72 years ago, today, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente received the gift of apostolic succession.
On the morning of Wednesday, April 7, 1948, at the Pro-Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, Manila, Republic of the Philippines, through action authorized by the House of Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, one of the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the gift of Apostolic Succession was solemnly conveyed to the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. Apostolic Succession was bestowed on to three Bishops of the Filipino Catholic Church through The Rt. Rev. Norman S. Binsted, Bishop of the Missionary District of the Philippines, Consecrator, acting for the Presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Philippines, Consecrator, acting for the Presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and Co-Consecrators, The Rt. Rev. Robert Franklin Wilner, Suffragan Bishop of the Missionary District of Honolulu. General Emilio Aguinaldo acted as Sponsor for the three Filipino Bishops. With the conveyance of the gift of Apostolic Succession to the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, the validity of its Orders has preserved its cherished independence. With pride in the record of its people in laying the foundations of national as well as ecclesiastical independence and strengthened by the blessing of Apostolic Orders, the Filipino Church shall undertake its work in the spirit of the Blessed Apostles for the spiritual and moral elevation of the people of the Philippines and the general welfare of the Republic. (Source: The Filipino Missal)
“The Holy Spirit has heard our prayers”, General Emilio Aguinaldo said to the first three Filipino Bishops who received the gift of apostolic succession.
The Theology of Struggle. 