His Holy Eminence d. Rutherford I, Florentine Archfather gave a blessing ex Florentia-Nova Roma today with the customary plenary indulgence. The address that often precedes such a blessing had greetings for the feast in the official languages of the Anglican Patriarchate, Italian, English, Spanish, German, French, Greek, and Russian, and focused on taking inspiration from the lives of the saints. The faithful were reminded that the saints were once human, but now are in heaven interceding for us here on earth.
His Holy Eminence stated that the saints are a constant source of help during "...the humanitarian crisis sparked by government response to the present pandemic, and with government and other institutions joining together in an ever unrelenting attack on the rights and indeed the very sovereignty of holy mother the church." The Archfather stated that the faithful must seek the intervention of the Blessed Virgin for an increase of faith and the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel for a preservation of sovereignty of the Patriarchate. His Holy Eminence called on the faithful to resist the civil states who seek to restrict or destroy the Church.
The address was followed by an announcement of the indulgences, which was then followed by the blessing. The blessing began with the usual invocation of Saint Stephen the Deacon and Saint Mark the Apostle. Those who receive the blessing, even by media, and who further fulfill the norms of indulgences receive a plenary indulgence.
Today I reflect on the life of the Rev. Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, who died earlier this year. His death is a benefit to the Church Triumphant in Heaven, but a loss to us here on earth.
As people migrate around, they often lose touch with those important to them. My favourite priest when I was a layman was Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, a staunch traditionalist and the chaplain of the local diocesan Latin mass community. I knew him when I was in graduate school, and he was my priest and friend. Yet, even after moving away, as anyone who knew him can attest, one of our most enjoyable treats during the Advent/Christmas season was to receive his annual Christmas letter. He left such a legacy everywhere that he was stationed, that the annual letter proved to be the best way for all of us to stay up-to-date on the activities of this extraordinary priest.
Fr. Valentine was just short of age 89 when he died. His body may have aged, but his mind and his drive to continue serving did not. Even at age 88, he was still serving as a chaplain to a Tridentine mass community. He always sought out ways to help others and to do things he found interesting.
His earlier career involved working with Amerindian missions in Arizona and New Mexico. He served at different times for Latin mass communities in Kansas, South Dakota, and Kentucky. Not content with simply celebrating the sacraments, which alone would have been enough, he wanted the members of his communities to be able to connect with the beauty of the liturgy and the true and rightful Catholic heritage. So, he taught Latin and Greek classes – and he also played the organ to lead Vespers after the afternoon Tridentine mass, inviting the congregation to participate in learning the chant.
One of my greatest privileges was being able to serve as a guard of honour during the mass for the 50th jubilee of his ordination. Fr. Valentine was a priest I was proud to call a friend, and I credit him with my final decision to accept a vocation to the priesthood. He was always supportive of me and defended truth and tradition.
One of my favourite memories of Fr. Valentine happened after he had a heart operation. He did take a brief recovery period and was on oxygen. However, he did not want to sit around the house when there was the Lord's work to do, and so there he was back celebrating mass quite quickly, oxygen tank and all. As he moved about the sanctuary during mass, an altar boy was tasked with wheeling the oxygen tank.
Fr. Valentine was a true priest, a defender of the authentic traditions of the Catholic faith, an inspiration to so many people, and my friend. Not only will I miss him, I will miss reading his annual Christmas letter that will not be coming this year.
The following Patriarchal Letter was issued by His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather for the 75th anniversary year of the use of nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
RVTHERFORDVS PP. I
In this 75th anniversary year of the devastating destruction of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by nuclear weapons dropped by the United States, We take this opportunity to reflect upon the Christian theology pertaining to such weapons and their use. Nuclear technology has brought many positive benefits to global society. Yet, its tremendous destructive potential creates an inherent moral and ethical obligation regarding its employment, both in peace and especially in war. The Church has always maintained the illegitimacy of use and the intrinsic evil of nuclear weapons. This includes our Roman temporal predecessor, Pius XII, who was the Supreme Pontiff during the Second World War, who worked tirelessly against the human rights crisis created by the evils of the Nazi regime, and who spoke against the use of nuclear technology for weapons.
While nations have a legitimate right to self-defense, the response must not be out of all scale and proportion with the attack. Being attacked does not warrant or justify human rights violations. That is, the morality of warfare does not change. Human rights violations and excesses, real or perceived, on the part of the enemy do not render similar acts done in retaliation morally acceptable simply because they are done in retaliation. Indeed, when the military response, whether nuclear or not, is so extreme and so out of proportion with the offense, it cannot be justified and is an affront to both God and humanity.
