Defending the faith

Fr Schofield has a fascinating post (Defensor Fidei) about King James II in exile unsheathing his sword and holding it aloft during the gospel, apparently on account of English Sovereigns being granted the title "Fidei Defensor" following the publication of Henry VIII#'s Assertio Septem Sacramentorum. (The initials F.D. are still inscribed on English coinage.)

I was going to suggest that perhaps one of the military orders could find whoever is the current Stuart descendant with the best claim to the throne and arrange a High Mass somewhere with a bit of sword-raising. But perhaps November the fifth is not the right day for such treasonable thoughts...

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