Is the Catholic Mass the Same Everywhere in the World?

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Is the Catholic Mass the Same Everywhere in the World? Is the Catholic mass the same everywhere in the world? The structure of the Roman Catholic mass is the same everywhere in the world. The mass structure has two parts; the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Word celebrates the word of God and we hear one to two readings from the Bible plus a Gospel reading. The readings are the same everywhere, but a parish could celebrate a special feast day and use those prescribed readings. Following the readings their is a homily. The homily is the sermon portion of the mass given by the Priest or Deacon. It is the segment of the service in which the Priest celebrating the mass discusses how the daily readings from the Bible relate to issues of the day and other moral and religious points he wishes to make. The second part of the mass is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This is the the part of Mass immediately following the prayer of the faithful where we celebrate the Lord’s sacrifice. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist we make offering to God; The priest re- enacts the Last Supper; the bread and wine are consecrated in the Eucharist and become the Most Precious Body and Blood of Christ. And we then receive the Eucharist. This mass happens everywhere, every day in Catholic Churches throughout the world. Having a universal Church is one of the greatest aspects of the Catholic Church. Where ever you go in the world you can attend mass and know that it is the same as it would be if you were at your local parish. Sunday Mass is an important part of Roman Catholic life. All members are required to attend Mass on Sunday as a minimum participation in public worship. Much Information was found at: http://www.whycatholicsdothat.com OK – now it might get a little confusing. I was told by my priest last evening that the Catholic church has 30 rites worldwide. The rite we are familiar with here in the Western world is the Roman or Latin Catholic rite. The above answer relates to only the Roman or Latin Catholic rite. Here is more on rites: Likely every Catholic reading this belongs to the Latin or Roman Rite. What does that mean? A “rite,” in liturgical-speak, is simply a church that celebrates the sacraments in a particular way. The different rites in the Church tend to have been created around certain cultural traditions, and those cultures have given the rites their own unique characteristics. However, these rites all recognize the supremacy of the pope, Scripture and Sacred Tradition. These rites are generally formed in two categories: Eastern and Western churches. There are three major groupings of Rites based on this initial transmission of the faith, the Roman, the Antiochian (Syria) and the Alexandrian (Egypt). Later on the Byzantine derived as a major Rite from the Antiochian, under the influence of St. Basil and St. John Chrysostom. From these four derive the over 20 liturgical Rites present in the Church today. This means that our faith, the Catholic faith, is truly universal. It also means that it encompasses more than most of us realize. For those of us belonging to the Roman or Latin rite, our main liturgy, the Mass, is celebrated either in Latin or in the local language. The “Ordinary Form” is in the local language, and takes its shape from the Missal after the Second Vatican Council. The Extraordinary Form is celebrated in Latin, using the Missal from 1962. The rest of the Western rites are: • Mozarabic – The Rite of the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) known from at least the 6th century, but probably with roots to the original evangelization. Beginning in the 11th century it was generally replaced by the Roman Rite, although it has remained the Rite of the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Toledo, Spain, and six parishes which sought permission to adhere to it. Its celebration today is generally semi–private. • Ambrosian – The Rite of the Archdiocese of Milan, Italy, thought to be of early origin and probably consolidated, but not originated, by St. Ambrose. Pope Paul VI was from this Roman Rite. It continues to be celebrated in Milan, though not by all parishes. • Bragan – Rite of the Archdiocese of Braga, the Primatial See of Portugal, it derives from the 12th century or earlier. It continues to be of occasional use. • Dominican – Rite of the Order of Friars Preacher (OP), founded by St. Dominic in 1215. • Carmelite – Rite of the Order of Carmel, whose modern foundation was by St. Berthold c.1154. • Carthusian – Rite of the Carthusian Order founded by St. Bruno in 1084. The Eastern churches have their own hierarchy, but still recognize the supremacy and