
Patriarchal
Address on the Feast of Corpus Christi
7 June
A.D. 2012
Rutherford
Card. Johnson
To the
Bishops, regular clergy, and faithful of the Anglican Rite Roman
Catholic Church, greetings and Apostolic Blessings on this
Commemoration of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, in the Year of Our Lord 2012. Through the worthy partaking of
Christ's Body and Blood, we shall hunger no more. The corruptible
becomes incorruptible. He who receives the Body and Blood of our Lord
dwells in Christ, and Christ likewise dwells in him. By implication,
however, if a person does not live in Christ, but nevertheless
outwardly receives the Body and Blood of Christ, he receives
unworthily and eats and drinks his own damnation. The reception of
Holy Communion is not a mere symbolic act of commemoration. It not
only represents a true and living Sacrifice, it is a true and living
Sacrifice. Through the ministry of the priest, who shares in the
supreme and eternal priesthood of Christ, the one perfect Sacrifice
of our Lord on Calvary continues on the altar. The mysteries of the
Lord, and indeed of His Holy Sacrifice cannot be understood or
measured in human terms of time or space. Our Lord came to earth as a
man at a specific time in history and place in the world. Yet, His
Sacrifice was for all mankind over all time. It would be a fallacy to
suggest that we will automatically be forgiven our sins because
Christ died on the Cross without any spiritual work on our part. We
cannot simply sin and casually dismiss it because of the crucifixion
as so many protestants tend to do. In so doing, we not only fool
ourselves, we insult our Lord and His Sacrifice. Never has the true
Catholic Faith been considered passive, for there is no salvation if
we do not take up our own cross and follow our Lord. In the Holy
Mass, our Lord continues to offer Himself for us. We have the
opportunity to attain salvation by joining ourselves to the Sacrifice
of Christ on the Cross. Only in this way can we truly dwell in Him
and He in us. Only in this way can we truly receive the Body and
Blood of our Lord.
Those who
dwell in the Lord cannot help but put their faith into action in the
world. Help the poor. Clothe the naked. Feed the hungry. Tend to the
sick. These are all worthy and essential forms of ministry for all
Christians. In doing all of this, though, we must not forget the most
important aspect of human existence, and that is the spirit. We
cannot neglect the soul while tending the body. Far too often we feel
a need to help other people who are suffering in worldly ways, but
ignore their spiritual needs. This has become far too common today as
a result of the highly secularized modern society that is dominant in
the world today. Those who dwell in the Lord must see this as a new
crusade. This new crusade is one to renew Christianity in the souls
of mankind. It is to turn weak faith into strong faith. It is to
convert the cultural Christians into true Christians. It is to refuse
to allow our Faith to be marginalized at the hands of those who wish
to destroy souls. This is an essential mission of all faithful people
of Christ's Church. We cannot ignore it. We cannot claim other people
are on their own. We are responsible for the spiritual suffering and
weakness of others when it was in our power to do something, no
matter how small. Yes, this is an essential mission of all faithful
Christians.
It is our
pleasure to report that the mission of the Anglican Rite Roman
Catholic Church is growing and ever moving forward, spreading the
Word of God and the true Catholic Faith. Most significantly, our
number of clergy continues to increase. The interest in religious
orders has increased, and we have now four expressions of institutes
of spiritual perfection. These are the Oblates Regular of Saint
Stephen for the Help of the Poor, the Dominican Friars of Saint
Thomas Aquinas, the Dominican Sisters of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the
Order of Franciscan Friars of Penance, and the Order of Franciscan
Sisters of Penance. We especially give our blessing to those who are
called to these orders for the greater glory of God. Through one
person standing up and answering the call to a religious vocation,
vowing to live openly according to a rule of religious discipline,
the Faith is strengthened. Through even just one person standing up
and answering the call to the clerical ministry, freely choosing to
live openly and unapologetically before the world as a cleric, the
Faith is strengthened. The courage of these religious and clerics,
and indeed of all who choose to live in, by, and for Christ, works
for the salvation of souls.
Through the prayers and merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed
Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles
Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, may Almighty God have mercy on
you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life. R. Amen.
The
Almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon, + absolution, and
remission of all your sins, time for a true and fruitful penance, an
always repentant heart and amendment of life, the grace and
consolation of the Holy Spirit, and final perseverance in good works.
R. Amen.
And
the Blessing of Almighty God, + Father, + Son, and Holy + Ghost, be
upon you and remain with you always. R. Amen.
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