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    A Divine Truth: A Modern Catholic Trilogy, #2
    A Divine Truth: A Modern Catholic Trilogy, #2
    A Divine Truth: A Modern Catholic Trilogy, #2
    Ebook270 pages3 hours

    A Divine Truth: A Modern Catholic Trilogy, #2

    By Hilary Walker

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    About this ebook

    From the best-selling author of 'A Truthful Man'

    Saving souls? Or chasing glory?

    Father James' bishop is determined to ensure he remains in permanent exile without pay. As a result, the cancelled priest is reduced to stacking shelves in the village grocery to earn a living.

    He then discovers that his bishop ousted him without duly following Canon law. Confident of being reinstated, he sends a letter of appeal to the Vatican. But the bishop mails a poisoned missive to Rome to ensure Father James' appeal never gets heard. He then throws more pastors out of their parishes.

    Father James senses God is calling him to help these cancelled priests. But how can he achieve this?

    And can he successfully fight his unjust removal in Rome?

    You will find yourself rooting for Father James as he strives to shepherd souls, not combat his superiors.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHilary Walker
    Release dateJan 15, 2023
    ISBN9798215810330
    A Divine Truth: A Modern Catholic Trilogy, #2
    Author

    Hilary Walker

    British born bestselling author Hilary Walker writes uplifting Christian fiction that transports readers into the healing world of horses. She lives on Hilton Head Island with two British bulldogs and her husband, who hopes she'll get interested in golf.  No luck so far. Instead she rides competitive dressage on her homebred Welsh cross gelding, and enjoys taking him on the trails.

    Read more from Hilary Walker

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      Book preview

      A Divine Truth - Hilary Walker

      Introduction

      The book previous to this, A Truthful Man, was intended as a standalone novel. But when readers kept asking, ‘What happens next?’ I set out to discover the answer.

      Bishop Marsden

      The bishop of Ruddminster represents the attitude of a lot of the clergy in the Catholic Church at the moment.

      His reaction to Father James’ sermons on sin is an example of the modernists’ aggression toward the traditions of the Church founded by Christ, and their attempts to water down His words.

      As I was writing this book, I listened to Podcast #853 by Dr. Taylor Marshall, in which he plays an interview with an older Irish priest. The clergyman states his concern over the lack of vocations to the priesthood at the same time as saying I despair of young priests who talk about sin and want the traditional Latin Mass. He also voices a problem with their wishing to wear black cassocks just like in the 40s and 50s. Why doesn’t he want them to look like priests?

      He even goes so far as to state that he’d rather have nothing than these devout men. 

      Nothing is what we’re headed for if we’re not careful!

      ––––––––

      Cancelled Priests Need a Home, Too

      In the first book, I mentioned the Coalition for Cancelled Priests in America, and how those good people are raising funds to help persecuted pastors. The coalition is actively working to procure a property they can turn into ‘a place of refuge for clergy.’

      This formed the model for a similar project in my imaginary diocese of Ruddminster, England, where Bishop Robert Marsden continues to remove God-fearing priests from their parishes, forces them to leave their rectories and stops paying them.

      The Coalition for Cancelled Priests is being asked to secure properties outside the USA, too.  Who knows, maybe someone who reads this book will start the same project in the United Kingdom? Wouldn’t that be wonderful!

      The Pope

      As a practising Catholic, I want to make it clear that I am not against the papacy. But our current pontiff does seem to be taking the Church in an unfortunate direction and undoing millennia of tradition in the process.

      It appears that he is being led astray by people who have no interest in the saving of souls but rather in the destruction of the Catholic Church. Those individuals are the manifestation of ‘the smoke of Satan’ within the Church, as Pope Paul VI warned.

      I pray for our pope daily, especially in light of the words of Father Michel Rodrigue, priest, exorcist, mystic, and founder of a fraternity in Canada, who prophesied that Pope Francis will come to regret his actions and attempt to unite the Church again, but it will be too late and he is destined to die a martyr’s death. (Page 453 of Revelations by Xavier Reyes-Ayral, Published 2022 by Austin Macauley Publishers LLC.)

      Therefore, he is in dire need of our prayers.

      A Church in Peril

      A Truthful Man and A Divine Truth were written to expose the dangers facing the Catholic Church from within.

