12 May 2016

MILITIA CHRISTI: An Ancient Irish Holy Order

THE ORDER OF
MILITIA CHRISTI


   “We know for certain that Columba left successors
distinguished for their purity of life, their love of God,
and their loyalty to the rules of the ordered life.”
                                   
Venerable Saint Bede


   The Order of MILITIA CHRISTI (MC) is founded on the Rule of the sixth century Irish Christian Saint Columba, for the practice and preservation of the ancient, undivided Western Church as expressed in the British Islands.  It is Anglican (of the English, and others of the British Isles), Orthodox (of the right path and worship), and Catholic (of the universal Christian faith in entirety).  The MC is for all practicing clergy and laity, secular and monastic, men and women.




Out of love, with love's faith and hope,
comes peace, social justice, and creation protection.
The greatest is love.

Militia Christi




THE ORDER OF
MILITIA CHRISTI


The Right Reverend
minister-general and general-protector



The Reverend
father-abbot



The Reverend
secretary-general



The Reverend
canon-of-the-order



The Reverend
advisor-to-the-order




THE LIFE OF
Saint Columba

   “The holy Columba was born of noble parents (7 December A.D. 521), having as his father Fedelmith, Fergus’ son, and his mother, Ethne by name, whose father may be called in Latin “son of a ship,” and in the Irish tongue Mac-naue.  In the second year after the battle of Cul-drebene, the forty-second year of his age, Columba sailed away from Ireland to Britain, wishing to be a pilgrim for Christ.         

   Devoted even from boyhood to the Christian noviciate and the study of philosophy, preserving by God’s favour integrity of body and purity of soul, he showed himself, though placed on earth, ready for the life of heaven; for he was angelic in aspect, refined in speech, holy in work, excellent in ability, great in counsel.  Living as an island soldier for thirty-four years, he could not pass even the space of a single hour without applying himself to prayer, or to reading, or to writing or some kind or work.  Also by day and by night, without any intermission, he was so occupied with unwearying labours of fasts and vigils that the burden or each several work seemed beyond the strength of man.  And with all this he was loving to everyone, his holy face ever showed gladness, and he was happy in his inmost heart with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”

St. Adomnan,
from his biography of Columba





REGULA:  THE RULE OF
Saint Columba

   The Ireland of the sixth century that Saint Columba grew to manhood in was one of the great monastic centers of Western Christendom.  The Church, as well as commerce and trade, education, medicine, and just about any other cultural or social institution, was supported on the foundation of the monastery system.  The Irish monks took their great learning out to the world as missionaries, usually in groups of twelve. 

   The great monastic movement in Ireland fell quickly on the heals of the great work of Saint Patrick and his brothers and sisters in Christ.  The great monastic system that existed in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England during the middle ages was mature centuries before Saint Benedict or Saint Francis wrote their respective rules.  The Venerable Saint Bede found the work of Saint Columba and his monks to be quite worthy of note in his great history.

   The Rule (REGULA) of Saint Columba was not written down by the hand of the saint.  It was written by his followers after his death.  There are two extant regula documents.  It is certainly in the spirit and teaching of Saint Columba.  This REGULA is still a valid guide for following a path to Christ.  For no one gets to God the Father and the Heaven except through God the Son, with the guidance and comfort of God the Holy Ghost.   It reflects the spirit of the Church in the islands.


SOURCE:  “Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents Relating to Great Britain and Ireland II,” by A.W.Haddan and W.Stubbs,
i (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1873) pp.119-121.  




I
“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:  this is the first commandment.”  Saint Mark 12:29-30


II
“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these.”  Saint Mark 12:31

III
Abide in the Testament of God
Throughout all times.

IV
Be alone in a separate place near a chief city,
if thy conscience is not prepared to be
in common with the crowd.


V
Be always naked in imitation
of Christ and the Evangelists.


VI
Let a fast place, with one door,
enclose thee.


VII
A few religious men to converse with thee
of God and his Testament;
to visit thee on days of solemnity;
to strengthen thee in the Testaments of God,
and the narratives of the Scriptures.


VIII
Let thy servant be a discreet, religious,
not tale-telling man,
who is to attend continually on thee,
with moderate labour of course,
but always ready.

IX
Yield submission to every rule
that is of devotion.


X
A mind prepared for red martyrdom,
that is death for the faith.


XI
A mind fortified and steadfast for white martyrdom,
that is ascetic practice.  Forgiveness from the heart of every one.


XII
Constant prayers for those who trouble thee.


XIII
Fervour in singing the office for the dead,
as if every faithful dead was a
particular friend of thine.


XIV
Hymns for souls to be sung standing.



XV
Let thy vigils be constant from eve to eve,
under the direction of another person.



XVI
Three labours in the day:
Prayers, Work, and Reading.



XVII
The work to be divided into three parts:
Thine own work, and the work of thy place,
as regards its real wants; secondly, thy share of the brethren’s work; lastly to help the neighbours by instruction or writing, or sewing garments, or whatever labour they may be in want of.

