We are Traditional, Liturgical, Sacramental, & Apostolic. The Holy Old Catholic Church is part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Within the Catholic Religion, there are different denominations such as the Holy Old Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church or Latin Rite, the Orthodox Catholic Church and others.
The source of the Catholic Faith expressed in the Nicene Creed is Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that Sacred Scripture, which comprises the Old Testament and the New Testament, contains God’s revelation to us, particularly that concerning His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and that in matters essential to our salvation it is inerrant.
Sacred Scripture itself is part of Sacred Tradition, that process by which God’s revelation is passed on to us from the Apostles, and unto the Church Fathers and to the unbroken succession of Bishops through the centuries. This handing on occurs through the prayers and liturgy of the Church, through preaching, teaching, catechesis, devotions, doctrines, and the Bible itself. Church Tradition is a collection of orthodox practices and beliefs, from the earliest of days, which makes Sacred Tradition an inerrant source of God’s revelation in matters essential to our faith and our Catholic life. A very important part of Sacred Tradition is the teaching of the Ecumenical Councils. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that the doctrinal definitions of the first seven Ecumenical Councils, that is those which took place within the undivided Catholic Church, were guided by the Holy Spirit and it accepts them as part of its faith. Those seven Ecumenical Councils are the Councils of Nicaea in 325AD, Constantinople in 381AD, Ephesus in 431AD, Chalcedon in 451AD, Constantinople II in 533AD, Constantinople III in 680AD, and Nicaea II in 787AD.
These Councils were concerned essentially with defining the true Catholic faith, in the Holy Trinity and in Jesus Christ the Son of God made man: God is triune, a single God in three Persons, Whom the Savior Himself named as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, uniting in His single Person both the divine and the human natures.
Equally important in Sacred Tradition are the seven Sacraments. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that these Sacraments, which are Baptism and Eucharist, both of which are particularly attested to in Sacred Scripture; and Confirmation, Penance, Matrimony, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick , are effective signs of the Lord’s continuing presence and action within His Church and efficacious channels of his Grace. Among the Sacraments, the Holy Eucharist holds prominence of place. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that the Lord Jesus Christ is really and truly present, in His humanity and in His Divinity, in the species of bread and wine that have been consecrated in the Eucharistic Liturgy of the Holy Mass, and that in Holy Communion we receive Him into ourselves to nourish the very life of the soul.
In the Lord Jesus’ plan for his Church, the Apostles and the Bishops hold a special place. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that the Bishops, duly consecrated in the unbroken line of Apostolic Succession, which the Holy Old Catholic Church possesses, are the successors of the Apostles and that they are responsible, as were the Apostles, for the ministry of service to the Church, consisting of preaching and teaching, of sanctifying and of governing, but most of all, for the safeguarding and the handing-on intact, of the Deposit of Faith and Sacred Tradition of the Church under the divine command. Under the leadership and direction of the College Bishops headed by the Archbishop, Priests and Deacons, empowered by the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and with the assistance and prayers of the Religious Congregations, minister to all those who approach The Holy Old Catholic Church for Sacramental ministry.
Mary and the Saints
Mary, the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and the Queen of Heaven and earth, holds a special place in the faith, the lives and the liturgy of The Holy Old Catholic Church. The doctrines of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady into Heaven, are held by The Holy Old Catholic Church in accord with Sacred Tradition, the Church Fathers and the Sacred Liturgy from the earliest of times; and in oneness with the Orthodox Church of the East and the Latin Church in the West. The Saints also are honored in a special way within the Liturgy and in the Church’s Calendar. Both of these beliefs and devotions form part of the reason for the historical split with the Union of Utrecht and our specific denomination of Holy Old Catholic Church Churches.
The Holy Old Catholic Church believes in the Communion of Saints, and the fellowship of the whole Church in Glory, the Church Militant, the Church Suffering , and the Church Triumphant. It holds to the honoring of Saints, and the prayers for their intercession for both the Church Militant and Suffering.
The Holy Old Catholic Church believes the doctrine of the purgation of certain souls after death prior to entry into the Heavenly Kingdom; and the doctrine of the souls of the blessed receiving the Beatific Vision immediately after death.
Another historical reason for the Holy Old Catholic Church declaring independence from the Union of Utrecht in 1910, was the continued acknowledgement of the Holy Old Catholic Church that the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, remains the Patriarch of the West, and is considered, and honored as, Primus inter Pares; as such he always continued and continues to be remembered, and prayed for, within the Canon of the Mass. Regarding the doctrines and dogmas of Infallibility, The Holy Old Catholic Church holds that inerrancy of dogma and doctrine rests with:
1. Sacred Scripture
2. Sacred Tradition
3. The declarations/dogmas of a validly held General Ecumenical Council of the whole Catholic Church.
The Holy Old Catholic Church recognizes and affirms the seven Mysteries or Sacraments of the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Communion, Holy Orders, Penance, Anointing of the sick and Marriage.
