Thoughts about the Western Rite

Sometimes I wonder if the Western Rite in its current form is all it should be.

One of the thoughts I've had frequently is why the approach to a "Western" from of Eastern Orthodoxy didn't just take the following approach:

Start with a King James English language version of the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom and build western practices around it. The core Liturgy would be all the same words with collects and other texts added around that skeleton. Then add Western Hymnody and you have a Western Rite closer to what the Eastern Rite Orthodox use.

The texts to the Eastern Rite liturgy combined with the styles and forms of the west would be a powerful combination.

I wonder sometimes why no one ever thought to try this approach?

At any rate, I love the Liturgy of Saint Tikhon and the Book of Common Prayer, but some of the most vocal critics of the current Western Rite liturgies focus their criticisms on this Liturgy the most.

So were we wise in adapting it for Orthodox use if doing so has proven to be so controversial?

I would be able to grow quite comfortable with a new Western Rite liturgy that had at it's core the Eastern Rite texts combined with Western forms of ritual, music and the like.

Things to ponder on a Wednesday evening.

Columba Silouan