I pledge allegiance to the Flag

[BroIgnatius]

There is only one Flag that I pledge allegiance. There is only one country to which I am a true citizen. The Country is the Kingdom of God and the flag is the flag of God's consulate on earth -- the Vatican.

Here is the Pledge of Allegiance to the Vatican Flag:

http://www.saint-mike.org/legion/Pledge/Index.html

 

[BroIgnatius]

What goes along with the Pledge of Allegiance is the Oath of Fidelity and Loyalty:

Here is the oath:

http://www.saint-mike.org/legion/Oath.html

 

[Irenaeus]

Dear Brother Ignatius,

Even the Vatican is not the "City of God," the kingdom of heaven to come in eternity, when God is all in all.

I'd still personally say the Pledge to my country, the United States.

Thank you for sharing!

 

[BroIgnatius]

Dear Brother Ignatius,
Even the Vatican is not the "City of God,"

That is why I said the Vatican Flag is the flag of the CONSULATE of the Kingdom.

There is nothing wrong with offering allegiance to one's country and flag and I do not mean to imply that it is a problem.

I do intend to imply and state, however, that as Christians our FIRST country is the Kingdom of God and our FIRST allegiance is to God and His Kingdom and as such God' kingdom is a higher priority.

Jesus was referring to this sort of thing when he said, "Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's".

Thus one can take the pledge to the Vatican Flag AND the pledge to their country's flag without contradiction. But one must always find the Kingdom of God as the First and primary citizenship if we be Christian.

For me and me alone, I tend to fly only the Vatican Flag and not the U.S. Flag. I feel in a really palatable way that this little property belonging to the Legion of St. Michael is like a consulate and territory of God's Kingdom and not of South Dakota. Now don't misunderstand me, I am not like the kooks in the wilderness of Montana who believe they has seceded from the United States and are not subject to its laws. In terms of legally and morally, I am a citizen of the United States and a recipient of the privileges that entails, and appreciate those privileges, and are subject to the laws of this country, and did serve this country in time of war.

For me personally, however, and this applies to me and no one else, I do not feel to be a citizen of any country, but God's country. I literally do not care what geography I may reside upon. Despite the privileges of living in the United States, I have no problems with the idea of living as an ex-patriot in some third world country or even living in an oppressive country. In some ways living in an overtly oppressive society is better then living in a society like the United States that has many oppressions, but hidden behind noble words.

Anyway, while this Allegiance to the Vatican Flag has a particular significance to me, no Catholic should be shy to make the pledge (and remain a patriot to their country at the same time).

 

[InnerPhyre]

I pledge my allegiance to

I. God
II. Church
III. The United States of America



In that order.

 

[BroIgnatius]

I pledge my allegiance to
I. God
II. Church
III. The United States of America
In that order.

Praise God!. Thought allegiance to the Church is allegiance to God, I understand what you are saying and repeat... Praise God.

 

[InnerPhyre]

I also want to clarify something. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic FOR WHICH IT STANDS.


If my country ever falls so far off the path that it is no longer the Republic for which the flag stands, my loyalty will end. Liberty or death.

 

[BroIgnatius]

I also want to clarify something. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

If my country ever falls so far off the path that it is no longer the Republic for which the flag stands, my loyalty will end. Liberty or death.

Yes, I understand.

That is one of the great things about allegiance to the flag that represents the Magisterium of God's Church -- there will never be a time in which that loyalty and allegiance will ever need to be rescinded.

 

[Archbishop 10-K]

BroIgnatius,

Thanks for the links. I also consider my earthly authority to be the Vatican City first, before the United States.

 

[BroIgnatius]

"Putting the SMACKDOWN on heresy since 1981!"

That is cute... I must remember that one.

 

[Archbishop 10-K]

That is cute... I must remember that one.

Oh, yes. Get your merchandise here. http://www.ratzingerfanclub.com/

 

[PeterPaul]

I stand with God and the Church as my primary allegiance.

 

[geocajun]

God then Country

 

[BroIgnatius]

Actually since I am a cat owner the order of priority in pledges is:

1) God and Church
2) Religious Vows
3) cats
4) then maybe, country

 

[geocajun]

why do folks tend to seperate God from Church (His body), or religious vows (promises to God)? Sure they can be distinguished from one another, but simply saying my first priority is God should sufficiently explain that your promises to God, and Church take presedence above all else.

 

[BroIgnatius]

why do folks tend to seperate God from Church (His body), or religious vows (promises to God)? Sure they can be distinguished from one another, but simply saying my first priority is God should sufficiently explain that your promises to God, and Church take presedence above all else.

I don't separate God and Church. I mentioned that in another post.

Religious vows are distinguished from baptismal vows that come from the Sacrment of God's Church. ALL Catholics make baptismal vows, only some Catholics make religious vows.

 

[geocajun]

I don't separate God and Church. I mentioned that in another post.

well actually you did - above you said:

Actually since I am a cat owner the order of priority in pledges is:

1) God and Church
2) Religious Vows
3) cats
4) then maybe, country

Religious vows are distinguished from baptismal vows that come from the Sacrment of God's Church. ALL Catholics make baptismal vows, only some Catholics make religious vows.

and?

 

[BroIgnatius]

well actually you did - above you said:
1) God and Church

<sigh>
Well first, cajun, that post was a JOKE and as such I made reference to the terminology people were using, but, as you noticed I put Church and God together. This is as it should be.

Second, if we go back to a serious post like post #6 you will see me say:
"allegiance to the Church is allegiance to God"

Third, for a little discussion on ontology, while the Church and God should be mentioned together in this context as mentioned above, the Church is not God anymore than the bride is the bridegroom. The Church reflects God perfectly, but is not God. The Church's Magisterium speaks for God. That is why allegiance to the Church is to give allegiance to God.