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jdostalik
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I have recently become interested in the Eastern Rites of our Holy Catholic Church that are loyal to the magisterium and our Holy Father... Are there any Eastern Rite Catholics on the board? I thought it might be interesting to discuss/learn about some of the wonderful traditions of the Eastern churches...
As a conversation starter, a dear friend gave me an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In the Eastern tradition is it necessary to have a candle lit before an icon image? If so, why?
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Jennifer in TX
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Mary G
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My dh is very Eastern Rite for a Latin Rite kinda guy. We have been fortunate to attend many Eastern Rite liturgies and had some great Eastern Rite priests mentor us. Their theology and liturgies are quite amazing.
But on to your question: here's my dh's answer (and he's read lots and lots about the Eastern Rite and would like to "switch over" but we don't have a whole lot of ER's here in SC)
Ok: he says the point is that the icon is more than a symbol of the person pictured -- the way the icon is painted, the prayers done and the fasting,etc. -- each icon almost becomes the person portrayed. The person portrayed, as a light for us to Christ, should have a light night and day.
This however isn't practical as evidenced by the fact that even in the Latin Rite we don't keep candles going 24/7 for our saints' pictures like we used to.
Does this help? 
Blessings and especially on your discovering this traiditon-rich arm of the Catholic Church!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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jdostalik
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Thanks, Mary for the explanation! It did help!!  I would like to have a candle lit before the icon when I can, but it is a scary proposition with a busy 4 and 3 year old, not to mention a 6 month old who will soon be crawling and pulling up... 
Do you or your husband have any books/articles to recommend to someone who would like to learn more about the ER's? I have been doing some web browzing and I am reading some books recommended to me by a Melkite Greek Catholic priest (he's in Charleston SC, btw!!) on the early church and the East/West Schism...but would like more on the ER chuches of today--sort of an ER Catholicism for Dummies! 
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Jennifer in TX
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Victoria in AZ
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jdostalik wrote:
| I have recently become interested in the Eastern Rites of our Holy Catholic Church that are loyal to the magisterium and our Holy Father... Are there any Eastern Rite Catholics on the board? In the Eastern tradition is it necessary to have a candle lit before an icon image? If so, why? |
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We have been Easter Rite (Byzantine) for ten years, both having been raised as cradle Roman Catholics. We attended a Byzantine Liturgy and it was love at first sight, hearing, incensing, revering, anointing, etc. Please feel free to ask any questions.
As far as the candle before an icon, that has not been the case with any Byzantine family I know of. We have many icons in our prayer corner. I only leave a candle lit there when we are praying for extra special intentions throughout the day or on important Holy Days.
For reading, I suggest _Light for Life Part Two, The Mystery Celebrated_ looks at the liturgical tradition by which our Churches encounter the Spirit of God. ISBN 1-887158-06-5 by God With Us Publications. You can read some of the text from this book series at http://www.byzantines.net/books/mysteryBelieved.htm
Definitely check out www.byzantines.net.
Another book is _Journey to Orthodoxy_ by Thomas Doulis. I think of it as a _Surprised by Truth_ for the Orthodox. It is by Light and Life Publishing Co. in MN.
God bless you as you learn more about our one Holy Catholic Church.
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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Victoria in AZ
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Also, Jennifer, where are you located in TX? One of the nicest Byzantine churches we've ever attended was outside Dallas.
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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jdostalik
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Hi Victoria,
Thanks sooo much for the great book recommendations. All the Light for Life books look great. I am really excited to be learning so much about the ER Catholic churches. I have lots of questions, but a sick baby needs me now, so I will have to wait for now...A quick prayer for baby Tess would be appreciated! She's miserable but happy in Daddy's arms right now for a minute...
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Jennifer in TX
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jdostalik
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Victoria,
I am in Plano, north of Dallas. There are two ER Catholic churches in the area...which one did you attend? Was it Our Lady of Lebanon?
Baby calling....
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Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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Victoria in AZ
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jdostalik wrote:
Victoria,
I am in Plano, north of Dallas. There are two ER Catholic churches in the area...which one did you attend? Was it Our Lady of Lebanon?
Baby calling.... |
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We were warmly welcomed at St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic in Irving, TX.
http://www.saintbasilthegreat.org/
This may be too far for regular attendance, but hopefully not too far to visit at least once. I loved that Church.
Hope baby feels better soon!
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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teachingmom
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jdostalik wrote:
| I have recently become interested in the Eastern Rites of our Holy Catholic Church that are loyal to the magisterium and our Holy Father... Are there any Eastern Rite Catholics on the board? I thought it might be interesting to discuss/learn about some of the wonderful traditions of the Eastern churches... |
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I am not an Eastern Rite Catholic, but my husband was a member of a Melkite Greek Catholic church when we met. I just posted a message over on the Easter ideas thread that might be of interest to you, Jennifer.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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cathhomeschool
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jdostalik wrote:
| Was it Our Lady of Lebanon? |
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We used to live in Dallas and went once to Our Lady of Lebanon -- for Easter morning Mass. It was absolutely beautiful! There are quite a few homeschoolers that go to that church regularly, because they are so conservative and keep with tradition. Had we stayed in Dallas, I really would have lobbyed to go to that church more frequently!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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jdostalik
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Thanks, Irene. I'll hop on over to check it out! I am really fascinated by all the wonderful traditions in the Eastern Catholic churches.
