a beautiful expression of faith, to be cherished.
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BVMFatima
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It wasent my #1 reason why I love the Maronite Church, I was listing my reasons in a generic sense. Like I said, if I have offended you or anybody, I apologize!
Sorry for even posting, i will not continue posting in this thread.
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theistgal
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Don’t go away, dear; people on this forum tend to be a little oversensitive because of very real slights and insults in the past. But I know you didn’t intentionally mean it as an insult the way ByzCathCantor took it. :hug1:
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BVMFatima
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Thanks for understanding what I meant
Byzantine Catholics are as Catholic as Latins! ( Thought i should mention that because some might think I believe Otherwise )
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Denho
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The idea of perpetual union is also I think pushed so heavily in some circles that it becomes a bit of a joke to some of us who know a few more of the subtleties of the situation. Even setting aside the whole Monothelite thesis held by some, Sebastian Brock etc, I just find it a bit of a stretch to think that two churches could be in a true sense of communion if one of the parties forgot the other even existed… But that is neither here nor there. 
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ByzCathCantor
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BVMFatima - please do not shy away because of my pushback. I was not insulted, but know how all too well how such statements, even subtle and unintended, can offend and should be tempered. Yet, it is important to understand the Eastern Churches (Catholic and Orthodox) before making what can be seen as sweeping statements that do not fairly portray the facts. We are called to a deeper understanding of each other within the Catholic Communion. This is part of the process.
Theistgal - I’ll assume you understand the history of our own particular Church well. Did we ever intentionally sever communion with Rome? Frankly, we’re not the biggest EC Church, and we have our own faults for sure, but speaking of recent history and those here in America who remained loyal to the Catholic Church in the last century despite our own “schism” would find the insinuation that we are, or ever were separatists in any intentional way, to be highly offensive. Forbid us even widowed priests, yet remain Catholic. Forbid us married priests, yet remain Catholic. Forbid us the full Mysteries of Initiation, yet remain Catholic. Tear down the icon screens and break out the Rosary beads, yet not Catholic enough, etc.
Going back to the beginning, Sts. Cyril & Methodius converted our peoples, with Papal blessing. Yet, we were an Eastern Church at inception. Within a couple of centuries, Constantinople fell. We eventually reunited with Rome, after losing contact with our own center of reference for our traditional patrimony. Sure, there were social concerns at the level of the clergy that prompted the movement toward reunion, but to the average Carpathian, they didn’t really know the difference, nor was there ever any conscious rejection (nay. real deep appreciation) for the ecclesiology of the Apostolic Church or for Rome in particular. Looking at it purely objectively, the Orthodox have a better case to say we rejected Orthodoxy, which was in fact the charge leveled against uniatism at the core.
So I ask, are we any less Catholic for having been “separated”, in the sense that most Latin Catholics would assume (via conscious Schism)?
FWIW, and there are some who would pick at this analysis, and that’s fine, but its not a distortion of facts.
Our own Rite (Byzantine-Ruthenian) will always be my favorite. Our Prostopinije is cherished and recognized as a highly evolved form of chant (not bad for a bunch of peasants who never had a country of their own). Those who endured the trials they did here in immigrant America, while the Churches in the native lands fell under the shadow of Communism, surely believed in and loved what they had inherited as a tradition and patrimony, and defended it tooth and nail (my father and grandfather, among the staunchest defenders). Despite our own shortcomings, there’s much to love.
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theistgal
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It’s true, but sometimes even Catholics don’t understand that - which is why the sometimes prickly nature of forums like this. Now that you get it, you may be one of our goodwill ambassadors.Thanks for understanding what I meant
Byzantine Catholics are as Catholic as Latins! ( Thought i should mention that because some might think I believe Otherwise )
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BVMFatima
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Haha! Well when I was first coming to the Church I already learned and studied the Eastern Churches ( including Orthodox ) and I was either going to become Ukranian, Melkite, Or Maronite. But I felt home in the Latin Church and love the traditions of it also so that’s why I’m Latin Rite till this dayIt’s true, but sometimes even Catholics don’t understand that - which is why the sometimes prickly nature of forums like this. Now that you get it, you may be one of our goodwill ambassadors.
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Aramis
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ByzCathCantor: Rev. Fr. James preached on our Traditions this week…making almost all the same points you just did.
The Ruthenians have, despite trials galore, remained a vibrant and viable collection of particular churches. For some of us, it has been our refuge from a choice between a liturgy that resonates with us and remaining united to Rome. For others, a cultural heritage. Others still, just the local Catholic Church.
For me, the Ruthenian Recension of the Byzantine Rite is my spiritual home. It’s where I don’t have to fight myself to open myself to God’s graces offered in the liturgy. Where I can humble myself enough to be just another parishioner.
The Ruthenians have, despite trials galore, remained a vibrant and viable collection of particular churches. For some of us, it has been our refuge from a choice between a liturgy that resonates with us and remaining united to Rome. For others, a cultural heritage. Others still, just the local Catholic Church.
For me, the Ruthenian Recension of the Byzantine Rite is my spiritual home. It’s where I don’t have to fight myself to open myself to God’s graces offered in the liturgy. Where I can humble myself enough to be just another parishioner.
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ByzCathCantor
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Aramis
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Not that I’m aware of.
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