Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when you assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth, is brought to an end.
None of these things is hid from you, if you perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ Jesus which are the beginning and the end of life. For the beginning is faith, and the end is love. Now these two, being inseparably connected together, are of God, while all other things which are requisite for a holy life follow after them. No man [truly] making a profession of faith sins; nor does he that possesses love hate any one. The tree is made manifest by its fruit; so those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognized by their conduct. For there is not now a demand for mere profession, but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith to the end. — Chapters 13 & 14.
For those who might not know the PNCC has its own vagantes. It’s really an interesting phenomenon. Frankly, if the bishops gathered at Nicea had known about vagantes they might have included their existence as one of the marks of the Church. ‘One, holy, catholic, apostolic, and has vagantes.’
One of the reasons I decided to cover this issue was the fact that one of the groups reached out to me with the simple request, “Potrzebujemy kontaktu z Wami!” Not likely… Also I refer to these folks as quasi-Vagantes because none of them has ventured to obtain episcopal orders. As soon as they start adding Archbishop-Metropolitan and Catholicos to their titles then they’ll have achieved — well nothing but fancy titles.
Some of the notables are:
The “Very Rev.” Thomas Rudny who claims to pastor the Holy Cross PNCC of New York. As far as I can tell there is no existing church building but he has been known to hold services at Holyrood Episcopal Church at Fort Washington Avenue and 179th Street in New York City.
The “Polish National Catholic Church in Poland“
It looks like the Slovak Church did not have bishops of its own at the time of their break with Utrecht. It also appears that they moved to seek episcopal orders from Archbishop António José da Costa Raposo, a vagante Bishop in the Costa line who runs the Apostolic Episcopal Church in Portugal. Like many vagantes “Archbishop” BaÄinskí½ claims a mixture of Old Catholic and Orthodox orders. He has allied his church with various other vagante movements.
It should also be noted that these various movements have joined together in a loose confederation called the World Council of National Catholic Churches (note that their website seems to have disappeared). Included in this group is the Rybka group, Archbishops Costa Raposo and BaÄinskí½ and the “Very Rev.” Anthony Nikolic of the “Canadian National Catholic Church.”
The Canadian church itself is interesting in that the Rev. Nikolic runs St. Anthony’s Mission out of St. John’s PNCC Cathedral in Toronto which was seized by some parishioners in an attempt to break away from the PNCC. The cathedral parish is apparently being run by the Rev. Zbigniew Kozar and Utrecht, up until recently, had recognized the breakaway group at St. John’s as its “official” North American mission. Utrecht provided them with some Episcopal oversight (see Dependent churches and municipalities under the jurisdiction of the IBK) as a slight to the PNCC. However the group may be moving toward the WCNCC and Costa Raposo because the February meeting of the Utrecht Bishop’s Conference concluded: Since 2005 the Bishops’ Conference has sought, together with the Episcopal Church, to encourage groups within the USA who call themselves Old Catholic and who could be taken seriously as a movement to work together. However, it must now be accepted that these attempts have failed as mergers have broken up again and new splinter groups have formed. The Bishops’ Conference has therefore decided to pull out completely from this area and will, in future, refer any requests to join the Union of Utrecht from so-called Old Catholic movements in North America to the Episcopal Church.
The “Reverends” Kozar and Nikolic are not part of the PNCC and seem to be little more than a conglomeration of quasi-vagantes. Because the breakaway elements in the Cathedral have allied themselves with either Utrecht or the Episcopal Church the Episcopal Diocese of Toronto works with them. The PNCC has brought suit for the return of St. John’s Cathedral. The official site of the Polish National Catholic Church’s Canadian Diocese is here.
Oh how the world of vagantes turns…
And pray without ceasing in behalf of other men. For there is in them hope of repentance that they may attain to God. See, then, that they be instructed by your works, if in no other way. Be meek in response to their wrath, humble in opposition to their boasting: to their blasphemies return your prayers; in contrast to their error, be steadfast in the faith; and for their cruelty, manifest your gentleness. While we take care not to imitate their conduct, let us be found their brethren in all true kindness; and let us seek to be followers of the Lord (who ever more unjustly treated, more destitute, more condemned?), that so no plant of the devil may be found in you, but you may remain in all holiness and sobriety in Jesus Christ, both with respect to the flesh and spirit.