leadership of the Holy See (the Vatican). These churches date back to the Apostles, who followed Christ’s command to go forth and spread the Good News. The first set of Eastern rite churches are known as Antiochian. These are the Syrian churches. (Please keep these churches and their congregations in prayer. They are experiencing deep persecution, and many Syrian Christians have had to flee their homes.) These churches include: WEST SYRIAC • Maronite – Never separated from Rome. Maronite Patriarch of Antioch. The liturgical language is Aramaic. The 3 million Maronites are found in Lebanon (origin), Cyprus, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Canada, US, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. • Syriac – Syriac Catholics who returned to Rome in 1781 from the monophysite heresy. Syriac Patriarch of Antioch. The 110,000 Syriac Catholics are found in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Canada and the US. • Malankarese – Catholics from the South of India evangelized by St. Thomas, uses the West Syriac liturgy. Reunited with Rome in 1930. Liturgical languages today are West Syriac and Malayalam. The 350,000 Malankarese Catholics are found in India and North America. EAST SYRIAC • Chaldean – Babylonian Catholics returned to Rome in 1692 from the Nestorian heresy. Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans. Liturgical languages are Syriac and Arabic. The 310,000 Chaldean Catholics are found in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey and the US. • Syro–Malabarese – Catholics from Southern India using the East Syriac liturgy. Returned to Rome in the 16th century from the Nestorian heresy. Liturgical languages are Syriac and Malayalam. Over 3 million Syro–Malabarese Catholics can be found in the state of Kerela, in SW India. In the early 300s A.D., the Emperor Constantine established the Eastern center for the church in Constantinople. These churches developed liturgical practices based on St. James the Apostle and later, St. John Chrysostom. These include the Armenian rite and Byzantine rite churches. Finally, there are the Alexandrian rites: Coptic and Ethiopian/Abyssinian. Their liturgies date back to the teachings of St. Mark the Evangelist. So what does this mean for us, the average Catholic church-goer? It means that we belong to a much larger spiritual family that most of us likely realized. It also means that we should learn about these rites; they are part of our heritage as well. Their art, music, and deep cultural histories are not only fascinating, but they have the potential to deeply enrich each of our spiritual lives. Finally: All the rites of the Catholic Church are of equal dignity and equally valid. Attendance at a different rite fulfills the Sunday obligation. The Catholic Church is truly universal since it unites so many diverse rites, whose members share a common faith. It is truly a joy to be able to celebrate our common faith with our Eastern brothers and sisters. Knowing a bit more about these rites gives us the opportunity to learn more about our Faith history, cultures, languages and to see how the Holy Spirit has informed and inspired God’s people around the world. This Information was found at: http://www.diocesan.com .
Recommended publications
  • Origins of the Roman Liturgy - Mass
    1 Origins of the Roman Liturgy - Mass Through the centuries the Mass of the Roman Rite has come to be divided into 4 major sections. These are: The Introductory Rites - the congregation is called to prayer. The Liturgy of the Word - also known as the Mass of the Catechumens in the patristic & early Medieval period. The Liturgy of the Eucharist - known as the Mass of the Faithful in the patristic & early Medieval period. The Concluding Rites - the congregation is sent forth to proclaim the Word & put it into practice in addition to the lessons learned in the liturgy. How it all began - NT Origins of the Roman Liturgy It began on the same Thursday night on which Jesus was betrayed. Jesus came with his closest disciples to the upper room in Jerusalem where he had instructed two of them to prepare the Passover meal. Judas, one of the Twelve chosen Apostles, had already privately agreed to lead the authorities to where Jesus would be praying in a garden in secret after the meal, knowing there would be no one but these few closest disciples around him to defend him. During the Passover meal, Jesus as the central figure took some bread & blessed it & broke it ready to hand around. That was customary enough. But then he said, for all to hear: “take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Mt 26:26; Mk 14:22; Lk 22:19). This was something totally new. Another memory of the occasion, related by Paul but as old in origin as the first, has Jesus say: “This is my body which is broken for you.
