Church of the Divine Mysteries

Dear Clergy and Friends of EADM,

May the light of the Christ-child be with you at this season and into the future!

As I write this letter to you, the final preparations will be being made for Midnight Mass at each of our oratories. This is a time of anticipation and rebirth as Christ is welcomed again into our hearts, and as we join in worship with the heavenly host we recall also our bonds with other members of the Church Militant at this time of common purpose and rejoicing.

This past year has been an eventful one for our small communion. I have been very glad to see the development of our work through several of our missions in the United States as well as, in a quieter way, here in England. Naturally, the ordered work of the clergy in daily worship and the liturgical life of our oratories does not make for “news” as such, yet the private offering of the Holy Sacrifice remains the most important work of our communion and stands at the heart of the mystical and contemplative traditions that we represent. Alongside this, some of the developments we have seen during the past twelve months have included the following events.

Bishop Tony has continued to provide sterling support as he has settled into his new role as a member of the Council of Three, for which the Church is most grateful. His work among prisoners on California’s Death Row has resulted in his receiving several incarcerated men into the Catholic Church this year.

The Marian Orders have been united under a common administration and Fr. Charles Reynolds was consecrated earlier this year as a Mitred Abbot (under the ecclesiastical name Shin Maram) to lead these orders as well as the Mariavite Mission (formerly Order) in Texas. From within his community, Br. Chuck has been chrismated and has begun the journey towards testing his vocation in preparation for Holy Orders.

The movement for social change that has spread around the world this past year has found an advocate and ally in the form of Fr. Dan, our priest in Pennsylvania. He has spoken ably at the Occupy Wall Street gathering in Scranton and continues to be actively involved with the call for a more just society. His work towards drug-free treatment of those experiencing mental distress has again been to the fore.

Mgr. Jason, Vicar-General, completed his Master of Theology degree in June. He and I have continued to work closely on the esoteric aspects of EADM’s mission, with further expansion of this work anticipated during the coming year.

Bishop Andrew has announced that he is to marry his fiancée Geraldine. He and I continue to work together very closely through our shared work in education, where we continue to provide life-changing opportunities for students within sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia.

My biography of Archbishop Joseph-René Vilatte, one of the Old Catholic forefathers of our church, was published earlier in the year and has received appreciative comments from other scholars of our movement. An updated edition will come out next year, as will my next work on Free Catholic history, which is currently in preparation.

Archbishop Brennan of the Order of Corporate Reunion has established a memorial stone to Archbishop Lee of Lambeth in New York. We are still looking into the possibility of commemorating Archbishop Lee at his unmarked grave in Brookwood Cemetery, but have not as yet traced the legal owner of the grave as is necessary before any amendment to the memorial could be made. We continue to encourage donations to the Archbishop Mathew grave restoration fund. If you are interested in helping, please do make contact.

Bishop Tony and Mgr. Jason were this year appointed Frater Coadjutor Knights of the Valiant Order of St. John the Baptist, our church’s ecclesiastical merit order.

We continue to receive enquiries from clergy and scholars interested in the history of our mother church, the Apostolic Episcopal Church, and those churches with which it has enjoyed close relations over the years, as well as from others concerned with the history of the Liberal Catholic Church. Through these enquiries I am pleased to say that friendly contact with members of other churches has often resulted, and their assistance has been greatly valued in furthering scholarship into what is often a complex and difficult area of study. Our archives have continued to grow with the addition of further historic documents and this year has seen much welcome progress in our research.

Further developments during the past year, resulting in the closure of a religious Order and several missions of our church, have provided considerable challenges for us to overcome. Nevertheless, these events have ultimately served to strengthen the mission of our church and to enable it to become a closer and better-defined body. E.A.D.M. has always set itself out very deliberately as a church in the canonical tradition of Catholicism, with direct lineage from Rome and professing the Catholic faith in its true and historic fullness, faithful both to the legacy of the Fathers and the esoteric tradition that runs alongside it. Its structure and traditionalism therefore stands in opposition to those bodies that, while they may use the designation “church”, are essentially loose and undisciplined online collectives of independent clergy in the modernist vein. Furthermore, E.A.D.M. expresses its responsibility to the Christian life and the wider public through a system of open and accountable canonical governance which binds all clergy of this communion and ensures that the focus of our activities is not upon personalities and disputes but, as it should be, upon the Church and the Sacraments. It is entirely right that those who are not willing to commit to this vision and to the responsibilities that it entails should not continue to be a part of the body of clergy of this church.

