101 Questions and Answers on Eastern Catholic Churches (101 Questions & Answers) [Paperback]

Edward Faulk (Author)

Book Description

Series: 101 Questions & Answers | Publication Date: March 2007

This book, another of the informative and reader-friendly 101 Questions & Answers series, provides an introductory look at the theology, practices and structure of the Eastern Catholic Churches, with a comparison to the Latin Rite Church. Although the author emphasizes the Byzantine and Maronite Churches, he takes into account all the ritual Churches.

Written with Roman (Latin) Catholic readers in mind, this book answers questions on the differences and similarities between the eastern Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches that believers may have wondered about or never had the opportunity to ask, e.g., Why do Eastern Catholic babies get to go to communion?; Are the saints in the East different from those in the West?

This overview book paves the way for readers to address Pope John Paul II's directive in Orientale Lumen with regard to learning about the East.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Edward Faulk is a bi-ritual deacon who has served both the parish of St. Joseph in Placentia, CA (Latin Rite) and Holy Cross Melkite-Greek Catholic Church, also in Placentia, CA (Byzantine Rite).

Product Details

• Paperback: 115 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Pr (March 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809144417
• ISBN-13: 978-0809144419
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eastern Churches Made Easy, Finally!, April 14, 2011

By 

Patricia M. Dugan "Patricia M. Dugan" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 101 Questions and Answers on Eastern Catholic Churches (101 Questions & Answers) (Paperback)

This book is an absolute gem. It is a great first book to learn about the Eastern Catholic Churches. The list/question format is used a lot in books, but for this topic, it is the best way to go. Faulk uses a simple almost folksy tone that would not work in a more formal book on this very formal topic. But it works very well here. He doesn't just throw in fortuitous questions to reach the titled number. At the end you are left with the feeling that a volume two might not be amiss. The questions Faulk poses are comprehensive and interesting. Are the Eastern Churches "under" the Pope? What do you mean by "a new Rome"? What is the significance of icons? How do the Eastern Catholic Churches differ from each other?

I am a Roman Catholic and before this book, I had no idea what an Eastern Church is. I knew they existed but always found a way to blissfully ignore them. I knew more about Judaism and Islam than the Eastern Churches. Thankfully, I started with this book. The author begins by identifying his expected reader. "I am going to assume that you are a Latin or Roman Catholic"... since there are more than one billion Latin Catholics in the world, and about sixteen million Eastern Catholics." That's a good assumption and it works in his explanations. Finally, I "get" that East-West Schism of 1054!

The author is well-qualified to tackle this subject. He is a bi-ritual deacon. With Ecclesiastical permission, he functions as a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church for which he was ordained, and the Melkite Church, one of the Byzantine Churches. He answered all of my questions and left me feeling totally satisfied with my first foray into the Eastern Churches. I may not be able to name all fourteen Churches that use the Byzantine Rite, but finally, I know exactly what the Byzantine Rite is.