    [Show full text]
  • A Harmony of the Life of Paul
    A Harmony Of The Life Of Paul A Chronological Study Harmonizing The Book Of Acts With Paul’s Epistles This material is from ExecutableOutlines.com, a web site containing sermon outlines and Bible studies by Mark A. Copeland. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for church or personal use. The outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God Be The Glory! Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2007 Mark A. Copeland A Harmony Of The Life Of Paul Table Of Contents Paul's Life Prior To Conversion 3 The Conversion Of Paul (36 A.D.) 6 Paul’s Early Years Of Service (36-45 A.D.) 10 First Missionary Journey, And Residence In Antioch (45-49 A.D.) 13 Conference In Jerusalem, And Return To Antioch (50 A.D.) 17 Second Missionary Journey (51-54 A.D.) 20 Third Missionary Journey (54-58 A.D.) 25 Arrest In Jerusalem (58 A.D.) 30 Imprisonment In Caesarea (58-60 A.D.) 33 The Voyage To Rome (60-61 A.D.) 37 First Roman Captivity (61-63 A.D.) 41 Between The First And Second Roman Captivity (63-67 A.D.) 45 The Second Roman Captivity (68 A.D.) 48 A Harmony Of The Life Of Paul 2 Mark A. Copeland A Harmony Of The Life Of Paul Paul's Life Prior To Conversion INTRODUCTION 1. One cannot deny the powerful impact the apostle Paul had on the growth and development of the early church..
    [Show full text]
  • How Was the Sermon? Mystery Is That the Spirit Blows Where It Wills and with Peculiar Results
    C ALVIN THEOLOGI C AL S FORUMEMINARY The Sermon 1. BIBLICAL • The sermon content was derived from Scripture: 1 2 3 4 5 • The sermon helped you understand the text better: 1 2 3 4 5 • The sermon revealed how God is at work in the text: 1 2 3 4 5 How Was the• The sermonSermon? displayed the grace of God in Scripture: 1 2 3 4 5 1=Excellent 2=Very Good 3=Good 4=Average 5=Poor W INTER 2008 C ALVIN THEOLOGI C AL SEMINARY from the president FORUM Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. Providing Theological Leadership for the Church Volume 15, Number 1 Winter 2008 Dear Brothers and Sisters, REFLECTIONS ON Every Sunday they do it again: thousands of ministers stand before listeners PREACHING AND EVALUATION and preach a sermon to them. If the sermon works—if it “takes”—a primary cause will be the secret ministry of the Holy Spirit, moving mysteriously through 3 a congregation and inspiring Scripture all over again as it’s preached. Part of the How Was the Sermon? mystery is that the Spirit blows where it wills and with peculiar results. As every by Scott Hoezee preacher knows, a nicely crafted sermon sometimes falls flat. People listen to it 6 with mild interest, and then they go home. On other Sundays a preacher will Good Preaching Takes Good Elders! walk to the pulpit with a sermon that has been only roughly framed up in his by Howard Vanderwell (or her) mind. The preacher has been busy all week with weddings, funerals, and youth retreats, and on Sunday morning he isn’t ready to preach.
    [Show full text]
  • The Dogma of the Assumption in the Light of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils
    University of Dayton eCommons Marian Reprints Marian Library Publications 1-1961 080 - The ogD ma of the Assumption in the Light of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils Gregory Cardinal Peter XV Agagianian Follow this and additional works at: http://ecommons.udayton.edu/marian_reprints Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Agagianian, Gregory Cardinal Peter XV, "080 - The oD gma of the Assumption in the Light of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils" (1961). Marian Reprints. Paper 97. http://ecommons.udayton.edu/marian_reprints/97 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Marian Library Publications at eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Marian Reprints by an authorized administrator of eCommons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gregory Peter XV Cardinal Agagianian is perhaps one of the best­ known of the non-American Cardinals. He has become familiar to Amer­ ican Catholic and non-Catholic readers because of the publicity given to his appointment to succeed Cardinal Stritch as Pro-prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Faith in June, 1958. At this time and during the period following the death of the late Pius XII, he was considered by many observers as one of the most likely "candidates" for the Papacy. His two trips to the United States in 1954 and in May of this past year have served to bring him to the attention of the American public. Born in the Russian Caucasus sixty-five years ago, Cardinal Agagianian grew up in what is now Russian Georgia.
