Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Who Is The Very Reverend Christian Canon Tutor, OSA? -- II

I also sent the following inquiry to the Order of Brigittine Monks in Amity, OR:
I’m currently dealing with an Anglican priest (Anglican Church in America) who was a member of the Briggitine Priory in Amity, OR from 1986 to 1997, when he left via exclaustration and a decision to leave the order. He is currently styling himself OSA.

Are monks in the Briggitine Priory members of the Order of St Augustine? It appears that you are actually Order of The Most Holy Savior. In addition, if you have left the Order are you still a member and entitled to style yourself as such?

Thanks for any help you may be able to provide.

I received this reply:
Dear Mr John Bruce,

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Thank you for your e-mail.

Although, you did not mention who the former brother is, we can deduce from the facts you presented to us who it is and we understand your concern.

The Order of the Most Holy Savior uses the Rule of Saint Augustine but we are not part of the Augustinian Order per se just like the Dominican Order uses the rule of St Augustine. The Order of the Most Holy Savior is an Order of itself and we use the Rule of the Savior as given to Saint Bridget of Sweden, our Foundress, as supplement to the Augustinian Rule.

If a brother left the Order or has been expelled from it he has no more right to use the initials after his name of whatever Order he was a member of, much less style himself as still a member of that Order.

No former member of this community of the Order of the Most Holy Savior has been granted the privilege of using the initials OSsS (Order of the Most Holy Savior) nor OSA (Order of St Augustine - which we cannot grant) after his name upon leaving the community/Order. Also, our community does not grant to former members any official status to act on our behalf nor do they have the right to represent our community in any way nor purport themselves as still part of our community as a brother.

We hope we have answered your questions. If you have any other questions or clarifications needed, please do not hesitate to contact us.

In Christ Jesus,

Brother Bernard Ner Suguitan, OSsS
Prior