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

Yes!

I felt called to the East. I "discerned" my call. I believe it to be true and I can't see myself ever going back.

Dear Friends,

I don't think I've ever been so inspired as when I've these posts here!

Even when you only said "yes . . ."

Alex

First off, if the Tridentine Mass was completely restored in the Latin Rite I'd get drunk for a week (ONLY JOKING) Seriously though, I'd continue to do exactly as I've been doing by attending at least one Divine Liturgy a week, while attending the Latin Mass the rest of the time. I like having the best of both worlds, and just because I can feel like I'm getting a sneak peek at Heaven when I make it to DL at Sts Volodymyr and Olha, doesn't mean I have to give up the Sacred Heart or Stations of the Cross. Likewise, no EC should ever feel a twinge of disloyalty toward there rite if they've ever imagined they were levitating at a Latin High Mass on a Holy Day.

Dear Lawrence,

What are you talking about, Big Guy?

Those devotions ARE an integral part of the UGCC's spiritual life!

In our church, you DO have the best of both worlds!

Alex

Man, Lawrence, you saved me on that. I was going to write "if the Tridentine mass were restored, I'd get sober for a week (Only Joking)!

Sorry, my humor is off kilter today. I'm getting ready for about 3 months of (weekend) touring with my Irish pub band -- that's roughly 100 hours in Irish pubs, getting FREE BEER!

Please keep me in your prayers. The fun part is trying to find Divine Liturgy in every little pocket of the East Coast.

You'll be hearing the Kesh Jig, the Star of Munster in your sleep... just don't tell me you guys do the Unicorn... But hopefully some Christy Moore songs.

Diak, veteran of several Celtic bands over the years...been there, done that, still doing that.

We write a lot of songs and we're big on humor and audience participation. We've always done the Unicorn, but not because we like it, but because me make all the girls come up and dance. We've got a few songs that achieve this same end (girls dancing with us).

We've even got a wheel of fortune to spin and the biggest wedge is Unicorn Song (bigger than drinking song, war song, free beer... you get the picture), and the really bad joke is we'll play it each time it comes up. Pain can be very funny! Of course, we change the Unicorn around after awhile, so if I tough-looking guy spins it, we'll do a "hard-core" unicorn, etc.

Good times, good times!

And don't forget Waxie's Dargle, The Bottle of Smoke, and The Boys From The County Hell". Hey, I thought this was a thread about Latins going East ?

Alex,

I would have to say I am really not sure whether I am more Byzantine or Latin. By baptism and confirmation I am a Roman-Rite Latin, but much of my spirituality is Eastern. My experience with the Indult Mass is minimal but I did not feel at all as if anyone was breathing in the chapel besides the priest and a few others: the rest were completely silent the whole liturgy. IMHO, I did not find it all that mystical at that chapel I have been to, and I find the priest to be a great and prayerful Benedictine man. Perhaps if I was at a High Mass and saw the Indult Mass at its finest I could give a better response, but I was born at a time when the Novus Ordo was the Sunday norm.

That being said, I happily carry my chotki around; my apartment has almost no Latin statues or pictures but numerous icons; my confirmation saint is the greatest of the Alexandrian Patriarchs except Athanasius and Mark; Crossing in the Greek manner just feels right; I could go on. But I can also say I am deeply attached to certain things in the West.

The reader at the Byzantine church I often go to, a former Latin, once told me that I am probably just visiting and will remain in the Latin Church. Somehow I often feel this to be the case. If this be true, I can atleast say that I know how to use my other lung and don't impress my Latin tendencies on the Byzantines!

Cyril,in the West but faces East.

Dear Cyril,

That is perfectly fine!

I have my Latin, Coptic/Ethiopian, Byzantine, Celtic, Old Believer and some other devotions.

When I'm in my "Byzantine mode" I'm mostly Old Believer these days! (That's Diak's influence!).

Two fingers up for you, Big Guy!

Alex

My poor wee(a Anhelynaism) memory finally remembered this article that I found helpful and should be of some interest to all, but aimed at my Latin brethern;

Eastern Presuppositions & Western Liturgical Renewal, by Fr. Robert Taft SJ

http://www.praiseofglory.com/taftliturgy.htm

Good & charitable criticism is always welcomed !

james

OOOOOOOOOH - fame [ or notoriety ] at last

Dear Anhelyna,

Before you go taking all the credit, remember that it was I who gave you a Slavic-sounding name!

Alex

Oh indeed - and as you well know I love using it

What a wonderful article! Thank you, Jakub!

Peace,
Alex NvV