PRIESTS MANUAL TO TEACHING ACOLYTES

[Balthasar 2070]

 

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQitKj14y7M

 

PEACE AND BLESSINGS

PRIESTS MANUAL TO TEACHING ACOLYTES

12th of Sigismund’s End, 1870 | 10th of Jula and Piov 423 E.S.

 

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By dictation of His Eminence, Cardinal Adrian de Sarkozy

Scribed by Brothers Jan Pieter Schanserd & Hugo Neri

 

PREFACE

Having been raised to the role of Prelate of the Clergy in the year of our Lord 1866, I have noted a lack of documents meant to properly train our new acolytes.

 

As Prelate, I wish to leave something useful for the Holy Mother Church. This document shall serve as the official curriculum for teacher-priests. It is disappointing that the majority of acolytes are left to learn on their own and I believe a major part is due to the teacher not knowing what to do with their acolyte.

 

This document is expected to receive additional volumes as time passes and the kinks may be ironed out. It is my hope that the rest of my brothers will find my work useful and that in the future my successor continue the work of teaching.

 

 

MINOR & GREATER ORDERS

The first step for every man and woman in the Church is as an acolyte. Acolytes mainly assist the celebrant in the ceremonial duties, such as reciting a prayer in common, lighting candles, handing over sacramental objects etc. But most importantly, the acolyte is there to learn. Before even receiving the first minor order, they have most likely already decided their path. 

 

These paths involve becoming a; monk, nun or priest, (acolytes are called postulant or novitiate for monastics). All acolytes are tonsured, where a few tufts of hair are cut in the sight of a cross or a small shaved spot on the back head, the size of a coin. Monastic tonsure is when the entire head is shaven and a ring of hair is kept.

 

The second minor order is granted to those of mature age, but have discerned not to have a calling for the priesthood and on their own will be ordained subdeacons for their commitment, investment and virtue as an award for their service, provided that they are married already, unmarried or do not intend to marry.

 

The uniforms of both minor orders are normally that of a black robe, symbolizing the suppression of their will, desires and tastes; it is their show of obedience to God and the Church.

 

The Greater order is that of full deacon, priest and bishop. Deacons are those most commonly making the transition from acolyte to priest, however, permanent deacons are possible. They enjoy the authority to perform funerary rites, baptism and give blessings. Otherwise, the deacon assists the priest as their concelebrant, often receiving extra work from their diocesan bishop, such as cleaning, and performing charity. Deacons are styled as “Deacon” not “Father” as priests are.

 

Priests have completed their theological studies and their deaconship, they have been deemed fit for clerical duties. Ordained priests have the authority to celebrate all sacraments and services except for ordination, which is reserved for their superior.

 

The final greater order is that of bishop. Bishops are consecrated, where at least three bishops come together to raise the priest to bishop. It can be either a private or public ceremony. The ceremony consists of much prayer and the taking of oaths. It is not much different from the priestly ordination it, however, entrusts more duties and authority to the bishop.

 

 

 

HIERARCHY

 

The Church hierarchy from first glance might seem a little complicated, but it is fairly simple. The two side ‘orders’ which are the Order of St. Nicholas and the monastics are placed roughly equivalent to their mainline church counterparts. They can’t truly be compared equally, for all their duties are different and unique. A priest's job is different from the monk and the knight. Despite this, a rough chart, which simplifies the hierarchy, has been made. As mentioned before it placed the side roles in roughly equal authority and respect.

 

Diocesan bishops may appoint a vicar, which one might consider the voice of the bishop, should they be absent.

 

 

CONDUCTING ONESELF

Many inducted into the priesthood have been educated for many years and are well versed academically. Yet as representatives of the Church all ecclesiastical members of the Church must behave themselves properly. Men and women of faith should strive to live by the Seven Virtues, you must display; faith, charity, temperance, diligence, patience, fidelity and humility.

 

While the Church does not dictate what company you keep and where you spend your free time, it does however remind you that your actions have consequences and as representatives, your actions reflect upon the Church, be they good or bad, usually the bad reflects more than the good. 

