Years ago, while an impulsive teenager, I changed Rites from Latin to Byzantine. To make a long story short, I was active only for a couple of months in the Byzantine Rite, and returned to practicing the Latin Rite shortly thereafter.

Not that it matters to God, but how feasible is it to 'switch back' to the Latin Rite? I might add that I did not practice any Catholicism, Eastern or Western, for over 10 years, and am only now returning to the Faith. It's been too long that I've been away, and I want to come home. But, my home has NEVER been in the Byzantine Rite. It's always been in the Latin Rite - it's the way I pray, the way I think, etc.

Given the circumstances, how likely do you think that I can get a transfer or Rite approved (again!), now that I'm a fully-functioning adult and aware of things?

Thanks, and shalom to all.

Frodo Baggins

Welcome home! Don't worry about the legalistic issue of whether you technically belong to the Roman or Byzantine Church. Find your parish home and worship there. Each of us is called to a particular Christian lifestyle - East or West. Should you have a specific reason in the future to warrant a formal change of Church (aka "Change of Suri Iuris Church" or "Change of Rite") worry about it then.

Best wishes - Christ is Risen!

My wife and I have a slightly different situation. My wife was baptised a Roman Catholic, but her parents were far short of devout and they rarely attended mass. For years she didn't go to a church of any kind. As time went on she felt that something was missing from her life, so she joined a church - a protestant church. After about five years she felt something was incomplete about her faith and that there was something more (especially with what her church called communion). She is ethnically Slovak and half her family is Byzantine, but she knew very little about the Byzantine Rite. When she found it she was very happy and went to Divine Liturgy as often as she could. There was only one problem: since she joined the protestant church she couldn't participate fully in the liturgy. We were married in a Byzantine Rite church, we now live in Tulsa and attend the Divine Liturgy here (usually) every week and, since we don't have a church to attend for vespers, we use the vespers for home use on a regular basis.

My wife hasn't received communion since we have been participating in the Divine Liturgy and she wants to "reconvert" to the Byzantine Rite. Can she go through the process like any other protestant joining the church, or does she have to join the Roman Rite, or what?

To be reconciled to the Church your wife needs to go to her pastor (or any Catholic priest) and receive the Sacramental Mystery of Reconciliation (Confession). She will most likely be expected to give a short account of her journey into Protestantism and profess her desire to reunite fully with the Catholic Church. The confessing priest will then instruct her as to any specific he would require of her (special preparation, etc.). After receiving this Sacramental Mystery she will be welcome to partake of the Eucharist in any of the Catholic Churches. I am not a canon law expert but my understanding is that your wife would technically be a member of the Roman Church with the freedom to choose to become a Byzantine by virtue of you, her husband, being a member of the Byzantine Church.

Please encourage her to call your pastor and tell her: Welcome Home! Christ is Risen!

Dear Servant of God,Llama

Christ is Risen !

Your wife aleady changed to the Byzantine Rite by virtue of her marriage to you. According to Canon Law, when two Catholics of *different* rites marry they are to be married in the man's church and they and their future family are to follow the rite of the man. (*Same* rite girl's church). If you both were married in a Byzantine Catholic Church under the Byzantine rite of marriage (crowning ceremony) then you are both Byzantine Catholic according to Canon Law. Just show your marriage license to any priest. All your wife needs to do is go to confession. There is no reason why you two should not take advantage of all that the Catholic Church has to offer. Start receiving the Sacramental Mysteries now. Welcome home !!

Joe Prokopchak
archsinner

frodo, did you formally change churches? if so, then you do have a problem. however, as ouor brothers noted, the problem provides no barrier to your celebrating in the church you choose. Since you are Catholic, you can celebrate in any Catholic church. however, there are severe requirements if you wish to change again. unless youo have a special reason to do this, such as seeking ordination, or some special thing of the church you wish to participate in, yyour formal membership is no barrier to your full participation. you can look at canon law, i could do it for you, but best to do it yourself, unless you have no access. Christ is Risen! oh, membership is very vague in certain circumstances since the churches have changed and the latin church esp has not annotated birth certificates as required by canon law. but since you made a formal change, your status is clear.

i was talking with my pastor, a byz catholic/ruthenian priest, and brought up your qustion. he stated that changing back is not possible. of coourse you can choose where you practice your religion, but you cannot change again once you have made a formal change. he said you might get an indult from the Holy See if you needed it for some reason, marriage, holy orders. as i thought.

I have formally requested the transfer from the Bishop of Van Nuys, the province in which I am incidentally located. I will wait to see what his reply is. I refuse to believe that it's a 'once for all time' decision, considering the circumstances under which it was done. Saying it were irreversable closes the door on the pastoral application of canon law. BTW, I do NOT consider myself Byzantine Catholic, and I feel certain that the Saviour does not either. A soul is a soul - where a person worships is highly personal, and I simply don't believe there are no circumstances where an economia could not be applied.

fb

from your pen name i wonder if you are not a bit romantic in this? but i would not feel that it is possible to assert that God does not see any of us as members of one particular churh sui juris but as members of the Body of Christ. The reason for the law is to protect the frivoloous from themselves, i suppose. but i wish you well, in your search. i doubt if any of us need see ourselves as byzantine catholics or whatever, it is a way and a way provided by custom and tradition. you chose to switch and feel that your original decisions was not a responsible one. I would guess that if the bishop would agree, he would be happy to send your request on to Rome, if that is where it belongs. peace be with you.

I think the canonical rules for changing rites are really meant to PROTECT the Eastern Churches from poaching by the majority Romans, such as in the US.