Author Topic: Any Other Eastern Catholics, Here? (Read 1546 times)

Clelia · « **on:** October 24, 2012, 02:42:20 PM »

Ahem... I am Clelia.

Raised RC, married, and became a Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic.

Disgusted with n.o. and attend SSPX Chapels.

Maybe this thread will shed some light to others about us.

+Many Blessings to all!

Sigismund · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2012, 06:36:31 PM »

I attend Ruthenian Byzantine Church. My wife was Byzantine and we became a Byzantine family when we married. I am here because I like many of the posters and learn a lot. One of the things I have learned is that I am really not a trad, but people here still put up with me. Generally. For the most part. :smile:

Why don't you go to a Ukrainian church?

Clelia · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2012, 07:00:02 PM »

Wow - I will try to be brief:
I LOVE The Traditional Roman Catholic Church, as I grew up with it util the fateful "Council" -- AND I also came to love The Eastern Catholic Church: specifically, The Ukrainian Catholic Church. I am also partial to the Byzantine chants, but there is no more Byzantine Church in my area as of only a few years ago.

I do go to The UC Church, but not as much, since my husband and I came to The SSPX. It is our home -- I still love The UC, but am Roman at Heart.

Still: I do offer Divine Liturgies for holy souls and other intentions, since the priest(s) I know are more accommodating and available to my needs. House Blessing, anointing, etc. --- I cannot get these from our SSPX priest. He only travels to our chapel, and is not available for anything else, with the exception of Confession and blessing sacramentals once each month.

Eastern married priests are great Spiritual Guides and Confessors. The advise I get in the SSPX confessional is not as kind or as generous. Most SSPX priests are quite guarded and give minimal advise -- probably just being 'careful' - I guess.

I struggled with switching Churches for years - and now, well, I wish I could return Roman, but I am also put off by all the nonsense in The SSPX. Yet, I still love them both - and I do have several UC in my area.

God be merciful.

Clelia · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2012, 07:08:26 PM »

I apologize for being rude: good to meet you, Sisigmund!
Christ is Risen!

May I ask: why come here if you prefer the Byzantine Church?

Sigismund · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2012, 09:05:01 PM »

He is Risen Indeed!

As I mentioned above, I came into the Byzantine rite through marriage. My wife was Byzantine, and we decided that our family would be as well. All of our children were baptized and chrismated in the Eastern Rite, and continue in it to this day. One of my sons is a priest. I had never attended a Divine Liturgy before meeting my wife, but fell in love with it immediately. If the TLM had been an option, or if I even really knew it existed, it might not have been such a smooth transition. Our children went to a Latin rite parochial school until we got tired of the silliness that passed fro religious education there and sent them to a public school and handled their religious education ourselves. All of them are serious Catholics, so I guess we did okay.

My wife died six years ago on the feast of the Dormition. Throughout most of our lives together, the Byzantine parish we attended had a full time priest. Soon after she died he was also given responsibility for two other parishes, and the Liturgy was only celebrated in our parish on Saturday evening. I continued to attend, but I really have never been comfortably with "anticipatory" Masses. I began attending a conservative NO parish on Sunday. They had a TLM early on Sunday, and I usually went to that, although I an fine with the NO if it is celebrated rubrically and reverently. I moved several months ago, and am now able to attend the Liturgy at my son's parish along with my other children and many other relatives. I found my way here through poking around on the internet. As I said in another post today, I like most of the posters here and have learned a lot, and one thing I have learned is that I am not really a trad at all. I expect I will hang around for the fellowship and learning, as long as people will have me.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2012, 10:47:17 PM »

Around 1993 I started to 'shop around,' and checked out the Eastern churches
in my area. I found one I liked a lot, a Byzantine Catholic Church in Van Nuys,
CA. Someone told me they pray the Rosary, but not officially. There was a
bishop living in the house next to the church, so I knocked on the door and he
answered it. I thought, "they must be low on help today."