Let us never forget that the clergy are the obedient servants of the mission of Christ, bound together by one Faith and one Church, of which our body is an autocephalous and validly-constituted rite. The Christian path is one which, however complex, is ultimately governed by Divine Order, and in which every event has its place, however obscure or bewildering it may appear to mortal mankind. The Church seeks to mirror such an order, that we may be “goodly and quietly governed” in spiritual matters, and most importantly so that we may enjoy the freedom that comes from the knowledge that when disruptive currents come our way, the underlying basis – both in faith and in structure – of our communion is such that it may provide a safe harbour. Even though our material position is very different to that of the larger churches, nevertheless it is the necessary goods for spiritual life in the Sacraments that are to be counted as our riches beyond price, and that call forth the best that we can give to our Maker and Redeemer.

Those who have experienced the sacramental life of our church have commented on the extent to which powerful spiritual energies are visibly present and active within this communion. As we look to the year ahead, let us pray that we may continue as a vehicle for those energies to the greater glory of God and the establishment of His kingdom.

In Xto,

++John

Dearly Beloved in Christ!

Indeed the words above, no matter in what language, speak volumes to our hearts.  Throughout this year many things, both good and not so good, have happened to us all.  People have passed from this world and been called home, wars have continued and been ended, and economies in many countries sank to a low point.  However, on the other side of the coin, babies were born, people pulled together to help one another out, and people began to regain a sense of hope and solace.  In our church we have a new seminarian Chuck Dunning and a new Abbot Charles Reynolds. I welcomed two people on San Quentin’s death row into the church after years of their contemplating their misdeeds and a true reconciliation, confession and absolution.  And you all in our clergy have in turn been wonderful and have bravely taken upon yourself God’s work and have done good things for God’s children.

I believe that if we look inside ourselves, will see both growth and development.  But, most of all, we will each see the “child within”.  No matter how young or old you are, that child exists and reminds us of what Christmas is all about.  For, unto us, this day a child was and is born.  Unto you and me may our inner child be born!

If we look at the historical events of the birth of Jesus, we know that Joseph was much older than Mary.  What did Joseph bring to the Christ-event?  As a foster father of age, he brought wisdom and the love only a father can give to his son.  I believe that as Jesus grew from an infant to adult, Joseph taught him many lessons of life.  He taught Jesus a trade, how to love one’s neighbor, how to respect everyone regardless of their status in life, how to act in a gathering and when with people, regardless of their sex or sexual orientation or status, and most importantly, how to pray.  For Joseph, the birth of Jesus must have been mysterious, tremendous and fascinating!   If Joseph had any understanding of who Jesus truly was, it must have also been quite frightening.  Could you imagine what it would be like to be the foster father of God?  Could you imagine the questions Joseph must have had? “Hum! I wonder if I should correct him.”  What do I do if he needs a spanking?”  Or, maybe Joseph didn’t know.  When it was time for correction, it was done, possibly, in a way that showed people the correct way to discipline a child.  Wisdom, this was the spirit of Joseph.

What about Mary?  What did she bring to the relationship? Sure, we understand that she was younger than Joseph and a good mom and the mother of God.  But, what do you suppose, on a human level she brought to the relationship?  I believe she taught Jesus those things only a mother can teach, stability in a relationship, the feminine side of masculinity, the gentleness and caring of a mom when Jesus whacked his finger with a hammer, or cut himself with a sharp tool, or fell down and scraped his knee when he was playing with the other children in the town and so many other things, including all those things she pondered in her heart the way only a mother can.   She must have taught Jesus how to deal with death, especially after Joseph died.  For those of us who have been there, it isn’t easy to lose a Dad.

We mustn’t lose sight of the human side of the Divinity.  It’s what made Jesus the savior of the world.  If Jesus was not a child, adolescent or adult, or, not even born, what would humanity look like today?  If you think we’re lost and sometimes Godless “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”  I don’t even want to think what humanity would look like if that hadn’t happened, if we would even have still existed at all.