 

When approaching a controversial situation or event, the Church highly recommends taking a more neutral stance and sticking to the Church teachings and doctrines. It is important that you remain impartial, you must consider both sides equally before committing to one. As a priest, you must be capable of coming to the best solution for both parties when possible.

 

HOLY SCROLLS

The most important knowledge and weapon for a priest are the four Holy Scrolls, each Scroll given by God to His chosen prophets; the Exalted. They are Horen, Owyn, Godfrey, and Sigismund. They were given in the same order. For anyone to advance within the Church, reading the Scrolls is a must. Priests must be able to defend their faith with words and know what to cite and where it can be found. When faced with an atheist or heretic you, the priest, must be able to prove their beliefs wrong and yours right. In the same way we see their misguided beliefs as strange, they may often see us in the same light.

 

It is recommended to read the Scrolls once the information contained within becomes dim, leaving you the priest defenceless! Once a month, once a year or every day. It matters not, as long as your wits are kept sharp.

 

The Holy Scrolls, as previously mentioned, are four in number and make up the laws, teachings and history of Canonism. Allow me to cite High Pontiff James II as his explanation is well written and brief;

 

• Exalted Horen received the Scroll of Virtue at the dawn of time. It contains seven canticles enumerating virtuous living, with seven commandments, sometimes called the Septalogue.

 

• Exalted Owyn received the Scroll of Spirit during his time as seneschal to King Harren. It contains seven epistles, addressed respectively to the Harrenites, the Godwinites, the Jorenites, the Elves, the Dwarves, the Orcs, and the Magi. Each epistle addresses one of the facets of GOD’s divine nature by admonishing the intended recipient.

 

• Exalted Godfrey received the Scroll of Gospel in a dialog with GOD. It contains seven books, each describing a chapter in mankind’s history, with the last predicting the arrival of the final Exalted.

 

• Exalted Sigismund received the Scroll of Auspice while gazing into the face of GOD. It records three visions, describing the beginning, middle, and end of the final days of the world.

 

Many recommend that newly inducted Canonists begin with reading the Scroll of Gospel, which contains ancient Human history. Alternatively one may begin with reading the Gospel and then begin reading the other scrolls as they are mentioned. There is however no consequence to reading them from top to bottom.

 

 

SACRAMENTS

Sacraments are ceremonies or rituals that are highly regarded in the Church. It imparts a spiritual mark upon whatever or whomever they are performed upon. Each sacrament is important. Baptism inducts a person into the Church as a believer, penance offers mercy to a sinner and ordination raises a man to a clergyman, etc.

 

Sacraments were divinely instituted by God through His servants; Tesion baptized Horen, Owyn ordained Evaristus and Clement etc. It is through sacraments we join his Church and are allowed by God to join him in the Seven Skies and share in eternal life.

 

These five sacraments are the most common;

 

• Rite of Ablution; This sacrament exists in two, one for baptism and one for confession - The first is administered to a penitent, inducting them into the faithful and saving them from eternal. It may be used on babies, teens and adults. While the actions and words vary from priest and rite, it is most common to pour holy water upon the head with a silver horn, like Tesion to Horen in the Grotto of Gamesh. Baptising and absolving them of sin - The Second is confession which is only to be administered to a penitent after confession and the terms of penance are delivered. Once done, the sins of the penitent are absolved by God, the priest acting as the intermediary.

 

• Rite of Consecration; Once more this sacrament exists in two. One for the consecration of sacred places and the other for the blessings of holy water - The blessings of water are fairly simple. One petitions God to purify the waters, so the faithful may cleanse themselves. Often a silver horn or a holy icon are used in this ritual. The silver horn plays an important role in these types of rites - When performing a consecration of a place, one harkens back to the time of Exalted Horen, when those without Virtue found themselves unable to enter Exalted Horen and Saint Julia’s tabernacle. The rite should elaborate on how the Church and its temples are a haven for the faithful against the iniquitous. The rite specifically makes a place an official place of worship for the faithful. 

 

• Rite of Matrimony; Said to be the holiest of sacraments because God himself has instituted the sacrament when he gave unto Ex. Horen St. Julia. While relationships grow and wane over time, the act of Holy Union binds the two together forever. The husband and wife swear in front of everyone and God to remain faithful to each other and God.

