Dear Members and Friends,
A very Happy Easter to you all!
At this time of year, at least in the northern hemisphere, we are reminded to shake off the darkness and gloom of winter, welcome the rebirth of sping and look forward to the warmth and new growth of summer. Similarly, it seems to me, our church - as it exists within this troubled world - is emerging from the darkness of the plandemic years into the light of a more hopeful future. There are still plenty of ominous clouds on the horizon, but generally, most of us are more positive now than a couple of years ago. Therefore it struck me that now might be a good time to consciously return to our roots in order to remember who and what we are and why we do what we do.
A very Happy Easter to you all!
At this time of year, at least in the northern hemisphere, we are reminded to shake off the darkness and gloom of winter, welcome the rebirth of sping and look forward to the warmth and new growth of summer. Similarly, it seems to me, our church - as it exists within this troubled world - is emerging from the darkness of the plandemic years into the light of a more hopeful future. There are still plenty of ominous clouds on the horizon, but generally, most of us are more positive now than a couple of years ago. Therefore it struck me that now might be a good time to consciously return to our roots in order to remember who and what we are and why we do what we do.
Since my last pastoral letter in Advent 2022, we have had the pleasure of authorising the ordination to the priesthood of Fr Juan Carlos OSBA in Colombia. I have also welcomed several new Knights of St Joseph of Arimathea as well as starting off quite a few new seminarians. Italy and Spain seem to be particular hot spots for seminarians at the moment, which pleases us greatly. In particular I was privileged to participate in the foundation of the Amici di Dio in Ticino & Italy, a Celtic fraternity inspired by the Culdee tradition, capably led by Bishop Edio with members Olga & José.
Another piece of important news is that Dom Bruno and I have decided to buy a house in Spain, on the border of Leon and Asturias, an historically Celtic region, so God-willing a new guest house will be open before winter. We plan to keep our lovely house in Norway for the time being, at least until a suitable buyer is found.
Whilst many small independent churches struggle to find vocations, we have been greatly blessed and count it a privilege to pass on to another generation the treasures of our Celtic and Liberal Catholic traditions. A seminarian might be attracted by one of our new monastic communities, whilst another might be a seeker on the Celtic, Liberal Catholic or Gnostic paths and naturally it is this diversity that is our particular strength and gift to the wider church.
As the diagram on the website page entitled “Our Charism” makes clear, there are several quite different theological approaches present in our church. In this respect we are quite similar to Anglicans who traditionally have encompassed the Evangelical, the Anglo-Catholic and the middle-of-the-road forms of religion in the one church, but unlike the Anglicans we have clear sacramental policies to which all parties subscribe and are also united in our appreciation of the Liberal Catholic Liturgy of 1918, Blessed Bishop Wedgwood’s liturgical masterpiece. The Anglicans used to have a similar unifying force in the Book of Common Prayer, that is the real one of course, before they started mucking about with it in the seventies. We are most fortunate to have the Liberal Catholic Liturgy, as its unsurpassable beauty and profound mysticism has the power to attract both traditionalist and esoteric Catholics alike. It is truly the foundation stone of our church, though of course we also allow for the use of a wide variety of traditional liturgies, from old Roman to Celtic, Orthodox and Anglo-Catholic.
Many of our members commence from one corner of the diagram below, and some indeed stay in their corner, which is perfectly fine, but I am happy to say that an increasing number of clergy, deaconesses and laity are open to temporarily leaving their comfort zones and travelling for a while on a new path, for there are many and various paths all leading to the summit of God’s holy mountain.
Another piece of important news is that Dom Bruno and I have decided to buy a house in Spain, on the border of Leon and Asturias, an historically Celtic region, so God-willing a new guest house will be open before winter. We plan to keep our lovely house in Norway for the time being, at least until a suitable buyer is found.
Whilst many small independent churches struggle to find vocations, we have been greatly blessed and count it a privilege to pass on to another generation the treasures of our Celtic and Liberal Catholic traditions. A seminarian might be attracted by one of our new monastic communities, whilst another might be a seeker on the Celtic, Liberal Catholic or Gnostic paths and naturally it is this diversity that is our particular strength and gift to the wider church.