    [Show full text]
  • Dominican Rite Practicum
    LSFT 2405 Dominican Rite Practicum Prepared by the Instructor 2020 Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology Fall 2020 LSFT 2405 First Meeting: Saturday, 9/5, SAP Library, 7:30 pm Dominican Rite Practicum Instructor: Fr. Augustine Thompson O.P. Office Hours: TBA at St. Albert’s Priory Course Description This course is a 1.5 unit graded liturgical practicum open to Dominican friar students, normally after residency year, best in the year of deaconal or priestly ordination. The goal is to acquire the ability to celebrate Low Mass and Missa Cantata according to the traditional Dominican Rite in Latin. The outcome will be a correct and fluid "dry Mass" celebration of the Dominican Rite Low Mass and of the Missa Cantata. These two exercises will in equal parts provide the two graded "exams" of the course. The format will be a practicum in which students perform the rite under the direction of the instructor. Admission to the Class Dominican friars who would like to be admitted to the class need to arrange an interview with the instructor. At the interview they will be asked to recite from memory the texts found on the next page. This memorization is not-negotiable and will serve to prove that the student is ready to undertake the heavy memorization element of the class. As this class is only open to Western Dominican Province student brothers it will be held at St. Albert’s with social distancing. Required Books and Materials William R. Bonniwell, ed., Dominican Ceremonial for Mass and Benediction (1946; rpt. Oakland: Dominican Liturgy Publications, 2012), $22.75, order at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/william-r-bonniwell-op/dominican-ceremonial-for-mass-and-b enediction/hardcover/product-21602438.html Dominican Altar Boys' Manual According to the Rite of the Order of Preachrs (1945; rpt.
    [Show full text]
  • Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite At
    Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite A Solemn High Mass celebrated in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass of the Roman Rite (according to the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal) is scheduled for Sacred Heart Cathedral on Sunday, September 15, 2019, 3:00 pm. Fr. Daniel Geddes from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Vancouver, will be the celebrant. As a simple explanation, in 2007 Pope Benedict XVI issued a document entitled “Summorum Pontificum” which gave priests anywhere around the world permission to celebrate the Mass using the 1962 Missal. In his letter to bishops concerning the document, he explained that the liturgical tradition of the Roman Rite incorporated two forms – the ordinary, which we celebrate regularly, and the extraordinary, to which many have continued to be devoted. Both forms belong to the Roman Rite and are to be seen as the continual flow of the 2000-year liturgical tradition of the Church. The pope emphasized there was no fracture of the tradition at the Second Vatican Council. Both forms are celebrated in Latin, although the current edition of the Roman Missal allows for vernacular languages to be used. The Apostolic Letter, Summorom Pontificum was issued on July 7, 2007 and carried an effective date of September 14, 2007. Hence, 12 years after the letter’s effective date, Mass will again be offered at Sacred Heart Cathedral in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Members of the UnaVoce Prince George Chapter will be providing servers and a schola (choir).
