December 24th: Vigil of Christmas
9am (English, Old Rite)
11pm “Midnight Mass” for Christmas (English, Old Rite)
December 25th: Christmas Day
9am (English, Old Rite)
Archbishop’s ADVENT PASTORAL LETTER, 2017
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
“Man is only a reed, the weakest thing in nature,” so wrote Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), a French poet and religious philosopher, one of the first Old Roman Catholics. “But,” he added, “he is a thinking reed (roseau pensant).”
Of course, there is good thinking and there is bad thinking. One must wonder just how much good thinking there is in today’s world. How much good thinking in our daily newspapers? How much good thinking on our TV screens? In our movies? From our politicians? Within our classrooms and from the teachers? And, yes, from our pulpits? Our churches have become again what the poet Wordsworth described as “bare ruined choirs.”
Lord knows, we are witnessing entirely too much bad thinking, which leads to bad actions. We have seen it in Connecticut, with the slaughter of so many small children and their teachers; in Orlando with the murder of 49 more adults; in Texas with dozens of innocent church goers, and we are seeing it in Seminole Heights, right here across Tampa Bay, as people live in fear wondering which victim will be next as a moronic fiend acts in apparent delight, taking the lives of people, gunning them down seemingly for target practice, as though they were beer cans. Fiend after fiend after bad thinking fiend – weak, bad-thinking reeds everywhere, it seems.
We see more slaughter through the hatred and religious intolerance of those who profess a “religion of peace,” while slaying thousands in France and Germany and Spain and England, as our youthful men and women die in God-less places, wearing our uniforms so faithfully and patriotically defending them, while other bad thinking persons right here in our own country mock their heroic efforts, while earning their millions of dollars as “talented athletes,” – those who could not earn a dollar in any other occupation! “Jocks,” we call them.
Our churches are empty; our theatres are full. Our schools are filled with empty-headed instructors, who fill the heads of our children and youth with utter nonsense, at best. Bishops argue with cardinals, cardinals fight each other and the Pope sends theological gibberish to priests and bishops all over the world. Statistically, there are supposed to be some 26 million more Catholics in this country than there were in 1965. Well, they are certainly not filling the churches. Our children are growing up with little or no religious training and devotion; they barely know the inside of a church, much less even knowing their heavenly Father and His holy mother.
It is time for some GOOD thinking and some devout praying! It is time ministers, priests and rabbis get back to that “old time religion.” We need men and women of strong belief in a loving God – men and women in religion, in the classroom, in the all the fine professions, in our state houses and houses of Congress, and yes, in our stores and other businesses, where men, women and children shop every day, not only to buy things but to interchange amicably, socially and at least tolerably with their neighbors. We priests need to show young men and women and old men and women that we are truly in love with our God and are thrilled each day to offer sacrifice at His altar because we do love Him and His children everywhere. Our example must be such that our very presence reaches out to young men and women in such a way that they desire to come after us in genuine pursuit of being the shepherds of the flocks God has entrusted to our charge.
These are not intended to be empty words or empty-headed words of a “short-timer,” but a genuine charge to each and every one of us who claims to be a devout follower of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We need to edify our laity in everything we do, in every action we take for the good of our churches and in our private lives. We need to be those “fools for Christ’s sake,” of which Thomas á Kempis speaks in his Imitation of Christ, and we need to read a small portion of that work every day of our lives. That will help us to become good thinkers.
With every good wish and prayerful blessing to you and yours, I am faithfully yours in Christ,
s/ +John J. Humphreys
The Most Reverend John J. Humphreys, Archbishop
FAQ: What is the main difference between an Old Roman Catholic and a ‘mainstream’ Roman Catholic?
When comparing a typical Catholic parish and what you will find with us, the main difference is found in the orientation of the spirituality.
A number of other Catholic organizations like the Fraternity of Saint Peter and the Society of St. Pius X celebrate the old sacraments and share the traditional Faith. This brief article is not referring to these.
In the mid- 1960’s there was a Pastoral Council called Vatican II which sought to make the Church more accessible via “aggiornamento” (accommodating to the world/updating). In the closing address of the Council Pope Paul VI stated one if the councils aims was to re-orientate the Church’s mission toward man. Traditional Catholics applaud efforts toward evangelization but reject accommodation with the world wherever it puts man before God.
So you will see the altar configured so that the priest prays to God versus hosting a communal meal for example. You will also note the priests interaction with the Blessed Sacrament is very different.
We will expand this section in the future in the meantime you may wish to brow the resource page.
FAQ: Do you cooperate with the Church of Rome?
We do NOT claim spiritual authority or jurisdiction over the baptized who are under the authority of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. We do not seek our members from among this existing flock. We do not intend schism or a replacement hierarchy, rather we understand ourselves as a sui juris structure whose mission in this age is to protect and steward the Old Faith (pre 1960 understanding of Catholic Christianity). Our apostolate focuses on those who seek the Traditional Catholic Faith and manner of worship but who cannot find it in the mainstream Church of this age. Our converts come from lapsed Catholics and those who were brought up unchurched or protestant who have discovered the Old Faith. We welcome Catholics of other jurisdictions as visitors.
We count as friend all who wish to restore the Old Mass and Old Faith as normative in the West, even when this friendship is not always reciprocated.
Our Constitution states:
ARTICLE II – BELIEF:
This Old Roman Catholic Communion is one in matters of Faith and Morals, de fide, with the Church established by Jesus Christ. It embraces all such doctrine of the Apostolic See of Rome, and it condemns all heresies and other errors condemned by that same See. It accepts as Catholics those who share this doctrine and conduct their affairs accordingly.
and also:
ARTICLE XXX – INTERCOMMUNION
SECTION 3. INTERCOMMUNION. — Members of this Communion may receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist from priests whom they perceive to be Catholic as outlined in Article II (above) of this Constitution.
In practice we generally permit foreign clergy in valid orders to assist in choir, in choir dress, during sacred functions in our churches, and conduct ourselves in like manner in their churches.
Even with one another, we do not concelebrate in our tradition (except at one’s own ordination) so it removes a common point of friction.
We welcome any Catholic properly disposed to receive the sacraments. Our clergy enjoy friendships with Catholics of a variety of backgrounds including those who prefer the Mass of Paul VI. Though we only offer the sacraments according to the older rites.
FAQ: What are your views on Pope Francis?
Pope Francis is recognized by our communion as the Bishop of Rome and as Pope. We acknowledge that are serious canonical and theological problems with this papacy but believe it is for a future Catholic pope and Council to sort out. We reject any restriction upon the Old Faith or the Old Mass.
Many of Francis’ statements horrify and scandalize. We pray for his return to the Faith of the Saints.
You may wish to visit our Resource page for more specific information. We will be adding more as time goes on and there is a Francis Section.