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Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Hello all.

I have a question about how you are established within a Catholic Church (sounds a bit odd, let me explain).

When I was first baptized I was not baptized in the Catholic Church but rather the Episcopalian Church (my father's faith). However, around 1st grade I was enrolled in CCD and received First Communion in the Roman Church. At my Church, chrismation is done during the 10th grade. However, I went to the Divine Liturgy last night at a Ruthenian Church about an hour away and a former Lutheran who had converted was chrismated but not baptized because that was done when he was a Lutheran.

My question is that since I was not originally baptized acording to the Pauline Rite of the Roman Church, is it possible for me to 'establish' my Rite in a Byzantine Church at chrismation? Or did my first communion in the Roman Church establish me in the Roman Church?

Thanks to all for help (and the relief of some confusion i have about this!)

--Mark Therrien

Hi,

At some point in time you were received into the Catholic Church. It might have been at the time of your First Communion, or it might have been at an earlier point in time.

You were not only received into the Catholic Church, but rather into a particular Sui Iuris Church within the Catholic Communion of Churches. This would be the Latin Church, and now you are a member of that Church.

If you want to transfer to the Byzantine Church, you will probably have to go through the "regular" process, which starts by finding a Byzantine parish where you start "walking the walk", and by talking about the issue with the pastors of both your Roman and Byzantine parishes, who will help you with the rest of the process.

If you're due for confirmation, I suggest you continue the normal process (for a member of the Latin Church) and receive the sacrament in your Roman parish. You're already "late" for a Byzantine chrismation anyway.

Shalom,
Memo.

I think what is important is your mother. If your mother was Roman Catholic (you did not say), then your proper Church would be the Latin Church. If neither of your parents are Catholic and you were baptised in a non-Catholic Church, I believe that you can be Chrismated and enter any Church you choose.

Mark,

for older children (not infants/toddlers) accepted in the Roman Catholic Church, they usually are admitted by the RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children), and may receive Confirmation and Eucharist, if they have been baptized in the Trinitarian formula in another ecclesial community. Do you recall if this happened in your case?

I had the same thing happen to me. Unfortunately when I was received into Catholic Communion it was not explained to me that I could chose which "sui juris" Church to which I was attached.

How are we to deal with this issue now?
Especially when there are few or no Eastern Churches in the area.

Stephanos I
PS I think the canon law of the west considers protestants as already under the jurisdication of the latin church and when they are recieved they are received into the Latin Church. Am I right or mistaken?

I don't think so. A good friend of mine converted from the (A)Episcopal Church as an adult and was able to be Chrismated and become a member of the Russian Church. I think non-Apostolic Christians aren't necessarily under the jurisdiction of any Church in particuu�

Then again, I'm not a canon lawyer.

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Sorry I have been slow to respond.

My mother was Roman Catholic who slipped from the church for a bit (praise to God she found the faith again!) I'm not entirely certain of the process I went through. I do know that I was not put through RCIA-C.

In any case, it sounds like I will receive Chrismation at the hands of the Right Reverend Joseph F. Gossman (Bishop of Raleigh).

I don't really want to send the wrong impression with this post, either. I love the Latin Church. I regularly pray the Rosary and recite the Liturgy of the Hours. My priest is very orthodox (everything is done properly--no improvising). He holds regular icon classes, and is very spiritual. But, a lot of Roman priests are not like my priest. I have heard stories of priests who make up there own Eucharistic prayer (and preface), and a number of other things. My problem is not with my parish, but all the ones that I may have to attend one day. I also love the Divine Liturgy. I always seem to 'get more' out of even a daily Liturgy than a regular Sunday Mass.

So, what is the process like for switching rites? I believe I heard that Bishop Andrew of Passaic requires attendence in a Byzantine church for three years (this from a cantor at a church I went to when I visited Scranton last summer). Is this correct?

I should also mention that I am considering a vocation to the priesthood. If I was to accept that call, would it be better to stay in the Latin Church and become biritual? Would it be possible that if I switched rites I couldn't be ordained in the Byzantine Church?

Thanks for help (with even more confusion).

--Mark Therrien

Mark better get into the Eastern Church "rite" away. Otherwise it might look like you just switched to be able to get yourself ordained.

jbosl.. I was referring to one coming into the Church in a Latin territory and not through association with an Eastern Church.

Im quite sure in my study of canon law the non-catholic convert is considered to belong to the Latin Jurisdiction.
Dont have time to look up the canon now.
Stephanos I

Dear Mark, you should probably do some serious reading about Byzantine spirituality and theology before considering such a big step. It is much more theologically, spiritually, and liturgically than just a Byzantine version of the Mass.

Most Greek Catholic bishops won't consider a vocation who has not been in a parish a number of years (my bishop used five as a thumbnail rule when I was accepted for diaconal formation) to demonstrate stability.

You have clearly been catechized Roman, love that liturgical tradition and are very near to entering the Church through that ritual tradition. I think you should go through with that, since you are so close already to entering the Catholic Church. You would need to be catechized through a Greek Catholic parish by a Greek Catholic priest or his delegate (we have our own Eastern Catholic adult catechetical program) if you really want to approach chrismation as a Greek Catholic.

It would simply not be prudent to approach chrismation as an Eastern Catholic of whatever Eastern church without a firm catechetical grounding in Eastern Christian spirituality, liturgy, and theology.

After your Roman chrismation, should you decide to proceed that way as you are so close now, spend some time in study and discernment and find some sound spiritual guidance. Spend some time at a Byzantine parish to see if that is where you really want to be.

Down the road, the change of church sui iuris is not that difficult from the Roman to a Greek Catholic church, but neither should it be taken lightly. Take your time, read, pray, discern, and talk it over with a spiritual father.

The 1917 CIC required Protestants to enroll in Latin Church. The 1983 CIC is silent and the CCEO states an adult is free to choose which Church sui iuris he enrolls in at the time of his baptism or chrismation.

So does that mean I can have a recall?
Came into Catholic Communion while still under the old code.
Stephanos I