L'Eglise Aristotelicienne Romaine The Roman and Aristotelic Church

[Hernando.castellanos]

Hernando arriving alone as a humble and faithful pilgrim, stepped for the first time into the venerable halls of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in the holy city of Rome. After weeks of prayer and meditation, he felt ready to plead for the rebirth of the Thomist Order, extinguished two years prior. Filled with profound faith and a fervent desire to revive this tradition, he reverently approached the Congregation's secretary, requesting an audience.

May the Almighty bless this sacred place.

He began, his voice resonating with respect.

I am Hernando Castellanos and in my own name, as the last defender of the Thomist Order, I come today to humbly seek an interview. Though declared extinct, the order’s ideals remain alive, within me and my heart. I earnestly seek the opportunity to submit new statutes, fully in line with the principles of our Holy Church, so that this order, embodying values and faith, may be reborn under your benevolence.

Hernando gathered himself in silent prayer, hopeful that a benevolent voice would invite him in and allow the Thomist Order’s flame to live again.
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[Branwyn]

Hernando Castellano wurde hereingebeten und angekündigt. Die Präfektin stand unweit der Tür im Raum, blickte dem Mann freundlich entgegen und als sich die Bürotür hinter im Schloss, begrüßte sie ihn herzlich.

"Ich grüße Euch Hernando und freu mich Euch hier begrüßen zu dürfen. Mein Name ist Branwyn von Hohenzollern-Habsburg. Als Präfektin für das Römische Regulare Kapitel bin ich Eure Ansprechpartnerin."

Sie deutete auf die Sitzgruppe vor dem Kamin.

"Bitte, nehmt Platz und erzählt mir von Euch und dem Orden." Bevor sie sich setzte, schaute sie zu Hernando.

"Möchtet Ihr etwas trinken? Ich habe erfrischendes Heiligenbronner Bier im Angebot. Allerdings kann ich Euch auch einen französischen Weißwein oder einen italienischen Rotwein anbieten. Daneben habe ich noch frischen Apfelmost oder Quellwasser."


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Hernando Castellano was invited in and announced.
The prefect stood not far from the door in the room, looked at the man in a friendly manner and when the office door closed behind her, she greeted him warmly.

"I greet you Hernando and am pleased to welcome you here. My name is Branwyn von Hohenzollern-Habsburg. As Prefect of the Roman Regular Chapter, I am your contact person."

She pointed to the seating area in front of the fireplace.

"Please, take a seat and tell me about yourself and the Order." Before she sat down, she looked at Hernando.

"Would you like something to drink? I have some refreshing Heiligenbronn beer on offer. However, I can also offer you a French white wine or an Italian red wine. I also have fresh cider or spring water."
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[Hernando.castellanos]

Hernando responded to the invitation with a measured step, his gaze fixed appreciatively on the Prefect, before offering a slight bow of respect. He moved towards the designated seat by the fireplace and spoke with a restrained emotion in his voice.

Thank you deeply for this warm welcome, Your Excellency. It is rare to find a place and a person who offer such respect to ideals once thought lost.

Hernando took a breath before responding to her offer, considering his words carefully.

I would gladly accept a glass of Italian red wine, if you don’t mind, to honor this sacred land.

As he took his seat, he looked up at her, his expression marked by genuine sincerity.

As for myself… I am Hernando Castellanos, a man who has always felt the call of faith and, on my spiritual journey, discovered the ideals of the Thomist Order. Though declared extinct, this order has given me a clear vision of virtue and inner discipline. It seemed unthinkable to me that these ideals, these precepts, would cease to guide souls who, like myself, seek a path of peace and service. That is why, as the last defender of this order, I am here to plead for its reinstatement.
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[Branwyn]

She listened to him attentively. She poured him some of the excellent red wine and placed the glass on the table, which was made from the green glass from Frankenstein that her brother had had made.

Then she sat down and continued to listen. "It is an honourable task to revive this order. I hope it will succeed. Let's work together to revive the order."
Smiling, she raised her glass to toast him. After a sip of the excellent wine, she put the glass back on the table. "Have you familiarised yourself with the regulations that must be fulfilled in order to found an order or revive it?"
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[Hernando.castellanos]

Hernando felt the weight of the mission he had undertaken, a responsibility not chosen but thrust upon him, like an unquenchable flame. He accepted the glass of red wine from the Prefect, offering a gentle smile of gratitude before turning inward to his deepest contemplations.

Your Excellency.

He began, his voice resonating with emotion.

Saint Thomas remains for me a beacon, a fixed star in the constellation of our faith. His teachings remind us that man must never cease his search for Truth, for faith without reason is blind, just as reason without faith is futile.

He paused, letting the gravity of his words linger, before continuing with renewed fervor.

The Thomist Order, declared extinct, embodied this perpetual quest for balance between faith and reason. Saint Thomas, in his wisdom, taught us that human intellect is meant to understand God's work better, not to oppose it. Every rational thought, every spiritual contemplation is an act of reverence.

Hernando's gaze drifted into the crackling fire, as if seeking answers within the flames.

Yet the Thomist Order was never solely an intellectual pursuit. It drew inspiration from the teachings of our blessed. Minus Mailhes defined the virtue of self-preservation, an essential faculty to work for the survival of both soul and body, not out of selfishness but to honor Divine Creation. This virtue reminds us that neglecting our existence is an offense to the Almighty, who created us to perpetuate and protect humanity.

He straightened, as if invigorated by the significance of his message.

In this context, Saint Thomas always emphasized that preserving human life is also preserving divine creation. For humanity, as a creature of the Almighty, is the guardian of this world. Voluntary loss of life, self-destruction, or harming others contradicts the fundamental teachings given to us.

