New Wave of Ordinariate Converts in Holy Week

In the Catholic Herald:

The Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain has celebrated the first Chrism Mass of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Archbishop Antonio Mennini celebrated the Mass on Monday at the church of St James, Spanish Place, in London with 60 former Anglican clergy, including five former Anglican bishops, concelebrating. Hundreds of laity from groups across Britain were in attendance.

Archbishop Mennini celebrated the Mass at the request of the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate, Mgr Keith Newton.

Mgr Newton, who received the Renewal of Priestly Promises and preached at the Mass, said: “The jurisdiction given to me, unlike that of Catholic diocesan bishops, is vicarious on behalf of the Roman Pontiff.

“It is therefore particularly appropriate that our Chrism Mass should be celebrated by the Holy Father’s representative to Great Britain particularly as at this time we celebrate the 30th anniversary of full diplomatic relations between the British Government and the Holy See.”

Speaking of the priesthood, Mgr Newton said: “No man possesses the priesthood just as no one possesses baptism or marriage. They are something shared. You cannot be married on your own and you cannot live the baptised life apart from other Christians.

“No, the priesthood possesses us. It is a life. It is a particular way of living the Christian life. But it is not for ourselves but for Christ and his holy people. It is a life of sacrifice.

“Although much is written about priesthood, it is far too complex to be reduced to simple statements which we can easily understand because it is nothing less than a particular sharing in the eternal priesthood of Christ.

“That sharing is expressed visibly today as we gather round the altar to celebrate this Mass.”

In Holy Week over 200 former members of the Church of England and the Traditional Anglican Communion are expected to be received into full communion. This evening four former Anglican clergy are expected to be ordained as Catholic priests and groups of faithful in Lancashire, Kent, Essex and Surrey will be received into the Catholic Church.

 

The Earliest Christian Graffito?

Writes  Prof Larry Hurtado:

In my previous posting I briefly described Roger Bagnall’s new book, Everyday Writing in the Graeco-Roman East, and I mentioned his lead chapter on a body of graffiti from ancient Smyrna. Among the items he discusses in this chapter, I was particularly (predictably!) intrigued with one that Bagnall confidently claims must be Christian (pp. 22-23).  Here are the basic data:

• The graffiti in question are on plastered surfaces in the basement of a city structure, and there are multiple layers of plaster laid on across time.
• One graffito includes a date, which Bagnall correlates to 125/126 CE.
• The layer of plaster beneath the layer on which this dated graffito is written is partially exposed, and on this exposed plaster is “a most remarkable graffito, incised into the plaster rather than written with ink or charcoal.”   This graffito reads:

ισοψηφα

κυριος  ω

πιστις  ω

• The first word, ισοψηφα, means “of equal value/number”, indicating that the graffito is an example of “isopsephy”, the ancient practice of comparing words of equal numerical value (by adding up the value of their letters).  The letters of each of the two words, κυριος (“Lord”) and πιστις (“faith”), = 800, which is expressed by the omega after each one (the omega = 800).
• The distinguishing centrality of these two Greek words in early Christian vocabulary (as well as the interest in 8 and multiples of 8) combine to prompt Bagnall’s judgment that the graffito “can only indicate a Christian character” (22).
• As this graffito is on a layer of plaster just beneath the layer with the dated graffito, it must be dated earlier than 125 CE, perhaps some years earlier.  This would make this certainly the earliest identifiable Christian graffito, and perhaps also likely the earliest artifact of Christian writing.

Perhaps because Bagnall doesn’t have a TV production company behind him, we haven’t seen this item in the daily news.  But, while we wait to see what scholars make of the Talpiot tombs, and whether in fact we have a fragment of a 1st-century copy of the Gospel of Mark, here we have a published artifact that has strong claims for anyone interested in the origins of Christianity…

More here, but we’ll have to wait for the book, or so it would seem.

 

‘People Have Very Odd Ideas About Jesus’

A short but interesting interview with Bishop NT Wright from a couple of days ago.

Renowned New Testament scholar and former Bishop, Tom Wright, talks writing, church issues and his new book.

Give it a read here.