The last times are come upon us. Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit, and fear the long-suffering of God, that it tend not to our condemnation. For let us either stand in awe of the wrath to come, or show regard for the grace which is at present displayed—” one of two things. Only [in one way or another] let us be found in Christ Jesus unto the true life. Apart from Him, let nothing attract you, for whom I bear about these bonds, these spiritual jewels, by which may I arise through your prayers, of which I entreat I may always be a partaker, that I may be found in the lot of the Christians of Ephesus, who have always been of the same mind with the apostles through the power of Jesus Christ. — Chapters 10 and 11.
From the AP: Hundreds of US soldiers join Polish pilgrimage
WARSAW, Poland (AP) —” Hundreds of soldiers in camouflage set off Tuesday on a 10-day march to Poland’s holiest Roman Catholic shrine —” among them five Americans hoping to deepen ties with an ally.
Five members of the Illinois National Guard traveled to Poland to make the 180-mile (290-kilometer) trek on foot —” alongside Poles, Germans and other Europeans —” from Warsaw to Czestochowa, site of the revered Black Madonna icon.
Though the 300-year-old pilgrimage has deep religious and patriotic resonance in mainly Catholic Poland, the main purpose of the U.S. contingent, a tradition that has started in recent years, is to show solidarity with Poland —” an ally in Iraq and Afghanistan —” and other nations.
It’s a chance “to come together and share a little bit, and hopefully develop closer bonds with foreign militaries in a non-combat type setting,” said Master Sgt. Roman Waldron, 37, from Springfield, Illinois.
Before embarking on the pilgrimage, the pilgrims attended an early morning Mass at the Field Cathedral of the Polish Army, where a priest blessed them with holy water. They were also told to set a moral example and refrain from drinking or smoking during the march.
The Black Madonna —” which legend says was painted by St. Luke —” was brought to the Jasna Gora monastery in Czestochowa in 1384.
Many miracles have been attributed to the painting, including a 1655 siege during which 70 monks and 180 supporters held off nearly 4,000 soldiers from the Protestant Swedish army and inspired Poles to rise up and throw out the invaders.
Sgt. 1st Class Evan Young, from Rock Island, Illinois, believes the pilgrimage is going to be even more meaningful than he had first imagined.
“Originally when I was given the opportunity I thought it would be kind of a neat way to see Poland, but then I started doing research on the Black Madonna and the siege and I thought it’s part of a much bigger thing,” said Young, a 45-year-old who grew up Episcopalian.
“It’s pretty neat to be taking part in this, and help improve relations with Poland and other countries that are here,” he said.
Only one of the five American soldiers is a Catholic. They will sleep in eight-man tents set up along the route by the Polish army.
The soldiers were trailed by thousands of students and other pilgrims in Warsaw, and will eventually join up with thousands more expected to converge on Czestochowa next week, ahead of the August 15 [Roman] Catholic holy day marking the Assumption of Mary…
My the Blessed Mother watch over them and instruct them in the ways of her Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
O, God, the strength of those who put their trust in Thee; Bless we pray, our soldiers, sailors, servicewomen, and airmen; our chaplains, doctors, nurses; and all enlisted in the service of our country. Give Thy holy angels charge over them to protect them from all harm; deliver them in all temptation, and if it by Thy gracious will, bring them safely home. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — A Prayer for Those in the Armed Forces from A Book of Devotions and Prayers According to the Use of the Polish National Catholic Church.
For more information on this annual pilgrimage see Polskie Radio – Poland on pilgrimage.
From the BBC: Hi-tech criminals target Twitter
Micro blogging site Twitter is the latest target of cyber criminals who are increasingly finding fertile ground on social networks.
A fake Twitter profile with a malicious payload has been spotted by security firm Kaspersky.
It purports to link to a pornographic video but downloads a fake version of Adobe Flash which installs programs capable of stealing data.
The attack is believed to be the first to target Twitter.
Social net
The attack is believed to have originated in Brazil because of the language it uses, the servers it calls on to download trojans and the e-mail address used to collect stolen data.
The fake profile has a name that means “pretty rabbit” in Portuguese. It tries to convince users to download the fake Flash video viewer in order to watch the associated video.
