LORD
JESUS, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER
AN
ANCIENT CHURCH STILL TEACHING THE ANCIENT
TRUTH
AND LIVING OUT THE ANCIENT FAITH
____________________________________________________
THE
GUIDING PRINCIPAL OF CELTIC ORTHODOXY
Thus
says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the
ancient
Paths,
where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.
But
they said, “We will not walk in it” (Jeremiah 6:16)
___________________________________________________
The
Celtic Orthodox Church is
so
Ancient
it
demands respect
is
so Traditional
it
is refreshing
and
so Conservative
it
is reassuring.
HOLY
TRINITY CELTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH
A
MONASTIC COMMUNITY OF THE
CELTIC
ORTHODOX BENEDICTINE FATHERS
1703
MACOMBER ST., TOLEDO, OHIO 43606
PHONE
419.206.2190 / E-MAIL amdg@bex.net
_________________________________________________
THE
CELTS ARE ISRAELITES UNDER ANOTHER NAME
The
word Celt is the Anglicized form of the Greek word Keltoi, which
means
“the people who are different.” In Scripture, all nations,
except
the
Twelve Tribes of Israel, are referred to as Gentiles
(Foreigners),
so
the only people who are different are Israel. The word Celt
is
therefore
another word for Israelite. The Celts are part of the Ten
“lost” Tribes of Israel; as are the Tuatha de Danaan and Milesians.
The
Irish
people are a mixture of Celts; Danaans; Milesians;
Judah/Zarahites
(of the “Red Hand” – Genesis 38:28-30); (Dan-ish) Vikings and Norsemen
and
are all racially cousins.
THE
CELTS, ACCORDING TO GOD, ARE ISRAELITES.
The
word British is not English; it is Hebrew.
Brit
(Berit) means Covenant in Hebrew and
Welsh
Ish
means man or people of, in Hebrew and English
Therefore
British means The People of The Covenant,
in
other words, the People Israel of The Covenant.
However,
the Celtish / Irish people are Israelites descended
from
Jacob/Israel’s
fifth of his twelve sons, who was called Dan and fathered
the
Tuatha de Danaan – the Tribe
of Dan (the Irish and Danish).
Therefore
the Irish people are Celtish / British-Israelites by
birth
i.e.
People of The Covenant in the Torah in the Bible and in The
Ark,
which
is buried at Tara.
__________________________________________
THE
DAILY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS AND THE DAILY
PRAYING OF SCRIPTURE
TOGETHER FORM THE TWIN PILLARS
UPON
WHICH REST OUR HOPE FOR SALVATION.
****
THE
PATER NOSTER PSALTER IS THE OLDEST
PRIVATE DEVOTIONAL AND
ADDRESSES THE FATHER,
THROUGH THE SON BY THE
ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
GIVE
GOD YOUR TIME – GOD WILL GIVE YOU HIS ETERNITY
The
Pater Noster Psalter dates back to Apostolic times and made popular in 5th Century
Germany. Making Pater Noster Beads became a cottage
industry in Germany due to the popularity of the prayer. The Marian Rosary was
developed from the format of the Pater Noster
Psalter. Including the Station of
the Cross for the “mysteries” was not part of the original Pater Noster Psalter, being a unique contribution from Celtic
Orthodoxy from the Celtic Orthodox Monastery in Bobbio, Italy in around the 13th Century. The
Monastery of Bobbio was a Monastery of Celtic Orthodox
Monks and established by St. Columbanus in 614. The
Celtic Orthodox Monastery at Bobbio, Italy was forced
to close in 1809 by French occupying forces. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The
Pater Noster Psalter begins with an Act of contrition
for sin prayed on the Crucifix.
ACT
OF CONTRITION
O
my God, I am heartily sorry for ever having offended you, and I detest all my
sins because they have offended you my God who are all good and deserving of my
love. I resolve with the help of your grace to sin no more and avoid all
occasions of sin.
The
Pater Noster Psalter comprises 15 Decades of 10 Our
Father’s, for a total of 150
Our
Father’s. Any
prayer beads can be used. The 15
Decade Prayer beads or a five
Decade
Prayer beads are most common. Although the actual Pater Noster beads are unique
in
that they have little crosses to divide the decades.
On
the first ‘cross’ bead immediately after the larger Cross and on every other
cross bead that separates the grouping of 10 beads is prayed:
Eternal
Father, almighty and ever living God; God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; God and
Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we offer to you Father of mercy the
Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your divine Son present in this mystery as a
prayer of praise and thanksgiving, adoration and reparation and for my special
petition which by faith I have already received from your bounty through Christ
our Lord. United with the
intercession and ministry, gifts and graces, faith and merits of your Divine Son
I pray in the words our Savior taught us.
This
prayer is repeated before each set of 10 Our Fathers for all 15 Decades. The Mysteries (Stations) for each Decade
are as follows:
1.
