RITES OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

There are three major groupings of Rites based on the initial transmission of the faith, the Roman, the Antiochian (Syria) and the Alexandrian (Egypt). Later, the Byzantine, was 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. These Rites recognize the authority of the Pope as the Vicar of Christ and the supreme head of the Holy Universal (Catholic) Church.

Rites represent an ecclesiastical tradition about how to celebrate and administer the sacraments. 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 (matter, form, and intention) derives from the divinely revealed nature of each of the sacraments received from Jesus Christ. The Church does not have the authority to change what was initiated by Christ. Scripture and Sacred Tradition, as interpreted by the Magisterium, tells us what is essential in each of the sacraments (2 Thess 2:15).

When the Apostles and disciples carried Jesus' Gospel of salvation to the major cultural centers of their day, they brought the essential elements of the Church's religious practices into those cultures. The essential elements of the Church's religious practices were translated in the symbols meaningful to each ethnic group of people. The purpose was for the rituals to convey the desired spiritual message to each culture. It was in this way that the Church became, as St. Paul wrote, all things to all, to save at least some ...for the sake of the Gospel (1 Cor 9:22-23).

CHURCHES are an assembly of the faithful and a sacramental sign of the Mystical Body of Christ in the world. A church has both a head, who is Christ, and members, who are the faithful (Col 1:18). The sacramental sign of Christ the Head is the sacred hierarchy of the bishops, priests, and deacons (Eph 2:19-22). The local bishop, with his priests and deacons assisting him in his office, teach, sanctify, and govern the local churches (Mt 28:19-20; Titus 1:4-9). The sacramental sign of the Mystical Body of Christ is the Christian faithful. Therefore, the Church of Christ is fully present sacramentally wherever there is a "sign" of Christ the Head in a bishop with those who assist him, and a "sign" of Christ's Body, the Christian faithful.

Each diocese a particular church within the whole of the Body of Christ that is the Universal Church governed by Christ's Vicar, the Pope. He is the Rock and the sign of Christ, the Bishop of Rome and successor of St. Peter (Mt 16:18). To be identified as "Catholic," churches must be in communion with this Head, just as the other apostles, and the churches they founded, were in communion with Peter (Gal 1:18). Through this communion with Peter and his successors, the Church becomes a universal sacrament of salvation in all times and places in obedience to Christ command, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And in claiming His promise, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Mt 28:20).

