An Anglican Comes Home

The forum is very warm, sometimes hot, but for the most part, even from the Anglicans he leaves behind, there are good wishes for Rev. Al Kimel, the blogger known as the Pontificator, on his decision to come home to Rome. As expected, some people are hurting, such as Peggy in the comments on that link. It is best to consider, I think, that the future Fr. Al (he will apply for Roman Catholic priesthood, which happens all the time for convert clergy), makes his decision with no small amount of anguish. Someone in the forums mentions having cried for five hours (and probably several times) when he left the Church of England for the Orthodox Church. It is so much like the mystery of baptism, when we die to sin through sorrowful and contrite repentance, but rise to joy and life. Even more, it is so much like the Easter mystery that begins with the Passion, culminates in death and gloriously triumphs in the resurrection. Fr. Al will be in my prayers, along with this prayer for every Christian who fearlessly and sincerely searches for the truth in this prayer (John 17):

9 I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me: because they are thine. 10 And all my things are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom thou hast given me: that they may be one, as we also are. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in thy name. Those whom thou gavest me have I kept: and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition: that the scripture may be fulfilled. 13 And now I come to thee: and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy filled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them: because they are not of the world, as I also am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from evil. 16 They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for them do I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me. 21 That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Thanks to the Curt Jester for leading me to Fr. Al's story.