Jesus
is condemned to death.
2.
Jesus
is made to bear His Cross.
3.
Jesus
falls the first time.
4.
Jesus
meets His afflicted Mother.
5.
Simon
Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His Cross.
6.
Veronica
wipes the face of Jesus.
7.
Jesus
falls the second time.
8.
Jesus
speaks to the women of Jerusalem.
9.
Jesus
falls the third time.
10. Jesus is stripped of His
garments.
11. Jesus is nailed to the
Cross.
12. Jesus dies on the Cross.
13. Jesus is taken down from the
Cross.
14. Jesus is buried in the
sepulcher.
15. The Resurrection.
At
the end of each decade is prayed, “O Hail Mother of God and Virgin; Mary full of
grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and Blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, for you gave birth to the Savior of my soul”. After which is
prayed “Holy God, + Mighty God, God immortal have mercy on me. One is Holy, +
One is the Lord, + Jesus Christ, to the glory of god
the father”. (The + sign indicates where you make the sign of the Cross) The
Stations of the Cross (Mysteries) were codified by Francis of Assisi while he
was in residence at the Celtic Orthodox Monastery at Bobbio, Italy. Feel
free to substitute any other mysteries that speak to your faith. The use of the Stations of the Cross is
most common, but not mandated.
This
dates back to the early church and was as big in the middle ages as the Marian
Rosary is today among Catholics.
The Marian Rosary was modeled after the Pater Noster Psalter.
The
Pater Noster Psalter dates back to at least the first
Century and had become popular by the 5th Century, especially in
Germany. In Germany a cottage
industry was developed to manufacture “Pater Noster
Beads”. These beads were often of
precious stones but today it is mainly wood.
The
Pater Noster Psalter is designed to be prayed in three
intervals of 50 Our Father’s each.
Most
commonly it is prayed 5 decades in the morning, 5 decades at noon and 5 decades
in the evening.
PICTURE
OF THE PATER NOSTER BEADS
http://www.celticorthodoxchurch.com/pater_noster_beads.jpg
PRAYERS
OF THE PATER NOSTER PSALTER
Sign
of the Cross
In
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our
Father
Our
Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses; as we
forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. Amen.
The
other prayers as noted above.
THE
MEANING OF THE “OUR FATHER”
BY
ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN
THE
PATER NOSTER BEADS ARE MORE COMMONLY CALLED THE CHOTKI. THE TERM
PATER NOSTER
BEADS MEANS THE CHOTKI USED FOR THE PATER NOSTER PSALTER
THE
USE OF THE CHOTKI IN THE CELTIC ORTHODOX
CHURCH
Bishop
Brian J. Kennedy, O.S.B.
The
prayer rope (chotki) may also be made of wooden beads,
and is worn by all Celtic Orthodox Clergy and many or most other Orthodox
Monastic’s in other Jurisdictions of the larger Church Catholic.
It
originated in the monastic world as a tool to facilitate the prayer life and
spirituality of the Monk. It finds
its genesis in the love for the prayer our Savior taught us, the “Our Father”.
The Chotki is also, in Celtic Orthodoxy, known as the
Pater Noster Beads. It was simply a method to keep track of
the 150 “Our Fathers” in the Pater Noster Psalter. The
Chotki found an expanded usage in praying the “Jesus
Prayer” and the Orthodox Marian Rosary.
People saw the Monks praying all 150 Psalms daily and in emulation of
this pious practice started praying the 150 Our Fathers daily. In the beginning, farm workers and
laborers would place 10 pebbles in their pants pocket and transfer one bead to
the other pocket for each Our Father they prayed. This practice gave birth to the Chotki.
The
purpose of the monastic exercise of wearing the Chotki
on their belt and black cassock is to train the mind to pray without ceasing in
response to the commandment given by the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
which is echoed in the New Testament writings of Matthew 9:27, Matthew 15:22,
Matthew 17:15, Matthew 20:30, Matthew 20:31, Mark 10:47, Mark 10:48, Luke 16:24,
Luke 17:13, Luke 18:38, Luke 18:39, Romans 9:15, Romans 11:30, Romans 11:32, 1
Corinthians 7:25, Philippians 2:27, 1 Peter 2:10.
The
training and discipline of the mind is important in Celtic Orthodoxy. The mind
was to become so conditioned through this spiritual discipline that no matter
what the person was doing the mind would learn to automatically, and without
conscious thinking, pray the Our Father as taught to us by Jesus.
Even
subconsciously when the person was asleep, the Our Father would be on their mind
and in their heart and prayed in their mind. The simple wearing of the Chotki, with faith, can be a good defense against the forces
of evil that would destroy our soul by leading us into
sin.