It comes as Kaspersky also releases details about two worms that target social networking sites MySpace and Facebook. More variants of these worms are also starting to turn up…
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, which is at Philadelphia, in Asia, which has obtained mercy, and is established in the harmony of God, and rejoices unceasingly in the passion of our Lord, and is filled with all mercy through his resurrection; which I salute in the blood of Jesus Christ, who is our eternal and enduring joy, especially if [men] are in unity with the bishop, the presbyters, and the deacons, who have been appointed according to the mind of Jesus Christ, whom He has established in security, after His own will, and by His Holy Spirit.
Take heed, then, to have but one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to [show forth] the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is one bishop, along with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants: that so, whatsoever you do, you may do it according to [the will of] God. — Greeting and Chapter 4.
For, since you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, in order, by believing in His death, you may escape from death. It is therefore necessary that, as you indeed do, so without the bishop you should do nothing, but should also be subject to the presbytery, as to the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, in whom, if we live, we shall [at last] be found. It is fitting also that the deacons, as being [the ministers] of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, should in every respect be pleasing to all. For they are not ministers of meat and drink, but servants of the Church of God. They are bound, therefore, to avoid all grounds of accusation [against them], as they would do fire.
In like manner, let all reverence the deacons as an appointment of Jesus Christ, and the bishop as Jesus Christ, who is the Son of the Father, and the presbyters as the sanhedrim of God, and assembly of the apostles. Apart from these, there is no Church. Concerning all this, I am persuaded that you are of the same opinion. For I have received the manifestation of your love, and still have it with me, in your bishop, whose very appearance is highly instructive, and his meekness of itself a power; whom I imagine even the ungodly must reverence, seeing they are also pleased that I do not spare myself. But shall I, when permitted to write on this point, reach such a height of self-esteem, that though being a condemned man, I should issue commands to you as if I were an apostle? — Chapters 2 and 3.
I salute you from Smyrna, together with the Churches of God which are with me, who have refreshed me in all things, both in the flesh and in the spirit. My bonds, which I carry about with me for the sake of Jesus Christ (praying that I may attain to God), exhort you. Continue in harmony among yourselves, and in prayer with one another; for it becomes every one of you, and especially the presbyters, to refresh the bishop, to the honour of the Father, of Jesus Christ, and of the apostles. I entreat you in love to hear me, that I may not, by having written, be a testimony against you. And also pray for me, who have need of your love, along with the mercy of God, that I may be worthy of the lot for which I am destined, and that I may not be found reprobate. — Chapter 12.
First reading: Isa 55:1-3
Psalm: Ps 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18
Epistle: Rom 8:35, 37-39
Gospel: Matt 14:13-21
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
What an amazing thing it is to have life in Christ Jesus, for He feeds us and answers all of our needs.
All of our readings and today’s Gospel point to the fact that God gives us everything. We see God’s giving nature when we see the manner in which He gives us all the things we recognize as basic needs. Whatever our basic need the authors show them as being met.
In our first reading from the prophet Isaiah we recognize our lack, and God’s giving. We are thirsty, God sets the water before us and says come to the water. We have no money, we can come and receive grain and eat — for free. Without paying or cost we receive wine and milk! We shall eat well and delight in rich fare. In the end by listening to God, by heeding Him, and by coming to Him we receive the most precious gift of all — life.
The psalmist sings of God’s gifts. He declares that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. God is good and compassionate to us, His works. He feeds us from His hand and answers all our needs: food in due season; the desire of every living thing.
In God’s giving we have the very same assurance St. Paul saw; that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. The sadness of the world and the powers of nature cannot match God’s loving gift to us. When we face anguish, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, angels, principalities, present things or future things, powers, height or depth, any creature, the sword, life or death itself, even all if they be combined against us are not enough to overcome God. God among us and with us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Gospel story is well known. It exhibits Jesus’ power to feed us from our inadequacy. The few loaves and fishes equal our inadequate gift. In seeing Jesus’ use of our poor offering, our poor selves, we come to the realization that His love, His giving conquers all.
Brothers and sisters,
God speaking through Isaiah asks:
Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Looking closely we see that God lays all these gifts in front of us. He says: —Here’s the water.— Then He asks us to come and drink. There’s the disconnect. All the gifts are there, all the opportunities to take our fill are before us, but we have to do it. We have to go for the water that’s there.
We think that the problems we face in life are exactly the excuse we need to step over God’s gifts. It is the willful way we choose to ignore the water that’s right in front of us and to go in search of other water, water we think will be sweeter or more satisfying. We fail when we choose to drown out God’s gifts by failing to recognize that all fulfillment rests in God. When we reject total unity with God and His teaching we fail. We fail when we spend all we have, up to and including our everlasting souls, on the things that will not satisfy.