 

• Rite of Ordination; Performed upon acolytes by at least a bishop, and witnessed by another clergyman. It raises the acolyte to priest and empowers them to celebrate all sacraments, excluding that of ordination. It inducts the acolyte into the ancient Priesthood of Owyn, imitating how Owyn ordained Evaristus and Clement.

 

 

There are two other services; funeral and mass, which have not been named above. At funerals, we come together to remember the deceased and to cherish the memories they’ve imparted to us and to see the deceased properly laid to rest beneath the ground. The second is mass which is where a priest will read from the scrolls and give a sermon. How they are celebrated varies wildly from both priest and rite. Some may be long and ceremonial yet others might be short and to the point. Whatever the case, the point of mass is to teach your parish.

 

There exist other rites with different services, but those mentioned above are the most common ones and the most common methods of celebrating them. They may also over time become out of date and be replaced by newer variants.

 

 

VENERABLE, BLESSED AND SAINTS

Certain individuals are elevated to a higher position in the Seven Skies for their service to the Church and GOD, and the miracles they perform. Venerable individuals are those who assuredly attained a place somewhere in the Seven Skies. A blessed person has been deceased for at least five years and attained a place in at least the Fourth Sky, they have lived a virtuous life. A sainted individual has performed at least two confirmed miracles and lived an exceptionally virtuous life and attained a place in the Fifth Sky.

 

These individuals are automatically received in the proper Sky, the Church does not dictate who belongs in which Sky. When the Church declares a deceased venerable, blessed or sainted through proper investigation they have merely revealed themselves to us from the Seven Skies and thus been declared legitimate in the eyes of Canonism.

 

Faithful do not worship these hallowed dead. We may pray to them and have them intercede on our behalf. We may pray for them for help, to help others or to pray for God’s assistance. They are verified to have performed miracles, who says they will not do so again?

 

 

 

CANON LAW

Since time immemorial, rules have existed. God laid out his rules plainly for Iblees to see and the Deceiver broke those rules and when he was offered repentance, and it was denied, Iblees was cast into the Void as punishment. In this fashion, the Church has laid out its laws and in similar imitations, the Mother Church offers repentance and punishments through the Tribunal.

 

The laws of the Mother Church are eight books with several chapters and titles each. The laws range from the mundane to the advanced. The laws of the Church are often overlooked, but they are important as they bring morality and order to the world.

 

These laws are laid out with the blessing of venerable centuries. Through the devoted efforts of the High Priests and High Pontiffs, the priesthood, and the laymen, this reliquary has grown, documenting our triumphs and our defeats, and providing the wisdom of ages to its inheritors.

 

All clergymen of the Mother Church are bound by law, same as any other baptized into the Church. Not only this but they are bound in duty to teach all Canonist folk of the Canon Laws and their importance. Thus, it is incredibly important that not only Priests but also Sisters and Brothers of the Church monastic know every rule that dictates the Canon Law.

 

The Canon Law is written and set out in the combined efforts of the High Pontiff and the Auditor of the Tribunal, wherein they receive aid from the respective Inquisitorial and Adversarial Judges of the Tribunal itself. The Tribunal stands by the motto of Dura Lex Sed Lex; the Law is harsh, but it is the Law. The Tribunal represents the very scales of balance of the Holy Mother Church, and enact words and actions of justice throughout all the realms encompassing their pious judgement. 

 

The Canon Laws can be found most commonly in their book form, as the Codex Iurius Canonici Danielus Pontifex, Second Edition.

 

 

 

 

Sources:

The Holy Scrolls,

Codex of Ecclesiastical Laws of The Church of The Canon,

A Priests Service Book,

The Catechism of the Canonist Church,

Dogma and Principles of the Canonist Church,

 

Spoiler

Took a hot minute to write, but I had fun with it, believe it or not. Forums kinda ruined the original formatting. I swear it looks better in google docs

 

[KaiserJacobII 1048]

"Based," utters Venerable Cardinal Francis Albarosa from his place in the Skies.