Pontifical Mass celebrated in the ruins of the Nagasaki Cathedral in 1949
Furthermore, weapons that go beyond the mere potential for collateral damage into the absolute certainty of widespread indiscriminate killing, in which men, women, and children of all ages and combatant status are likely to be killed, in which entire cities may be wiped off the map with one simple bomb, indeed such weapons are intrinsically evil and may not rightly be used according to the Laws of God. The use of such weapons is an offense against the dignity of mankind and an absolute offense against God. They constitute war crimes of the highest order. Their use is an affront to all of the honourable soldiers who fight with faith in God above all, with a sense of moral purpose and moral restraint, and with a respect for all human life.
Warfare does not mitigate moral responsibility under God. Rather, it is in such extreme and trying circumstances such as warfare that we are called upon as Christians most to maintain the laws of Christ and His Holy Church. It is in that difficulty that our true character as Christians shows forth. A zeal to win does not mitigate moral responsibility. Neither do misguided attempts at justifications, such as claiming the use of nuclear weapons is in reality an attempt to save life, mitigate responsibility, for in reality, such a decision is either trading one set of lives for others or is playing God as if one can know the future. Ultimately such justifications demonstrate arrogance and pride rather than faith.
The geopolitical borders of the world, while they can serve a legitimate purpose in caring for mankind, in fact mean nothing in terms of human dignity. Just and righteous war does indeed exist, yet war is a terrible thing. The potential for righteous glory, courage, and heroism exists beside the potential for brutality, depravity, torture, and other abuses. So much warfare, even today, does not even remotely meet the standards of just war doctrine. So much warfare has originated and continues to originate out of hatred and a lack of respect for human life and dignity. It is in war and other difficult, challenging, and perilous circumstances that, again, we must look to and cling to our faith the most. The salvation of even one soul is more precious than preventing all the evil on the earth, for we know that worldly evil shall indeed fail and be vanquished in the end.
It is impossible to think that a ban on nuclear weapons, however, would be effective, for the technology exists and would continue to exist even if the physical weapons were banner. The knowledge itself cannot be eradicated. We must, therefore, promote the beneficial and peaceful uses of nuclear technology that benefit society. At the same time, we must openly speak God’s truth and proclaim the same that the church has always maintained since the dawn of the nuclear age. We must proclaim the inherent evil of nuclear weapons and their inconsistency with the Christian faith. Their use and a belief in their use is an intrinsic affront to Almighty God.
May Almighty God bless each of you and bring peace to the world.
FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 8 September 2020 (ORCNS) -- The Archfather d. Rutherford I gave his annual allocution on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His Holy Eminence addressed topics including political discord and the importance of Christ above all nations. The video of the allocution is below, followed by the transcript.
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Da Firenze-Nuova Roma ai Cristifedeli di tutto il mondo, ed ai membri della Corte di Santa Maria di Walsingham, grazia, pace, e la nostra benedizione Apostolica in questa festa gioiosa della Natività della Beata Vergine Maria. This day we celebrate the birth of the New Eve by whose obedience Christ was able to be born into the world for the salvation of mankind. Our Lady was immaculately conceived, yet had free will and was under no obligation to become the Mother of God. Yet when the angel appeared to her, she said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy will – and she accepted the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. We, each of us, likewise have a choice. We can accept God, or we can reject Him. Indeed, this is a choice we must make constantly throughout our lives in all that we do. It is easy to fall away from the faith under the influences of the world, and so we must pray for conversion on a regular basis and seek the help and intervention of the Blessed Virgin. Remember the benefits to mankind from the obedience of Our Lady whose birth we joyfully celebrate this day. The decisions we face in life, though, are rarely easy, but they are simple at their core. Questions are not black and white, but right and wrong, by which is meant “of God” and “not of God.”
In the 2000 years since the Incarnation of Christ, Our Lord seems not to have penetrated the hearts of mankind, for the world seeks constantly to abandon the ways of Christ and instead seeks other ends. When God comes to people, instead of following the example of Our Lady, far too often the invitation is rejected.
Carissimi, è necessario cercare nostro Signore, cercare Cristo in tutto per sempre. Se non lo cerchiamo, certo perderemo la nostra via; perderemo la via corretta di Dio. Dobbiamo sapere e capire che quella via, la via di Dio, è veramente l’unica via. We must search for our Lord, search for Christ in everything always. If we do not search for Him, we will certainly lose our way; we will lose the right path of God. We must know and understand that that way, the way of God, is the only way. Forse pensate che non sia facile, ma abbiamo la sacra liturgia ed i sacramenti della Santa Chiesa, la sposa di Cristo, per aiutarci. Perhaps you think it is not easy, but we have the sacred liturgy and the sacraments of the Holy Church, the bride of Christ, to help us.