I explained my situation to him, that I was fed up with the Modernism of
Cardfile Balony, and that I wanted to discover a viable option to the pathetic
Roman 'rite' of the day. His response was a bit alarming. He told me that they
are not looking to take parishoners away from the local diocese, and to be sure
I don't tell anyone otherwise. If I am genuinely interested in being part of their
church for its own sake and for the will of God, that is one thing, but if I'm just
upset with where I'm at now, they don't want to facilitate my running away.

I got the feeling he didn't really have a lot of time right then, so I said "thanks,"
and left. I haven't been back. I went out and found the Traditional independent
priests nearby. There are about 4, plus or minus. Later, I found CMRI, so now
I'm okay. The Byzantine was nice, but I just felt out of place somehow. I
wanted to go back home to my crucifix, and I don't get that feeling with the
Canonized Traditional Latin Mass.

Roland Deschain · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2012, 06:51:37 AM »

Quote from: Neil Obstat

Around 1993 I started to 'shop around,' and checked out the Eastern churches
in my area. I found one I liked a lot, a Byzantine Catholic Church in Van Nuys,
CA. Someone told me they pray the Rosary, but not officially. There was a
bishop living in the house next to the church, so I knocked on the door and he
answered it. I thought, "they must be low on help today."

I explained my situation to him, that I was fed up with the Modernism of
Cardfile Balony, and that I wanted to discover a viable option to the pathetic
Roman 'rite' of the day. His response was a bit alarming. He told me that they
are not looking to take parishoners away from the local diocese, and to be sure
I don't tell anyone otherwise. If I am genuinely interested in being part of their
church for its own sake and for the will of God, that is one thing, but if I'm just
upset with where I'm at now, they don't want to facilitate my running away.

I got the feeling he didn't really have a lot of time right then, so I said "thanks,"
and left. I haven't been back. I went out and found the Traditional independent
priests nearby. There are about 4, plus or minus. Later, I found CMRI, so now
I'm okay. The Byzantine was nice, but I just felt out of place somehow. I
wanted to go back home to my crucifix, and I don't get that feeling with the
Canonized Traditional Latin Mass.

I have heard this response several times from Eastern Catholics regarding "romin" Catholics. The advice is sound I believe.

Around 2000 I left the NO and attended a Ruthenian parish for about 2 years. I never officially transferred rites but I did try to adopt the Eastern perspectives and practices as my own.

After about 2 years or so I found out that the TLM was being offered at the church I was baptised in about 1/2 hour away. I went there to see since I had attended the Indult from about the age of 12 to 18. After attending the TLM for the first time in many years I realized that I was home.

I have icons, I read books by Eastern Fathers and pray the "Jesus Prayer" privately but I am a Roman, plain and simple. I believe the Roman Mass is the most perfect, orthodox and moving Liturgy in all of Christendom. Gregorian Chant speaks to my soul. My views on Grace, predestination, justification are very Augustinian and Thomistic. I believe the Catechism of the Council of Trent is the most perfect expression of Catholic Doctrine the Church has ever composed.

I believe His Excellency had probably dealt with disaffected Roman Catholics before and knew that it just isn't spiritually edifying to run from one Sui Iuris to another. One must really embrace all that goes with being a member of a particular Church. For myself, I was never "home" at a Byzantine Church. The good bishop may have perceived that you wouldn't be either.

Clelia · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2012, 06:22:11 PM »

Quote from: Sigismund

He is Risen Indeed!

As I mentioned above, I came into the Byzantine rite through marriage. My wife was Byzantine, and we decided that our family would be as well. All of our children were baptized and chrismated in the Eastern Rite, and continue in it to this day. One of my sons is a priest. I had never attended a Divine Liturgy before meeting my wife, but fell in love with it immediately. If the TLM had been an option, or if I even really knew it existed, it might not have been such a smooth transition. Our children went to a Latin rite parochial school until we got tired of the silliness that passed fro religious education there and sent them to a public school and handled their religious education ourselves. All of them are serious Catholics, so I guess we did okay.

