Rule

Rule of the Ecumenical Society of Saint Augustine of Canterbury

INTRODUCTION

The Ecumenical Society of Saint Augustine of Canterbury (TESSAC) is a Priestly Society without vows, whose purpose is the Priesthood and that which pertains to it. TESSAC comprises clergy and missions and was founded by The Right Reverend Robert C. McBride BA (Hons), OSP on the Feast Day of St Martin, I, Pope and Martyr, 12th of November in the year of our Lord 2008 . TESSAC is not a member Society of any mainstream church, such as the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Churches, but does share in their Apostolic Successions.

Our Ecumenical outreach extends to those ecclesial communions who can clearly trace their lines of apostolic succession back through the historic episcopacy directly to our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles and who are holding to historic, apostolic catholic and orthodox order and practice in their faith and worship, as defined by the ancient and undivided Church, reflected in the teaching of the first seven ecumenical councils of the early Church.

We further believe that God has commissioned us to affirm, recognise, and pray for all of these branches as members of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and to embrace and receive the clergy and laity of all these branches as true brothers and sisters in the communion of Christ's One, Holy Church, His body in heaven and on earth.

We believe that God has called us by the grace and mercy of our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, to be at least a prophetic pointer of a prototype of such unity, both in an underlying attitude of humility and charity, as well as by the works, worship and mission that we pray constantly, bear witness to that divine hope and calling with open minds and hearts.

In practical terms this unity, or prototype of unity as Catholic Christians, will be worked out in our embrace of a diversity of historic, orthodox catholic liturgies, as used by the major branches of Catholic and Orthodox Christianity from the beginning.

These include the Divine Liturgy celebrated by our Orthodox Brother Bishops, the Tridentine Liturgy (Latin /The Vernacular) and Novus Ordo of the Roman Catholic Church; Traditional Anglican Liturgies; Western Rite Orthodox Liturgies, and others recognized as expressions of rites used historically within the broad scope of orthodox, catholic Christianity worldwide.

Mindful that Saint Augustine of Canterbury was sent to these Islands to spread the Word, and establish the Faith, TESSAC seeks to continue with this work as we enter an age where people are abandoning their faith and instead become secularised. Members of TESSAC take their stance upon a shared vision of a disciplined priestly life fashioned after a definite spiritual rule. It is this Rule of Life which unites the Brethren in their various priestly ministries and lives.

The Brethren are required to consider their obligation to the Society as a close spiritual bond which takes precedence to that of any other voluntary society. This obligation includes a commitment to attend TESSAC Chapter meetings and other Synods. The life of the Society is experienced primarily through the Chapter, and attendance at Chapter is of obligation unless prevented by genuine pastoral duties.

Saint Augustine of Canterbury struggled in his mission but in the words of Pope Gregory The Great, in a letter to Saint Augustine: "He who would climb to a lofty height must go by steps, not leaps," therefore we too take comfort from and are guided by those words, aided and guided by our Rule of Life, as we work to continue Saint Augustine's work in the 21 st century.

Our Rule of Life

1. Members of TESSAC strive to continue the work first started by Saint Augustine of Canterbury by evangelizing and ministering to God's people.

2. To this end, all the Brethren earnestly strive to deepen their union with their Lord by regular prayer and frequent resort to the Sacraments and to the Holy Scriptures, carefully teaching and encouraging the same among the people to whom they minister. They shall regard the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the centre and source of their priestly ministry. They shall endeavor to cultivate, both in themselves and others, a lively sense of the communion of saints, practicing and teaching devotion to the saints, especially to our Blessed Lady.

3. The call of Christ invites us to take up the Cross, and to follow in the way of the Cross, in faithfulness and obedience to Christ, and in union with him, even to death, and beyond death. The Brethren shall therefore endeavour to live out the discipline of the Crucified Saviour in every aspect of life, and, through their teaching and pastoral care, to help others to do the same.

4. In following this discipline, therefore, the Brethren shall regard as of first obligation those rules and usages which have the authority of the Holy Catholic Church, it being beyond the powers of any authority within the Society to dispense therefrom, viz:

i. To celebrate or at least attend Mass on all Sundays and holydays of obligation;

ii. To say daily the Divine Office or other Daily Office approved by the Superor General, either privately or openly, not being hindered by sickness or some other urgent cause;

iii. To observe the appointed fast before Holy Communion, and other fasts and abstinences as prescribed unless prevented for some good cause;

iv. To use the sacrament of Reconciliation as the conscience requires and at least once a year.

5. In addition, the Brethren shall:

i. Celebrate, concelebrate or otherwise participate daily in the Mass and Holy Communion. However, when that cannot be accomplished, they shall join in spirit in the celebration of the Lord's sacrifice and in Communion with him, visiting the Blessed Sacrament if practicable. They shall carefully prepare themselves before the Holy Eucharist, and give thanks according to opportunity;

ii. Recite the Divine Office, or other approved Daily Office, in a spirit of adoration and intercession, in the name of all men and especially of those under their care. Even at the times of the annual holiday and weekly day of recreation the Divine Office remains of obligation;

iii. Have a definite rule about mental prayer, and also about sacred study, particularly in the Scriptures and the Fathers;

iv. Commend the day to God on first awaking and the night on going to bed;

v. Pray daily for The Ecumenical Society of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, particularly at the offering of Holy Mass and the Divine Office, and by saying the Society's prayer:

O God , Who by the preaching and miracles of blessed Augustine, Thy Confessor and Bishop, didst vouchsafe to shed upon the English people the light of the true faith; grant that, through his intercession, the hearts of those that have gone astray may return to the unity of Thy truth, and that we may be of one mind in doing Thy will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one world without end. Amen .

vi. Make self-examination daily;

vii. Make a retreat once a year, unless positively hindered;

viii. Do all in their power to support other priests in their ministry, avoiding criticising them or in any other way compromising the dignity of the priesthood;

ix. Exercise charity in conversation and moderation in recreative activities, and avoid giving scandal in any form of personal behavior.

x. Wear the gold Canterbury Cross on their jacket and when the Brethren meet as one to wear the Canterbury Pectoral Cross, as approved by the Superior General. These being outward and visible signs of membership and union with one another.

TESSAC Clergy Pectoral Cross & Chain

TESSAC Lapel Badges

6. The Brethren are also recommended to be especially diligent in prayer for The Ecumenical Society of Saint Augustine of Canterbury on the following days:

12th November - the anniversary of the Society's foundation;

27th May – the Feast Day of Saint Augustine of Canterbury

In addition, the Brethren shall:

i. Pray regularly for the departed Brethren, particularly at the offering of the Holy Sacrifice;

ii. Make regular use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, according to conscience, especially at Easter, and not less frequently than four times in the year;

iii. Keep a regular day of recollection - monthly if possible.

7. The Superior General has power to dispense from the obligation of keeping any rules which are purely rules of the Society.

Approved and dated this day, the 11th of December , in the Year of Our Lord, 2008.

+Roberto Carlo

Superior General - retired (17th February 2010)

The Rule