OATH AGAINST MODERNISM

I . . . . firmly embrace and accept each and every definition that has been set forth and declared by the unerring teaching authority of the Church, especially those principal truths which are directly opposed to the errors of this day. And first of all, I profess that God, the origin and end of all things, can be known with certainty by the natural light of reason from the created world (see Rom. 1:90), that is, from the visible works of creation, as a cause from its effects, and that, therefore, his existence can also be demonstrated: Secondly, I accept and acknowledge the external proofs of revelation, that is, divine acts and especially miracles and prophecies as the surest signs of the divine origin of the Christian religion and I hold that these same proofs are well adapted to the understanding of all eras and all men, even of this time. Thirdly, I believe with equally firm faith that the Church, the guardian and teacher of the revealed word, was personally instituted by the real and historical Christ when he lived among us, and that the Church was built upon Peter, the prince of the apostolic hierarchy, and his successors for the duration of time. Fourthly, I sincerely hold that the doctrine of faith was handed down to us from the apostles through the orthodox Fathers in exactly the same meaning and always in the same purport. Therefore, I entirely reject the heretical' misrepresentation that dogmas evolve and change from one meaning to another different from the one which the Church held previously. I also condemn every error according to which, in place of the divine deposit which has been given to the spouse of Christ to be carefully guarded by her, there is put a philosophical figment or product of a human conscience that has gradually been developed by human effort and will continue to develop indefinitely. Fifthly, I hold with certainty and sincerely confess that faith is not a blind sentiment of religion welling up from the depths of the subconscious under the impulse of the heart and the motion of a will trained to morality; but faith is a genuine assent of the intellect to truth received by hearing from an external source. By this assent, because of the authority of the supremely truthful God, we believe to be true that which has been revealed and attested to by a personal God, our creator and lord.

Finally, I declare that I am completely opposed to the error of the modernists who hold that there is nothing divine in sacred tradition; or what is far worse, say that there is, but in a pantheistic sense, with the result that there would remain nothing but this plain simple fact-one to be put on a par with the ordinary facts of history-the fact, namely, that a group of men by their own labor, skill, and talent have continued through subsequent ages a school begun by Christ and his apostles. I firmly hold, then, and shall hold to my dying breath the belief of the Fathers in the charism of truth, which certainly is, was, and always will be in the succession of the episcopacy from the apostles. The purpose of this is, then, not that dogma may be tailored according to what seems better and more suited to the culture of each age; rather, that the absolute and immutable truth preached by the apostles from the beginning may never be believed to be different, may never be understood in any other way.

I promise that I shall keep all these articles faithfully, entirely, and sincerely, and guard them inviolate, in no way deviating from them in teaching or in any way in word or in writing. Thus I promise, this I swear, so help me God, and these His Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand.

BISHOP'S OATH OF FIDELITY

I,  N.___________, elected to the Church of N.____________, from this hour henceforth will be forever faithful to The North American Old Roman Catholic Church, to our Metropolitan-Primate, and to his successors canonically elected.

I will assist them to retain and to defend the Primacy of our Church without detriment to my order.

I shall take care to preserve, to defend, increase and promote the rights, honors, privileges and authority of The North American Old Roman Catholic Church, of our Metropolitan-Primate, and of his aforesaid successors.

I shall observe with all my strength, and shall cause to be observed by others, the rules of the Ancient Fathers, the Apostolic Decrees, Ordinances or Dispositions, Reservations, Provisions and Mandates.

I shall come when called to a Synod, unless prevented by a canonical impediment.

I shall make personally the visit “ad Sede Primatial” every ten years, and I shall render to our Metropolitan-Primate, and to his aforesaid successors, an account of my whole pastoral office, and of all things pertaining in any manner whatsoever to the state of my Church, to the discipline of my clergy and people, and finally to the salvation of the souls which are entrusted to me: and in turn I shall receive humbly the Primatial Mandates and execute them as diligently as possible. But if I shall be detained by legitimate impediment, I shall fulfill all the aforesaid things through a designated delegate having a special mandate for this purpose, a priest of my diocese, or through some other secular or regular priest of known probity and religion, fully informed concerning the above-named things.

I shall not sell, nor give, nor mortgage the possessions belonging to my mensa, nor shall I alienate them in any manner, even with the consent of the chapter of my Church, without consulting the Metropolitan-Primate. And if through me any such alienation shall occur, I wish, by the very fact, to incur the penalties concerning this matter.

So help me God and these His Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand.

DECLARATION OF INTENTION

(Clergy)

It is my firm intention and purpose to devote myself and my life to the Sacred Priesthood according to the Constitution, Canons, Statutes, Rules, etc. of The Diocese of ______________, to whose canonical censures and sentences I submit myself.

I promise that I shall at no time and in no manner make use of the power of Holy Orders except as lawfully permitted under these Constitutions, Canons, Statutes, Rules, etc. and only to the extent and limit of the faculties granted me by proper ecclesiastical authority.

I further promise canonical obedience to the lawful ecclesiastical authorities over me, and under no circumstances shall I submit myself to, or exercise the power of Orders in any Communion or Rite than those in unity with The North American Old Roman Catholic Church.

I renew and bind myself in conscience and at law to these Constitutions, Canons, Statutes, Rules, etc.; and in spirit to the decrees of the Provincial Synod of Utrecht 1763, The Formulary of Utrecht 1823, and the Profession of Faith of Pope Pius IV. I bind myself in conscience and at law also to the decrees and sentences of future Synods of The Diocese of _____________.

So help me God and these His Holy Gospels which I touch with my hand.

DECLARATION OF INTENTION

(Bride & Groom)

We, _____ and _____, desiring to receive the blessing of Holy Matrimony within the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, do solemnly declare:

• That we hold and accept Holy Matrimony to be a mystical and lifelong union of husband and wife, as it is set forth in the Rite for the Celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Rituale Romanum, and that this union forms an indissoluble Sacramental bond so long as we both shall live, which cannot be broken or dissolved by any action of civil authority:
• That each of us is totally and unselfishly committed and bound to the other, calling continually upon the Grace of Almighty God and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable each of us, always and unconditionally, to extend to the other, joyfully and lovingly, the fellowship, support, encouragement, and understanding which is required for the fulfilment of the same;
• That we know Holy Matrimony to be God's loving provision for the procre­ation (if it may be) and the gift and heritage of children, and for their physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual nurture and upbringing in God's faith and fear, and for the safeguarding and benefit of society;
• That we bind ourselves mutually to cleave unto the oneness of the flesh that is the Will of God, vowing to refrain from any form of sexual activity outside the bonds of this union;
• That we are both jointly and individually committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and we pledge ourselves unreservedly to seek His Will in all matters affecting our family life, to hold Him in our hearts as the Head and center of our family, and to call upon God the Holy Ghost to keep us in that obedience;
• That we do accept the Doctrine and Discipline of The North American Old Roman Catholic Church in all things affecting our union, and do promise to seek the help and counsel of a Priest of the Church at any time when there is any threat to any aspect of our union and before any action is taken that might cause irreparable or permanent damage to this relationship.

Dated: _________________

Signed: ______________ & ________________

Witnessed: ______________________________

Clergyman: ______________________________