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For the lapsed catholics on this thread and those who have been scandalized by messages delivered by some of the more radical, liberal clergy, you may be pleasantly surprised to discover the Eastern "Catholic" (not to be confused with Orthodox) Churches. After battling liturgical abuse in my RC parish, I looked around for a new one. Another freeper suggested that I include any Eastern Catholic Churches on my list. 3 weeks later, I attended the Divine Liturgy at a Maronite Catholic Church. As a Roman Catholic, you may attend any one of the 22 liturgies that make up the universal Catholic Church.

A Rite represents an ecclesiastical, or church, tradition about how the sacraments are to be celebrated. Each of the sacraments has at its core an essential nature which must be satisfied for the sacrament to be confected or realized. This essence - of matter, form and intention - derives from the divinely revealed nature of the particular sacrament. It cannot be changed by the Church. Scripture and Sacred Tradition, as interpreted by the Magisterium, tells us what is essential in each of the sacraments (2 Thes. 2:15).

When the apostles brought the Gospel to the major cultural centers of their day the essential elements of religious practice were inculturated into those cultures. This means that the essential elements were clothed in the symbols and trappings of the particular people, so that the rituals conveyed the desired spiritual meaning to that culture. In this way the Church becomes all things to all men that some might be saved (1 Cor. 9:22).

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.

To learn more about these different rites, click on the following link:

CATHOLIC RITES AND CHURCHES

To locate an Eastern Catholic Church in your community, click this link:

Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S.

Eastern priests are very devout and the liturgies are resplendant with incense, chant and deep reverence for Christ and His church. There is no communion in the hand. In the Maronite Tradition, ONLY the priest may touch the consecrated host. He places it on the tongue with the words - "Receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of sin and eternal salvation."

I maintain a Catholic Ping List. Freepmail me if you would like to be added to it. May our Lord bless and guide you on your journey.