Author Archives: Matthew Scarince

The Virtue of Patriotism contra Thearchic Nationalism

13 Tuesday Jun 2017

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The Church is now bringing together what that tower had sundered. Of one tongue there were made many; marvel not: this was the doing of pride. Of many tongues there is made one; marvel not: this was the doing of charity. For although the sounds of tongues are various, in the heart one God is invoked, one peace preserved.

-St. Augustine, Commentary on the Gospel of St. John

In my wanderings in this valley of tears, I have always tried to uphold the virtue of Patriotism, the love of my country, the land and its peoples. I have written in the past about the perversion of Nationalism which daily undermines the true Common Good of the countries it infects. Yet as with all philosophical errors it returns under different forms in different ages. As it was invoked against the Universal Church in the Sacred Ages, now the Nationalists dare even to invoke God for their defense in this Age of Godlessness. Continue reading →

The Universality of the Catholic Emperor

23 Tuesday May 2017

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Prayers for the Holy Roman Emperor figured in all Christian (Catholic) missals and, until recently, were recited on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The election of an emperor (who originally had to be crowned by the pope) became a feast all over western Christendom. In American Catholic missals these prayers appeared until World War II, when they were formally abolished by Pope Pius XII. Such prayers were also recited in Lutheran services, and in Prussia they were cancelled only upon the orders of Frederick II in the eighteenth century… He [the Emperor] was chosen by the electors, and before his coronation he had the title “King of the Romans.”  (The seven, eight, or nine electors were powerful princes, secular or ecclesiastical.) After Frederick III (1440-1493) it became inconceivable that any other but a Habsburg could be elected… as successor of the Caesars, surrounded by the glory of universality: the Pope was the spiritual, the Holy Roman Emperor the temporal head of the world. 

-Erik Ritter von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, The Intelligent American’s Guide to Europe

Reflections on Nobility, the People, and Vocation

12 Friday May 2017

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One nobility belongs to all the faithful, one dignity, one splendour of race, since all are born of the same Spirit and of the same sacrament of faith, and are sons of God and coheirs of the same inheritance; the rich and the powerful have no other Christ besides Him Who is followed by the poor; they are initiated in no other sacraments, and have no higher expectation of the Celestial Kingdom; all are brethren and members of the Body of Christ, of His flesh and of His bones.

The Catechism of Trent, as quoted by Kenelm Henry Digby in The Broad-Stone of Honour

The true Catholic principle regarding the life of man, is of course Vocation; the fulfillment of the unique purpose and mission in accordance with God’s will. It is intrinsically bound up with the final end of Man, the call to holiness and virtue. It is this principle which must be the foundation of any Catholic Nobility. However, since it is true that not only does all of Mankind share in an inherent nobility (disgraced but not debased by the Fall), but also that all of the Faithful share in a Nobility of Royal Priesthood, wherein does the concept of a separate hierarchical Nobility find its justification?

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The True Felicity of Catholic Emperors

12 Friday May 2017

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For neither do we say that certain Christian emperors were therefore happy because they ruled a long time, or, dying a peaceful death, left their sons to succeed them in the empire, or subdued the enemies of the commonwealth, or were able both to guard against and to suppress the attempt of hostile citizens rising against them. These and other gifts or comforts of this sorrowful life even certain worshippers of false gods have merited to receive, who do not belong to the kingdom of God to which these belong; and this is to be traced to the mercy of God, who would not have those who believe in Him desire such things as the highest good.

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Victory for the Day, is that not enough?

18 Tuesday Apr 2017

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Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.

-J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

In this fallen world, there is no such thing as lasting victory. Yes when Our Lord Jesu returns, His ultimate victory over evil will be made manifest. Yet until then we remain in a world not yet remade and sanctified by the Logos, evil can never be wholly destroyed, only held back for a time. It may then be tempting to ask, why do we even fight? Why fight against nationalism and racialism if you are the only one who believes in supranational patriotism? Against reactionism on one hand and leftism on the other? Why continue if you stand but few together, surrounded on all sides?

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Reflections on Imperium

08 Saturday Apr 2017

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Kronung_Heinrich_II

The Imperial Dignity is not in the spoken name itself, but consists and culminates in glorious piety.

-Emperor Louis II, Letter to Basil King of Greece

What is the nature of the Imperium? The Imperium, the Authority to command and administer justice universally, is not mere power, as is so often assumed by those of a certain political conviction. It is a truly unique among temporal authorities in the sense that only one living man may receive it, yet also in that it is essentially non-territorial. The Imperator is the firstborn (in the temporal order) of the Diákonοί kai Leitourgοί Theoú, the Servants and Ministeriales of God. Continue reading →

WIR, Indivisibiliter ac Inseparabiliter

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

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Left: Alfred I Fürst zu Windisch-Grätz, Right: Josip Jelačić Graf von Bužim, Center: Johann Josef Graf Radetzky von Radetz

Heroes of the Imperial Army of Austria in the 1848 Revolution. Long may their memory be honored.

Tartsa Isten, óvja Isten
Királyunk s a közhazát!
Erőt lelve a szent hitben
Ossza bölcs parancsszavát!
Hadd védnünk ős koronáját
Bárhonnét fenyítse vész!
Magyar honnal Habsburg trónját
Egyesíté égi kéz

Civilization, the Continual Vigilance

12 Sunday Mar 2017

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Out of this intimate co-operation of Church and state came one of the most brilliant ideas in the history of statesmanship: the transformation of Charlemagne’s realm into a Holy Roman Empire that should have behind it all the prestige, sanctity, and stability of both Imperial and Papal Rome… If the bold scheme could be carried through there would again be a Roman emperor in the West, Latin Christianity would stand strong and unified against schismatic Byzantium and threatening Saracens, and by the awe and magic of the imperial name, barbarized Europe might reach back across centuries of darkness, and inherit and Christianize the civilization and culture of the ancient world… the Holy Roman Empire was a noble conception, a dream of security and peace, order and civilization restored in a world heroically won from barbarism, violence, and ignorance. 

-Will Durant, The Story of Civilization: The Age of Faith

The Freedom of Authority

05 Sunday Mar 2017

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otto_i_manuscriptum_mediolanense_c_1200

If we were slaves of our king and Emperor, subjected to him by your jurisdiction, it would not be permissible for us to separate ourselves from you [our duke]. Yet now, since we are free, and hold our king and Emperor the supreme defender of our liberty on earth, as soon as we desert him, we lose our liberty, which no good man, as it is said, loses save with his life. Since this is so, we are willing to obey whatever honorable and just requirement you make of us. If, however, you will something which is contrary to this, we shall return freely into that position whence we came under certain conditions to you.

-Anselm and Frederick, Counts of the Holy Roman Empire, Gesta Chuonradi II Imperatoris