As the diagram on the website page entitled “Our Charism” makes clear, there are several quite different theological approaches present in our church. In this respect we are quite similar to Anglicans who traditionally have encompassed the Evangelical, the Anglo-Catholic and the middle-of-the-road forms of religion in the one church, but unlike the Anglicans we have clear sacramental policies to which all parties subscribe and are also united in our appreciation of the Liberal Catholic Liturgy of 1918, Blessed Bishop Wedgwood’s liturgical masterpiece. The Anglicans used to have a similar unifying force in the Book of Common Prayer, that is the real one of course, before they started mucking about with it in the seventies. We are most fortunate to have the Liberal Catholic Liturgy, as its unsurpassable beauty and profound mysticism has the power to attract both traditionalist and esoteric Catholics alike. It is truly the foundation stone of our church, though of course we also allow for the use of a wide variety of traditional liturgies, from old Roman to Celtic, Orthodox and Anglo-Catholic.
Many of our members commence from one corner of the diagram below, and some indeed stay in their corner, which is perfectly fine, but I am happy to say that an increasing number of clergy, deaconesses and laity are open to temporarily leaving their comfort zones and travelling for a while on a new path, for there are many and various paths all leading to the summit of God’s holy mountain.
The renewal I suggest is definitely not an exercise in modernism, like the ill-fated “aggiornamento” of Vatican II, but rather a renewed zeal and commitment to maintain and propagate communities inspired by the Celtic Christian tradition, as well as by traditional Liberal Catholicism. Happily there appear to be quite a few discerning individuals who can identify and commit to this particular way of being church, though sadly the Liberal Catholic movement, as a whole, is now very fragmented and depleted. In fact, most regrettably, several LC jurisdictions now no longer even have valid apostolic succession. It is therefore more important than ever that we in the HCCI & MTLCC build bridges with other traditional Liberal Catholics for fellowship and mutual support, something we continue to do through the Guild of the Holy Apostles. Demonstrably valid sacraments are incomparable fountains of Divine Grace and it's up to us, and people like us, to guard these wells and maintain them with great devotion, that future generations seeking the pure water of life may quench their thirst.
Recently I came across this wonderful quote from Dr Peter Kwasniewski, an American traditionalist Catholic theologian: “The Church's common good is the divine life of Jesus Christ her Head - the super-abundant grace of His divinised soul, shared with His members through the inflaming of the heart by the supernatural charity of His Heart - and the divinisation of souls by the sacramental life and prayer (chiefly the solemn, formal, public worship we call the sacred liturgy).” I would urge you all this Easter, to meditate deeply on the above quote as it very succinctly encapsulates the essence of our mission as traditional Liberal Catholics, mindful always that it is in the Mass that the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary is perpetually re-presented and in Holy Communion that we meet the Risen Christ.
May the Light of the Risen Christ rise in your hearts and remain with you to guide and inspire you throughout this holy season of Eastertide,
✠ Alistair OSBA,
Titular Abbot-Bishop of Glendalough & Primus
Recently I came across this wonderful quote from Dr Peter Kwasniewski, an American traditionalist Catholic theologian: “The Church's common good is the divine life of Jesus Christ her Head - the super-abundant grace of His divinised soul, shared with His members through the inflaming of the heart by the supernatural charity of His Heart - and the divinisation of souls by the sacramental life and prayer (chiefly the solemn, formal, public worship we call the sacred liturgy).” I would urge you all this Easter, to meditate deeply on the above quote as it very succinctly encapsulates the essence of our mission as traditional Liberal Catholics, mindful always that it is in the Mass that the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary is perpetually re-presented and in Holy Communion that we meet the Risen Christ.
May the Light of the Risen Christ rise in your hearts and remain with you to guide and inspire you throughout this holy season of Eastertide,
✠ Alistair OSBA,
Titular Abbot-Bishop of Glendalough & Primus