www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Question for Latins going East

Yes, I'm a "Brian Joseph" to be exact.

If you have any links or resources on "St. Brian," I'd really appreciate them!

Dear DocBrian,

I'll have to look up St Brian of Ireland in Holweck's Dictionary of the Saints.

Blessed Brian Lacey was martyred for his Catholic faith in London in December of 1591.

St Edmund Arrowsmith's first name was "Brian" but he used his Confirmation name of "Edmund." Feast - August 28.

Alex

Yes, Yes, Yes!

Me too: Yes!

Dear father Daniel,

I guess with all the kids in your wonderful family, it would have been too much to expect YOU to be a cradle BC!

Cheers!

Alex

It's not that simple to answer, more like Liturgy, Altars, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Girls, removing Sacred Objects , Respect & Reverence ....sorry...you asked Alex .

I drawn the line with seeing navel rings at Mass.


james

ps - had I known about the East prior to the wreck, most likely yes I would explore it, but most priests I have met do not like discussing or acknowledging the EC side.

I'm just looking East and trying to be nourished by the light you guys shine.

As was said above, why not have both? We're supposed to breath out of both lungs, right?

Good point. Rome ignored the east for far too long, to its loss. Now the east wants to jettison anything remotely "Latin," and could be throwing out the baby with the bath water in the process.

Eastern Catholicism is the ideal intermediary that should have the sense to breathe deep with both lungs, neither ignoring the roots to the east nor repudiating those lobes found only in the west.

Yes, the patient can live with only half their lungs, but why?

They can do so much more using both, and neither is mutually exclusive.

Dear Alex,

The Holy Spirit brought us to the Byzantine Church, so a resounding YES!.

Alleluia!

Slava Isusu Christu!
Glory to Jesus Christ!

Michael

I'm Latin born and Latin bred, and when I die, I'll be Latin dead. I love the East passionately, and go to Divine Liturgy many times a year, but I truly love Scholasticism and statuary, and the thought process of authentic western Christianity. Problem is, we Latins have not just abandoned the mystical elements of Holy Mass, we've abandoned the contemplative aspects of our Church as well (Works of the Saints, paraliturgical devotions.) I think we Latins would be flourishing if we kept the 1965 Missal. But, the 1970 Missal, when celebrated appropriately, can be quite lovely.

My question for you Easterners is how often do you ever get a chance to really experience the sublime beauty of authentic Latin Catholicism? I hope some of you do; it's ideal for both us to breathe with both of our lungs.

Dear Alex,

From my posts here this past year...my answer should be obvious to many.

Yes!!!!

I grew up with the Tridentine Mass and I spent many years actively involved in the Latin Church after Vatican II.

But now--to me....the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is a taste of heaven, and all that goes with it and Eastern Christianity: bells, smells, icons, the voices blended in worship, the history, reverence, fellowship, traditions, Saints, eschatology, and more. I discovered this not because I was running away from something...but because I was looking for it only didn't know what it was for years and years...nor was this available where I lived until recent years.

However, living in a rural area which is quite a distance from the nearest BC Church...we are still attending the Latin Catholic church in a nearby town where I am probably the only person making the Sign of the Cross in the Eastern Way. Hopefully, in time we will move closer to the city. Meanwhile, we try to visit the Ruthenian church when we can drive the distance or are staying in town for the weekend. And I have this forum online and all the reading I have been doing out here in the country.

I am glad you asked that question. It really bothers me when Eastern Catholics think all of us Latins are coming or interested because we want the Tridentine Rite back. However, I know many do come for those reasons. They need to be educated about and experience what the other lung of the Catholic church is all about. I love the Divine Liturgy and respect the Byzantine Catholics and other Eastern Christians I know. This is gift in my life. And hopefully..the best (for me) is yet to come!

In Christ and the Theotokos,

Mary Jo

I think I would give it a try in Europe, where people haven't lost their sense of respect & reverence. But here in the U.S., I've reached the point of no return - completely fed up!
I've also fallen in love with Eastern Christianity - rather easily.

Yes. The Tridentine Rite was before my time, and I have never experienced it, and thus I have no longiong to go back to it.

Even if it had never been dropped, I think I would still be looking toward Orthodoxy because (1) mysticism is normal in Orthodoxy, (2) there is not a legalistic and philosophical approach to God, the Gospel or life in Orthodoxy and (3) the Orthodox teachings on birth control and divorce make sense to me.

--John

--John

I remember the Tridentine Mass of my youth, but I was a Novus Ordo kind of guy most of my adult life.

I saw nothing wrong with it where I lived, and I grew to know and love the clergy. I was satisfied for the most part and only desired more, more, more!

An interest in the Patristic literature and quotes of the desert fathers grabbed me first, and I am no scholar by any means, but I read more and more: Ware, Raya and Spidlik. The Eastern spirituality and theology just seemed so right, sensible. If you can understand what I mean: clean and uncomplicated theology, open and understandable (to me anyway)with a healthy respect for the mystery and an earthy sense of the sacramental. It seemed like all of a sudden everything made more sense than it ever made before.

During that process I started to look for an Eastern parish and when I found it I fell in love with a liturgy that perfectly expressed everything I believe, and seemed too me proper worship, it was glorious.

The Eastern church has changed me forever.

YES

I was a Latin Catholic who went East.

And I had the opportunity to go to a Tridentine Mass (limited to once a month) but when I experienced the Heavenly worship of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, I was hooked and I cried tears of repentance and joy.

My aunt took me to a Maronite Liturgy which was celebrated in Aramaic and I met the married pastor and his wife. The joy and holiness he radiated and the great food his charitable wife shared touched the depth of my soul.

p.s. When my Aunt told me that my ancestors were French Lebanese ... then I knew for sure that the Eastern Church was my ancestral Church. And did you know that St. Thomas More was also from French Lebanese ancestry (my ancestor)?