What is the Celtic Rite?

What is the Celtic Rite?

Most people view the Catholic Church as this great monolithic institution, and are completely unaware that different Rites exist within the Catholic Church. For instance, in the east, thereare Byzantine Rite Catholics. Members of theByzantine Church have a different liturgy and different disciplinary rules than do Roman Catholics,but they are still very much Catholic.One of the reasons we remain so ignorant of other Rites is that in the western part of the Church, the Latin Rite, also called the Roman Rite, long ago became dominant, to the point of eliminating other Rites. Catholics in the West are all Roman Rite Catholics, and so people in the West tend to equate all Catholics with Roman Catholics. But this simply is not the case now, nor was it the case historically in the West.
In the West, there also was once a plurality of Rites in the Church (though never as much as in the East), and one of the other Rites was the Celtic Rite. There seems to have actually been at times a number of different Rites practiced in Great Britain, Ireland, Brittany, and other Celtic places that later historians would classify together under the term "Celtic Rite." But what we do know, from their own documents and liturgies that survive, is that this Celtic Church was simply another Rite of the western Catholic Church and not in any way, shape, or form a separate and competing version of Christianity. We share many liturgical and spiritual practices in common with the Church of Rome. We differ in that we do not recognize the primacy or infallibility on the part of any one Bishop, including the Pope. We do not have a mandatory celibacy for those in Holy Orders except single Clergy. All Clergy may marry and we ordain women (conhospitae) following the ancient Celtic Church's practices and Traditions as understood by the Council of Bishops.

How does the Roman Church

view The Celtic Rite? .+

Dominus Iesus
Recognition

When members of the Roman Catholic Church encounter Celtic Catholic priests for the first time, they are often surprised to learn that Catholic denominations exist apart from Rome. Understandably, questions are raised about the validity of Orders and Sacraments administered by Old Catholics.
We hope the following information will be helpful. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Dominus Iesus
At the Vatican on 16 June 2000, Pope John Paul II ratified and ordered the publication of Dominus Iesus. This Declaration of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was signed and published by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in August of the same year.
In this Declaration, the Roman Catholic Church recognizes the validity of Orders and Sacraments of Old Catholic denominations:
"The Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the [Roman] Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches."
"Therefore, these separated Churches and communities as such ... have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church." IV. Unicity and Unity of the Church, 17

Other Citations
Catholic Almanac - 1974
"The Roman Church recognizes the validity of Old Catholic Orders and other Sacraments." (Felician A. Roy, OFM, p. 368)
The Pastoral Companion – A Canon Law Handbook for Catholic Ministry – Third Edition by John M. Huels,J.C.D. page 335
“The principal condition is that these sacraments can be received only from validly ordained ministers. These are ministers who belong to “churches that have preserved the substance of the Eucharistic teaching, the sacraments of orders, and apostolic succession” This would include all Eastern non - Catholic churches, the Polish National Church, Old Catholic, and Old Roman Catholic.

Separated Brethren
"We have no reason to doubt that the Old Catholic Orders are valid. The Apostolic Succession does not depend on obedience to the See of Peter, but rather on the objective line of succession from Apostolic sources, the proper matter and form, and the proper intention ... likewise Old Catholic bishops are bishops in Apostolic Succession ... The Old Catholics, like the Orthodox, possess a valid priesthood." (William J. Whalan, pp. 204,248)
Rights and Responsibilities: A Catholic's Guide to the New Code of Canon Law
"When a Catholic sacred minister is unavailable and there is urgent spiritual necessity, Catholics may receive the Eucharist, penance, or anointing from sacred ministers of non-Catholic denominations whose Holy Orders are considered valid by the Catholic Church. This includes all Eastern Orthodox priests, as well as priests of the Old Catholic or Polish National Church." (Thomas P. Doyle, O.P., p. 44)

Our leadership has valid apostolic Sucession that cam be traced to the Apostle James the Bishop of Jerusalem. (Acts 15)

+Mike Zulinke
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Celtic Rite Catholic Church
& the Fellowship of Celtic Churches International
www.celticchurchesintl.com

Beannachd Dia dhuit
(Blessings of God be with you in Scottish)

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Cill Dara Ministries

A Modern Expression of an Ancient Faith