What rite would I be?

[Anastasia13]

I want to know what rite I would be if I was Catholic. Can anyone help me? Is there something online I can refer to find out if my point of view is more like one or more like another?

[Brother Adam]

Unless you live in a country with a certian Eastern rite you would most likely be a latin rite (Roman) Catholic. All Catholics have the same beliefs in doctrines and morals and besides different customs and disciplines, differences in rites are mainly based on geography, though there are exceptions.

I don't know of any specific website though.

[Aloysius]

you are currently a protestant. your protestant tradition comes from a breakoff with the roman rite. it still retains some of its romanness, and as such you would probably culturally and theologically fit best into the roman rite.

of course, if you did careful study and came to the conclusion that your spirituality and theological perspective were more in line with a Byzantine Divine Liturgy and the theology of St. Gregory Palamas, there would be nothing wrong with you entering into the Byzantine Catholic Church.

In fact, since you are currently not Catholic, you could join any church you want (that is present in your area) out of all our 23 sui juris churches and be catechized into the Catholic Faith by them.

[ReinnieR]

[quote name='Aloysius' date='Oct 19 2005, 08:14 PM']
In fact, since you are currently not Catholic, you could join any church you want (that is present in your area) out of all our 23 sui juris churches and be catechized into the Catholic Faith by them.
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A catholic person can't transfer from one rite to the other????

[Aloysius]

they can, it's just not reccommended. if they were to shift theological views and their ritualistic preferences, they can switch. but someone who is not Catholic in the first place is not already held back by some theological viewpoint they grew up with and thus, they could enter into a different rite of the Church without even having studied that rite's difference too much, as they would be seeking to become Catholic and if that rite made them Catholic they would be that rite. whereas we would have to abandon our latin theological tradition and study theirs first before even considering a rite change.

[ReinnieR]

[quote name='Aloysius' date='Oct 19 2005, 09:40 PM']they can, it's just not reccommended.  if they were to shift theological views and their ritualistic preferences, they can switch.  but someone who is not Catholic in the first place is not already held back by some theological viewpoint they grew up with and thus, they could enter into a different rite of the Church without even having studied that rite's difference too much, as they would be seeking to become Catholic and if that rite made them Catholic they would be that rite.  whereas we would have to abandon our latin theological tradition and study theirs first before even considering a rite change.
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COOL

THANKS

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='Aloysius' date='Oct 19 2005, 10:14 AM']you are currently a protestant.  your protestant tradition comes from a breakoff with the roman rite.  it still retains some of its romanness, and as such you would probably culturally and theologically fit best into the roman rite.

of course, if you did careful study and came to the conclusion that your spirituality and theological perspective were more in line with a Byzantine Divine Liturgy and the theology of St. Gregory Palamas, there would be nothing wrong with you entering into the Byzantine Catholic Church.[right][snapback]763674[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
I've felt for several months that I theologically I would be a better Eastern Orthodox than a Catholic. Part of that is the view of the pope verses the arrangement of the bishops in the Orthodox church. Also, at least from one online discussion that I had with someone who converted from Lutheran to Orthodox (and I was myself raised Lutheran) there at least can be certain differences in emphasis in practice. Of course I am also slightly biased towards it in certain ways because Orthodox is exotic and cool.

With regard to two of the three examples of differences between Roman and Eastern rites (I am without developed view of the marriage one), I tend towards the Eastern views in those examples. You will likely disagree with me, but you know us Protestants and the whole prayer mediator thing. The Jesus Prayer seems more scriptural to me than the Rosary prayer.

Although culturally I could see fitting in to a certain extent with Roman Catholic and I don't like the goldish color I see looking at Orthodox stuff online, things like the above points make me question if theologically I would really be more Roman than Eastern. I suspect to a certain extent I could be a better Orthodox than a Catholic.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

Note:

Orthodox is NOT the same as "eastern rite"

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='Fides_et_Ratio' date='Oct 19 2005, 09:09 PM']Note:

Orthodox is NOT the same as "eastern rite"
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Understood, but do they not bare certain similarities, particularly more so than Orthodox and Roman?

