Russell Waldron's List: Maronites

• The cup used in the Divine Service was originally made not of precious metal but of wood. At the Consecration, the priest tips it in the four directions of the compass to symbolize Christ’s shedding His blood for the entire universe.
• the words of Consecration have traditionally been spoken in the same language Our Lord used at the Last Supper: Aramaic
• Although Maronite priests use the vernacular today, many of the prayers and hymns retain the traditional Syriac or Arabic languages.

1 more annotation...

• In spite of many hardships, the Maronites have always remained loyal to the Roman Catholic Church.

• the traditional Maronite chant bears little resemblance to Gregorian chant or to any Western music.
• Unlike most Western music, that of the Middle East—sacred and secular, vocal and instrumental—reserves an important place for improvisation. Improvisation in Maronite chant is similar to that in Arab and Persian music and the popular music of the Near East.
• Traditionally, only four instruments are used in the Maronite church: double cymbals, the large cymbal, the nāqūs, and the marwaḥa (figure 4).
• The playing of these instruments is entrusted to experts who have been trained by their elders, and the instruments are reserved for certain processions and solemn and joyful occasions, such as Christmas and Easter.

2 more annotations...

• The Maronite Rite The system and forms of worship and administration of the sacraments used by the Maronites; the only Eastern rite used by Catholics only. The Eucharistic liturgy is the Syrian St. James, in Syriac and Arabic, much modified, especially by way of "Latinization." Maronite churches are in appearance indistinguishable from those of the West, and Roman vestments slightly modified are worn by priests; bishops, lower clergy and servers have Syrian garments. The Liturgy begins with the preparation of the elements (unleavened bread) and a sort of Confiteor; a server reads the epistle which, with the Gospel, is in Arabic; there are eight printed anaphoras; the words of consecration are said aloud, the people answering "Amen"; the ancient epiklesis is reduced to a prayer for the communicants; there is an elevation of each species, with genuflexions, before the priest's communion; the communion of the people is in one kind; the Liturgy ends with a long blessing. The prayers prescribed for the West by Pope Leso XIII are said after low Mass, and the "sanctus bell" is used. There is a regular equivalent to low Mass, but at which incense is normally used; the people kneel throughout the Liturgy. The Divine Office, founded on that of the Syrian rite, consists of seven "hours", with relatively few psalms but a large number of hymns. Baptism is by infusion as in the West. Confirmation is administered only by a bishop or his delegate; the indicative form of absolution is used; there are three minor orders, singer, reader, and subdeacon. Parts of the "Rituale Romanum" are used in Syriac and Arabic with but little alteration. General Western feasts (e.g., Corpus Christi) and Benediction, rosary, stations of the cross, devotion of the Sacred Heart, etc., are more in use than among any other Catholics of Easter rite except the Malabarese.