The
Chotki (prayer rope or beads) developed during the
first four centuries of Christianity into a practice not just done by the
monastic community, but also by lay people who wanted to lead a life that would
emulate the spiritual example of their Priests and bring them closer to God in
the hope of salvation. The Chotki is the precursor to
the modern day Rosary that the Roman Catholic Church implemented as a prayer
rule for their Roman Catholic faithful after the Great Schism when the Vatican
broke the peace and unity of the undivided church catholic in 1054
AD.
The
Chotki is fitted with a Cross which is tied with a
tassel. The tassel has its basis as being something to wipe away the “tears of
sorrow” of the penitent as he/she prays the decades of the Our Father prayer.
The
beads or knots are tied together of Lamb’s wool yarn. This comes from the Orthodox tradition
designed to remind the penitent that Jesus is the Lamb of God. The Chotki
Prayer Rope or beads are plain and not decorated to reflect the contrition of
the person and to remind the person to be humble before the Lord. It is a
perfect adjunct to the black cassock worn by Orthodox Monastics, to reflect the
monastic view of being dead to the secular world and in mourning for the
individual sins of the Monk and also for the sins of the whole
world.
Lay
people in the Celtic Orthodox tradition often elect to incorporate the Chotki into their secular clothing by wearing the Chotki on their belt, tucked into their pants pockets as an
expression of dependency on Jesus and our Heavenly Father. By uniting with Jesus in this wise, we
in a more God pleasing fashion, render praise to Jesus and through Jesus render
praise to our Heavenly Father.
PICTURE
OF THE CHOTKI
http://www.celticorthodoxchurch.com/chotki.jpg
“THE
MASS AND THE DAILY READING AND PRAYING OF SCRIPTURE
ARE
THE TWIN PILLARS UPON WHICH REST OUR HOPE FOR SALVATION”
Our Lord assured his
disciples that he had come, not to destroy, but to fulfill,
the
Law. It is not surprising, therefore, to find the earliest Christians,
notably
the Apostles, conforming to the traditional customs of worship of
the
old Covenant: keeping the Passover, or going up to the Temple to pray
at
the appointed "Hours of Prayer," or keeping those hours as times of private
devotion.
________________________________________________________________
Likewise,
we find St. Paul, wherever he might be, seeking out the local synagogue on the
Sabbath, taking part in its worship and availing himself of its opportunities
for teaching. At the same time we find Christians keeping strictly Christian
observances, notably the First Day of the Week, with its Eucharistic Breaking of
Bread as the distinctive act of worship. Even when the Church had overflowed the
bounds of Judaism and was overwhelmingly Gentile in its membership, there was a
survival of devotional practices of Jewish origin. Chief among these was the
observance of the daily praying of the Psalms and the daily prayer and study of
the Scriptures. The practice of
daily reading and praying the Scriptures became part
of
the faith as once delivered to the saints as it had been part of the practice of
the Jewish people during the life of Christ and the Apostles. This Lectio Divina emulates the worship of the Temple in the time
of Christ.
______________________________________________________________
Lectio
Divina of the Prophet Daniel
TO DAILY PRAY THE PSALMS AND SCRIPTURE
___________________________________________
TO PRAY AS DID THE EARLY
CHURCH
“YOU
ARE MISTAKEN, NOT KNOWING THE
SCRIPTURES
NOR THE POWER OF GOD”
(Jesus
Christ reported in Matthew 22:29)
+++
THE
LECTIO DIVINA OF THE PROPHET
DANIEL
IS
A GIFT FROM THE ANCIENTS TO US TODAY
AND
OUR LEGACY TO A GENERATION NOT YET BORN
________________________________________________
Daniel 6:10
Now,
when Daniel knew this, that is to say, that the law was
made,
he
went into his house: and opening the windows in his upper
chamber
towards
Jerusalem, he knelt down three times a day, and adored and
gave
thanks before his God, as he had been accustomed to do
before.
The
Lectio Divina of the Prophet Daniel is designed to be
prayed
three
times a day. Three Chapters from
Scripture with the
attendant
Psalm is prayed in the morning, one at
mid-day
and three at evening time. The practice of reading and
praying
the Scriptures three times a day was a firmly established
practice
in the Jewish community before and during the life of
Christ.
To
this day, the Orthodox Jews continue to pray three
times
a day. This practice, evidenced by
the
Prophet
Daniel continues in the Celtic Orthodox Church today.
CHRIST
AND THE APOSTLES PRAYED THE
PSALMS
AND SCRIPTURE THREE TIMES A DAY
The
first coincided with the morning sacrifice, at the 3rd hour
of
the
morning, at 9 A.M. The second was
at the 6th
hour,
or at noon, and coincided with the thanksgiving for the
chief
meal of the day. The 3rd hour of
prayer coincided
with
the evening sacrifice, at the ninth hour (3:00 P.M.)
“Evening,
and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud, and
he
shall
hear my voice.” Psalm 54:18
“Now
when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into
his
house;
and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem,
he
kneeled
upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave
thanks
before
his God, as he had done before.”