      Many members of the clergy are abandoning God’s Truth for the sake of ‘going along to get along’ with the secular world. They have forgotten what it means to be good shepherds of the flock entrusted to them by Jesus. Worse still, when they reach positions of power, they do all they can to prevent good and holy priests from preaching the truths of the Gospel.

      Mother Church needs us to imitate Christ by staying strong in our faith and accepting the consequences.

      May this book encourage all Christians to stand by God’s eternal truths, regardless of how unpopular it makes you. May it rally Catholics among you to stand firm with the Church in her hour of need, when it is the most tempting to abandon her.

      And now, I hope you enjoy following the goings-on in King’s Brambling!

      God bless,

      Hilary

      [email protected]

      Visit my website to check out my other books and download a free copy of the first book in the Riding Out series: https://HilaryWalkerBooks.com

      See you there!

      If you enjoy this novel, would you please consider leaving a review on your favourite online book seller?

      Reviews are the lifeblood of authors and help spread the word about our books.

      For the good and holy priests who have been unjustly removed from their priestly duties.

      May they never lose their ardour for preaching the Truth.

      And for the faithful who have lost their good shepherds.

      Chapter One: The Bishop’s Plans

      Sunday, April 7th

      Bishop Robert Marsden sat at his heavy oak desk, in the office on the upper floor of the Victorian mansion which had served as the Bishop’s Palace for the past hundred and fifty years.

      It was still Lent and a fortnight before Easter. Which meant two long weeks to endure before he could give up his Lenten fast. 

      He didn’t wish anyone but the Lord to know that he’d forsaken chocolate desserts for these forty days, because, to the average man, that might not seem much. But the Lord could see into his heart and knew what a true sacrifice it was.

      And it came on top of his other problem.

      He rotated his soft leather chair to face the window, and gazed upon the sweeping back gardens to soothe his nerves.

      But today the historic topiaries – those flourishing descendants of boxwoods, planted by Sir Thomas More during his visit to the cathedral next door in 1530 – failed to calm his growing impatience. With an angry snort, he swivelled round to face the desk.

      He’d resumed drumming his fingers on the green leather inlay, when a shaft of light burst through the window pane, over his shoulder, piercing the four-carat amethyst on his bishop’s ring. The massive gem sparkled with sudden vibrant energy – then a cloud extinguished the sunray and left behind a dull purple stone.

      Bishop Marsden gave another derisive snort. His power over the faithful entrusted to him, as prelate of Ruddminster City and diocese, was as illusory as the brilliance of that amethyst.

      Of the eight men and women he’d recruited, each in a different parish, as yet only two had called with the information he’d requested about their pastor. That was last Sunday, and he’d better hear from the other six parishioners today. It made him livid they were taking so long to obey their bishop.

      He was still smarting from his brother-in-law’s abrupt departure from the lunch table a few weeks ago. The upstart had had the affrontery to preach to him – him, the bishop! – about the meaning of Scripture, then left him to eat his steak au poivre with scalloped potatoes and asparagus tips by himself while staring across the table at a plate with an identical meal sitting on it. Even he couldn’t manage to eat both.

      He’d fed the servers with some lame excuse about an urgent phone summons to explain his guest’s sudden disappearance. But it was obvious that the man had left in high dudgeon with the bishop.

      Mark’s defection to Father James Stryker had only hardened his resolve to purge the diocese, and preferably the whole country, of rebel priests who perniciously held onto the old-fashioned teachings of the Catholic Church, and refused to move with the times.

      To this end, he’d called into service a member of each parish in the diocese. He told them to report back on the sermons of their pastors, so he could reward those priests for their fidelity to Church teaching. They had swallowed it; after all, he was the bishop. Who were they to doubt his motives?

      There was, however, one parish whose congregation stubbornly refused to assist his efforts to update the Church.

      King’s Brambling had yielded not one single person willing to let their bishop know how Father Gregory was doing. Father James, his predecessor whom the bishop had ousted, was almost certainly exerting a bad influence on the young pastor.

      The bishop ground his teeth. Father James was a sore reminder of his own zealous self, when he’d first been ordained. The priest’s piety was odious, a rebuke to the bishop and his modern enlightened views.

      I have to turn someone in King’s Brambling against him and Father Gregory!

      Chapter Two: The Canon Lawyer

      The Same Sunday

      Father James wished he had a more fitting venue for his meeting with Monsignor Murray.