 

 

We Are Sinners…

 

 

Bishop Brian Marsh on the Pro-Diocese of the Holy Family

The following sent in via e-mail. For a background, do see the post (yesterday): ‘The TAC Is For All Intents and Purposes Dead’ here. Both Bishop Michael Gill and  Bishop Louis Campese commented.

Writes Bishop Brian Marsh:

I found it interesting that an entry on one of the blogs bears the title: The TAC is For All Intents and Purposes Dead.” Perhaps it reflects wishful thinking on the part of some. But my experience is quite the opposite; the ACA and TAC are really quite vital. Our recent South Africa meeting was an outstanding example of the church working “with one accord.” Much good news may be communicated from all quarters. While there are certainly issues that need to be addressed, I see a strong present and a hopeful future for the TAC.

One issue should be attended to regarding the so-called Pro Diocese of the Holy Family. This has never been established in any legal, canonical manner. Unlike the short-lived Patrimony of the Primate, the Pro Diocese has never been approved by either the ACA House of Bishops or the TAC College of Bishops. Indeed, it has never been discussed by the ACA College of Bishops at all.

The only mention of the Pro Diocese of the Holy Family in any official document occurs in Bishop Campese resignation letter from the ACA Diocese of the Eastern United States, where he states that he is “transferring to the Pro Diocese of the Holy Family.” One may certainly state that he is transferring to another diocese, but that doesn’t mean the entity exists. The Pro Diocese of the Holy Family is neither legal nor Roman nor an empire.

I certainly pray that those who wish to become part of an Ordinariate will have their wish granted. I bear none of them any ill will. But everyone must recognize that, if they believe that the Pro Diocese is a legally-constituted part of the ACA/TAC, they are harboring an illusion.

Your Brother in Christ,

+Brian

 

Holy Week 2012 Pastoral Letter

Msgr Jeffrey Steenson:

Throughout the season of Lent, in the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church reads a series of texts that follow Moses and the Chosen People in their journey from captivity to the Promised Land. It was certainly an eventful and epic journey, filled with great blessings and abject failures. The Church has found in these accounts a pattern for the Lenten journey of every soul in search of its true home.

One of the most dramatic of these events happened in Numbers 13-14, when the people arrived at the threshold of the Promised Land, and then because of fear and a lack of faith they murmured and rebelled, even to the point of plotting to stone of their leader. It would be better to have remained in Egypt as slaves than to venture forth into an uncertain future. And so they turned away from the Promise, choosing instead to wander in the wilderness for the next 40 years.

This is a very striking metaphor for every person’s journey of faith. At some point on this journey, we must leave the well-trodden paths to venture forth in faith, trusting in the Lord to guard our steps.

The journey to full communion, for both individuals and groups of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, seems not to be unlike this. In these first three months, I have heard stories of faith and courage that humble and inspire; but there have also been disappointing stories of those who have come to the doorstep but then for one reason or another do not step through the portal. These stories always bring sadness and sometimes scandal, when they involve an unwillingness to embrace wholeheartedly Catholic teaching and discipline. This is, according to Lumen Gentium 14, to those who know “that the Catholic Church was made necessary by Christ,” a matter of salvation.

On Palm Sunday I had the great privilege of visiting one of the happy stories of the Ordinariate, the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Orlando, which has been superbly shepherded over the years by Bishop Louis Campese. Here are people who have been well catechized, with the right disposition, who have already built good relationships with the local Catholic Church, well poised to grow, and they are an excellent model for what an Ordinariate congregation can be.

In this infinite mercy, God watched over the reluctant pilgrims as they wandered through the wilderness for the next forty years. But it was a severe mercy, a difficult penance, and many were not ultimately able to see the Promised Land before they died. I pray that if you are on this journey, if you are persuaded that the Catholic Church is the will of Christ and the keys have been given to St. Peter and his successors, nothing will deter you from this holy goal, which is the principal mission of the Ordinariate.

And may our Lord bless you in this Holy Week, direct your steps, and give you peace.

The visit with Bishop Campese was mentioned (on this blog) here yesterday. Bishop Campese commented here.

 

The Portal: April 2012

The Portal Magazine for April, covering the Ordinariate, is out.

Published on the first day of every month of the year, you can read it online here or download it in pdf. here.