THE CATHOLIC EASTERN CHURCHES
The division of the Catholic Church into two parts, the Western or Latin Church and the Eastern Church, is the result of political accidents; the division of the Roman Empire by Diocletian (284-305) ; again by the sons of Theodosius I (Arcadius in the East, 395-408; Honorius in the West, 395-423); and finally, the strengthening […]
Origin of the Eastern Catholic Rites
Clement C. Englert, C.SS.R. About three percent of Catholics in the world belong to what we call the Oriental or Eastern Rites. That means that their priests say Mass and administer the sacraments with languages and ceremonies different from the Roman-Latin ones, and they are ruled by their own set of Church laws. Now you […]
Eastern Rites: the Patriarch
Fr. William Saunders, PhD A key to understanding Eastern Rites is the position of the Patriarch. As the Church hierarchy became more stable, the position of Patriarch was recognized. A Patriarch had the highest ecclesiastical dignity after the Pope and had jurisdiction over a particular territory. The term Patriarch comes from the Greek word […]
Eastern Rites Today
Fr. William Saunders, PhD Today, the various Eastern Rites are organized under the four eastern patriarchates. (The following information was gleaned from the Catholic Almanac.) The Alexandrian Rite is officially called the Liturgy of St. Mark. (St. Mark is traditionally considered the first bishop of Alexandria.) Their present liturgy contains elements of the Byzantine […]
The Eastern Rite Church
Fr. William P. Saunders, PhD The Eastern Rite Catholics are part of the Roman Catholic Church, not the Orthodox Church. While the majority of Roman Catholics belong to the Latin Rite, the Eastern Rites provide a special dimension to our Catholic heritage and spirituality. The Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Catholic Eastern Churches […]
Why do the Eastern Churches use leavened bread for communion? Why does the Roman Catholic Church use unleavened bread?
Answer: This difference is primarily cultural, although liturgical historians believe that there are theological reasons for the difference. Originally, both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Churches used leavened bread, leavened with yeast. Midway through the first millennium the practice of using unleavened bread became increasingly common in the Latin Church, until it became […]
DIFFERENT TRADITIONS CAN BE MUTUALLY ENRICHING
Pope John Paul II Angelus message of 6 January 1997. 1. “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Is 60:3). Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Epiphany, “a manifestation” of Christ to all peoples, represented by the Magi come from the East. This feast helps us to […]
BEAUTY HAS IMPORTANT ROLE IN EASTERN SPIRITUALITY
Pope John Paul II Angelus, November 3, 1996 Dear Brothers and Sisters, 1. In the last few days the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed have enabled us to feel the intimate communion linking us to our brothers and sisters who have already entered eternity. They are now having a […]
FATHERS OF EAST KNEW HOW TO LISTEN TO SPIRIT OF GOD
Pope John Paul II Angelus, 8 September 1996 Dear Brothers and Sisters, 1. Among the signs of hope of our time, so rich in lights and shadows, there is certainly the repeated demand for spirituality, which is making headway despite the advanced process of secularization. Man sees that science, technology and economic well-being do not […]
LOVE OF MARY SHARED BY EAST AND WEST
Pope John Paul II Angelus 18 August 1996 Dear Brothers and Sisters, 1. In a special way the light of Christ shines out in the saints and illumines the face of the Church (cf. Lumen gentium, n. 1). Their veneration is a bridge vitally linking the Churches of the East and West, fostering the exchange of […]