Featured Blog: Symposium, Priest of the Church

"Ultimately, the Liturgy has therapeutic power. This is because it is not a performance, but an effectual representation of heaven and what goes on before the throne of God. It is also, as our Lord himself promised, an extension not only of his act of Sacrifice, but of his own self for the sake of his people. And this means, in turn, that the entirety of his teaching ministry and the entirety of his healing ministry are manifest there, alongside everything else. It means that when the Liturgy is celebrated objectively and without the undo interference of personality and idiosyncracy, of ego and fleeting taste, then God’s people can be assured of meeting him there, and of receiving his grace and mercies. In light of this, priests and people alike need to pursue the improvement of their liturgies in greater conformity to Tradition with some urgency. The wellbeing of our souls depends on it."

Visit the UK blog Symposium to read the entire post

In Union with Rome- Quick Takes

Priest's Wife @ Fear Not Little Flock here- I'd love to introduce you to some websites and blogs that will inspire your Great Lent

1. The Master Beadsman

"Why Do We Fast? I have been questioned at work lately about the purpose of our Lenten fasting. Why do we fast? Why is it so important. Why do Roman Catholics give up things for Lent? And why are Eastern Catholics restricted to certain foods? There are, of course, a number of answers. We have fasted from ancient times. Fasting helps us to take our attention from the things of this world in order to transfer that attention onto God. Fasting reminds us that the things of this world are good, but that as Christians we seek a higher good, a life transfigured by the indwelling of the Trinity." Continue at The Master Beadsman

2. Eastern Catholic Spiritual Renewal

"In the Byzantine tradition I believe there is a more complete understanding of the Lord’s death. In fact, each year we proclaim this during Holy Pascha when we say, “Christ is risen from the dead, By death He trampled death, And to those in the tombs He granted life”. From this perspective the Lord’s death becomes the means to end the problems with the human condition, which are the problems that keep us from God. Based on this, the guilt debt from sin is given a different position. Instead of our guilt being something that specifically makes God punish us with the fires of Hell it becomes more a power that leads us to our own self destruction. Being under the power of sin we are stuck in this cycle that leads to death, which is also a cycle that leads us to sin because we die. Finding ourselves in this impossible condition we are without a doubt in need of redemption. A redemption that not only just satisfies God’s wrath but one that gives us the freedom from our own condition." Continue at ECSR

3. The Nuns at Christ the Bridegroom

"Let us stress once more that the purpose of Lent is not to force on us a few formal obligations, but to "soften"our heart so that it may open itself to the realities of the spirit, to experience the hidden "thirst and hunger" for communion with God. This Lenten "atmosphere," this unique "state of mind," is brought about mainly by means of worship, by the various changes introduced during that season into the liturgical life.  Considered separately, these changes may appear as incomprehensible "rubrics," as formal prescriptions to be formally adhered to; but understood as a whole, they reveal and communicate the spirit of Lent, they make us see, feel, and experience that bright sadness which is the true message and gift of Lent." Continue at Christ the Bridegroom

4. Claytonopolis

"The Journey - I like to reflect upon how I am living out this penitential season.  But, I am always cautious to do so on the internet, because we are called to do so in privacy.  We are to "wash our face, anoint our heads" and partake of our Fast with joy and love of the Lord.  Lent is a great gift to us.  It is an opportunity to turn ourselves back to the way things ought to be.  It is a time to be less self-absorbed with the physical and balance the physical with the metaphysical.  Ah, Lent! It is a rich season of our faith.  It is the story of the creatures' life with the Creator.  Liturgically we journey from creation, fall, exile and to the Apex of our exile--Christ and our Salvation.  It's an amazing journey.  I have been partaking in Lent since I was a little girl and each year Lent grows into something bigger and more beautiful.  I learn new things about the tradition each year.  I wonder if there will ever be a year where I say, I think I have completed the full journey of Great Lent." Continue at Claytonopolis

5. This Lent, I have been enjoying the 'Lentcasts' of Fr Z, pray-as-you-go as usual and the radio programs of Light of the East. try it!