The Eucharist:
This central mystery of the Church, Holy Mass, is seen as being performed by the Prayer of the Church, and through: the Offering, the Invocation of the Holy Spirit (epiclesis) and the Words of Consecration. which produces sacramental change, thus leaving upon the altar, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Holy Orders:
The Holy Old Catholic Church recognizes three sacred major Orders: the Diaconate, the Priesthood, and the Episcopate (Bishop), as well as the minor orders. All ordinations are performed by a Bishop and always during the Eucharistic liturgy. The consecration of a Bishop requires the participation of other Bishops.
Penance:
The Sacrament of Penance is a private act of confession and absolution through which every Catholic’s membership in the Church is periodically renewed. This Sacrament may also be performed as General Absolution to a group
Anointing of the Sick:
Anointing of the Sick is a biblical form of healing by prayer and anointing with Holy Oil, and traces its history back to the earliest days of the Church.
Marriage:
Marriage is celebrated through a rite performed (usually within the Mass) with great solemnity, and signifies an eternal, sacramental union between a man and a woman.
The Priesthood
The Holy Old Catholic Church does not impose the discipline of Priestly Celibacy upon Its clergy, and both Priests and Bishops are at liberty to marry or remain celibate if they choose to do so. However, the already-married may voluntarily choose to practice continence after Ordination. All Deacons, Priests and Bishops, and Religious are bound by a strict Code of Conduct which is set within the Church’s Cannons.
The Role Of Women in the Church
The Holy Old Catholic Church maintains the ancient beliefs and Sacred Tradition of the Church for an all-male clergy. In the Celebration of Holy Mass Christ is the real Priest and Sacrifice, but He makes His Sacrifice through the visible, that is, the Ordained Priest. In his Priesthood, the Priest embodies no other Priesthood than the Priesthood of Christ Himself; he executes Christ's invisible Priesthood in a visible manner, being completely and fully dependent on the High Priest, whose instrument and surrogate he is. It does not understand Ordination to the Priesthood as a matter of justice, equality, political correctness, or human rights. No one, not even males, have the ‘right’ to Ordination, and no one ‘chooses’ Ordination; we believe that it is God Who does the choosing, even if His Will in this instance seems completely contrary with the understanding of the world. The church does not conform to this world; the world conforms to the church.
The source of the Catholic Faith expressed in the Nicene Creed is Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that Sacred Scripture, which comprises the Old Testament and the New Testament, contains God’s revelation to us, particularly that concerning His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and that in matters essential to our salvation it is inerrant.
Sacred Scripture itself is part of Sacred Tradition, that process by which God’s revelation is passed on to us from the Apostles, and unto the Church Fathers and to the unbroken succession of Bishops through the centuries. This handing on occurs through the prayers and liturgy of the Church, through preaching, teaching, catechesis, devotions, doctrines, and the Bible itself. Church Tradition is a collection of orthodox practices and beliefs, from the earliest of days, which makes Sacred Tradition an inerrant source of God’s revelation in matters essential to our faith and our Catholic life. A very important part of Sacred Tradition is the teaching of the Ecumenical Councils. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that the doctrinal definitions of the first seven Ecumenical Councils, that is those which took place within the undivided Catholic Church, were guided by the Holy Spirit and it accepts them as part of its faith. Those seven Ecumenical Councils are the Councils of Nicaea in 325AD, Constantinople in 381AD, Ephesus in 431AD, Chalcedon in 451AD, Constantinople II in 533AD, Constantinople III in 680AD, and Nicaea II in 787AD.
These Councils were concerned essentially with defining the true Catholic faith, in the Holy Trinity and in Jesus Christ the Son of God made man: God is triune, a single God in three Persons, Whom the Savior Himself named as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, uniting in His single Person both the divine and the human natures.
Equally important in Sacred Tradition are the seven Sacraments. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that these Sacraments, which are Baptism and Eucharist, both of which are particularly attested to in Sacred Scripture; and Confirmation, Penance, Matrimony, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick , are effective signs of the Lord’s continuing presence and action within His Church and efficacious channels of his Grace. Among the Sacraments, the Holy Eucharist holds prominence of place. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that the Lord Jesus Christ is really and truly present, in His humanity and in His Divinity, in the species of bread and wine that have been consecrated in the Eucharistic Liturgy of the Holy Mass, and that in Holy Communion we receive Him into ourselves to nourish the very life of the soul.