Hernando met the Prefect’s eyes, his gaze filled with unyielding resolve.

And what of the teachings of Blessed Girtan? He taught us that true peace is the fruit of attentive listening and a heart open to others. The Thomist Order has always strived to cultivate this peace, not as a simplistic utopia but as a demanding ideal.

His voice softened, yet remained steadfast.

I have spent many nights meditating on what it truly means to revive an order that left such a profound spiritual legacy. It is not merely a return to the past but a rebirth—a chance to restore one of the most solid pillars of Aristotelian faith: the sacred union of reason and faith, what Saint Thomas called the ‘Golden Mean.’
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[Branwyn]

Branwyn had listened attentively to the young man's passionate speech and had to smile. This was exactly how the commitment to religion had to be. With dedication and passion and full commitment.

Nevertheless, these qualities were not quite enough to have an order recognised. So she had to ask the question. "I admire your dedication and passion for the cause," she explained in a soft voice. "Let's see what we can do to get the Order recognised again. Do you have a statute for the order with you and a list of members?"
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[Hernando.castellanos]

Hernando bowed his head slightly, grateful for the Prefect's attention to his cause. His passion for restoring the Thomist Order had brought him this far, but he knew that faith alone, however fervent, was not always enough to breathe life back into an institution.

Your Excellency. He replied, his voice filled with sincerity. I must admit that at this moment, the Thomist Order exists only as a pious wish. I stand here as a humble servant and, for now, as the only potential member of this noble order. However, I am ready to dedicate my efforts to preaching Thomist values, to gathering a community that embodies these ideals, and to training myself to return with brothers and sisters united by this faith.

He paused, his gaze filled with determination.

However, I wish to understand the framework in which such a restoration might be feasible. Is there a minimum number of members or adherents required for the order to be considered viable and deserving of certification? I seek to know the precise criteria so that I may build this Thomist community, in full respect of the rules of our Holy Church.
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[Branwyn]

"I understand your wish very well," she replied gently and smiled. "And I hope for your sake that you can fulfil the requirements for recognition by the Order. I really wish that for you."

When he asked about the requirements, she explained what had to be met.

"In order to found an order, you must first apply for labeling. This is the precursor to final recognition.
In order to have your group labelled, you need the following:

- Ten active members - All ten members must be baptised Aristotelians
- If the members have committed crimes or offences, they must have served their sentence and confessed their transgressions
- The members who wish to hold the leadership position must not have had any problems with the law.
- The group needs a statute that prescribes the Aristotelian religion as the only faith in the order
- The statute must conform to canon law and dogma
- Each member must take an oath.

If all this is in place, then two leaders of this order are labelled.
Two Aristotelian bishops must take over the sponsorship and you must establish a community parish within the order, with a cleric accredited according to the rules of the CDF.

Then it needs another building. This building also needs to be labelled. In order for the building to be labelled, the group must be labelled first.
Then it needs the authorisation of the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese in which the building is to be located. The authorisation of the establishment of a nobleman or the donation of the building by this nobleman or a secular power.

In order to have the order finally recognised, there is a probationary period of at least four months. It could also be longer.

The requirements for this are then:
- labelled group for at least four months
- presence of twenty baptised members
- presence of 5 active members of the secular clergy (deacon, priest, ... ) and Roman congregations
- sponsorship of four Aristotelian (arch)bishops and/or rectors of an ORR
- the internal status must include: at least elective procedures and procedures for the control of all its members
- the Order must clearly distinguish between the three paths within it: secular clergy, regular clergy, oblates
- the Order must ensure the religious formation of its members through a novitiate before definitive admission to the Order."
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[Hernando.castellanos]

Hernando, after listening intently to the Prefect’s detailed explanations, nodded softly, absorbing the magnitude of the challenges that lay ahead. His gaze grew more contemplative, and when he spoke again, it was with deference tinged with curiosity.

Your Excellency, I am deeply grateful for these clarifications. They clearly outline the path I must follow to hope for the rebirth of the Thomist Order. However, one question remains crucial in my eyes, tied to the sacred place that could host this revival.

He paused, carefully choosing his words.

The old abbey in Clermont, which once housed the tomb of Saint Thomas, remains a central symbol for all who draw inspiration from his teachings. Do you know if this place is now abandoned or if the diocese has reclaimed it? I believe that a site imbued with such memory and sanctity would be essential to anchor the Thomist Order in spiritual and historical continuity.

Hernando rested his hands calmly on his knees as he added with heartfelt sincerity.

If this place is still under the protection of the Church, I would like to know what steps might be taken to recover it or, at the very least, to establish a connection between it and the new Thomist community I am striving to build.

He lifted his eyes to the Prefect, the flame of conviction burning in his gaze.

I understand that this cannot happen without a solid foundation and a united community. But I believe that the tomb of Saint Thomas would be the perfect heart for this revival.
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[Branwyn]

In front of her sat a young man who wanted to tackle this matter with heart, mind and dedication. It almost broke her heart that the hurdles he had to overcome were so high.

"I admire your dedication," she admitted with a smile. "As for the abbey in Clermont, I'll get some information. Can you tell me the name of the abbey? Who donated the abbey or the land for the abbey?"If she had more information about the abbey, she could ask for more information about it.

"I think we'll soon know what the situation is with the abbey in Clermont and then we can consider what can be done. In the meantime, tell me a bit about yourself. Where were you born and raised? What was your background and how or when did you join the Order?"

The prefect was very interested in the people she met.
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