DANIEL
PRAYED THE SCRIPTURES AND PSALMS THREE TIMES A DAY
“In
the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from
the
Scriptures,
according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the
prophet,
that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy
years.”
(Daniel
9:2)
THIS
OLD TESTAMENT PRACTICE WAS CARRIED
ON
BY THE APOSTLES AND THE EARLY CHURCH
Acts
3:1
Now
Peter and John went up into the temple at the ninth hour of
prayer.
Acts
10: 3
This
man saw in a vision manifestly, about the ninth hour of
the
day,
an angel of God coming in unto him and saying to him:
Cornelius.
Acts
10:9
And
on the next day, whilst they were going on their journey
and
drawing
nigh to the city, Peter went up to the higher parts of the
house
to pray, about the sixth hour.
Acts
10:30
And
Cornelius said: Four days ago, unto this hour, I was praying
in
my
house, at the ninth hour and behold a man stood before me
in
white
apparel and said:
THE
PRACTICE OF PRAYING AT THE
3RD
,
6TH , AND 9TH HOURS LIVES ON IN
THE
CHURCH AS THE LECTIO DIVINA
THAT
IS PRAYED THREE TIMES A DAY.
THREE
CHAPTERS IN THE MORNING,
ONE
CHAPTER IN THE AFTERNOON
AND
THREE CHAPTERS IN THE EVENING.
THE
DAILY STUDY AND PRAYER OF SCRIPTURE IS PART
OF
THE FAITH AS ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS
(Bishop
Brian J. Kennedy, O.S.B.)
“IGNORANCE
OF SCRIPTURE IS IGNORANCE OF JESUS CHRIST
(Saint
Jerome)
Soul
saving repentance is not possible apart from praying the
Scriptures,
as the Scriptures in a unique way convict us of sin.
Through
the
Scriptures, the Holy Spirit speaks to our heart, soul and mind
of
the
need for repentance and through the Word of God blesses us with
the
grace
of conversion leading to salvation in Christ.
Without
the Scriptures it is impossible to know Jesus or understand
the
power
of God.
The
Spirit in the words of Scriptures reverberates in the heart
creating
a
closer union with Christ and through Christ with the Father. This
“Synergy
with the Father in Christ” is the product of the Holy
Spirit
and
can only come to fruition through the abiding presence of the
Word
of
God.
Christ
continues to bring the love of the Father to His people
and
reveal
His own love for us from the Tabernacle on the Altar.
Christ
continues
to be our Savior, our Redeemer, our life, our sweetness
and
our
hope. From the Tabernacle on the Altar Christ ALONE remains the
gate
of
Heaven, the SOLE arbiter and dispenser of all God’s Graces and
gifts;
The
Mediator of all graces. We are healed by the Sacred Wounds
of
Christ,
we are redeemed by His Precious Blood and we are made clean
by
His
spoken word. It is impossible to be
sealed in the Blood of the Lamb
without
also experiencing the spoken Word of God by which we are
made
clean.
(John 15:3)
St.
Benedict calls the disciple to the school of the Gospel: “Let
us
walk
in the paths of the Lord by the guidance of the Gospel” (R Prol).
By
these words the Father of monks expresses his intention to
establish
a
life patterned after the Gospel. This is the only true foundation
on
which
a community rests. St. Benedict was well aware that his
work
represented
an embodiment of the Gospel.
St. Benedict called
praying
the
Scriptures the “OPUS DEI”, which is Latin for “WORK OF
GOD.”
THE
DAILY MASS AND THE DAILY PRAYER AND STUDY
OF
SCRIPTURE ARE THE TWIN PILLARS UPON WHICH
REST
OUR HOPE FOR SALVATION
(Bishop
Brian J. Kennedy, O.S.B.)
_____________________________
THE
CELTS ARE ISRAELITES UNDER ANOTHER NAME
The
word Celt is the Anglicized form of the Greek word Keltoi, which
means
“the people who are different.” In Scripture, all nations,
except
the
Twelve Tribes of Israel, are referred to as Gentiles
(Foreigners),
so
the only people who are different are Israel. The word Celt
is
therefore
another word for Israelite. The Celts are part of the Ten
“lost” Tribes of Israel; as are the Tuatha de Danaan and Milesians.
The
Irish
people are a mixture of Celts; Danaans; Milesians;
Judah/Zarahites
(of the “Red Hand” – Genesis 38:28-30); (Dan-ish) Vikings and Norsemen
and
are all racially cousins.
THE
CELTS, ACCORDING TO GOD, ARE ISRAELITES.
The
word British is not English; it is Hebrew.
Brit
(Berit) means Covenant in Hebrew and
Welsh
Ish
means man or people of, in Hebrew and English
Therefore
British means The People of The Covenant,
in
other words, the People Israel of The Covenant.