Today in the world there is much political upheaval and discord. This is nothing new in history. Mankind, being naturally oriented towards religion, will find something new if religion itself is abandoned. This we see in many countries today. For example, Europe is abandoning its sacred heritage, and the identity politics seen in the United States have largely replaced mainstream Protestantism that was so common, and thus is ultimately the same religion in a new package – only without God except for occasionally some warped version of God that somehow favours only one political party or viewpoint. We must caution, therefore, the Christian faithful not to make political decisions, including one’s own vote, according to political or other identity, but according only to the laws of God and the precepts of his Holy Church. Similarly, we must caution against too much identity with political parties and organisations at all, for they all too easily can insidiously replace one’s identity as a Christian or cause one’s Christian faith to be warped to fit the whims of politics. More than that, too much identification with political parties and even with national identity under the guise of patriotism, can tear away at one’s soul, pitting people against each other, breeding division where there should be unity in Christ.
Pues Dios no dice que una nación es mejor de todos los otros países. Pensais que la frontera sea una división májica o sagrada, y la gente aquí sea buena, pero la gente allá sea mal? Dijimos que no. De ningúna manera. Todos son hermanos en Cristo, pero los países vienen y se van. Solo la iglesia de Cristo es por siempre y para siempre. God does not say that one nation is better than all other countries. Do you think that the border is a magical or sacred division, and the people here are good, but the people there are bad? We say absolutely not. All are brothers and sisters in Christ, but the nations, they come and go. Only the Church of Christ is of all time and remains forever. Indeed, just as socialism and communism are opposed to and incompatible with the Christian faith, so too is nationalism. Our loyalty must first and foremost always be to God. If we are with God, He will be with us, and then who can stand against us?
Now, prepare yourselves to receive God’s blessing.
Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, + Patris, et + Filii, et Spiritus + Sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper. R. Amen.
FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 7 September 2020 (ORCNS) -- The Most Honourable Legion of the Eagle, the senior-most religious and dynastic order of the Anglican Patriarchate, was formally consecrated to Our Lord Jesus Christ on 5 September by His Holy Eminence the Archfather Rutherford I. The consecration was formalised in a Patriarchal Constitution entitled "Praeclarissima Legio Aquilae."
The dedication to Christ has always been a part of the Legion, which is the Christian successor to the IX Spanish Legion, founded by Julius Caesar. The eagle itself represents the divine victory of Christ. The consecration simply formalises this long-standing devotion. As a result, the Feast of Corpus Christi has been declared the principal feast of the Legion. The Feast of the Sacred Heart was also added as an official feast day, along with the already-existing feast of St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor.
Also as a result of this consecration, the Legion was granted the augmentation "of Christ" to its name. Thus, though "Legion of the Eagle" remains correct, its full name is the Most Honourable Legion of the Eagle of Christ.
FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 23 August 2020 (ORCNS) -- Earlier today H.H.E. the Florentine Archfather celebrated a solemn mass in his private chapel for the great Florentine Saint Felipe Benizi. The Saint, born in Florence, was credited with reviving the Order of the Servites and was one of its superiors General. The cult of Saint Felipe Benizi was first recognised by Pope Leo X, founder of the legacy of the Anglican Patriarchate, in 1516 and was later canonised in 1671 by Pope Clement X.
H.H-Em. the Archfather celebrates the solemn mass of Saint Felipe Benizi using the complete solemn Patriarchal vestments.
FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 23 August 2020 (ORCNS) -- The Reverend Brother Elliott Francis, TOR Mar was ordained to the minor orders of Lector, Exorcist, and Acolyte and further to the Sub-Diaconate yesterday. The rites were officiated by H.H.E. the Archfather and took place in his private chapel. Brother Elliott is a hospice chaplain and continues with his studies towards the priesthood. He also holds the office of Guardaroba (Wardrobe Master) of the Patriarchal Household and is a veteran of the US Army.
In the Anglo-Roman Rite used by the Anglican Patriarchate (Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church), the ordination to the orders of Lector and Exorcist involve the laying on of a single hand by the ordaining bishop while imposing the Breviary and a book containing the rites of Exorcism respectively. The ordination to the order of Acolyte involves the laying on of both hands while the ordinand holds an unlit candle in the right hand and an empty cruet in the left. Each object imposed signifies the nature of the ministry of the particular order.
At the ordination to the sub-diaconate, the first Holy Order that serves directly at the altar in the Holy Mass, both hands are laid on by the ordaining bishop, invoking the Holy Spirit. The new sub-deacon receives the amice, alb, maniple, and tunicle, the vestments of the sub-diaconate. The Book of Epistles is also imposed, signifying the right to read the Epistle at the mass. After the ritual, a chalice and paten are presented for the new sub-deacon to touch, signifying his ability to hold the Sacred Vessels. Similarly he is presented two cruets, one with wine and the other with water, and a lavabo basin and towel to touch in further symbolism of the role of the sub-diaconate.
The Archfather ordains Brother Elliott as an Acolyte.
The Archfather imposes the Book Epistles during the rites of ordination to the sub-diaconate. Brother Elliott is vested in the tunicle and maniple, the vestments of a sub-deacon.
The Archfather and Brother Elliott after the ordination.
