www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship The Other Sacramental Mysteries Bishop Samra's Recent Pastoral Letter on "First Communion"s

Especially to our Melkite brothers and sisters ...

There has been a "buzz" on some other Catholic forums regarding a 27 January 2012 pastoral letter issued by Bishop Samra, discontinuing this lingering "Latinization" in his Eparchy.

I'm not certain how this letter became public already, but it is available via an "extended" link on the Eparchy's website. I could not find any direct reference to the document on the visible portions of the website, and could only locate the document with the link provided via these forums.

While not a Melkite, I had the privilege of meeting and getting to know Bishop Samra while we were both in the metro Detroit area. I hold him in the highest esteem, and applaud him for his decision to further restore our Eastern traditions and practices, despite the long familiarity and acceptance of other practices that no doubt exists among the congregations.

The concerns raised in these other forums seem to stem from certain language in the letter and the inference, in the eyes of some, that the clergy would be resistant to Bishop Samra's instructions. At the end of his letter, he clearly implores the clergy and catechists to assist in the re-education of the faithful that is necessary to make this restoration of tradition successful in the immediate future.

Has this letter been publicly released (Bishop Samra did ask for it to be inserted in parish bulletins)? Has there been a favorable reaction among the laity?

I know how painfully some of these restorative changes "went down" in my own Ruthenian Church, so I empathize entirely and do pray that the Melkite community embraces these decisions.

Neil, I'm sure you may have some insight ...

It's currently under Eparchial Policies [melkite.org] as "Pastoral Letter [melkite.org] on Infant Communion and “First Communion” Ceremonies".

From the opening paragraph he indicates he's had complaints, or as he more diplomatically puts it "brought to my attention by clergy and even laity" of persistence in not following the tradition, as clarified by the Patriarchal Synod in 1967 and the Eparchy in the 1970s he says. Cut to the chase where he lists "objections and answers".

Clearly and very directly written, and posted in Eparchial Policies for all to see. As I mentioned elsewhere in a thread on another topic, Fr Loya said of his buddy when buddy was made a bishop "A bishop is a guy with a bull's eye on his back". One can see that Bishop Nicholas has had and anticipates many arrows come his way.

God grant him many blessed years!

Thanks for the "point" - don't know how I missed it!

That said, may the Lord continue to bless Bishop Nicholas. As far as having a target on one's back, we could easily say that he is in good company and in keeping with tradition that originated with Christ himself in His earthly ministry.

God grant him many years!

Joe,

As Sayendna Nicholas notes, his beloved predecessor, Archbishop Joseph, of blessed memory, took a definitive stance as regards this matter 30 years ago and, as memory serves, that policy took hold in relatively short order. (Archbishop Joseph was a strong, strong advocate of delatinization and not one to back down - I can only remember a single instance in which he did, on the matter of Divine Liturgy being served in conjunction with funerals.)

I believe that it (First Holy Communion) crept back into practice here and there in subsequent years, chiefly in parishes with large populations of relatively newly-arrived immigrants (not so much, perhaps surprisingly, in those with significant numbers of former Latins as parishioners ). Note the reference by Sayedna with regard to continuation or revival of the practice in the Middle East, where I believe it never fully died out, despite the Synod's stance.

As well, there are a few parishes whose rolls now include a fair number of former Latins with shared non-Middle Eastern ethnic or cultural heritages (the earlier Latin additions to Melkite communities were themselves a more diverse lot and lacked a commonality of heritage that might have had them push, as a group, for Latin praxis). These are the considerations that I think may have played into what has obviously become enough of an issue for Sayedna to address it broadly - versus one-on-one with a pastor here or there.

But, those are guesses on my part, since I'm not as familiar as I once was with what's happening at individual parishes around the country. Bi-ritual clergy could factor into it, but I'm doubtful about that - the majority of those serving our parishes are remarkably well-steeped in our traditions. Concentrations of Maronites worshipping as Melkites here and there for lack of a parish of their own might also play a role, as I'm under the impression that their own Church has not yet made any definitive effort to end the praxis - but there are only a couple parishes where the numbers of those are notable.

It's clearly intended to be a strong statement, so I suspect he considered it a sufficiently significant problem to be addressed in that tenor.

Many years,

Neil

Christ is in our midst!! He is and always will be!!

Tomassus posted about two other pastoral letters by Sayedna Nicholas which I have separated and posted for him to Church News and Faith and Worship respectively.

Bob
Moderator

I'm acquainted with one of the Melkite parishes that had Second Grade Eucharistic Awareness every year. I was a little surprised to see this listed among the problematic practices; but I guess it's because it centers around (or leads up to) the class receiving communion together as a group, as though in a First Communion ceremony. (I could be way off here. I myself wasn't involved with the Melkite Church when I was in the 2nd grade.)

I love Sayedna Nicholas! I think with the Metropolitan we are going to amazing happenings in our Churches. They are a pier team in Jesus and his Holy Spirit.

At St George we have First Confession. It is truly a special day for them and the parish.