More "Ed Hunter"

This shot is apparently the cover of the video game that Iron Maiden sold with their "Ed Hunter" album. Let me tell you, I still find it truly bizarre that there is both a musical album and a video game that bear my name.

St. Augustine on the Church

The following text is from the St. Augustine's treatise Against the Epistle of Manichaeus (Ch. 4-5). For proper interpretation's sake, Augustine is referring to a way, way, way pre-schism Church and speaks from a Western perspective. His commentary thus cannot be used to differentiate between the later "Roman Catholic" and "Eastern Orthodox" Churches which resulted from the Great Schism. Both of these Churches continue to refer to themselves as the "Catholic Church," in spite the common titles which would seem to indicate otherwise.

"For in the Catholic Church... there are many other things which most justly keep me in her bosom. The consent of peoples and nations keeps me in the Church; so does her authority, inaugurated by miracles, nourished by hope, enlarged by love, established by age. The succession of priests keeps me, beginning from the very seat of the Apostle Peter, to whom the Lord, after His resurrection, gave it in charge to feed His sheep, down to the present episcopate. And so, lastly, does the name itself of Catholic, which, not without reason, amid so many heresies, the Church has thus retained; so that, though all heretics wish to be called Catholics, yet when a stranger asks where the Catholic Church meets, no heretic will venture to point to his own chapel or house. Such then in number and importance are the precious ties belonging to the Christian name which keep a believer in the Catholic Church, as it is right they should, though from the slowness of our understanding, or the small attainment of our life, the truth may not yet fully disclose itself. But with you, where there is none of these things to attract or keep me, the promise of truth is the only thing that comes into play. Now if the truth is so clearly proved as to leave no possibility of doubt, it must be set before all the things that keep me in the Catholic Church; but if there is only a promise without any fulfillment, no one shall move me from the faith which binds my mind with ties so many and so strong to the Christian religion....

For my part, I should not believe the gospel except as moved by the authority of the Catholic Church."

Best... Church... Ever...

Apparently, this is a "mobile chapel." It's from this article, and was pointed out to me on the blog ad-orientem.blogspot.com.

Excellent Article on History and Hagiography

My friend Ian (http://www.facebook.com/abodeely) recently sent me a link to an article on hagiography (that is, on ancient stories about Christian saints) which I found to be a very good read:

http://www.danielmitsui.com/hieronymus/index.blog/1921510/hagiography-and-the-benefit-of-doubt/

While I disagree with the author on issues such as whether one can really distinguish between "big T" Tradition and "little t" tradition, I definitely agree with the heart of his critique of modern (and here I mean simultaneously contemporary and philosophically "modern") readings of hagiography. While it might be said that this author represents something of an overreaction, his general theme is good and his point is well-placed. Regarding miraculous events attributed to saints, he very rightly throws down the gauntlet to the modernistic Christian: "We either live in a world in which these sort of things happen, or we do not." If we do, then it seems perfectly natural to assume the possibility or reality of some seriously more important miracles (e.g. the Incarnation of God the Son, the Resurrection, etc.). If we do not, doesn't that make us essentially idiots (1 Cor 15:14-17)?

While I am not about to run out and buy a copy of the Golden Legend, especially given that it is Roman Catholic (i.e. post-schism), I am not inclined to out of hand reject its contents without due thought and consideration. Many of its stories no doubt represent the faith of the Church with a high degree of fidelity. To reject accounts of the miraculous out of hand is simply un-Christian.

July 12 Bulletin Article

The following, barring any editing by Father and pending his approval, is my July 12 bulletin article. It is titled "Christ at the Center."



One cannot gain even a passing familiarity with either the Holy Scriptures or the writings of the Fathers of the Church without coming to understand a profound truth: the people who write these things are really serious about their faith in Jesus Christ. For these saints and for all the saints who have come after, very simply “to live is Christ” (Phil 1:21). To be a Christian means to be focused on Christ in all things.

An old Irish prayer attributed to St. Patrick catches much of the spirit of the Christ-centeredness of the saints with these words: “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”

St. Ignatius in his letter to the Romans expresses the sum of his desires thusly: “I want only God’s bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed of the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish.”

Merely by existing, the saints of the Church present us with a constant challenge, a constant urging. Do we love Christ as much as they do? Do we seek to imitate Christ as much as they did? Do we want to see Christ in all things the way they saw Christ in all things?

I can’t speak for anyone but myself, brothers and sisters, but I must confess that my answer to these questions at this point in my life is “sometimes.” Sometimes I have my mind and heart set on the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ, but other times I find myself distracted and consumed with those “worldly cares” that the liturgy so often warns us about. But I am thankful to God that I have the saints, both as examples and as intercessors. By their prayers may we all see “the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6), and may we come to have that face ever before us in our thoughts through the grace and compassion of God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

A Fortune Cookie Proverb

So my grandfather and I went out for Chinese on Friday.

My fortune said something dull like, "Executive ability is prominent in your makeup." His was more interesting. It read, "In this world of contradiction, it's better to be merry than wise."

This is definitely an expression of the philosophical hopelessness of our age, though our age is not the first to experience this trend. Any thoughts?

July 5 Bulletin Article

Here's my July 5 bulletin article. It is titled, "Callings in the Church."

Many people don’t think about it in these terms, but every Christian has a calling. St. Paul’s writings contain a number of partial lists of “spiritual gifts” which God has by grace given to the churches. One of the more famous lists is found in Romans 12:6-8. Perhaps the most striking thing about this list is how “mundane” some of the gifts are. For instance, St. Paul lists encouragement and generosity among the gifts. In another place, he lists “service.” The idea here is that everyone in the Body has some form of calling, and while others may think such a calling is “mundane,” we know that God sees and approves and loves those who toil for the kingdom in mundane ways.