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of the Roman Rite by Michael Davies
    The Development of the Roman Rite By Michael Davies The Universe is the Catholic newspaper with the largest circulation in Britain. On 18 May 1979 its principal feature article was by one Hugh Lindsay, Bishop of Hexam and Newcastle. The Bishop's article was entitled "What Can the Church Change?" It was a petulant, petty, and singularly ill-informed attack upon Archbishop Lefebvre and Catholic traditionalists in general. It is not hard to understand why the Archbishop is far from popular with the English hierarchy, and with most hierarchies in the world for that matter. The Archbishop is behaving as a true shepherd, defending the flock from who would destroy it. He is a living reproach to the thousands of bishops who have behaved as hirelings since Vatican II. They not only allow enemies to enter the sheepfold but enjoy nothing more than a "meaningful dialogue" with them. The English Bishops are typical of hierarchies throughout the world. They allow catechetical programs in their schools which leave Catholic children ignorant of the basis of their faith or even teach a distorted version of that faith. When parents complain the Bishops spring to the defense of the heterodox catechists responsible for undermining the faith of the children. The English Bishops remain indifferent to liturgical abuse providing that it is initiated by Liberals. Pope Paul VI appealed to hierarchies throughout the world to uphold the practice of Communion on the tongue. Liberal clerics in England defied the Holy See and the reaction of the Bishops was to legalize the practice. The same process is now taking place with the practice of distributing Communion under both kinds at Sunday Masses.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding When to Kneel, Sit and Stand at a Traditional Latin Mass
    UNDERSTANDING WHEN TO KNEEL, SIT AND STAND AT A TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS __________________________ A Short Essay on Mass Postures __________________________ by Richard Friend I. Introduction A Catholic assisting at a Traditional Latin Mass for the first time will most likely experience bewilderment and confusion as to when to kneel, sit and stand, for the postures that people observe at Traditional Latin Masses are so different from what he is accustomed to. To understand what people should really be doing at Mass is not always determinable from what people remember or from what people are presently doing. What is needed is an understanding of the nature of the liturgy itself, and then to act accordingly. When I began assisting at Traditional Latin Masses for the first time as an adult, I remember being utterly confused with Mass postures. People followed one order of postures for Low Mass, and a different one for Sung Mass. I recall my oldest son, then a small boy, being thoroughly amused with the frequent changes in people’s postures during Sung Mass, when we would go in rather short order from standing for the entrance procession, kneeling for the preparatory prayers, standing for the Gloria, sitting when the priest sat, rising again when he rose, sitting for the epistle, gradual, alleluia, standing for the Gospel, sitting for the epistle in English, rising for the Gospel in English, sitting for the sermon, rising for the Credo, genuflecting together with the priest, sitting when the priest sat while the choir sang the Credo, kneeling when the choir reached Et incarnatus est etc.
    [Show full text]
  • The Healing Ministry of Jesus As Recorded in the Synoptic Gospels
    Loma Linda University TheScholarsRepository@LLU: Digital Archive of Research, Scholarship & Creative Works Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects 6-2006 The eH aling Ministry of Jesus as Recorded in the Synoptic Gospels Alvin Lloyd Maragh Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd Part of the Medical Humanities Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Maragh, Alvin Lloyd, "The eH aling Ministry of Jesus as Recorded in the Synoptic Gospels" (2006). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 457. http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/457 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by TheScholarsRepository@LLU: Digital Archive of Research, Scholarship & Creative Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects by an authorized administrator of TheScholarsRepository@LLU: Digital Archive of Research, Scholarship & Creative Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY Faculty of Religion in conjunction with the Faculty of Graduate Studies The Healing Ministry of Jesus as Recorded in the Synoptic Gospels by Alvin Lloyd Maragh A Thesis submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Clinical Ministry June 2006 CO 2006 Alvin Lloyd Maragh All Rights Reserved Each person whose signature appears below certifies that this thesis in his opinion is adequate in scope and quality as a thesis for the degree Master of Arts. Chairperson Siroj Sorajjakool, Ph.D7,-PrOfessor of Religion Johnny Ramirez-Johnson, Ed.D., Professor of Religion David Taylor, D.Min., Profetr of Religion 111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank God for giving me the strength to complete this thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • A Comparison of the Two Forms of the Roman Rite
    A Comparison of the Two Forms of the Roman Rite Mass Structures Orientation Language The purpose of this presentation is to prepare you for what will very likely be your first Traditional Latin Mass (TLM). This is officially named “The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.” We will try to do that by comparing it to what you already know - the Novus Ordo Missae (NOM). This is officially named “The Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.” In “Mass Structures” we will look at differences in form. While the TLM really has only one structure, the NOM has many options. As we shall see, it has so many in fact, that it is virtually impossible for the person in the pew to determine whether the priest actually performs one of the many variations according to the rubrics (rules) for celebrating the NOM. Then, we will briefly examine the two most obvious differences in the performance of the Mass - the orientation of the priest (and people) and the language used. The orientation of the priest in the TLM is towards the altar. In this position, he is facing the same direction as the people, liturgical “east” and, in a traditional church, they are both looking at the tabernacle and/or crucifix in the center of the altar. The language of the TLM is, of course, Latin. It has been Latin since before the year 400. The NOM was written in Latin but is usually performed in the language of the immediate location - the vernacular. [email protected] 1 Mass Structure: Novus Ordo Missae Eucharistic Prayer Baptism I: A,B,C,D Renewal Eucharistic Prayer II: A,B,C,D Liturgy of Greeting: Penitential Concluding Dismissal: the Word: A,B,C Rite: A,B,C Eucharistic Prayer Rite: A,B,C A,B,C Year 1,2,3 III: A,B,C,D Eucharistic Prayer IV: A,B,C,D 3 x 4 x 3 x 16 x 3 x 3 = 5184 variations (not counting omissions) Or ~ 100 Years of Sundays This is the Mass that most of you attend.