However,
the Celtish / Irish people are Israelites descended
from
Jacob/Israel’s
fifth of his twelve sons, who was called Dan and fathered
the
Tuatha de Danaan – the Tribe
of Dan (the Irish and Danish).
Therefore
the Irish people are Celtish / British-Israelites by
birth
i.e.
People of The Covenant in the Torah in the Bible and in The
Ark,
which
is buried at Tara.
___________________________________________________________
THE
NUMBERING OF THE PSALMS ARE ACCORDING TO
THE
DOUAY-CONFRATERNITY OLD TESTAMENT
Preface
The
Celtic Orthodox Lectio Divina opens with the “Songs of
Ascent. The
Songs
of Ascent appear in Hebrew and English on the wall at the
entrance
to
the City of David, Jerusalem, Israel.
Songs
of Ascent is a title given to text Psalm 119 – 133. Each psalm
starts
with the ascription Shir Hama’aloth (Hebrew: שירהמעלות, meaning
“Song
of Ascent”). They are also variously called Gradual Psalms,
Songs
of
Degrees, Songs of Steps or Pilgrim Songs.
The
worshippers sang these psalms as they ascended up the road
to
Jerusalem
to attend the three pilgrim festivals (Deuteronomy 16:16)
or
by
the kohanim (priests) as they ascended the fifteen
steps to minister
at
the Temple in Jerusalem.
Each
Psalm ends with a repetition of the first line of the Psalm followed immediately
by “Holy God, + Mighty God, + God Immortal + have mercy on me. One is holy + one
is the Lord, + Jesus Christ, to the glory of the Father.” (the + indicates you make the sign of the Cross)
After
praying the Psalms of Ascent as shown above,
Psalm
94 closes out the preface.
____________________________________________________________
THE
TERM LECTIO DIVINA MEANS DIVINE READING OR LESSON AND
REFERS TO THE
PRACTICE
OF DAILY PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES. THIS IS THE FORMAT USED BY
THE
PROPHET
DANIEL, CHRIST HIMSELF, THE APOSTLES AND THE EARLY CHURCH.
DANIEL
DIVIDED THIS UP INTO THREE MOMENTS OF PRAYER EACH DAY. YOU
DIVIDE
THIS UP INTO THREE CHAPTERS IN THE MORNING, ONE CHAPTER IN
THE
AFTERNOON
AND THREE CHAPTERS IN THE EVENING.
ESTABLISHED
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ERA, TERTULLIAN IN THE SECOND
CENTURY
CALLS THIS PRAYER FORMAT A GIFT FROM THE ANCIENTS.
__________________________________________________________________
THEN
FOLLOWS THE FIRST STANZA FROM PSALM 118 FOLLOWED BY ONE
CHAPTER
FROM
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. THE FIRST
STANZA IS REPEATED EACH DAY AS A
PREFACE
TO THE CURRENT READING FROM PROVERBS. THE CHAPTER OF
PROVERBS
FOR
THE DAY CORRESPONDS WITH THE DATE OF THE MONTH. (EX: ON THE 3RD
OF EACH MONTH YOU PRAY THE 3RD CHAPTER AND ON THE 28TH OF
EACH
MONTH
YOU PRAY THE 28TH CHAPTER ETC.) THE DATE OF THE MONTH
DETERMINES
THE
APPROPRIATE CHAPTER FROM PROVERBS.
THE
GOAL IS SEVEN CHAPTERS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT ONE DAY,
SEVEN
CHAPTERS
FROM THE EPISTLES THE NEXT DAY AND SEVEN CHAPTERS FROM THE
OLD
TESTAMENT
ON THE THIRD DAY. EACH CHAPTER FROM
THE SCRIPTURES IS
PREFACED
BY ONE STANZA FROM PSALM 118. EACH
STANZA OF PSALM 118 ENDS
WITH
“HOLY GOD, MIGHTY GOD, GOD IMMORTAL HAVE MERCY ON US” AND THEN
THE
READING. AFTER THE READING FOLLOWS ONE
PENITENTIAL PSALM.
THE
PENITENTIAL
PSALM IS READ IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE READING AND BEFORE THE
NEXT
STANZA FROM PSALM 118. THERE ARE
SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS AND YOU
WILL
HAVE PRAYED ONE OF THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS AFTER EACH ONE OF
THE
SEVEN
READINGS FROM SCRIPTURE.
***
(Note: The prayer said at the end of each
Psalm, Holy God, mighty God etc is prayed after you repeat the first
line of the Psalm, or part thereof.