[Aloysius]

they are very very similar, main difference being one accepts the unity that comes with the Petrine Ministry (the ministry of Peter, the Pope) and the other does not

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='Aloysius' date='Oct 19 2005, 09:20 PM']they are very very similar, main difference being one accepts the unity that comes with the Petrine Ministry (the ministry of Peter, the Pope) and the other does not
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It is for that reason that I bought in the references to the Orthodox church.

Examples I referred to and how I view them are as follows:
[quote name='Aloysius' date='Oct 19 2005, 02:03 AM']in an eastern catholic church at the confessionals you might find an examination of conscience based on the beatitudes.  at a roman church you're more likely to find one based on the ten commandments.  ultimately, it's both the same thing.  but one is asking "did I do this, did I do this?" and the other is asking "did I not do this, did I not do this?"[right][snapback]763500[/snapback][/right]
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Granted I use them to judge morality in many ways, I try to live with a character that reflects the beattitudes. Ten commandments are part of the Old Testament law. I would be happy to go by the beattitudes because they are New Testament and I am Christian.

[quote name='Aloysius' date='Oct 19 2005, 02:03 AM']easterners view marriage as something the priest does to the couple.  the roman church views marriage as something the couple does to each other while the priest accepts that into the church.[right][snapback]763500[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
Having not grown up with that as a sacriment and not encountering that aspect of Catholic thought much, I haven't really developed a view on this.

[quote name='Aloysius' date='Oct 19 2005, 02:03 AM']then there's the infamous filioque fiasco in the creed that was the straw that broke the camel's back in the Great Schism.  in viewing the Trinity, the easterners liked the formula that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father in that His person originates solely in the Father.  the roman church added to the creed the phrase (referring to the Holy Spirit) "proceeds from the Father [i]and the Son (filioque)[/i]".  Ultimately when pressed we both understand that in the the Holy Spirit proceeds solely from the Father theologically (in the inner workings of the Trinity), but in the economy (dealings of God and man) of salvation the Holy Spirit proceeds towards man from both the Father and the Son  so there's two ways of emphasizing, either the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone or the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.  easterners focus on one way, romans on another.
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To me, it's like so the Father.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, [i]whom the Father will send[/i] in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

In Jesus name, but inherently comes from the father.

Edited October 20, 2005 by Light and Truth

[Fides_et_Ratio]

[quote name='Light and Truth' date='Oct 19 2005, 11:30 PM']It is for that reason that I bought in the references to the Orthodox church.
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I guess I was replying in relation to the thread title. For in that case, you wouldn't be joining a rite, you would be joining the Orthodox Church as opposed to the Catholic Church.

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='Fides_et_Ratio' date='Oct 19 2005, 09:32 PM']I guess I was replying in relation to the thread title. For in that case, you wouldn't be joining a rite, you would be joining the Orthodox Church as opposed to the Catholic Church.
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I wanted an answer in response to the thread title. I have a view based on churches and I meant that to I guess help give a sense of how I see things? Something like that. Roman Catholic is a lot more common where I am. If Eastern Orthodox is similar to Eastern Rite more than to Roman, then maybe mentioning that might help with finding a sense of how much I would relate to one verses how much I might relate to the other. I think that was kind of my thinking. The Newman Club that I was a member of was I think more Roman oriented, at least among those active in it.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

[quote name='Light and Truth' date='Oct 19 2005, 11:39 PM']I wanted an answer in response to the thread title.  I have a view based on churches and I meant that to I guess help give a sense of how I see things?  Something like that.  Roman Catholic is a lot more common where I am.  If Eastern Orthodox is similar to Eastern Rite more than to Roman, then maybe mentioning that might help with finding a sense of how much I would relate to one verses how much I might relate to the other.  I think that was kind of my thinking.  The Newman Club that I was a member of was I think more Roman oriented, at least among those active in it.
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The majority of the Catholic clubs you find will be more Roman (/Latin rite) oriented simply because the Latin rite is the biggest and most common rite.

