www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Reunion: impossible?

Thank you Joe, for quoting these documents, which I had seen, but hadn't really had time to look into as carefully as they deserve.

To answer the question in the title of the thread. Not only is it possible, it is God's will for his Church. So, it is possible, and necessary.

O Lord, hasten this great day!

Elias

[ 09-05-2002: Message edited by: Hieromonk Elias ]

I agree Father, it is not a matter of if but when, please God. Thanks for the quotes, Joe!

[ 09-05-2002: Message edited by: Diak ]

It's good to be optimistic.

Although the modern state of the Catholic Church and the present possitions of the Orthodox Churches do not make the union possible, I'm sure that both churches share a lots of common things in their faith.

The unity in the faith with the Orthodox Churches did exist and does exist in many parts of the Latin Mass used in the Western Church for centuries.

The Roman Canon:

In primis quae tibi off�rimus pro Ecclesia ta sfanta catolica: quam pacific�re , custod�re, adun�re et r�gere digneris tot orbem terrarum: una cu Papa nostru N. ...
and All You, Orthodox christians who share the catholic and apostolic faith
(et omnibus orthodoxis, atque catolice et apostolice fidei cult�ribus)

Actually, the "orthodoxis" doesn't refer to the Orthodox; it is the Latin (from the Greek) word meaning "right believing".

And this phrase from the "Roman Canon" only dates back to the Trent era (1500s). It is not really 'old' or venerable. Compare the texts of the medieval liturgies and the even older Gallican and Sarum rites; it's not there in this form.

(I must ask: where did this "Latin" text come from? It is not the standard Latin text from the Missale Romanum. It looks kind of Romanian in places!!)

Blessings!

Having re-reviewed the postings on this thread, I must agree with Father Elias. Our unity is clearly God's signified will.

I must ask: how important are doctrinal declarations in contrast with the primary commands to love God and love one's neighbor?

I am recalled of Mother Teresa's statement regarding abortion: "It is a poverty when a child must die so that we may live as we wish." So too: it is a poverty that we must be separated when we insist upon intellectual agreement on theology when we are clearly unitd in the love of God and the service of one's neighbor.

Leave it to God's people; the good folks will be loving, radiantly happy, accepting, non-judgemental, and fierce in their defense of love -even unto death - of all God's children - including the non-baptized, the 'heretics', the schismatics, and those 'who hate us'. The Latins are fond of referring to the Church as "Holy Mother Church". Perhaps we should take this seriously and, as Church, have the love of a parent for all God's children -- forgiving, accepting and not concerned about unimportant stuff like the vicissitudes of daily life, and intellectual formulations of how we think about God and the Church.

Blessings!

Dr John:

Thanks for your intereting answer. I never meant that it refered to the Orthodox Church, it refers, as you said, to the "right believing" (all who teach the catholic and apostolic faith).

The term Orthodox had always been used before, in the latin church, as well as the eastern church (catholic, orthodox...), that term was very much used by St Augustine I think.

About the "Sarum Rites" and the versions I have seen of the Galican Rites, they look very much like artificial rites, (if not "do-it-yourself" rites). It's easy to find in the internet those sites of "independent jurisdictions" offering sarum rites, anglican rites, galican rites, "western rites" and other. I wouldn't trust them very much, they are just false churches.

About the "Rumanized" latin, I am sorry, it was entirely my fault (i didn't remember the whole phrases and got confused)

Dear friends,

I believe a reunion between Orthodox and Catholics will happen at some point. But many years down the road.

Ukranian head Cardinal Huzar has already stated that reunification will not happen until this generation of people dies out. All the cleric's involved are good people, but are still very mistrustful of each other.

I believe on a personal level, reunification has already started. Discussing our similarities and differences on a message board like this is very positive.

But officially it is not going to happen for many years.

Reunion will be possible and will happen when we submit ourslves in a profound humility and repentance to the will of Christ.
Stephanos I

Amen Stephanos! Mutual forgiveness, charity and humility will facilitate union.