The
various sections of Psalm 118 are treated as if they were a separate Psalm)
*PENITENTIAL
PSALMS*
http://www.celticorthodoxchurch.com/psalms.html
HISTORY
OF THE CELTIC ORTHODOX BENEDICTINE FATHERS
http://www.celticorthodoxchurch.com/two.html
_______________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
TO BIBLICAL ORTHODOXY
http://www.celticorthodoxchurch.com/intro.html
MEET
OUR MASCOT – MISS MAGGI
http://www.celticorthodoxchurch.com/maggi.jpg
MEET
OUR PASTOR – BISHOP BRIAN KENNEDY, O.S.B.
http://www.celticorthodoxchurch.com/bpkennedy.jpg
BABYLON
THE GREAT & THE CALIPH ANTI-CHRIST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY20IFaWlsQ&feature=youtu.be
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CELTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE IN TRADITIONAL
BIBLICAL ORTHODOXY
THE
PATH OF TRUE ORTHODOXY AS RECEIVED
FROM
JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE APOSTLES
DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE IS LICENSED
ADULTERY
AS
A SAME SEX MARRIAGE IS LICENSED SODOMY.
BY:
BISHOP +BRIAN J. KENNEDY, O.S.B.
“FOR
I HATE DIVORCE SAYS THE LORD
THE
GOD OF ISRAEL” (Malachi
2:16)
I
am well aware some of the Ethnic Orthodox groups and some churches in the
Orthodox and Catholic Tradition allow for remarriage if the marriage ends in
divorce due to adultery of one of the parties to the
marriage.
There
has been a propensity toward this error in the East almost from the beginning,
however we maintain the position of the Apostolic Church on this serious
issue.
Those
error who state divorce and remarriage are permitted on grounds of adultery and
immorality. Even the Orthodox Study
Bible clearly states in the comment on 1 Cor 7: 11,
that when divorce takes place the only two options for the individuals is to
remain single or reconcile. Sadly,
most supposed Orthodox Jurisdictions disregard this teaching and allow adultery
by allowing a
second or third marriage.
Again the Orthodox Study Bible commenting on Malachi 2:16 correctly
states God hates divorce. Sadly,
knowing this truth does not stop the Eastern “Orthodox” Church from allowing
adultery and calling it ‘blessed’ of God.
__________________________________________________________
The
note in the Orthodox Study Bible for Proverbs 22 is a quote from St. Vincent
Lerins,
"I
cannot sufficiently wonder at the madness of certain men,
at
the impiety of their blinded understanding,
at
their lust of error,
such
that, not content with the rule of faith delivers once for all,
and
received from the times of old,
they
are every day seeking one novelty after another,
and are
constantly longing to add, change, and take away, in
religion."
Those
who remove the “ancient landmark” mentioned in Proverbs 22 by allowing for
divorce and remarriage have abandoned the faith as once delivered to the
Saints. These errant churchmen do
battle against the Scriptures, the teaching of the ancient Fathers of the church
mentioned below and have made themselves traitors to Holy Orthodoxy.
____________________________________________________________
The
word for *immorality* (used in Mt. 5:32 and 19:9), PORNEIA, does not mean adultery. If Jesus wanted to say that there is an
exception for adultery He would have used the word adultery (MOCHEUO). Instead, He used the word PORNEIA which has various meanings in various circumstances
but never the word adultery. Most generally the term is used to denote a
marriage which is invalid because of the close blood ties of the two attempting
the marriage; incest.
Evidence
of this is given at the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15. This deals with a decision of the
Council not to make the ceremonial laws binding for Gentile converts except for
four requirements. One of these requirements is 'impurity'(porneia). To understand the meaning in Acts 15 we should
draw upon the context provided by Leviticus 17 and 18 which condemn incestuous
unions. Porneia in Acts 15 is used specifically to forbid incestuous
marriages.
In
1 Cor. 5:1 Paul in talking about the immorality going on between a son and his
mother, used the word porneia. This is what the Apostles
understood. That is the only
grounds for a break up of a marriage. It was never a valid marriage in the first
place.
The
Early Church Fathers taught that a legitimate marriage lasted to death. And if
separation became necessary a person was to remain single as long as the former
spouse was alive.
Hermas
What
then shall the husband do, if the wife continue in this disposition [adultery]?
Let him divorce her, and let the husband remain single. But if he divorces his
wife and marries another, he too commits adultery (Shepherd 4:1:6 [A.D.
80]).
Justin
Martyr
In
regard to chastity, [Jesus] has this to say: If anyone look with lust at a
woman, he has already before God committed adultery in his heart. "And, whoever
marries a woman who has been divorced from another husband, commits adultery."
According to our Teacher, just as they are sinners who contract a second
marriage, even though it be in accord with human law, so also are they sinners
who look with lustful desire at a woman. He repudiates not only one who actually
commits adultery, but even one who wishes to do so; for not only our actions are
manifest to God, but even our thoughts (First Apology 15 [A.D.
151]).
