Valuable Lessons from St. Augustine for Today's Culture
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Pope Francis seems to have caused a stir within many Catholics after the announcement that he gave relics of the True Cross to King Charles III for his coronation on May 6. Charles will be officially crowned as king of the United Kingdom (and his wife Camilla will be crowned queen) following his mother, Queen Elizabeth’s, death. Many Catholics are celebrating and reflect appreciation for the pope’s gift to the king. Others, on the other hand, disagree with the pope providing such precious relics to a church that is outside communion with the Catholic Church.
According to Catholic News Agency, “the precious relics have been inlaid into the ‘Cross of Wales,’ which will head Charles’ procession into Westminster Abbey, where he will be officially crowned.” Pope Francis gave the gift to King Charles, head of the Church of England (which broke off from the Catholic Church), and King Charles made the decision to have the relics lead his procession. The relics have been, in turn, given by King Charles to the Church of England where the Church will allow them to be venerated by Anglicans and Catholics.
The generosity of Pope Francis was met with reactions from Catholics on both sides of the spectrum. Social media lit up with Catholics questioning the decision as well as those who were in full support. Many highlighted the fact that Charles was the head of a Protestant Church. Others praised the pope and stated the relics were not the property exclusively of the Catholic Church.
Keith Matthews, on Twitter, said, “Disappointing. This recognizes Charles as the secular head of another church.”
“To a Protestant. Ok?”, tweeted CaffeScorretto.
“What a waste”, said Reynoso Garcia.
“I don’t get it. The Church of England? Isn’t that sort of a slap in the face to Catholics in England that have been persecuted and martyred for the faith? I do not get it,” said Laura Howard Sturgeon.
Others, however, had differing views and supported the pope. They see it as a sign of an attempt to show unity of christians or a gesture of good will. They view the gift as a reflection of friendship between the two churches.
“Love this! Relics will be respected, in the center of the #Coronation and an extension of friendship. Relics are NOT (copyright) Catholic Church Inc but are sacramentals to be used in Misdion Territory,” tweeted Allie.
“What a charitable and loving gift that honors the two greatest Commandments,” said Cassandra Theodora.
Under the reign of King Henry VIII, the Church of England broke away from the Catholic Church in 1534 following the denial of Pope Clement VII to grant King Henry an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Henry desired to marry Anne Boleyn. Boleyn was, in fact, Catherine’s maid. The church doctrine did not permit divorce and King Henry VIII did not have proper grounds for a divorce, so the pope rejected his request. Henry and his advisors broke away from the church and rejected the authority of the papacy to allow Henry to marry again.
The Catholic Church prohibits Catholics from receiving communion at an Anglican Mass. Anglicans, due to their differing Eucharistic belief, are prohibited from receiving communion at a Catholic Mass. But, it appears, they are certainly permitted to have sacred relics.
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
