Slava Isusu Christu!

I was Roman Catholic for a (1yr 1/2) and ive been
byzantine catholic for (2yr 1/2).
Dont get me wrong i love the Roman Catholic Church, but i just dont want to see the rites mixed up. I mean picture an Ikon Screen at a Latin Parish. I love the Roman Church especially how EWTN shows the Traditional Roman Catholicism.
I dont hate on the Roman Church, i just think the Traditions of the West Should Stay with the west and the Traditions of the East should stay in the East.
I dont hate on the Roman Church at all, i mean im going to become a Capuchin Fransican as a byzantine catholic. All im trying to say is stick with the Traditions of the East if your Parish is east and Stick to the Traditions of the West if yor Parish is Roman. we cant have Ikon Screen in latin parishs and Statues, Stations, Gregorian Chant, in a Byzantine Parish.

From: Daniel
In The Holy+Theotokos

Daniel,

I'm confused. You started this thread "complaining" about the length of time you have been a catechumen and how entrance into the Catholic Church has alluded you. Yet you state you were Roman Catholic for a 1 1/2 years, and ByzCath now for 2 1/2 years. Did I miss something?

You speak of keeping the traditions of the East and West seperate, yet you want to become an OFM Cap as a Byzantine Catholic. Isn't this a direct contradiction to what you said in your post? Why not embrace the Eastern tradition of becoming a monk at Holy Ressurection Monastery?

bisantino;

Christ Is Among Us!

Ive been a non-canonical catholic.
I claimed to be catholic, but was never "Officaly" recieved yet. Ever since i thought of the idea of priesthood, when i was (RC)
I wanted to be a capuchin fransican. When i became a byzantine catholic, i was still extremeley drawn to the OFM Cap.
No i dont think it would be contradictory, because
really your not mixing up traditions. Because being a Byzantine Catholic In the OFM Cap, would just mean taking the charism of the order and using the byzantine traditions to express it.

I did think about H.R.M as a monk, but it never really attracted me. I guess is not what God wants for me. I was looking at my ikon corner today, and most my latin pictures were of fransicans. I didnt even notice till now.
Their are some Byzantine Fransicans that are totaly byzantine in tradition, no latinizations, even though their in a latin order. Kinda Confusing

From: Dan
In The Holy+Theotokos

Daniel, if you haven't been "officially" received into the Church (either RC or BC), then you ain't a Catholic yet. At the most you could be considered a catechumen...I think you need to get that taken care of before you start planning on becoming a religious in any commmunity. Most Orders I know of require new converts to be a card carrying member of the the Church (meaning OFFICIALLY CATHOLIC) for several years before they will take you. Granted, exceptions may be made, but ideally they like you to be over the starry eyed phase and know what it is like being Catholic after the honeymoon wears off. Don (who has been there and done that and lived to tell about it.)

Bless me a sinner, Father Don!

So, when you became Ukrainian Catholic, that was a "Don deal?"

O.K., I'll get back to work.

Alex

"Daniel, if you haven't been "officially" received into the Church (either RC or BC), then you ain't a Catholic yet."

So when do people become catholic "officially"? I thought that the Roman Church acknowledged the protestant baptism as a valid baptism, and the Orthodox chrismation as a valid chrismation, and that people was received only through simple confession of faith.
Is it that there's a new burocratic procedure (I wouldn't be surprised)?

Dear Remie:

James Akin of "Catholic Answers" provides an answer to your post, at least as far as the Catholic Church in the U.S. is concerned:

http://www.catholic.com/library/how_to_become_a_catholic.asp

AmdG

thank you for the answer, it is very complete, but I'd like to know what happens when an Orthodox christian becomes Catholic, are there clear examples?

Slava Isusu Christu!

Religious Order dont accept canadiates for the Order that are not Canonical Catholic's (BYZ/RC).
I'm going to start applying to the O.F.M. Cap,
in (1 1/2 -2years) By then i will have been a Canonical Byzantine Catholic for a little over a year. Right now my vocation'(s) director'(s) know that im not Canonical Catholic, but say that it is good that i Start Planning on Religious Life, if you are Truly Serious about entering the Order. Which I am.

From: Daniel H
In The Holy+Theotokos

Daniel,
I personally became Catholic and had to wait 3 years! Take the time humbly to learn about the faith and you wont be disappointed.
Besides there is more to learning the faith than just "learning about" the faith. Learn to live and breath it, savor its beauty and glory.

Stephanos I
Unworthy Monk and Archsinner

I think that the Latiniak perspective is one of "joining the Church" through baptism, chrismation or whatever.

For us Byzantines, the "letter of the law" is NOT the criterion. The reality of being a Byzantine Catholic (or an Orthodox for that matter) is the reality of being a member of the community.

As I have stated before, the Western perspective of Church membership is that of "joining a gym". One is interested, one visits, one pays one's dues and then one is a member.

In the East, it is not so. One can visit, one can be 'impressed' and one can 'make a commitment to the spirituality', but the KEY phenomenon and criterion is one's ability to become a part of a worshipping community. Unless - and until - a person truly integrates him/herself into the community, one's membership is - at best - suspect.

The primary question is this: can one live one's Christianity "alone" or must one be a part of a praying 'ekklesia'. For the East, one MUST be part of a community, otherwise it's just showmanship. To "assume" the rite, well that is just dumb. The "rite" is the practice of the people. Without the people, the rite is just theater.

For the Westerns who "do up" the Byzantine Rite in high dudgeon and high drag, well: how nice for your theater career. But this has NO relationship whatsoever with the Eastern Church or our peoples. So: leave us alone. And leave the costumes behind.

Blessings!

Dr. John,

Doesn't the "letter of the law" apply to marriage, Baptism of children and Holy Orders. You can be immersed in a community but if you are RC you will have to change Rites before any of the above would be considered.

Nicky's Baba

Dear Dr. John (El Greco),

Do I have your permission to give your post to our parish priest?

If so, I'll bring it to him next week when it's time to renew my annual parish membership dues . . .

Only with your permission, that is. Otherwise, the Administrator may hear from Father Pastor - and he already has to put up with enough from the two of us for starters!

And do you actually belong to a gym?

Alex

Dear Dr. John,

I found your concept that "the Western perspective of Church membership is that of "joining a gym." One is interested, one visits, one pays one's dues and then one is a member," to be quite thought provoking.

Talk about years of misunderstanding; you mean that this is what being part of the Church is about? I wish I'd been told this approach to Church membership years ago. Life would have been a whole lot easier and less challenging.

Why did the Church clutter our Western minds with beliefs like Communion of Saints, Body of Christ, fellow pilgrims, works of mercy and the building of Church through the Liturgy?

Now, where is that gym exactly? I guess it's time for me to start paying those dues! :rolleyes:

I wonder if Mother Teresa knew about this stuff?

Steve

Dear Steve,

Dr. John is living proof that Eastern Christians should stay away from Jesuits .

(Jumping over moral hurdles, theological fast-sticking, involvement in questionable politics and other exercises that could lead one to an understanding of the Church as a gym!).

But we love El Greco anyway!

Alex