WESTERN RITES --
ROMAN/LATIN FAMILY OF LITURGICAL RITES: The Church of Rome is the Primatial See of the world and one of the five Patriarchal Sees of the early Church (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem). Founded by St. Peter in 42 AD it was consecrated by the blood of Sts. Peter and Paul during the persecution of Nero (63–67 AD). It has maintained a continual existence since then and is the source of a family of Rites in the West.
- Ambrosian: The Rite of the Archdiocese of Milan, Italy.
- Gallican: A family of rites considered part of what is now the Western branch of the Orthodox church.
- Mozarabic: The Rite of the Iberian Peninsula: Spain, and Portugal from the 6^th century or earlier.
- Bragan: Rite of the Archdiocese of Braga, the Primatial See of Portugal, and dates from the 12th century.
- Dominican: Rite of the Order of Friars Preacher, founded by St. Dominic in 1215.
- Carmelite: Rite of the Order of Carmel founded was by St. Berthold c.1154.
- Carthusian: Rite of the Carthusian Order founded by St. Bruno in 1084.
EASTERN RITES --
The Eastern Catholic Churches have their hierarchy, system of governance (synods), and general law, the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches. The Supreme Pontiff exercises his primacy over them through the Congregation for the Eastern Churches.
ANTIOCHIAN FAMILY OF LITURGICAL RITES
Founded by Christ's designated Vicar, St. Peter, the Church of Antioch in Syria (the ancient Roman Province of Syria) is an apostolic See because it was. It was one of the ancient centers of the Church, as the New Testament attests, and is the source of a family of similar Rites using the ancient Syriac language (the Semitic dialect used in Jesus' time and better known as Aramaic). Its Liturgy is attributed to St. James and the Church of Jerusalem.
1. WEST SYRIAC
  - Maronite: Never separated from Rome, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch is the governing authority of the Maronites subject to the Pope. Aramaic is the liturgical language. The circa three million Maronites live 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 Syriac Catholics live in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Canada, and the US.
  - Malankarese: St. Thomas the Apostle evangelized Southern of India. The Malankarese use the West Syriac liturgy and reunited with Rome in 1930. Liturgical languages today are West Syriac and Malayalam. Malankarese Catholics live in India and North America.
2. EAST SYRIAC
  - Chaldean: Babylonian Catholics returned to Rome in 1692 from the Nestorian heresy. Liturgical languages are Syriac and Arabic. The Chaldean Catholics live in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, and the US.
  - Syro–Malabarese: Catholics come from Southern India and use the East Syriac liturgy. They returned to Rome in the 16^th-century from the Nestorian heresy. Their liturgical languages are Syriac and Malayalam. Syro–Malabarese Catholics live in the state of Kerela, in SW India.
ALEXANDRIAN FAMILY OF LITURGICAL RITES
The Church of Alexandria in Egypt was one of the original centers of Christianity. Like Rome and Antioch (Syria) it had a large Jewish population and was the initial focus of apostolic evangelization. The Alexandrian Rite attributes its Liturgy to its founder, St. Mark the Evangelist. The Rite shows the later influence of the Byzantine Liturgy in addition to its unique elements.
- Coptic: A minority of Egyptian Catholics returned to communion with Rome in 1741. The Patriarch of Alexandria leads the faithful of this ritual Church spread throughout Egypt and the Near East. Their liturgical languages are Coptic (Egyptian) and Arabic. However, most Copts are not Catholics.
- Ethiopian/Abyssinian: Some Ethiopian Coptic Christians returned to communion with Rome in 1846. Their liturgical language is Geez. The Ethiopian/Abyssinian Catholics live in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Jerusalem.
BYZANTINE FAMILY OF LITURGICAL RITES
The Roman Emperor Constantine built the city of Constantinople on the site of the ancient town of Byzantium. The Church of Constantinople became the political and religious center of the Eastern Roman Empire after Emperor Constantine declared Christianity protected under Roman Law and became a convert (ruled 324–330). Constantinople developed its liturgical rite from the Liturgy of St. James, the Apostle, in a form modified by St. Basil (330-379). The Church later adopted a more commonly used form modified by St. John Chrysostom (349-407), Archbishop of Constantinople. After 1054, except for brief periods of reunion with Rome, most Byzantine Christians have not been in communion with Rome. They make up the Orthodox Churches of the East, whose titular head is the Patriarch of Constantinople. The Orthodox Churches are mostly autocephalous, meaning self–headed, united to each other by communion with Constantinople, which exercises no real authority over them. They are typically divided into Churches along nation lines. Those that have returned to communion with the Holy See are represented among the Eastern Churches and Rites of the Catholic Church and are listed below.
1. ARMENIAN
