Tuesday, April 01, 2008

New Name, Same Girl

So I've changed the name of my blog from "Somewhere Only We Know" to "A Light of the East" a name that I took from John Paul the Great's 1994 Apostolic Letter "Orientale Lumen" which means "The Light of the East." I've decided that being a member of that East, with my desire to share my love of Eastern Christianity with others, I would change the name of my blog to suit my purpose.
I was raised Byzantine Catholic. My dad is an ordained deacon in that Church. And I love that Church deeply and passionately. It is my home and my heart. And I want to share this East, this frequently forgotten "lung" with the rest of the Church. JPII liked to refer to the Eastern Catholics as "the other lung of the Church."
And with life in the Church moving the way it is, I think it is really important for me to stand up for my church and share my faith with others. The church is hoping to move towards unity between East and West and I am hoping to be a voice of that unity. I think that being Eastern Catholic puts me in an interesting place in this world. I have many Roman Catholic and Protestant friends; I even have a few Orthodox Christian friends. But I have few Byzantine friends, especially my own age. And I have been exposed to both East and West, and yet my Church is a bridge between the two. This allows me a unique perspective on the Church. And it is this perspective that I want to share with the world.
I will continue to share my life with you, especially once I go to Spain in the fall. I will even continue to share my bizarre news stories with you. But I will also attempt to share a bit of my Orientale Lumen with you.
Christ is Risen!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I've often wondered about the 'both lungs' quote from JPII. Don't you think he might have had a broader vision? Is it possible the other lung might be the Orthodox Church and not the Byzantine Church? Is it possible the phrase was adapted to fit the need to be validated amongst the majority (RC?)
Just a thought.
PS: I just read yesterday that a tea infusion made with fresh Rosemary is supposed to relieve migraines. Can't hurt.