My wife died six years ago on the feast of the Dormition. Throughout most of our lives together, the Byzantine parish we attended had a full time priest. Soon after she died he was also given responsibility for two other parishes, and the Liturgy was only celebrated in our parish on Saturday evening. I continued to attend, but I really have never been comfortably with "anticipatory" Masses. I began attending a conservative NO parish on Sunday. They had a TLM early on Sunday, and I usually went to that, although I an fine with the NO if it is celebrated rubrically and reverently. I moved several months ago, and am now able to attend the Liturgy at my son's parish along with my other children and many other relatives. I found my way here through poking around on the internet. As I said in another post today, I like most of the posters here and have learned a lot, and one thing I have learned is that I am not really a trad at all. I expect I will hang around for the fellowship and learning, as long as people will have me.

Thank you,Sigismund. My condolences to you and your family upon your wife falling alseep in The Lord -- I will pray for her and you these next days.

I may return to The Ukrainian Catholic Church full-time yet -- it's been very good to chat with you.

Many Blessings to you and yours. Please pray for me.

Clelia · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2012, 06:52:30 PM »

Quote from: Neil Obstat

Around 1993 I started to 'shop around,' and checked out the Eastern churches
in my area. I found one I liked a lot, a Byzantine Catholic Church in Van Nuys,
CA. Someone told me they pray the Rosary, but not officially. There was a
bishop living in the house next to the church, so I knocked on the door and he
answered it. I thought, "they must be low on help today."

I explained my situation to him, that I was fed up with the Modernism of
Cardfile Balony, and that I wanted to discover a viable option to the pathetic
Roman 'rite' of the day. His response was a bit alarming. He told me that they
are not looking to take parishoners away from the local diocese, and to be sure
I don't tell anyone otherwise. If I am genuinely interested in being part of their
church for its own sake and for the will of God, that is one thing, but if I'm just
upset with where I'm at now, they don't want to facilitate my running away.

I got the feeling he didn't really have a lot of time right then, so I said "thanks,"
and left. I haven't been back. I went out and found the Traditional independent
priests nearby. There are about 4, plus or minus. Later, I found CMRI, so now
I'm okay. The Byzantine was nice, but I just felt out of place somehow. I
wanted to go back home to my crucifix, and I don't get that feeling with the
Canonized Traditional Latin Mass.

It's true, Neil -- many of us "try it out" because of genuine dissatisfaction and even trying to get away from the downright *#&^%%(#^* of the n.o. I should know - I was a Choir Director/Musician for 33 years there.

I am CATHOLIC. It's been a long struggle for me to discern and decide - and I even tried to get back to the Roman status I gave up: but, I am still Catholic.

Vactican II will always be with us everywhere, until Jesus breaks it.

So --- we go to the church we are best served and do our utmost to learn and preserve our Faith.

Right now, my love, my Roman Church is cannibalizing itself, East & West, so it doesn't matter.

Love matters. Peace matters.

The Love of Christ and the Peace of Christ.

And The Faith He brought.

Truth.

We all seek it. We crave it. But, if the saints did not know if they would ever get to Heaven, then why do we waste time on foolish talking instead of working our little patoots off praying and seeking Truth?

Comfort means nothing: that is what I have learned.

Faithfulness is everything - but only with love.

God Bless you, Neil. From what I read of your posts, you seem level-headed and seeking Truth in all postings.

Nice to talk with you. Many Blessings! :)

Sigismund · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2012, 09:31:04 PM »

Quote from: Clelia

Quote from: Sigismund
He is Risen Indeed!

As I mentioned above, I came into the Byzantine rite through marriage. My wife was Byzantine, and we decided that our family would be as well. All of our children were baptized and chrismated in the Eastern Rite, and continue in it to this day. One of my sons is a priest. I had never attended a Divine Liturgy before meeting my wife, but fell in love with it immediately. If the TLM had been an option, or if I even really knew it existed, it might not have been such a smooth transition. Our children went to a Latin rite parochial school until we got tired of the silliness that passed fro religious education there and sent them to a public school and handled their religious education ourselves. All of them are serious Catholics, so I guess we did okay.