      The canon lawyer was here to discuss the priest’s appeal to Rome against the bishop’s removal of him as pastor of tiny St. Jude Church by the cliffs above King’s Brambling.

      But there was no hiding from the monsignor where he lived. He now resided in the bed and breakfast run by his university friend, Rebecca Luckton, who gave him a break on her daily rate and didn’t charge him for keeping Judith, his Border Collie, there too.

      Worse, given the confidential nature of their discussion, it had to take place in the priest’s cramped bedroom.

      At least it has a great view of the beach, Father James told his dog.

      She wagged her tail, for she’d heard, ‘This is a great time for a walk.’ Apologising for the confusion, he patted her on the head. Not just yet. But I’ll definitely need a walk after this session.

      Judith went to her bed and turned around three times before settling down to await the longed-for moment.

      Father James checked his old Timex; ten minutes to eleven. With a quick prayer and a deep sigh, he walked out of his room and down to the lobby area.

      As he reached the foot of the creaky staircase, Rebecca appeared from the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish cloth covered with starfish and octopi. Your guest is already here, Father. I put him in the breakfast room.

      Thank you. I’ll take him up to my room. No need for other ears to overhear our conversation.

      She looked disappointed. I suppose not, Father. But I do hope that man can help you.

      So do I!

      Why don’t I bring you up some tea and scones?

      Father James had the uncharitable suspicion that this was a ploy to do some eavesdropping. But her offer of comfort food was impossible to refuse. Thank you, Rebecca, as I’ve said many times, you’re an angel.

      Get away with you, Father! Go see to your visitor. Slightly flushed, she retreated into her kitchen.

      Monsignor Murray was sitting in a chair by the alcove where Father James ate his meals. From there one could see the village green, and beyond it the waves breaking on the sandy beach.

      He rose and extended his hand with an amiable smile. His eyes exuded genuine friendliness through thick glasses and his short, squat figure was an interesting complement to the priest’s tall wiriness.

      Welcome to my current accommodation, Monsignor, said Father James, shaking the man’s hand. I appreciate your coming to help me.

      I’m very pleased to meet you, Father, although I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances. He looked out of the window. I must say, I like your ‘current accommodation’ very much.

      My landlady will be happy to hear that. Father James stretched out his hand towards the door. I think we’d be better served by going up to my room. He lowered his voice to avoid upsetting Rebecca. It’s rather confined, I’m afraid, but will afford more privacy.

      The monsignor replied, sotto voce, Privacy is of the utmost importance, Father, I agree. He picked up a large black briefcase and raised his voice. Lead on!

      As they walked up the complaining steps, Father James said, My landlady is going to bring us up a Devon cream tea. I hope that’s alright.

      My Goodness, I haven’t had one of those in a month of Sundays!

      Father James opened the door to room 33 and Judith leapt up from her bed to greet the priest as if he’d been gone for a week.

      She then sat on her haunches in front of him and raised her forepaws. He laughed and gently took them in his hands. I’m happy to see you, too, Judith. Now say ‘hello’ to Monsignor Murray. He let the Border Collie down and turned to his guest. I hope you don’t mind dogs?

      Love ‘em, said the man, going down on his haunches. C’mere, girl!

      Judith was there in a single bound and rolled over to have her stomach scratched. Laughing, Monsignor Murray duly obliged. You’re as shameless as my Bess!

      You have a dog, too? This man was growing on Father James by the second.

      Of course! All good clerics have dogs, surely?

      What breed is Bess?

      Golden retriever. Wish I’d brought her with me, now.

      Judith would have enjoyed the company, said Father James. Shall we get down to business? He indicated the single armchair in the room and sat down on the bed opposite.

      Absolutely! The monsignor carried his heavy briefcase over and sank into the well-worn cushions.

      As he was fishing papers out, he said, Now, I need to ask what process the bishop followed when he dismissed you.

      I don’t understand. What process?

      Monsignor Murray tut-tutted. That’s what I was afraid of. Under Canon Law a due process has to be followed before a priest can be removed.

      I’m all ears, said Father James.

      Halfway through the monsignor’s explanation a knock sounded on the door. That would be Rebecca with the tea, yet Father James almost wished she’d forgotten about it, so absorbed was he in the astounding nature of what he was hearing.