What keeps us going is the belief – not hope, but the belief – that God is with us.  For, on the day of Christ’s birth, even if December 25^th is only the day on which we commemorate the Divine Birth, we as people were shown what it is to be truly human and were called to understand that we, like Jesus, must be selfless, constantly learning, forever giving, and being fulfilled until we are called home to Our Father who art in heaven.  Yes, the angels and archangels did indeed rejoice at the birth of Jesus, but they also rejoiced at your birth and mine.  Like Jesus, you and I are called on Christmas day to be born in the Spirit and in the truth that Christ is with us.  He is truly with us. And, we are with Christ and Christ in truly in us.

For unto us this day a child is born in Bethlehem, and in Europe and in North and South America and in the farthest reaches of the universe.  Seek Him. Pray to Him. You need not go far.  Go within.  He is there waiting to be born.

May Jesu find a place in your heart, and may God give you His peace.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sincerely yours in Christ!

+Tony

The central mystery of the Mass has been at all times the subject of dream and speculation, of theology and devotion. If it is the centre of Christian life, it is also and therefore, the centre of all life – anyhow on this planet, and perhaps everywhere. For the mystery of the Redemption – of which this is the sign and means – lies close to the mystery of Creation. The Sacrifice of the Crucifixion was the unmaking of all life that it should be remade after the great original pattern; a deliberate unmaking instead of an inevitable decay. So far as chaos could come again upon a world in which God was immanent, so far in that darkness it came; wounding and overwhelming the Sacred Body, inclosing and darkening the Sacred Spirit within. It is the nature of Omnipotence always to be able to endure more and to go farther than the utmost that can be brought against him; and perhaps this is the nature of the last Judgement, that He leaves to every man the choice of dealings with Him. If a man will shape his life upon a basis of pride and anger, then he shall find a greater pride and anger in God; if he is covetous and robs others, God shall be covetous and rob him; if he is full of love, then God shall be full of love. The Mass is an invisible communication, not only of redemption but also of creation and judgement: it is an absorption of the communicant in his degree into eternity. It is therefore above all things the relation between his own soul and Love with which the lover is concerned; and though he passes into the mystery by the channels which Love has prepared, Love itself issues therefrom in all his terrible strength along the channels which the lover has prepared.

Charles Williams, Outlines of Romantic Theology (Berkley, California: Apocryphile Press, 2005), p 43.

The Rev. Geoffrey Hodson (1886-1983) served as a priest in the Liberal Catholic Church in Australia. His writings on esoteric matters remain highly relevant to this day.

The Inner Side of Church Worship

by the Rev. Geoffrey Hodson

Dedicated to J.I.Wedgwood in grateful recognition of his power as an inspirer and teacher of men.

Foreword
by Archbishop Frank W. Pigott [Erstwhile Presiding Bishop of the Liberal Catholic Church]

Catholic Christians claim that the Church, with its threefold ministry tracing spiritual descent by the laying on of hands from the earliest Apostles of Our Lord, its seven sacraments or means of grace and its elaborate ceremonial, is a Divine Society; that is to say, it is a body corporate which is ensouled by the life of the Lord Himself; or, changing the metaphor without in any way changing the sense, it is an apparatus, a piece of intricate mechanism, by means of which grace or spiritual benediction is brought from on high and distributed far and wide on the Lord’s people here in this world ‘in the body pent ‘.

It is a high claim to make and, indeed, an unique claim; there does not seem to be any other society or organization in the world which makes quite such a claim as that. Yet the Catholic Church makes that claim unflinchingly and has been making it for something like two thousand years.

It is worth while examining the basis of such a claim. What are the grounds on which Catholic Christians for so long a time have dared to claim that their Church is a Divine Society, and still make the claim? Briefly they are three. First, there is tradition. Since the very beginning the belief that the Lord gives Himself to His people in His church by the operation of the Holy Spirit has been held by Catholic Christians and handed on from generation to generation. This is the tradition of the Church. Next, there is the experience of Christians themselves. For two thousand years or thereabouts Christians have ‘felt’ the presence of their Lord at their sacraments, at their worship and at all the holiest moments in their churches. This feeling has nothing to do with the exercise of any of the five senses. It cannot be described or explained, but it is a fact to those who know the experience. Then, supplementing tradition and experience, there is a third ground or basis for the claim, which so far has been recognized as a legitimate ground for belief on a large scale only by members of the Liberal Catholic Church; that third basis is the revelation which is the result of clairvoyant investigation and research. There are people in the world, only a few perhaps, but still some, who have so trained their faculties that they can perceive that which is hidden from normal people. Using this extended means of perception some investigators have been able to verify what the Church has claimed, namely, that the life of its sacraments does indeed proceed from the Lord Himself and, further, that in the work of distribution of His grace the officiating clergy and the devout worshippers have as co-operators with them hosts of angelic beings. Continue reading →