In the Lord Jesus’ plan for his Church, the Apostles and the Bishops hold a special place. The Holy Old Catholic Church believes that the Bishops, duly consecrated in the unbroken line of Apostolic Succession, which the Holy Old Catholic Church possesses, are the successors of the Apostles and that they are responsible, as were the Apostles, for the ministry of service to the Church, consisting of preaching and teaching, of sanctifying and of governing, but most of all, for the safeguarding and the handing-on intact, of the Deposit of Faith and Sacred Tradition of the Church under the divine command. Under the leadership and direction of the College Bishops headed by the Archbishop, Priests and Deacons, empowered by the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and with the assistance and prayers of the Religious Congregations, minister to all those who approach The Holy Old Catholic Church for Sacramental ministry.
Mary and the Saints
Mary, the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and the Queen of Heaven and earth, holds a special place in the faith, the lives and the liturgy of The Holy Old Catholic Church. The doctrines of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady into Heaven, are held by The Holy Old Catholic Church in accord with Sacred Tradition, the Church Fathers and the Sacred Liturgy from the earliest of times; and in oneness with the Orthodox Church of the East and the Latin Church in the West. The Saints also are honored in a special way within the Liturgy and in the Church’s Calendar. Both of these beliefs and devotions form part of the reason for the historical split with the Union of Utrecht and our specific denomination of Holy Old Catholic Church Churches.
The Holy Old Catholic Church believes in the Communion of Saints, and the fellowship of the whole Church in Glory, the Church Militant, the Church Suffering , and the Church Triumphant. It holds to the honoring of Saints, and the prayers for their intercession for both the Church Militant and Suffering.
The Holy Old Catholic Church believes the doctrine of the purgation of certain souls after death prior to entry into the Heavenly Kingdom; and the doctrine of the souls of the blessed receiving the Beatific Vision immediately after death.
Another historical reason for the Holy Old Catholic Church declaring independence from the Union of Utrecht in 1910, was the continued acknowledgement of the Holy Old Catholic Church that the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, remains the Patriarch of the West, and is considered, and honored as, Primus inter Pares; as such he always continued and continues to be remembered, and prayed for, within the Canon of the Mass. Regarding the doctrines and dogmas of Infallibility, The Holy Old Catholic Church holds that inerrancy of dogma and doctrine rests with:
1. Sacred Scripture
2. Sacred Tradition
3. The declarations/dogmas of a validly held General Ecumenical Council of the whole Catholic Church.
The Holy Old Catholic Church recognizes and affirms the seven Mysteries or Sacraments of the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Communion, Holy Orders, Penance, Anointing of the sick and Marriage.
The Eucharist:
This central mystery of the Church, Holy Mass, is seen as being performed by the Prayer of the Church, and through: the Offering, the Invocation of the Holy Spirit (epiclesis) and the Words of Consecration. which produces sacramental change, thus leaving upon the altar, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Holy Orders:
The Holy Old Catholic Church recognizes three sacred major Orders: the Diaconate, the Priesthood, and the Episcopate (Bishop), as well as the minor orders. All ordinations are performed by a Bishop and always during the Eucharistic liturgy. The consecration of a Bishop requires the participation of other Bishops.
Penance:
The Sacrament of Penance is a private act of confession and absolution through which every Catholic’s membership in the Church is periodically renewed. This Sacrament may also be performed as General Absolution to a group
Anointing of the Sick:
Anointing of the Sick is a biblical form of healing by prayer and anointing with Holy Oil, and traces its history back to the earliest days of the Church.
Marriage:
Marriage is celebrated through a rite performed (usually within the Mass) with great solemnity, and signifies an eternal, sacramental union between a man and a woman.
The Priesthood
The Holy Old Catholic Church does not impose the discipline of Priestly Celibacy upon Its clergy, and both Priests and Bishops are at liberty to marry or remain celibate if they choose to do so. However, the already-married may voluntarily choose to practice continence after Ordination. All Deacons, Priests and Bishops, and Religious are bound by a strict Code of Conduct which is set within the Church’s Cannons.
The Role Of Women in the Church
The Holy Old Catholic Church maintains the ancient beliefs and Sacred Tradition of the Church for an all-male clergy. In the Celebration of Holy Mass Christ is the real Priest and Sacrifice, but He makes His Sacrifice through the visible, that is, the Ordained Priest. In his Priesthood, the Priest embodies no other Priesthood than the Priesthood of Christ Himself; he executes Christ's invisible Priesthood in a visible manner, being completely and fully dependent on the High Priest, whose instrument and surrogate he is. It does not understand Ordination to the Priesthood as a matter of justice, equality, political correctness, or human rights. No one, not even males, have the ‘right’ to Ordination, and no one ‘chooses’ Ordination; we believe that it is God Who does the choosing, even if His Will in this instance seems completely contrary with the understanding of the world. The church does not conform to this world; the world conforms to the church.
The Most Reverend David M. Biery, Th.D., OCR, OFM
Archbishop Primate and Bishop Protector
Archbishop Primate and Bishop Protector