My wife died six years ago on the feast of the Dormition. Throughout most of our lives together, the Byzantine parish we attended had a full time priest. Soon after she died he was also given responsibility for two other parishes, and the Liturgy was only celebrated in our parish on Saturday evening. I continued to attend, but I really have never been comfortably with "anticipatory" Masses. I began attending a conservative NO parish on Sunday. They had a TLM early on Sunday, and I usually went to that, although I an fine with the NO if it is celebrated rubrically and reverently. I moved several months ago, and am now able to attend the Liturgy at my son's parish along with my other children and many other relatives. I found my way here through poking around on the internet. As I said in another post today, I like most of the posters here and have learned a lot, and one thing I have learned is that I am not really a trad at all. I expect I will hang around for the fellowship and learning, as long as people will have me.

Thank you,Sigismund. My condolences to you and your family upon your wife falling alseep in The Lord -- I will pray for her and you these next days.

I may return to The Ukrainian Catholic Church full-time yet -- it's been very good to chat with you.

Many Blessings to you and yours. Please pray for me.

Thank you. I will pray for you as well.

Maria Elizabeth · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2012, 01:21:29 AM »

I was not raised Catholic. I converted to the traditional rite because the teachings were in line with the Holy Scriptures, whereas the Novus Ordo was not (at least where I used to live). I never had an Eastern Rite nearby.

I've always been attracted to the Eastern Rite's approach to children. "Suffer the little children to come unto Me and prevent them not."

I also think the custom of baptizing, confirming, and giving 1st Holy Communion to babies removes the faithful's vulnerability to not having a good bishop available to confirm their children.

God bless you. Mother Mary keep you in her prayers.

Sigismund · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2012, 09:12:28 PM »

Quote from: Clelia

Quote from: Sigismund
He is Risen Indeed!

As I mentioned above, I came into the Byzantine rite through marriage. My wife was Byzantine, and we decided that our family would be as well. All of our children were baptized and chrismated in the Eastern Rite, and continue in it to this day. One of my sons is a priest. I had never attended a Divine Liturgy before meeting my wife, but fell in love with it immediately. If the TLM had been an option, or if I even really knew it existed, it might not have been such a smooth transition. Our children went to a Latin rite parochial school until we got tired of the silliness that passed fro religious education there and sent them to a public school and handled their religious education ourselves. All of them are serious Catholics, so I guess we did okay.

My wife died six years ago on the feast of the Dormition. Throughout most of our lives together, the Byzantine parish we attended had a full time priest. Soon after she died he was also given responsibility for two other parishes, and the Liturgy was only celebrated in our parish on Saturday evening. I continued to attend, but I really have never been comfortably with "anticipatory" Masses. I began attending a conservative NO parish on Sunday. They had a TLM early on Sunday, and I usually went to that, although I an fine with the NO if it is celebrated rubrically and reverently. I moved several months ago, and am now able to attend the Liturgy at my son's parish along with my other children and many other relatives. I found my way here through poking around on the internet. As I said in another post today, I like most of the posters here and have learned a lot, and one thing I have learned is that I am not really a trad at all. I expect I will hang around for the fellowship and learning, as long as people will have me.

Thank you,Sigismund. My condolences to you and your family upon your wife falling asleep in The Lord -- I will pray for her and you these next days.

I may return to The Ukrainian Catholic Church full-time yet -- it's been very good to chat with you.

Many Blessings to you and yours. Please pray for me.

Let's see. Clelia's post above contains the following statements:

Condolences on the death of my wife and an offer of prayers.
A statement that she may attend a Divine Liturgy in a Catholic Church.
A Wish for blessings on me and my family, and a request for prayers.

Someone down thumbed this. Who ever you are , you are pathetic, puerile, and petty.