From “The Hidden Side of Things” by Bishop C.W. Leadbeater:

“There is a hidden side to our physical world in a second and higher sense which is well known to all students of Theosophy, for many lectures have been delivered and many books have been written in the endeavour to describe the astral and mental worlds– the unseen realm which interpenetrates that with which we are all familiar, and forms by far the most important part of it…

Modern physicists tell us that matter is interpenetrated by aether– a hypothetical substance which they endow with many apparently contradictory qualities. The occultist knows that there are many varieties of this finer interpenetrative matter, and that some of the qualities attributed to it by the scientific men belong not to it at all, but to the primordial substance of which it is the negation. I do not wish here to turn aside from the object of this book to give a lengthy disquisition upon the qualities of aether; those who wish to study this subject may be referred to the book upon Occult Chemistry , p. 93 . Here it must suffice to say that the true aether of space exists, just as scientific men have supposed, and possesses most of the curious contradictory qualities ascribed to it. It is not, however, of that aether itself, but of matter built up out of the bubbles in it, that the inner worlds of finer matter are built, of which we have spoken just now. That with which we are concerned at the moment is the fact that all the matter visible to us is interpenetrated not only by aether, but also by various kinds of finer matter, and that of this finer matter there are many degrees.

To the type which is nearest to the physical world occult students have given the name astral matter; the kind next above that has been called mental, because out of its texture is built that mechanism of consciousness which is commonly called the mind in man; and there are other types finer still, with which for the moment we are not concerned. Every portion of space with which we have to do must be thought of as containing all these different kinds of matter. It is practically a scientific postulate that even in the densest forms of matter no two particles ever touch one another, but each floats alone in its field of aether, like a sun in space. Just in the same way each particle of the physical aether floats in a sea of astral matter, and each astral particle in turn floats in a mental ocean; so that all these additional worlds need no more space than does this fragment which we know, for in truth they are all parts of one and the same world.

Man has within himself matter of these finer grades, and by learning to focus his consciousness in it, instead of only in his physical brain, he may become cognisant of these inner and higher parts of the world, and acquire much knowledge of the deepest interest and value. The nature of this unseen world, its scenery, its inhabitants, its possibilities, are described in the works above mentioned. It is the existence of these higher realms of nature that makes occultism possible; and few indeed are the departments of life in which their influence has not to be considered. From the cradle to the grave we are in close relation with them during what we call our waking life; during sleep and after we are even more intimately connected with them, for our existence is then almost confined to them.

Perhaps the greatest of the many fundamental changes which are inevitable for the man who studies the facts of life is that which is produced in his attitude towards death. This matter has been fully treated elsewhere; here I need state only that the knowledge of the truth about death robs it of all its terror and much of its sorrow, and enables us to see it in its true proportion and to understand its place in the scheme of our evolution. It is perfectly possible to learn to know about all these things instead of accepting beliefs blindly at secondhand, as most people do; and knowledge means power, security and happiness.”

Dearly Beloved in Christ:

Happy Advent!

As we are all aware, Advent is a time for self preparation for the coming of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.  This year however, Advent should hold special meaning for us all.  In the light of this time of worldwide turmoil with universal job loss, greed, and a sense of not only utter disdain, but hopelessness and a world possibly on the road to multi-cultural insurrections? Where is the celebration in all of this? What can we do as clergy to send hope to not only our own families but to other families?  What does this preparation and celebration really mean to us during these difficult times? What is God trying to tell us?

History has a tendency to repeat itself to those who pay little attention to past events, have little care and concern for it, and look not for wisdom and understanding from history, but seek only corporeal accolades and remuneration.  Indeed, it seems like, “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer”, and may I add, “are growing by leaps and bounds”.  People are losing their jobs, houses, and in some case their families and very own lives by suicide.  The government seems to be attracting a diverse group of candidates who wax and wane in both speech and morality.  Throughout the world people are protesting and getting hurt and arrested trying to tell the diverse governments to stop the injustice with the poor and middle class and do something since their election as our spokespersons.  The world is losing trust in their leaders, evil seems to be on the march.  In fact the other day, I was watching the news and a group of computer hackers who stole and are tending to abuse sensitive information have called themselves, “legion.”  This is the same name the Gaderine Demoniac called himself when Jesus cast “legion” into the swine, who in turn cast themselves over a cliff and into the ocean to drown.