  Considered either its independent Rite or an older version of the Byzantine Rite. No other Byzantine church uses their rite. The Armenian Catholic churches are composed of Catholics from the first people to convert to Christianity as a nation, the Armenians (N.E. ofTurkey). They returned to union with Rome at the time of the Crusades. Their spiritual guide is Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians. Their liturgical language is classical Armenian. The Armenian Catholics live in Armenia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Ukraine, France, Romania, United States, and Argentina. Most Armenians, however, are Orthodox and not in communion with Rome.
2. BYZANTINE
  - Albanian: Albanian Christians survive as a minority in Moslem Albania. They resumed communion with Rome in 1628. Their liturgical language is Albanian. Most Albanian Christians are Albanian Orthodox and not in communion with Rome.
  - Belarussian/Byelorussian: A minority of Belarussians returned to Rome in the 17^th-century. Their liturgical language is Old Slavonic. The faithful can be found in Belarus, as well as Europe, the Americas, and Australia.
  - -Bulgarian: The Bulgarian Orthodox Christians returned to union with Rome in 1861. Their liturgical language is Old Slavonic. The Bulgarian Catholic faithful live in Bulgaria; however, most Bulgarian Christians are Bulgarian Orthodox.
  - Czech: Czech Catholics of the Byzantine Rite organized into a jurisdiction in union with Rome in 1996.
  - Krizevci: Croatian Catholics of the Byzantine Rite resumed communion with Rome in 1611. Their liturgical language is Old Slavonic. The Krizevci faithful live in Croatia and the Americas. Most Croatians are Roman (Rite) Catholics.
  - Greek: Some Greek Christians returned to Rome in 1829. Their liturgical language is Greek, and they live in Greece, Asia Minor (Turkey), and Europe. However, most Greek Christians are Orthodox, and their Patriarch is the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople.
  - Hungarian: Hungarian Catholic are the descendants of Ruthenians who returned to Rome in 1646. Their liturgical languages are Greek, Hungarian, and English. The Hungarian faithful live in Hungary, Europe, and the Americas.
  - Italo–Albanian: The Italo-Albanian Catholics never separated from Rome. They are Byzantine Rite Catholics living in Italy, Sicily, and the Americas. Their liturgical languages are Greek, and Italo–Albanian.
  - Melkite: Melkite Catholics are from those who separated from Rome in Syria and Egypt but resumed communion with Rome at the time of the Crusades. However, the definitive reunion didn't come until the 18^th century. Their religious leader is the Melkite Greek Patriarch of Damascus. Their liturgical languages are Greek, Arabic, English, Portuguese, and Spanish The Melkite Catholics live in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Canada, US, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, and Australia.
  - Romanian: Some Romanian Catholics returned to Rome in 1697. Their liturgical language is Romanian. Romanian Catholics live in Romania, Europe, and the Americas. Most Romanian Christians, however, are Romanian Orthodox.
  - Russian: Some Russian Christians returned to communion with Rome in 1905. Their liturgical language is Old Slavonic. They live in Russia, China, the Americas, and Australia. However, most Russian Christians are Russian Orthodox, and their Patriarch is the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.
  - Ruthenian: Ruthenian Christians are from those separated from Rome in Russia, Hungary, and Croatia but reunited with Rome in 1596 (Brest–Litovsk) and 1646 (Uzhorod).
  - Slovak: Byzantine Rite Catholics of Slovakian live in Slovakia and Canada.
  - Ukrainian: Catholics are from among those who were separated from Rome by the Greek Schism in 1054 but reunited with Rome in about 1595. Their religious leader is the Patriarch or Metropolitan of Lviv. Their liturgical languages are Old Slavonic and vernacular Ukrainian. Ukrainian Catholics live in Ukraine, Poland, England, Germany, France, Canada, US, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. During the Soviet era, the Soviet government forced Ukrainian Catholics to join the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Their hierarchy, which continued to exist outside the homeland, has since been re-established in Ukraine.
ANGLICAN --
Since the 1980s the Holy See has granted some former Anglican and Episcopal clergy that converted with their parishes and sought union with Rome the faculty of celebrating the sacramental rites according to Anglican forms, doctrinally corrected.
Vatican II declared: "Christ, having been lifted up from the earth has drawn all men to Himself. Rising from the dead He sent His life–giving Spirit upon His disciples and through Him has established His Body which is the Church as the universal sacrament of salvation. Sitting at the right hand of the Father, He is continually active in the world that He might lead men to the Church and through it join them to Himself and that He might make them partakers of His glorious life by nourishing them with His own Body and Blood (Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium 48).