To the beloved faithful of the Old Roman Apostolate

Carissimi

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1).

On this holy feast of the Epiphany, we are reminded of the radiant light of Christ—a light that pierces through the deepest darkness and calls all nations to the truth. The Magi, representing the wisdom of the nations, were drawn to the star of Bethlehem, journeying through peril to pay homage to the true King. Today, we too are summoned to follow that light, amidst a world darkened by apathy, ignorance, and deliberate sin cloaked in false virtue.

A World in Crisis

We cannot ignore the profound brokenness that characterizes much of our modern societies. The Grooming Gangs scandal, with its systemic failures and moral cowardice, and the corrupting harm of Gender Ideology lays bare a society that has abandoned the weak to their predators, preferring the silence of complicity to the courage of justice. The duplicity of political leaders, who campaign on one set of promises and govern by another, reveals a class driven not by the common good but by self-interest and ideological servitude. A materialist and consumerist society driven by a greed that knows no limits to its sense of self, self-interest and possessive obsession.

Our politics have become arenas of hypocrisy and polarization, poisoned by cultural Marxism and critical theories that sow division and enmity. These ideologies elevate resentment to a virtue, dismantling the bonds of charity and truth upon which a just society must stand, falsely revising the history of our common humanity to exact faux revenge and ill conceived vengeance for a contemporary imagined injustice. The unchecked influx of mass immigration, coupled with the spread of radical ideologies, threatens the demographic, cultural, and democratic integrity of Europe and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, collusion with evil – whether through apathy or active support – prevents nations from upholding the righteous actions of those courageous enough to call out or act to address the broader scourges of ideological totalitarian oppression and terrorism.

We see, too, the growing pressures on Christian witness in the public square. Increasingly, faith is marginalized, our dogmatic principles undermined and fictionalised, and moral truths are suppressed in favour of a culture that celebrates sin as virtue. A world threatened by thought, private prayer, overt charity, self-sacrifice, chastity, fidelity and true virtue. A world that cowers from truth. In such a world, standing for truth becomes an act of defiance, but it is a defiance rooted in love – a love that desires salvation for all.

The Hope of Christ’s Light

Yet, into this world of shadows, the light of Christ still shines. The message of the Epiphany is that the truth cannot be extinguished, for it emanates from the eternal Word of God. The Magi’s journey reminds us that even amidst chaos and confusion, there is a path to truth, discernible to those who earnestly seek it, and that the only worthy response is to humble oneself before it, surrendering all that is most precious.

Yet the light of Christ that calls us to action, is not a passive glow but a fire that ignites courage and righteousness. The Church, as the guardian of this light, must refuse to bend to the false idols of our age. We are called to be witnesses of truth, even when it costs us, and to stand against the evils that threaten the dignity of human life, the sanctity of family, and the sovereignty of nations under God.

The hope we proclaim is not mere optimism but a living assurance in Christ. It is the hope that transforms despair into trust, fear into courage, and division into unity under the banner of truth. This hope invites all people – regardless of background – to join in the joy of the Gospel.

A Call to Conversion

The darkness of our age is not merely external. Each of us must examine the shadows in our own hearts. The sins of apathy, cowardice, and complicity begin with individuals who prefer comfort to conviction. The light of Christ demands repentance, a turning away from sin, and a renewal of our minds and hearts.

In the Epiphany gospel, Herod exemplifies the “prince of this world” (John 14:30) with his duplicity (Matthew 2:8) and murderous will (Matthew 2:16) to preserve his power and control. Modernist exegetes obfuscate his sin as they do Judas, appealing to nihilism, blaming prophecy (Matthew 2:18), instead of recognising the disastrous exploitation of his freewill and culpability for his actions, just as they seek to cover their own faults and excuse sin with their obfuscating eisegeses.

There are many within the Church who try to extinguish the light of truth, refracturing it through the subjective prism of their relativism. Some through ignorance, some led and misguided by emotions and unrestored nature, some desiring to make the uncomfortable truths of the Gospel reconcile with worldly attitudes. Many have succumbed to the wiles of the Devil through his appeals to their prideful self.

As shepherds of God’s people, we call on all who read this letter to resist the seductive lies of false virtue. Compassion without truth is not love but deception. Tolerance without justice is not peace but betrayal. Love without sacrifice is no love at all. Let us embrace the authentic virtues of faith, hope, and charity, grounded in the unchanging truth of Christ.

Moreover, let us cultivate a spirit of prayer and fasting, recognizing that the spiritual battle we face requires spiritual weapons. In humility, we must intercede for our world, asking God to illuminate minds, soften hearts, and embolden spirits. We must embrace our own crosses of death to self and sacrifice self-interest for the sake of the higher purpose to which we are all called, to realise the common good and serve the supreme good.

Christ, the True King

The Epiphany reveals Christ as the King of kings, whose reign brings peace and justice. No earthly power can usurp His authority, and no ideology can overshadow His truth. Let us draw courage from this reality, knowing that we serve a sovereign Lord whose light will never be overcome by darkness.

Let us remember that we are not alone in this mission. The communion of saints surrounds us, offering their prayers and examples. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea, guides us toward her Son, teaching us to say, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5). Our Lord Himself told us where His kingdom is – within our hearts (Luke 17:21)!

May this holy season be a time of renewal for all of us. Let us recommit ourselves to Christ, the light of the world, and become bearers of His light in our families, communities, and nations. Let us pray fervently for our leaders, that they may be guided by wisdom and courage. And let us work tirelessly to build a society that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Kingdom of God.

“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5).

With every blessing in Christ,

I.X.

Brichtelmestunensis
In Vigilia Epiphaniæ MMXXV A.D.

Oremus

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