Friends,
Certainly we are in a tough position, with all the noise around us, all the choices that seem easier than choosing the water God gives, but as my older daughter recently told me, just remember to breathe. Each breath we take is a pause in the time line, a brief respite to focus on what’s right in front of us. What’s there is God’s gift.
Here we are, today, so let’s start. When we come forward to receive the Lord in the Eucharist we should just stop and breathe. Look at the gift presented to us. Breathe, pause a moment, and say Amen to the gift.
Recognize that He is feeding us and He is fulfilling our needs. His grace is transformative. In that moment and in its aftermath we are changed.
Change will come because God promises it. By choosing God’s gift we will recognize the moment and the gift. Thereafter we will recognize more moments and more gifts. We will begin to recognize that God is taking the meager gift we have to offer and that He is changing our small gift into a bigger, better, more perfect gift. In the end we will forget about chasing after that other water. Our unsettled hearts will settle on and in Christ. We will be fed by His word and our way of life will become all — in and for God.
By our conformity to God, by our transformation we become God’s gift to the world. Our transformed selves work within His Holy Church to spread the joyful message. It is the message Bishop Hodur proclaimed, that our Holy Polish National Catholic Church continues to proclaim, it is Christ’s message — see the gifts I have laid before you, the food that is everlasting. Come to Me, be healed, be transformed, be regenerated, have life and live forever.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.”
Amen.
The way of light, then, is as follows. If any one desires to travel to the appointed place, he must be zealous in his works. The knowledge, therefore, which is given to us for the purpose of walking in this way, is the following. You shall love Him that created you: you shall glorify Him that redeemed you from death. You shall be simple in heart, and rich in spirit. You shall not join yourself to those who walk in the way of death. You shall hate doing what is unpleasing to God: you shall hate all hypocrisy. You shall not forsake the commandments of the Lord. You shall not exalt yourself, but shall be of a lowly mind. You shall not take glory to yourself. You shall not take evil counsel against your neighbour. You shall not allow over-boldness to enter into your soul. You shall not commit fornication: you shall not commit adultery: you shall not be a corrupter of youth. You shall not let the word of God issue from your lips with any kind of impurity. You shall not accept persons when you reprove any one for transgression. You shall be meek: you shall be peaceable. You shall tremble at the words which you hear . You shall not be mindful of evil against your brother. You shall not be of doubtful mind James 1:8 as to whether a thing shall be or not. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. You shall love your neighbor more than your own soul. You shall not slay the child by procuring abortion; nor, again, shall you destroy it after it is born. You shall not withdraw your hand from your son, or from your daughter, but from their infancy you shall teach them the fear of the Lord. You shall not covet what is your neighbor’s, nor shall you be avaricious. You shall not be joined in soul with the haughty, but you shall be reckoned with the righteous and lowly. Receive as good things the trials which come upon you. You shall not be of double mind or of double tongue, for a double tongue is a snare of death. You shall be subject to the Lord, and to [other] masters as the image of God, with modesty and fear. You shall not issue orders with bitterness to your maidservant or your man-servant, who trust in the same [God ], lest you should not reverence that God who is above both; for He came to call men not according to their outward appearance, but according as the Spirit had prepared them. You shall communicate in all things with your neighbor; you shall not call things your own; for if you are partakers in common of things which are incorruptible, how much more [should you be] of those things which are corruptible! You shall not be hasty with your tongue, for the mouth is a snare of death. As far as possible, you shall be pure in your soul. Do not be ready to stretch forth your hands to take, while you contract them to give. You shall love, as the apple of your eye, every one that speaks to you the word of the Lord. You shall remember the day of judgment, night and day. You shall seek out every day the faces of the saints, either by word examining them, and going to exhort them, and meditating how to save a soul by the word, or by your hands you shall labor for the redemption of your sins. You shall not hesitate to give, nor murmur when you give. “Give to every one that asks you,” and you shall know who is the good Recompenser of the reward. You shall preserve what you have received [in charge], neither adding to it nor taking from it. To the last you shall hate the wicked [one]. You shall judge righteously. You shall not make a schism, but you shall pacify those that contend by bringing them together. You shall confess your sins. You shall not go to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of light. — Chapter 19.