6. Ramblings of a Byzantine Catholic

"The Holy Church gives us different ascetical practices that help us achieve a change of heart towards God. In my opinion, these Four ascetical practices take on a greater role during the Great Fast:
1. Realizing, repenting, and confessing ones transgressions before God and neighbor 2. Fasting from certain types of food 3. Increased prayer and alms giving 4. Increased scriptural spiritual readings
These are by no means the only four aspects of the spiritual life that can aid us during the fast, but I find that these four are what our Church stresses the most during this season. As with all things in the spiritual life, seeking the advice of one’s Spiritual Father is paramount to any Great Fast observance. (You wouldn’t start taking heart medicine without seeking the advice of a physician, would you? Same thing when it comes to spiritual medicine)" Continue at Ramblings of a Byzantine Catholic

7. and here are two videos...Learning the Liturgy and Cardinal Arinze...

more quick takes at conversion diary!

Favorite Blog: Wake Up & Smell the Incense

Wake Up & Smell the Incense is a superb blog, a view of the world and the Church from a Byzantine Catholic lay person's perspective. Have you visited it lately?

Featured Post: Simply Byzantine

Eastern Catholic Spiritual Renewal continues to be a wonderful resource for all who want to learn about or strengthen their understanding of Byzantine spirituality. The most recent post is titled 'Simply Byzantine': 

"We as Byzantines celebrate our faith in some of the most profound ways. However, sometimes in expressing what we have to others we lose the simplicity of our faith. So much so that we often find ourselves at a loss when we want communicate what we believe. As a result, sharing our faith is often reduced to a come and see our church method. This method of itself can be beneficial but without a real substantial communication of our faith the results are often less than life changing. Sharing our faith should not be a task where we hope that others will find our faith when they visit our churches. Rather, at that moment of sharing our faith we should "always be ready to explain"(1peter 3:15)" what we believe. This is only possible by discovering the simplicity that makes our Byzantine tradition great."...continue reading at Eastern Catholic Spiritual Renewal.

Featured 'Roman Friend of the East': Ascending Mount Carmel

Maybe it is the recent  immeasurably sad events in Egypt, Lebanon and other formerly primarily Eastern Christian nations. Maybe it is a proper appreciation for diversity. Maybe it is an interest in older ways. I don't know what it is, but there seems to be a better understanding, or at least awareness, of the Eastern rites among Roman-rite Catholics. 

Big Pulpit has been featuring some Byzantine bloggers and articles. I was pleasantly surprised to see this interview with a Ukrainian Catholic priest at Ascending Mount Carmel.

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity/harmony! (Psalm 133:1)

Featured Video- Vocations to Priesthood & Religious Life

Byzantine Catholic Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life

Recommended Prayer Book Resource

Have you ever observed an Eastern Catholic cantor during Liturgy? There are so many books to juggle! The Melkites have some beautiful prayer books for lay people and others.

"This beautiful prayer book, designed for personal use, contains over 600 pages of the traditional prayers of the Eastern Churches offered by generations of Christians — spiritual publicans — who heeded the Lord’s call to repent and “seek, first, the Kingdom of God” (Mt 6:33).

This treasury of prayer includes:

the traditional Morning Prayers and Prayers Before Sleep

prayers for use throughout the day

and prayers for various needs, such as: prayers for the dead, for the sick, for married couples, for travelers, for deliverance from addiction, for the clergy, for purity, for healing from cancer, for aborted children, and many others

Prayers of preparation/thanksgiving for Holy Communion and Confession

Calendar of Saints and Feasts, with troparia, for every day of the year

Nine Canons and Akathists, including the Paschal Canon, the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, the Akathist to the Mother of God, and the Paraklesis service

The Wisdom of the East: selected writings of the Church Fathers on prayer and related topics;

and spiritual guidance for living always in the presence of God

Glossary of terms and bibliography of selected texts on Eastern Christian spirituality

Handy insert for Society of Publicans with calendar for praying for all the churches of our Eparchy

The Publicans Prayer Book is a valuable help for Eastern Christians who seek to sanctify their daily lives by responding to the Lord’s call to “pray at all times” (Lk 21:34). It also makes an especially meaningful gift for anyone who loves the Lord on occasions such as: graduation, holidays, names day, birthday, first confession, anniversary, etc."