      But he opened the door to her.

      All going well, I hope? she said.

      So far, so good.

      Rebecca brought in a large tray, looking for somewhere to deposit it. Oh, dear, I didn’t think this through, did I?

      Father James spread a towel on the bed. Are you comfortable laying it on there?

      She nodded and gingerly put it down, then stood back to see how well balanced it was. Seems to be holding up just fine, doesn’t it? she finally declared.

      It most certainly is, agreed both men.

      I’ll leave you to it, then, gentlemen.

      Thank you enormously, Rebecca.

      Father James poured the tea and distributed the scones, clotted cream and raspberry jam. While they spread the delicious items on their steaming hot scones, Father James said, So you’re saying that Bishop Marsden didn’t follow Canon Law when he dismissed me?

      "Correct. He did not.

      "First of all, to start proceedings, you needed to meet certain conditions outlined in Canon Law, including actions which are ‘gravely detrimental or disturbing to ecclesiastical communion,’ together with permanent mental or physical ill-health, loss of good reputation among your flock and neglect of your duties as pastor.

      "Even if you had met those conditions, the bishop is supposed to have consulted formally with members of the diocesan priests’ council before contacting you.

      "He should then have allowed you to see the evidence against you, so you could produce a defence. Which the bishop was obliged to discuss with the appointed priests from the council.

      While that was all going on, he was not allowed to remove you as pastor nor put a replacement in your stead.

      Father James couldn’t conceal his amazement at the discrepancy between events as they’d unfolded and the way they should have.

      Monsignor Murray looked at him. What was the bishop’s case against you, and were you given the opportunity to provide your defence?

      Father James leaned across the bed and picked his Breviary off the side table. From its pages he pulled out the fateful letter from Bishop Marsden. He handed it to Monsignor Murray, who pored over it with a deepening frown.

      ’Due to your divisive and ineffective preaching,’ he read out loud, then looked at the priest. Did he give examples of said preaching and invite you to defend it?

      Father James shook his head. No, and no.

      This is appalling! cried the monsignor. He continued reading; ’You must also vacate your present accommodation as I am sending a new priest to take over your duties.’ He shook his head and said, He may not remove you nor appoint your replacement while the process is ongoing.

      Father James laughed drily. What process?

      Precisely. Monsignor Murray. He took off his spectacles and peered intently at Father James. As far as I can see, this case is cut and dried, Father. I shall draft your appeal as swiftly as I can and send it for your approval and signature.  Then it will go to Rome, where the Congregation for Clergy, and maybe eventually even the Apostolic Signatura, will examine the decision and the process used to reach it.

      Father James smiled. So, you think this will be resolved quickly?

      The monsignor returned the spectacles to his nose. "I’m afraid I can’t promise that. Nothing happens quickly with the Vatican. But I can assure you that the bishop is very much in the wrong here, and we will get his decision reversed eventually."

      Eventually?

      Rome is being inundated with cases like yours and it’s going to take a while to sort through them all. But you will be exonerated, Father, of that you can be sure.

      Father James turned to his dog. You hear that, Judith? All will be well in the end.

      However, said the monsignor, in the meantime, I suggest you be very careful not to give the bishop any justification to defend his actions against you to the Vatican.

      Father James was crestfallen. But I have to keep spreading the Word of God. That’s my job!

      I would prayerfully consider what you’re doing, Father. You have a choice: take a back seat from preaching and eventually return to your parish, or continue spreading the Word through other means and increase the bishop’s ire. If I’m going to successfully plead your cause to the Vatican, perhaps you’ll opt for the former course of action?

      Thank you for your advice, Monsignor. I will, as you suggest, prayerfully consider my options.

      The monsignor took a screen shot of the bishop’s letter with his mobile phone for reference.

      Soon afterwards, Father James escorted him downstairs and bade him farewell.

      His parting words were, Remember my caution, Father, won’t you?

      When Father James re-entered his room Judith, still lying down, wagged her tail, reminding him of his promise to take her for a walk.

      As soon as they reached the beach, he unhooked her leash. She tore after a group of seagulls strutting importantly on the sand, and they took off untidily, squawking in loud indignation.

      Father James watched Judith bounce up and down, head high, daring the birds to come back, while he thought about the monsignor’s advice not to antagonise the bishop.

      But

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