www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Transfer of Rites and vocation question

Lech,

God knows your heart and knows whether or not He is calling you to go East. If you are doing it to circumvent the Latin discipline (I'm not suggesting that you are nor am I implying so) He will make sure that you are not able to switch.

I am going to echo the other posters and suggest that you get a very good Spiritual Father/Mother/Director and take a long time to decide on making the canonical transfer.

God Bless You,

Dr. Eric

Lech,

Think about one thing at a time. You need to know to which worshiping community you 'belong' and to be comfortable there before you can think about specific vocation. If you live, breathe and sleep Eastern, and consider it to be vital to your self-identity, petition for a transfer. If you just prefer to worship in that community but don't feel the need to go through the legal thing, then just do that.

Actually, the whole 'transfer of rites' and 'canonical situation' things are terribly Roman anyway...

I have a friend who went through this; it was important enough to him that when there were problems (due to bishop-shaped holes) he threatened to leave unity with Rome. He is now a seminarian, but the two questions were always separate.

Find yourself a good spiritual guide.

Dear all,

Thanks for all of the good advice. Dr Eric mentioned that I should not try to transfer to avoid a discipline of the Latin Church. The funny thing is that stricter practices of the Eastern Church appeal to me (at a certain level - the no meat on Friday during Philip's fast can be a challenge sometimes). I have read the Facing Eastward book recommended earlier, and it rings true.

Strange thing this faith and our reaction to it.

Actually some form of penance is still asked of all Catholics, including Latin Catholics. I've always observed this small discipline myself and it's something my cardiologist now encourages so I've added the Wednesday fast observed by my Orthodox brethren. Having a few "lighter" meals in the week actually is good for one's health, including spiritual health.

BOB

dear Lech:

As I had it taught to me, the Byzantine tradition is no meat on Wednesday and Friday all year round! (ouch) (except for the Fast Free periods) Even the general practice of the UGCC is no meat on Fridays all year round.

For those who keep St Philip's Fast it's no meat during the 40 days of the Fast (but you get fish on weekends and Feast days, like St Andrew's, St Matthew's etc.

Of course in the spirit of byzantine Christianity, these are not "bottom line sine qua nons else one goes to Hell" canons, rather they are ideals to be striven for as best one can, under the guidance of one's spiritual father/mother.

Nicely stated...

There also is a section here on Bzycath about the Nativity Fast/Philip's Fast [tinyurl.com]. I've followed the calendar on my parish website which is without meat, and dairy products, most of the 40 days, and then also no oil, no wine many days, and fish allowed a couple times. I actually thought that was more common than apparently it is. Fr. Loya when he recently addressed the Philip's Fast on Light of the East #268 11/17/09 [catholicradiointernational.com], spoke of the fast in terms of Mon./Wed./Fri. As you said we already fast Wed./Fri. during non fast periods during the rest of the year.

I do find that participating as well as I can in the Nativity Fast really does help me stay focused on the preparation of the Nativity of our Lord, as compared with the Christmas madness flying all around me.

The times I've broken the fast so far this season I've managed to do it on a Tu or Th, one being a Christmas party where all the main course choices turned out to be some non fast food, so I went with the fish. I was chatting with our Fr Deacon on Sun about such things. There's as much to be gained in reflecting on the times I don't keep a fast (including not doing works of mercy when I ought) as when I do, me thinks, as with any examine of conscience.

I doubt that it will be allowed for that reason.
Now if youre going to remain celibate and switch churches for a pure love of the tradition, spirituality and liturgy of that church then maybe.
Stephanos I

Hello Lech:

I would like to send you a PM but you are over the limit for messages. Could you please clear out your mail box? Thanks.

In Christ:
Einar

Hi Einar,

I only have one email in my box, I am not sure why the PM does not go through. Then again, I am lucky some days that I know how to turn the computer on. I tried sending one to you and it told me it was disabled.

Any tech advice would be appreciated.

Lech

Dear Lech,

I was able to send you a private message. You should be able to send them now too. It may be that you were still in moderation mode until now (while in moderation mode, newcomers cannot send or receive private messages)..

Just try sending your message to Einar again.

Alice, Moderator

It is the discipline of celibacy for the priesthood that I was writing about.

Thank you all for your thoughts and advice. I have much to learn and much to determine. Please pray for me that I will hear what God is trying to tell me.

Lech