The difference between Catholic rites is mostly theological opinion/culture, but the difference between Catholic and Orthodox is dogmatic.

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='Fides_et_Ratio' date='Oct 19 2005, 09:52 PM']The difference between Catholic rites is mostly theological opinion/culture, but the difference between Catholic and Orthodox is dogmatic.
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How do I know which would be closest to my views if I was a Catholic?

Edited October 20, 2005 by Light and Truth

[Aloysius]

you could take the intellectual approach and do major studying... basically take like St. Thomas Aquinas for the Latin Rite, and St. Gregory Palamas for the byzantines... et cetera

or you could just go with your gut feeling on the basic explanations of the major issues and with which liturgy you prefer.

[photosynthesis]

[quote name='Light and Truth' date='Oct 19 2005, 11:03 PM']I've felt for several months that I theologically I would be a better Eastern Orthodox than a Catholic.  Part of that is the view of the pope verses the arrangement of the bishops in the Orthodox church.  Also, at least from one online discussion that I had with someone who converted from Lutheran to Orthodox (and I was myself raised Lutheran) there at least can be certain differences in emphasis in practice.  Of course I am also slightly biased towards it in certain ways because Orthodox is exotic and cool.

With regard to two of the three examples of differences between Roman and Eastern rites (I am without developed view of the marriage one), I tend towards the Eastern views in those examples.  You will likely disagree with me, but you know us Protestants and the whole prayer mediator thing.  The Jesus Prayer seems more scriptural to me than the Rosary prayer.

Although culturally I could see fitting in to a certain extent with Roman Catholic and I don't like the goldish color I see looking at Orthodox stuff online, things like the above points make me question if theologically I would really be more Roman than Eastern.  I suspect to a certain extent I could be a better Orthodox than a Catholic.
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The Catholic Church is in the fullness and splendor of truth. That is truly "exotic and cool."

The Orthodox and those in the Eastern Rites DO keep Marian devotion. In fact, their Divine Liturgies mention Mary more than the Roman Catholic mass (as far as I know, correct me if I am wrong). The Jesus prayer and the Rosary are not mutually exclusive devotions. I keep both of them.

While the Eastern and Roman rites have different approaches, we all believe in the same doctrines, we all pray to Mary and the saints and ask for their intercession, we have the same sacraments, and are all under the authority of the Holy Father in Rome.

[missionseeker]

"You will likely disagree with me, but you know us Protestants and the whole prayer mediator thing."

please explain "prayer mediator".
I have been told several times that I pray to the Pope. And through the Pope. I always ask them "How do you pray through a person?" I don't want to be rude or anything, but I don't really know how to respond because I am not sure what they mean.

[Anastasia13]

[quote name='missionseeker' date='Oct 19 2005, 11:26 PM']"You will likely disagree with me, but you know us Protestants and the whole prayer mediator thing."

please explain "prayer mediator".
I have been told several times that I pray to the Pope. And through the Pope. I always ask them "How do you pray through a person?" I don't want to be rude or anything, but I don't really know how to respond because I am not sure what they mean.
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Oh, I'm sorry. I have not heard that with the Pope. I meant with the saints and Mary like asking them to pray for you. Protestants will tend to not seek intercessor among the physically departed the way that Catholics do-obvious exception being Christ. This is one of the differences where the Rosary prayer includes "Hail Mary...Blessed are thou amoung women... Pray for us sinners..." Does that help answer what I meant?

P.S. Why would someone think you pray to the Pope?

[Aloysius]

cuz not even 100 people in the United States hate the Catholic Church, they hate what they mistakenly think is the Catholic Church. (Fulton J Sheen, one of my heroes)

anyway, if you believe that God dwells within a person if they are saved and go to heaven, then obviously the presence of God is within His saints. to ignore the saints, the part of God that dealt with each of those individual people, would be ignoring a part of God. as Catholics, we seek to know God as totally and as fully as possible, so we wouldn't want to exclude any part.