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PRINCESS REMOVED FROM THE BRITISH ROYAL LINE OF SUCCESSION AFTER BECOMING CATHOLIC

After converting to Catholicism in 2018, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, a member of the Royal Family of Monaco, was removed from her distant position in the line of succession for the British Crown.

Princess Alexandra of Hanover is the only child of Prince Ernst August of Hanover and Princess Caroline of Monaco. She was born on July 20, 1999, at Vöcklabruck, in Upper Austria. Alexandra is the only one of Princess Caroline’s four children who bear any royal style or title. Through her father, she is descended from Victoria, Princess Royal (1840-1901), the eldest child of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and Prince Albert (1819-1861).

Princess Alexandra was baptized as a Lutheran in keeping with the rest of the family on 19 September 1999, by the leader of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover in a ceremony at her father’s hunting lodge. After deciding to follow her mother, Princess Caroline’s footsteps, she was removed from her far place in the British line of succession after becoming Catholic.

The British Monarch is the head of the established Church of England, barring Catholics and any other non-Protestants from ascending to the throne. While the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013 allows heirs to marry Catholics and non-Protestants, they are still banned from becoming sovereign and must be in communion with the Church of England.

Alexandra's baptism was private and took place at her father's home in Auerbach, near Grünau im Almtal, Upper Austria. Her godparents are her paternal aunt the Princess (Alexandra) of Leiningen, her maternal half-sister Charlotte Casiraghi, Ulrike Ulmschneider, Maryam Sachs, Virginia Gallico, George Condo, and Eric Maier.

No photos of the baptism were released, but the event was covered by the French, German and Austrian press.

While barred from the British throne, Princess Alexandra of Hanover is still 12th in line for the Monegasque throne.

Sources:

ucatholic.com/ | http://bit.ly/2MwiOt4

Catholic News Agency | http://bit.ly/3pN5O0B

Source: CBCP News| Ryan Christopher J. Sorote

19 September 2020

Manila, Philippines

The original image of Sto. Niño de Malitbog in the possession of an antique collector from Metro Manila. PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCIS ONG

A centuries-old statue of the infant Jesus stolen from a parish church in Southern Leyte province has been found after more than three decades.

The Sto. Niño will soon find its way home to the Holy Child Church in Malitbog town. Thanks to a devotee and antique collector from Manila who opted to return the image.

Francis Ong said that on Sept. 18 he found an article with photos about the missing statue and had “uncanny semblance” to an image in his collection.

With the help of his friends, Ong was immediately able to get in touch with the Diocese of Maasin, which confirmed that the image under his possession is in fact Malitbog’s lost icon.

“There was no remorse nor regret but pure joy and happiness for not everyone is made a conduit for the recovery of such spiritual and cultural treasures,” he said.

Ong, who works as a marketing professional for a pharmaceutical company, said he acquired the image only in November 2019 because its last owner passed away.

“What a privilege to be able to have in our home for a few months, such a revered and miraculous Niño,” he said.

Malitbog became a parish in April 1850. The Sto. Niño image was enshrined inside the church after its construction in 1857.

Fr. Mark Vincent Salang, the diocese’s chancellor, said local accounts believe that Malitbog Santo Niño was crafted by local artisans in the 1720s “to be a replica of Cebu’s Santo Niño”.

The “crudeness” of the image’s design, according to him, is evident of local craftsmanship.

In 1988, however, the revered statue along with some church artifacts were stolen from the parish.

Fr. Salang said “it is truly providential” that the image will return in time for the Church’s celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.

The diocese has been preparing for the quincentennial celebration of the First Easter Mass that happened on Limasawa Island this coming March 31, 2021.

Fr. Salang said they have also commissioned the creation of Sto. Niño image, which they would enthrone at Limasawa Island to remind the pilgrims of its connection with the image in Cebu.

“Was it the Child Jesus found or was it us finding Him?” the priest said. “It’s coming home to a community that continues to have a burning devotion to the Child Jesus.”

“We will forever be grateful to you for being instrumental in the return of this sacred image of the infant Jesus,” Fr. Salang told Ong.

Ong said he will turn over the image on Sunday to an atelier that was asked by the diocese for the minor restoration works.

He said the plan is to return the statue before the Malitbog fiesta celebration on January 15 next year (2021).