Currently, the Church has two major divisions or Rites, the Latin Rite and the Eastern Rite. Each has its own code of canon law, and its own liturgical forms. The fact that more than one Rite has been accepted by so many successive Popes and by the body of Bishops worldwide (and successively) proves that the Church is not limited to only one Rite. She need not limit Herself to only the Latin Rite, or only the Latin Mass, or only the Novus Ordo Mass, etc. A multiplicity of liturgical forms and more extensive differences, called Rites, can be part of the same one Church.

Should the Church have an Amazonian Rite, or at least an Amazonian liturgical form?

The question excludes any form of pagan ceremony or idolatry, and simply asks if the Amazon should have some differences in Canon law, liturgical form, etc. Perhaps viri probati (understood as married men who become priests) should be permitted in the Amazonian region, and not (extensively) in the Latin Rite. Perhaps not. The Church certainly has the authority to add a Rite to the Latin and Eastern Rites. And married men have always been permitted to become priests since the earliest days of the Church. So it is possible, as a faithful option; it is not inherently a grave error.

Perhaps the Church would benefit from a different Rite for Asia, for Africa, for regions where the culture is very different from Europe and the U.S./Canada. On the other hand, the Church is universal, and the Gospel message is for all peoples and all cultures. I don’t favor a Rite for each region, but it is within the authority of the Church and the authority of the Roman Pontiff.

What happens after Unification?

I’ve long predicted that the Protestant and Orthodox Christians will return to unity with the Catholic Church, soon after the first part of the tribulation begins. And this return will require the Church to develop new Rites. The Church is currently a tree with two major branches, Latin and Eastern. I believe that after Unification, the Church will be restructured to have seven branches, symbolized by the two fish and five loaves in the multiplication of the loaves miracle. The two fish are the two existing Rites and the fives loaves are 5 new Rites, for the Protestant Churches.

Certainly, there are more than 5 Protestant denominations, but as the Christian peoples move toward unification, I believe that various Christian denominations will consolidate, so that eventually only 5 major Protestant Churches will remain. These will unite with the Catholic Church, forming 5 new Rites, for example: The Anglican Catholic Rite, etc.

When this happens, the conservative Latin Rite leaders will object, just as the elder son objected when the prodigal son returned to his family. The result will be a great Ecumenical Council, which will elect a new Pope (the Angelic Shepherd) and approve of Unification and the 5 new Rites, and which will crush the many heresies and schisms that will have developed in the preceding years.

[Luke 15]
{15:11} And he said: “A certain man had two sons.
{15:12} And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate between them.
{15:13} And after not many days, the younger son, gathering it all together, set out on a long journey to a distant region. And there, he dissipated his substance, living in luxury.
{15:14} And after he had consumed it all, a great famine occurred in that region, and he began to be in need.
{15:15} And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that region. And he sent him to his farm, in order to feed the swine.
{15:16} And he wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him.
{15:17} And returning to his senses, he said: ‘How many hired hands in my father’s house have abundant bread, while I perish here in famine!
{15:18} I shall rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
{15:19} I am not worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired hands.’
{15:20} And rising up, he went to his father. But while he was still at a distance, his father saw him, and he was moved with compassion, and running to him, he fell upon his neck and kissed him.
{15:21} And the son said to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Now I am not worthy to be called your son.’
{15:22} But the father said to his servants: ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe, and clothe him with it. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.
{15:23} And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it. And let us eat and hold a feast.
{15:24} For this son of mine was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to feast.
{15:25} But his elder son was in the field. And when he returned and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
{15:26} And he called one of the servants, and he questioned him as to what these things meant.
{15:27} And he said to him: ‘Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safely.’
{15:28} Then he became indignant, and he was unwilling to enter. Therefore, his father, going out, began to plead with him.
{15:29} And in response, he said to his father: ‘Behold, I have been serving you for so many years. And I have never transgressed your commandment. And yet, you have never given me even a young goat, so that I might feast with my friends.
{15:30} Yet after this son of yours returned, who has devoured his substance with loose women, you have killed the fatted calf for him.’
{15:31} But he said to him: ‘Son, you are with me always, and all that I have is yours.
{15:32} But it was necessary to feast and to rejoice. For this brother of yours was dead, and has revived; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

by
Ronald L. Conte Jr.
Roman Catholic theologian and translator of the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Bible.

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