Clement
of Alexandria
That
Scripture counsels marriage, however, and never allows any release from the
union is expressly contained in the law: "You shall not divorce a wife, except
for reason of immorality." And it regards as adultery the marriage of a spouse,
while the one from whom a separation was made is still alive. "Whoever takes a
divorced woman as wife commits adultery," it says: "for if anyone divorces his
wife, he debauches her"; that is, he compels her to commit adultery. And not
only does he that divorces her become the cause of this, but also he that takes
the woman and gives her the opportunity of sinning; for if he did not take her,
she would return to her husband (Miscellanies 2:23:145:3 [A.D.
208]).
Origen
Just
as a woman is an adulteress, even though she seems to be married to a man, while
a former husband yet lives, so also the man who seems to marry her [and] who has
been divorced does not marry her, but, according to the declaration of our
Savior, he commits adultery with her (Commentaries on Matthew 14:24 [A.D.
248]).
Council
of Elvira
Likewise,
a woman of the faith [i.e., a baptized person] who has left an adulterous
husband of the faith and marries another, her marrying in this manner is
prohibited. If she has so married, she may not at any more receive communion -
unless he that she has left has since departed from this world (canon 9 [A.D.
324]).
If
she whom a catechumen [an unbaptized person studying the faith] has left shall
have married a husband, she is able to be admitted to the fountain of baptism.
This shall also be observed in the instance where it is the woman who is the
catechumen. But if a woman of the faithful is taken in marriage by a man who
left an innocent wife, and if she knew that he had a wife whom he had left
without cause, it is determined that Communion is not to be given to her even at
death (canon 10).
Ambrose
of Milan
No
one is permitted to know a woman other than his wife. The marital right is given
you for this reason: lest you fall into the snare and sin with a strange woman.
"If you are bound to a wife, do not seek a divorce"; for you are not permitted,
while your wife lives, to marry another (Abraham 1:7:59 [A.D.
387]).
Jerome
You
dismiss your wife, therefore, as if by right and without being charged with
wrong doing and you suppose it is proper for you to do so because no human law
forbids it; but divine law forbids it. Anyone who obeys men ought to stand in
awe of God. Hear the law of the Lord, which even they who propose our laws must
obey: "What God has joined together let no man put asunder" (Commentary on Luke
8:5 [A.D. 396]).
Jerome
Wherever
there is fornication and a suspicion of fornication a wife is freely dismissed.
Because it is always possible that someone may calumniate the innocent and, for
the sake of a second joining in marriage, act in criminal fashion against the
first, it is commanded that when the first wife is dismissed a second may not be
taken while the first lives (Commentaries on Matthew 3:19:9 [A.D.
398]).
Pope
Innocent I
[T]he
practice is observed by all of regarding as an adulteress a woman who marries a
second time while her husband yet lives, and permission to do penance is not
granted her until one of them is dead (Letters 2:13:15 [A.D.
408]).
Augustine
Neither
can it rightly be held that a husband who dismisses his wife because of
fornication and marries another does not commit adultery. For there is also
adultery on the part of those who, after the repudiation of their former wives
because of fornication, marry others. This adultery, nevertheless, is certainly
less serious than that of men who dismiss their wives for reasons other than
fornication and take other wives. Therefore, when we say; "Whoever marries a
woman dismissed by her husband for reason other than fornication commits
adultery," undoubtedly we speak the truth. But we do not thereby acquit of this
crime the man who marries a woman who was dismissed because of fornication. We
do not doubt in the least that both are adulterers. We do indeed pronounce him
an adulterer who dismissed his wife for cause other than fornication and marries
another, nor do we thereby defend from the taint of this sin the man who
dismissed his wife because of fornication and marries another. We recognize that
both are adulterers, though the sin of one is graver than that of the other. No
one is so unreasonable to say that a man who marries a woman whose husband has
dismissed her because of fornication is not an adulterer, while maintaining that
a man who marries a woman dismissed without the ground of fornication is an
adulterer. Both of these men are guilty of adultery (Adulterous Marriages 1:9:9
[A.D. 419]).
Now
that the Scripture counsels marriage, and allows no release from the union, is
expressly contained in the law, 'Thou shalt not put away thy wife, except for
the cause of fornication;' and it regards as fornication, the marriage of those
separated while the other is alive. Not to deck and adorn herself beyond what is
becoming, renders a wife free of calumnious suspicion while she devotes herself
assiduously to prayers and supplications; avoiding frequent departures from the
house, and shutting herself up as far as possible from the view of all not
related to her, and deeming housekeeping of more consequence than impertinent
trifling. 'He that taketh a woman that has been put away,' it is said, 'committeth adultery; and if one puts away his wife, he makes
her an adulteress,' that is, compels her to commit adultery. And not only is he
who puts her away guilty of this, but he who takes her, by giving to the woman
the opportunity of sinning; for did he not take her,
she would return to her husband." Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, 2:24 (A.D.
202).
