I'm not speaking here about the Advent call to prepare for the entry of God The Son into the world at His Nativity  which we will celebrate at Christmas, or about what we as Christians are each called to be and do in our lives and witness, or about what we as men in Holy Orders are called to exemplify and to do, although those callings are clearly related to the calling I want to discuss.  Most of you could do a much better job of discussing those topics than could I.

WHAT I WANT TO EXPLORE IS THE QUESTION OF WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO BE - CORPORATELY (BUT ALSO AS INDIVIDUALS) - AS THE ANGLICAN EXPRESSION OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH WITHIN THE BOSOM OF THE WESTERN RITE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH UNDER THE HEADSHIP OF THE HOLY FATHER, THE SUCCESSOR OF PETER?  IN OTHER WORDS, WHY US?, WHY ANGLICANORUM COETIBUS?

As preface, I would call your attention to the entire content of the document (it is brief but dense with theological truth and insight) and in particular to several things Pope Benedict says in it :

Introductory Paragraph 1 :  "...the Holy Spirit has moved groups of Anglicans to petition repeatedly and insistently to be received into full Catholic communion individually as well as corporately...Indeed, the successor of Peter...could not fail to make available the means necessary to bring this holy desire to realization."  He is recognizing that our petition is sourced in the action of the Holy Spirit and that in fulfilling the mandate of his office and in justice he is compelled ("could not fail") to bring our "holy desire" to realization.  Ponder that for a while if you will.

Introductory Paragraph 4 :  "This single Church of Christ...'subsists in the Catholic Church...Nevertheless, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside her visible confines.  Since these are gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ, they are forces impelling towards Catholic unity.'"  Note:  In the context of this document he is saying that we Anglicans possess many elements of sanctification and truth, but he is saying something else - he is saying that these possessions of ours "properly [belong] to the [whole] Church of Christ"

Paragraph III :  "...the Ordinariate has the faculty to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments...according to the liturgical books proper to the Anglican tradition...so as to maintain the liturgical, spiritual and pastoral traditions of the Anglican Communion within the Catholic Church, as a precious gift nourishing the faith of the members of the Ordinariate and as a treasure to be shared."  Did you note that? : "...and as a treasure to be shared."

As further preface, I would remind you that Pope Benedict repeatedly voices regret over the loss of the "sense of the sacred" and of the absence of the "beauty of holiness" resulting from declining standards in the celebration of the Mass.  He also frequently decries the growing secularization and corresponding de-Christianization of Western culture.  He has undertaken initiatives in response to both of these grave problems, each of which are attended by a host of other problems and evils.  And, of course, a key in successfully fighting the battle for the wider culture is to begin winning the battle in the Church.

It is my belief that the Holy Father sees us - small and weak though we are - as an ally of great potential in what will be the epic battles of our age: the battle to purify and revitalize the Church; and the battle to rescue society from its headlong plunge into the abyss and to commence the long hard slog of re-Christianizing it.  What is to be the role of the Ordinariates - our role?  First, I think it is to be a lamp on a lamp stand - or perhaps a city on a hill - serving as an exemplar of liturgical and musical excellence in the service of a devotional life which is at once both fervent and highly reverent.  Second, for us as individuals to be personal exemplars of devotion to the beauty of holiness as we intermingle our lives with the lives of our new Latin Rite brothers and sisters, displaying for them the good fruits which that beauty and holiness produce in us; thereby being a leaven to the wider Church.  Thirdly, if we are to have any hope of restoring the Church to its place as the beating heart of a renewed Christendom, we must help raise up a swelling cadre of well formed and faithful Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to engage the culture at every level and at every opportunity to win it back for Christ.

Maybe this is why what we have called "the Continuing Church" was called into existence.  Perhaps the time has finally come to put aside our navel gazing - I'm sorry to be so blunt, but we have done a lot of that - and to finally set about the Lord's work in earnest.  In our little ecclesiastical rowboat we can do but little.  But think what a great service we may do our Lord if in Peter's great ship we can help trim the sails a bit and, perhaps, help steady the wheel.  And will it not bring joy to the ship's company and raise their moral if we embellish the ship with rich decoration and lift our voice and theirs in harmonious and joyful song?  And think how much safer - heart, mind, and soul - we will feel and be in that well found ship of which Christ Himself is the Captain and whose pilot is the Holy Father.         

Pope Benedict is not only reaching out to us in Christian Charity and from a sense of justice, he is sending us a clarion call to arms; a call to bring those treasures of ours to the aid of the Church and to the Crusade - yes, I use that politically incorrect word "Crusade"  - to save what is left of Chrisendom and to help rebuild it.  How can we not answer that call.  How can we not unfurl the Anglican Banner and lead it to the front most rank.  A great drama is beginning.  Some of you may be called to play leading roles - certainly some of our successors will be so called.  Some, like me growing old and low in energy and lacking in training or talent, must be satisfied to serve in the chorus.  But all are called to some part, all have a duty.  Dear Brothers and Friends, the curtain is about to go up and we must hurry to find our place.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light,

Lewis Berry +