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Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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jdostalik
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Janette,
My mom mentioned Our Lady of Lebanon to me. She has heard wonderful things about it as well. It is a Maronite Catholic church. I've been learning about the Byzantine and other Eastern churches (Melkite, etc.) but I need to do a bit of study about the Maronite rite. They have a website and you can see their sanctuary; it's beautiful.
Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church
Thanks, for the information about the good homeschooling community, there. It's a bit far from us, but would be worth the jaunt to visit!
Maybe Victoria knows something about the Maronite rite? 
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Jennifer in TX
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JennGM
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Following this with interest. For a few years our family attended St. Basil's Byzantine Catholic Center in Houston Texas (this was in the 70s when there was so much upheaval Post-Vatican II). Our pastor was Father Anselm Walker. This was the Melkite Rite. My siblings and I were all confirmed in this rite.
Now I can't find where that parish is anymore...is the one in Irving now? or did it change to the St. John Chrysostom in Houston?
About some reading: I found this reading list online. The bottom of the page recommends some books on the liturgy.
I also have in my library A Guide for the Domestic Church by Diocese of Newton, MA...an excellent guide on the daily Christian living by Eastern Catholics. Covers briefly the Liturgical Year, the sacraments, Liturgy and the impact in the home. Also has some recipes throughout.
I also have A Byzantine Rite Liturgical Year by Julian J. Katrij, OSBM. 1983, Basilian FAthers Publication. I believe this is more for the Ukrainian Rite, which we attended a few years here in Virginia.
The Eastern Churches have their own Code of Canon Law, which was promulgated in 1990 by JPII. It's called Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches
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Victoria in AZ
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jdostalik wrote:
| Maybe Victoria knows something about the Maronite rite? |
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No, I'm sorry, I don't have any familiarity with the Maronite rite. Looking at the website you provided, the parish looks lovely and solidly Catholic. Plus, there's a well-written history of the Maronite Rite in the menu selection "Mission Statement." I asked dh about Maronite Rite and he said it could be that the music is more Middle Eastern in sound. You have a treat in store for you to visit both Our Lady of Lebanon and St. Basil's. Please do let us hear if and when you are able to make it to either. I'd love to hear your first impressions.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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jdostalik
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Thanks, Jenn for the lovely links. The reading list you sent a link to is really awesome!!! I now have a lot of good books to put on my reading list. I'm already reading some great spiritual books right now on the East. One-- The Russian Church and the Papacy by Soloviev is a fascinating read with a lot of historical perspective on the East/West Schism. He was an Orthodox theologian who converted to Catholicism...
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Jennifer in TX
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jdostalik
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Victoria,
Do you use a daily missal? A Melchite Greek Catholic priest recommended Byzantine Daily Worship . I was wondering if you had this and if you do, how you incorporate it into your spiritual life? Nothing like a whopper of a question, huh?
I've been so quiet this week as baby Tess was sick ALL week and I am still recovering from a nasty breast infection. You can tell it's Lent by all the sickness we've had... 
I'm so happy it's St. Joseph's Feast Day, today! Happy Feast Day!
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Jennifer in TX
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Let the Little Ones Come
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JennGM
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Oh, I'll throw one more book your way. It's not doctrinal, historical or theological, but it's interesting...just in case you get tired of heavy reading. It's called My Russian Yesterdays by Catherine de Hueck Doherty. She writes of her memories growing up Russian, and in the story you see the differences of Eastern/Orthodox rite compared to the West. I read it years ago and it made a memorable impression. The best part is the descriptions of preparing for Easter when growing up...there was so much work the family, especially the mother, would do!
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jdostalik
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Okay, Jenn. You are a bad influence! I just ordered this from Madonna House. I almost ordered a few other tempting books, too. We really need to get some floor to ceiling book shelves!
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Jennifer in TX
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Victoria in AZ
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jdostalik wrote:
Victoria, Do you use a daily missal? A Melchite Greek Catholic priest recommended Byzantine Daily Worship . I was wondering if you had this and if you do, how you incorporate it into your spiritual life? Nothing like a whopper of a question, huh?
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Jennifer, please forgive me for taking so long to respond. Hope to hear that baby Tess is all better 
No, I do not use a Daily Missal and am unfortunately not familiar with _Byzantine Daily Worship_. I'm sure it's wonderful. As far as incorporating items into spiritual life, I tend to think in a "Catholic" sense. Not so much as is this "Byzantine." Does that make sense? When the children were very young we still used morning prayers out of St. Baltimore Catechism. For Lent we use specific Byzantine Lenten prayers. We sing Byzantine songs from Liturgy. We read from Butler's Lives of Saints. We examine our conscience at the icon corner. Sometimes we do a silent meditation in from of an icon.
Still (and rightly) use the Rosary. Right now I am reading _Journeys to Orthodoxy_ also by Light and Life. Have done the Akathist prayer service (similar to a 9-day novena).
Hope this helps. I am enjoying our conversation!
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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Victoria in AZ
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jenngm67 wrote:
| Oh, I'll throw one more book your way. It's not doctrinal, historical or theological, but it's interesting...just in case you get tired of heavy reading. It's called My Russian Yesterdays by Catherine de Hueck Doherty. |
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Have not read it, but just ordered from half.com I have another book by the same author, _Poustinia: Christian Spirituality of the East for the Western Man_. It was a gift from a friend and was lost in my "to read" shelf. Thanks for making me think of it
So many of Doherty's other titles sound worthwhile as well.
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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Topic: Eastern Rite Catholicism
