Yesterday I took our two postulants to the Divine Liturgy at Sacred Heart Byzantine Catholic Church in Livonia.  We’re in the middle of a series of talks on ecumenism, which includes a bit about the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome.  This was their field trip.  🙂

I’ve been to this church numerous times and love the beauty, the icons, the incense,  the prayers of the Eastern Liturgies.  I have to pinch myself when I’m there to remind myself that this is our Church.  I always remember how John Paul II stressed the need for both lungs in the Church–referring to the Eastern and Western (That’s us–the Latin Church) Churches.  It calls to mind this story:

In the 10th century, the Prince of Kiev [present day Ukraine] sent ambassadors out throughout the world in search of the best religion: to the Muslims, to the Jews, the Latins, and the Greeks.  When the ambassadors that had gone to Constantinople returned and shared about their experience, the story goes that Prince Vladimir decided without any hesitation for Christianity. The ambassadors said, “We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for assuredly on earth such beauty cannot be found anywhere else.  So we do not know what we ought to tell you; but one thing we know well: there God dwells among men who celebrate His glory in such a manner that no other religion on this earth could equal.  It is impossible for us to forget such splendorous beauty.”

There may be many of you who aren’t even aware that the Catholic Church is made up of more than just one church.  There are, I believe, 22 Eastern Churches that are in communion with Rome: the Melkite, the Maronite, etc.  Each has its own liturgy, but we can all participate in each other’s.  This is indeed part of the wonder of the Catholic Church. 

If you ever, ever have a chance to take your family to an Eastern Catholic liturgy, do so!  The one in Livonia is in English–which is, of course, a great help.  And the pastor there used to be a Latin Catholic so he’s sensitive to us not knowing what we’re doing at their liturgy.

Some helpful web sites:
Sacred Heart Byzantine Catholic Church, Livonia, MI
Byzantine Catholic Church in America
The Byzantine Liturgy