"Then,
describing what ought to be in the case of those who are joined together by God,
so that they may be joined together in a manner worthy of God, the Saviour adds, 'So that they are no more twain;' and,
wherever there is indeed concord, and unison, and harmony, between husband and
wife, when he is as ruler and she is obedient to the word, 'He shall rule over
thee,' then of such persons we may truly say, 'They
are no more twain.' Then since it was necessary that for 'him who was joined to
the Lord,' it should be reserved 'that he should become one spirit with Him,' in
the case of those who are joined together by God, after the words, 'So that they
are no more twain,' it is said, 'but one flesh.' And it is God who has joined
together the two in one so that they are no more twain, from the time that the
woman is married to the man. And, since God has joined them together, on this
account in the case of those who are joined together by God, there is a 'gift';
and Paul knowing this, that marriage according to the Word of God was a 'gift,'
like as holy celibacy was a gift, says, 'But I would that all men were like
myself; howbeit, each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and
another after that.' And those who are joined together by God both mind and keep
the precept, 'Husbands love your wives, as Christ also the church.' The Saviour then commanded, 'What God hath joined together, let
not man put asunder,' but man wishes to put asunder what God hath joined
together, when, "falling away from the sound faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies,
branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron, forbidding," not only to
commit fornication, but 'to marry,' he dissolves even those who had been before
joined together by the providence of God. Let these things then be said, keeping
in view what is expressly said concerning the male and the female, and the man
and the woman, as the Saviour taught in the answer to
the Pharisees." Origen, Commentary on Matthew, 14:16(
post A.D. 244).
"'What
therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.' See a teacher's
wisdom. I mean, that being asked, Is it lawful? He did not at once say, It is
not lawful, lest they should be disturbed and put in disorder, but before the
decision by His argument He rendered this manifest, showing that it is itself
too the commandment of His Father, and that not in opposition to Moses did He
enjoin these things, but in full agreement with him. But mark Him arguing
strongly not from the creation only, but also from His command. For He said not,
that He made one man and one woman only, but that He also gave this command that
the one man should be joined to the one woman. But if it had been His will that
he should put this one away, and bring in another, when He had made one man, He
would have formed many Women. But now both by the manner of the creation, and by
the manner of lawgiving, He showed that one man must dwell with one woman
continually, and never break off from her." John Chrysostom, On Matthew 62:1
(A.D. 370).
"There
is hardly anything more deadly than being married to one who is a stranger to
the faith ,where the passions of lust and dissension
and the evils of sacrilege are inflamed. Since the marriage ceremony ought to be
sanctified by the priestly veiling and blessing, how can that be called a
marriage ceremony where there is no agreement in faith?" Ambrose, To Vigilius, Letter 19:7 (A.D. 385).
Jesus
revealed that Moses allowed divorce in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 as a temporary
provision because of the "hardness of their hearts" (Matthew 19:7-9). But Jesus
restored God's original plan of indissoluble marriage (Matthew 19:3-9);
therefore, Traditional Orthodoxy continues to teach that a valid marriage
between a baptized man and baptized woman cannot be dissolved for any reason
except death. It can't be ended by a civil divorce.
Matthew
19:4-6, 9 - "the two shall become one flesh ... what God has joined together, no
human being must separate" ... to divorce a wife and to remarry is
adultery
Mark
10:9 - "what God has joined together, no human being must
separate"
Mark
10:11-12 - if either man or woman divorces and remarries they commit
adultery
1
Corinthians 7:10-11 - a wife must not be separated from her husband or if she
has already left him, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her
husband and a husband must not divorce his wife.
Matthew
5:31-32 - (Divorce causes adultery; those who marry divorce women commit
adultery)
Mark
10:11-12 - "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits
adultery"
Luke
16:18 - Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of
adultery, and the man who marries a woman divorced by her husband commits
adultery.
Romans
7:2-3 - A married woman, for instance, is bound to her husband by law, as long
as he lives, but when her husband dies all her legal obligation to him as
husband is ended. So if she were to have relations with another man while her
husband was still alive, she would be termed an adulteress; but if her husband
dies, her legal obligation comes to an end and if she then has relations with
another man, that does not make her an adulteress
THE
FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER
BIBLICAL
ORTHODOX TEACHING ON CONTRACEPTION
http://www.celticorthodoxchurch.com/contraception.html
WE
SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED THAT NEO ORTHODOXY
ALLOWS
FOR MULTIPLE MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES
FOR
“PASTORAL REASONS”. NEO ORTHODOXY
WAS
BORN
IN HERESY AND HAS REMAINED IN HERESY
FROM
THE BEGINNING. I ASK, IF IT IS
PERMITTED TO
VIOLATE
SCRIPTURE FOR “PASTORAL REASONS”
IN
THE MATTER OF DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE, WHY NOT
ALLOW
HOMOSEXUALITY AND SODOMY FOR
THE
SAME “PASTORAL REASONS”?
SEE:
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