So I would like to express my thanks to everyone who does some work among us on behalf of Fr. Dan and the whole church. Even “little things” like ringing the bell, heating up food for the fellowship hour, washing dishes, mowing the grass, or repairing animal damage is valuable ministry, and if done with a right heart is fully acceptable and blessed by God. In fact, it can be rightly said that if these things were not done, our community would begin to fall apart. Fr. Dan cannot literally do everything, nor is it the Lord’s intention that he should have to.

Therefore, I would highly encourage everyone, especially the younger people, to ask themselves what their present or future calling in Christ might be. There are certainly any number of things that we could do that would be helpful for our community or for the broader Church. Speaking first of major, life-altering things, I would encourage the young men to attempt to discern whether or not they have a priestly calling. Likewise, I would encourage everyone who is young and single to at least give some prayer and thought to the idea of monasticism. Additionally, our parish could use a deacon for any number of reasons. We need more volunteers to teach the children on Sundays. We need people to start practicing powerful and creative personal evangelism. Coming back to the “little things,” Fr. Dan would be aided by having someone clean up the wax and breadcrumbs that tend to fall all over the front of the church during Sunday worship. There are lots and lots of ways that each of us, no matter his or her ability, can do works of service around the church. Let us pray God that he open our eyes to see our true callings in life, both the big ones and the little ones, to the glory of God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Quote for the Day: John at Ad-Orientem

"You are who you are in communion with."

While the quote specifically comes from this post which is not particularly noteworthy, I would highly recommend the blog in general (http://ad-orientem.blogspot.com/).

My Response to Metropolitan Jonah's Address to the New Anglican Province of North America

All I have to say is that Met. Jonah's thoughts on ecumenism match up with mine 100%. The restoration of communion as pursued by the 20th century "ecumenical movement" was often a liberal sentimentalism which made actual doctrine and practice of little importance. This is NOT acceptable for Christians, for we confess that there is one body with one faith and one mind, the mind of Jesus Christ.

"Reunion" by pluralism is a bastardization of the gospel and does not reflect the mind of the Apostles, the Fathers, or the Councils.

I would encourage all Protestants and Catholics, but especially Anglicans, to listen to and reflect on Met. Jonah's address to the Anglicans, which can be found here.

Like Met. Jonah, I am hopeful for a reunion. However, any reunion must be on the terms of the Apostolic Church. I am not merely saying a reunion needs to be on the terms of the modern Orthodox Church (which I do hold to be the fullness of the Apostolic Church in our age), but it must be based on a return to the fullness of the ancient faith. If you continue to deny that you have ever deviated, or continue to insist that your deviations are not significant, or continue to insist that you can have communion with those who preach for the devil (read ECUSA, etc.) while "working for God," reunion can never come.

Speaking for myself, as a direct descendant of Thomas Cranmer's brother, as a former Methodist who thereby owes very, very much to the Anglican Church, and as a man who spent three years worshiping with Anglicans, know that my sentiments echo those of the former-Episcopalian Met. Jonah. I love you very, very much, and I eagerly hope that you will make the return that I made. My soul eagerly seeks a reuniting here and now, and an end to a rebellion which was not of your own making, ultimately, but was hatched in Rome.

Brothers, let us not be victims of history any longer. There is one Church, because there is one God and one Jesus Christ. Let us let go of the mistakes of the past, let us let them truly be past. Just as our ancestors, in no way guilty themselves, suffered on account of Adam, so we who were found Protestant from birth or from conversion are suffering for Leo and Humbert and Hildebrand and Luther and Calvin and Henry and Elizabeth (among many others). Throw off those chains, the place where they led you has been the place they were always leading you: ECUSA, into the very hands of the devil. Where will your spiritual descendants go? Where will they be found? You think you can hold this madness together? Could the Puritans? Look where Calvinism ended: Unitarianism, the UCC, the PCUSA, disorder, chaos, and atheism. Look at the Netherlands! Look at Massachusetts! Is this what you want for yourselves and for your children? If you are not renewed by the fullness, you will be like leaves blown in the wind, and your children after you will be blown into the fire and burned.

I speak this out of love. Protestantism is dying. The dream is ending because it was a bad dream. What will you pass to your children? Will you pass them the one faith of the invincible Church that nothing has been able to kill, or will you pass them your own traditions instead?

I pray that you will give serious pause to this question. If I have read the signs of the age right, something amazing can happen in this generation. But you need us for it, and perhaps strange enough as it may sound, we need you. I look out and I see the fields, and they are white for the harvest. We are harvesting, but we lack the manpower to reach this whole country. By God's grace join with us! Be renewed yourselves in the power of the Apostolic Faith! Come to us and work wonders with us! The fields are white for the harvest, and I know that you love Jesus Christ and that you love the people of this great nation.

The time has come. Let us end this idiotic and messy divorce. Investigate the Apostolic Faith and come! I love you, and my arms and the arms of my bishop are open to you. Please, for the love of Jesus Christ, at least hear him out and give consideration to his request.

O the Times, They are A-Changin!

Metropolitan (now Patriarch) Kirill visits Fidel Castro, who has recently given permission for the construction of an Orthodox Church in Cuba.

May God remember and richly reward this act of kindness to us.

But Orthodoxy in Cuba? Amazing! Time for a Dylan song!