And, so, again I ask, do you really understand Advent and its meaning? Is there  still a place for the preparation and celebration for the birth of Jesus in a world that doesn’t seem to see God as being able to intervene in this mess we created?  All seems out of control and lost.  What are we to do?

That, my dear brothers and sisters is the meaning of Advent.  During this time of preparation of the birth of our Savior, remember, He came into a world a lot more disparate then what we are experiencing.  Herod was king and jealously ruled the Roman Empire. He felt threatened and tried to kill Jesus by killing the Holy Innocents because he hadn’t a clue as to what he was up against or who Jesus was.  During that time, the world, as it was known, was also threatened and scared.  Sound familiar?  Sounds like the world today.  No different.  Imagine that, we haven’t learned a thing in over 2,000 years about trusting in God, or how to work with God.  Yet, we all expect God to solve our problems and make everything wonderful.  That’s not how God works!

In the beginning of creation, God instilled in humanity a consciousness that allows for free will. It is a gift for us to discover and to mold into a way for each of us to take what God gave us, “the world” and govern it wisely, not jealously.  In over 2,000 years we have learned to govern the world jealously and not wisely. We have all come to believe that to succeed we need pieces of paper and bits of metal we place value in and exchange for goods and services.  Instead of exchanging our hearts and love freely to one another, we have learned to exchange dollars and coins.  Again, remember scripture, “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s.”

This Advent gives us the opportunity to redefine ourselves in the eyes of God.  It gives us the opportunity to understand that what God wants for his children is not greed, political insurrections, disdain amongst us all, violence in the streets, and demonic chaos, but our hearts and innocence.  God wants us to understand that we are here not for ourselves, but for one another.  We are here to live the greatest commandment, “love one another as we love ourselves.”  Advent is our time to prepare for the meaning of love and compassion.  It is a time to look inside ourselves to our innocence and understand that we are all children, or maybe, in 2,000 years we have become confused adolescents trying to make our mark on society, and, like adolescents with a will of our own, not listening to our father and mother, we are testing our limits and messing up completely!  Why is it that we just have a hard time listening to our Father, God and Mother, Mary?  Are we so distanced and comfortable that we like the adolescent, need to rebel and forget where we came from and who really holds and teaches wisdom?

So, my dear brothers and sisters, I call each and every one of us, including myself first, to look at the source of our calling and ministry and understand that even in these tumultuous times, if we stop and prepare the way of the Lord, we can not only keep Christ in Christmas, but become renewed in both spirit and truth.  We must say, “To hell with the devil and all his works and empty promises.”  In the midst of this world wide mess, there is God dwelling amongst us, and our God is in you and in me.  It is through our example that we can, indeed, celebrate Advent as a time of preparation, but not only for the coming of Christ’s birthday, but as Christ’s resurrection and rebirth in our hearts, actions, minds and very being.

And so, in conclusion, my dear brethren, let us keep each other in prayer and grow our church in the spirit of love and hope giving one Act of Random Kindness (Ark) to those we meet each day in the hopes that the Ark we build will carry the Baby Jesus not only this Christmas day, but every day.

Many Blessings of Peace and Joy in the coming days and in the New Year,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Dr. Tony Scuderi, OAM, NOSF
Regionary Bishop for the United States of America

Now that Thanksgiving Day is past and Black Friday, the way is clear for The Nativity of Christ. I never appreciated Christmas as much as when my children were born. It is, indeed, the festival of The Child. How better to prepare for it than with that ancient service of the Reading of the Prophecies. The Old Testament characters were sad and longed for the Messiah who would set all things right. In Advent we repeat that longing, that hunger, for the Anointed One, The Christ, who would bring us all salvation and immortality. HE leads us to the heavenly Kingdom. It is this Kingdom which is Our Neighbor. Those in that Kingdom are our neighbors whom we must love and serve. Love thy neighbor as thyself means to love all in the Kingdom of Heaven which is our heritage from the long, awaited Savior. O! Come, O! Come Immanuel!

+Francis C. Spataro