    [Show full text]
  • The Most Holy Trinity | 30 May 2021 Mass Confession Adoration
    The Most Holy Trinity | 30 May 2021 Mass Sunday Vigil 5:30 PM Saturday Sunday 7, 9, & 11 AM (Dominican Rite: Latin) 1 & 5:30 PM Weekdays 6 AM (Dominican Rite: Latin) 7 AM, 12 Noon (Dominican Rite: Latin) First Friday 7:30 PM Saturday 6 AM (Dominican Rite: Latin) 8 AM Confession Weekdays 11 AM – 12 PM First Friday 7 – 7:30 PM Saturday 4 – 5:30 PM First Sunday half hour before each Mass Adoration Weekdays 12:30 – 2:30 PM U P C O M I N G E V E N T S May 31 June 3 June 4 Memorial Day Corpus Christi First Friday Devotion 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Confessions Dominican Rite Requiem Mass Dominican Rite Mass 7:30 PM Dominican Rite Low Mass 375 NE Clackamas St. Portland, OR 97232 | holyrosarypdx.org | 503-235-3163 Dear Parishioners: THIS WEEK AT HOLY ROSARY Sunday, 30 May "Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth." - Pope St. John Paul II, The Most Holy Trinity Fides et Ratio. Monday, 31 May Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Memorial Day We are a people of both Faith and Reason - Fides (faith) et Dominican Rite: Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ratio (reason). Reason can get us quite a ways. Faith can get us Office closed even further. 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM Mass only It is by faith that we proclaim God as a Trinity. When it comes No Confession or Exposition to the Doctrine of the Trinity, the Trinity is simply beyond Tuesday, 1 June reason.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Rite Catholicism
    Eastern Rite Catholicism Religious Practices Religious Items Requirements for Membership Medical Prohibitions Dietary Standards Burial Rituals Sacred Writings Organizational Structure History Theology RELIGIOUS PRACTICES Required Daily Observances. None. However, daily personal prayer is highly recommended. Required Weekly Observances. Participation in the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is required. If the Divine Liturgy is not available, participation in the Latin Rite Mass fulfills the requirement. Required Occasional Observances. The Eastern Rites follow a liturgical calendar, as does the Latin Rite. However, there are significant differences. The Eastern Rites still follow the Julian Calendar, which now has a difference of about 13 days – thus, major feasts fall about 13 days after they do in the West. This could be a point of contention for Eastern Rite inmates practicing Western Rite liturgies. Sensitivity should be maintained by possibly incorporating special prayer on Eastern Rite Holy days into the Mass. Each liturgical season has a focus; i.e., Christmas (Incarnation), Lent (Human Mortality), Easter (Salvation). Be mindful that some very important seasons do not match Western practices; i.e., Christmas and Holy Week. Holy Days. There are about 28 holy days in the Eastern Rites. However, only some require attendance at the Divine Liturgy. In the Byzantine Rite, those requiring attendance are: Epiphany, Ascension, St. Peter and Paul, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Christmas. Of the other 15 solemn and seven simple holy days, attendance is not mandatory but recommended. (1 of 5) In the Ukrainian Rites, the following are obligatory feasts: Circumcision, Easter, Dormition of Mary, Epiphany, Ascension, Immaculate Conception, Annunciation, Pentecost, and Christmas.
    [Show full text]