As the Lord says,
“You shall not appear before me empty.”


XVIII
Everything in its proper order.
For no one is crowned except
he who has striven lawfully.


XIX
Take not of food till thou art hungry.


XX
Sleep not till thou feelest desire.


XXI
Speak not except on business.


XXII
A person too who would talk with thee in idle words,
or of the world; or who murmurs at what he cannot
remedy or prevent, but who would distress thee more
should he be a tattler between friends and foes,
thou shalt not admit him to thee,
but at once give him thy benediction should he deserve it.


XXIII
Every increase which comes to thee in lawful meals,
or in wearing apparel, give it for pity to
the brethren that want it, or to the poor in like manner.



XXIV
Whatsoever little or much thou possesses of anything,
whether clothing, or food, or drink, let it be at the
command of the senior and at his disposal,
for it is not befitting a religious to have any
distinction of property with his own free brother.


XXV
Thy measure of prayer shall be until thy tears come;


XXVI
Or thy measure of work of labour till thy tears come;


XXVII
Or thy measure of thy genuflexions, until thy perspiration
often comes, if thy tears are not free.

THE PROFESSION


   Within the Order of MILITIA CHRISTI (MC) there is only one order level, though several roles.  For all who wish to profess the faith and practice the Christian tradition of the undivided Church, as expressed in the Western tradition and reason of the British Isles, whether laity or clergy, secular or monastic, man or woman, a commitment to the REGULA and the Anglican Rule of Life must be made.  Here follows the base requirements for making the Profession to the MC:

+ Must be at least 18 years of age

+ Must be Baptized and Confirmed, practicing the faith in good standing, within a traditional Anglican parish

+ Must believe that all things necessary for salvation can be found within the Bible, that the Holy Tradition of the seven ecumenical councils and creeds are valid, and that the reason of the faith as practiced in the British Isles and other regions of Western Christianity are good and valid, all of which should be practiced and preserved

+ Must serve a six month Postulancy and a two year Noviciate to show a commitment to keeping the way of the MC, at which time they will take the Vow of Profession to enter in full standing as a Brother or Sister




VOW OF PROFESSION


   To enter the MC in fullest standing as a Brother or Sister all Novices must make a Vow of Profession by which they formally commit themselves to live according to the spirit of Saint Columba and in the manner prescribed by the Anglican Rule of Life and the REGULA.

   In making the Vow of Profession the brother or sister will first recite the Collect of Saint Columba.  They will then make their profession in the following form:

“In the honour of almighty God, (+) Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
and of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Apostles, the Saints, most especially Saint Columba, I (nn)_________________________________,
willingly place myself under the authority of the Order of MILITIA CHRISTI, and promise to live according to the Anglican Rule of Life and the REGULA.”

   On 9 June of each year, the feast of Saint Columba, each Brother or Sister will renew their Vow of Profession. 




“Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, eternal ever blessed gracious God; to me the least of saints, to me allow that I may keep a door in paradise.  That I may keep even the smallest door, the furthest, the darkest, coldest door, the door that is least used, the stiffest door.  If so it be but in thine house, O God, if so be that I can see thy glory even afar, and hear thy voice O God, and know that I am with thee, thee O God.”
                                   
Saint Columba




THE COLLECT OF
Saint Columba



O God, who by the preaching of thy blessed servant Columba didst cause the light of the Holy Gospel to shine in Ireland and Scotland:  Grant, we beseech thee, that, having his life and labours in remembrance, we may show forth our thankfulness to thee by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Memorial:  9 June (A.D. 597)





SAINT COLUMBA AND HOLY IONA

   Saint Columba (7 December A.D. 521 - 9 June A.D. 597) was descended on his father’s side (Fedhlimidh) from King Niall Noigallah of Ireland, and in his maternal line (Eithne) from King Cathair Mar of Leinster.  Born Crimthann (“of the red hair”) O’Donnell (of the clan Ui Neill) at Gartan, Donegal, he was in line to be King of Eriu, but followed not his royal legacy to become a monk.  He was called Columcille (Dove of the Church) (latinized to Columba).

   Columba studied under Cruithenechan, the priest who had baptized him, and under the bard, Master Gemman.  He attended the Ecclesiastical School at Moville, County Down. It was there that he became a deacon.  He then joined Saint Finnian, the most holy of Ireland’s monastic tutors and abbots.  He was ordained a priest in A.D. 551.  He founded monasteries at Derry, Durrow, and Kells.  Columba’s mission work would begin, from A.D. 563, in the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland. It was there he was exiled after a dispute over a book lead to a battle and defeat of a local Irish King.  In his early forties Columba and twelve of his fellow monks sailed in a simple boat from Derry, and landed in the Bay of Coracle on Iona.  It was on that tiny island that Columba and his fellow monks founded the famed mission monastery.  He and the monks in his charge were called Militia Christi (Soldiers of Christ).  It was from Holy Iona that Saint Columba and his fellow monks would convert Scotland’s Picts to Christianity, and send missionaries to many lands.




In Christ's love, Fr. Robert Pax