FAQ About the Living Guardian
How do we Know Who is the Guardian?
Can I Read the Writings of the third Guardian?
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Ever since the Great Violation of the Covenant, it has been difficult for most seekers to sort out the truth about the Guardianship. [FN1} The search for the truth about the Guardianship is difficult, but not impossible. It requires the independent investigation of truth, and a patient and careful analysis of the Bahá'í Writings. In brief, Shoghi Effendi issued a proclamation on January 9, 1951 in which he created the Institution of the International Bahá'í Council. [FN2}
Charles Mason Remey was subsequently named as the President of the IBC. Shoghi Effendi clearly proclaimed to the Bahá'í World that the IBC was the embryonic Universal House of Justice.
After the death of Shoghi Effendi, Mason Remey proclaimed to the Bahá'í World that he was the Second Guardian because Shoghi Effendi's appointment of Remey as the President of the embryonic IBC meant that, upon activation of the IBC at Shoghi's death, Mason automatically became the head of the Universal House of Justice. The Guardian and the head of the Universal House of Justice are synonymous. [FN3] Mason Remey publicly appointed Joel B. Marangella as the third Guardian on September 21, 1964 by appointing him to be president of the Second International Bahá'í Council. Mason subsequently activated the Second IBC in October, 1965, whereupon Joel B. Marangella, as the head of the activated IBC acceded to the office of the Guardianship. [FN4} He was also appointed by a signed writing.
Joel B. Marangella is the living Guardian of the Cause.
Can I Read the Writings of the third Guardian?
The writings of the third Guardian, Joel B. Marangella, are available on his web site at www.bahai-guardian.com. Also, printed materials are available from the National Bahá'í Council of the United States, PO Box 3201, Roswell, NM 88201
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[FN2} "Proclaim National Assemblies of East and West weighty epoch-making decision of formation of first International Bahá'í Council, forerunner of supreme administrative institution destined to emerge in fullness of time within precincts beneath shadow of World Spiritual Center of Faith already established in twin cities of Akka and Haifa. Fulfillment of prophecies uttered by Founder of Faith and Center of His Covenant culminating in establishment of Jewish State, signalizing birth after lapse of two thousand years of an independent nation in the Holy Land, the swift unfoldment of historic undertaking associated with construction of superstructure of the Bab's Sepulcher on Mount Carmel, the present adequate maturity of nine vigorously functioning national administrative institutions throughout Bahá'í World, combine to induce me to arrive at this historic decision marking most significant milestone in evolution of Administrative Order of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh in course of last thirty years. Nascent Institution now created is invested with threefold function: first, to forge link with authorities of newly emerged State; second, to assist me to discharge responsibilities involved in erection of mighty superstructure of the Bab's Holy Shrine; third, to conduct negotiations related to matters of personal status with civil authorities. To these will be added further functions in course of evolution of this first embryonic International Institution, marking its development into officially recognized Bahá'í Court, its transformation into duly elected body, its efflorescence into Universal House of Justice, and its final fruition through erection of manifold auxiliary institutions constituting the World Administrative Center destined to arise and function and remain permanently established in close neighborhood of Twin Holy Shrines. Hail with thankful, joyous heart at long last the constitution of International Council which history will acclaim as the greatest event shedding luster upon second epoch of Formative Age of Bahá'í Dispensation potentially unsurpassed by any enterprise undertaken since inception of Administrative Order of Faith on morrow of `Abdu´l-Bahá's Ascension, ranking second only to glorious immortal events associated with Ministries of the Three Central Figures of Faith in course of First Age of most glorious Dispensation of the five thousand century Bahá'í Cycle. Advise publicize announcement through Public Relations Committee. --Shoghi" Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Bahá'í World, 1950-57, pp. 7-8
[FN3]"The First Guardian of the Faith left this world without giving me any orders or instructions whatsoever regarding the International Council. The Beloved Guardian gave me no authority to do anything about the Universal Council during his lifetime for while He was living He was the Guardian of the Faith and as infallibility then was vested in him and in him only, my position was then only that of I myself holding a potential responsibility. But with the death of Shoghi Effendi, He no longer being the center upon earth of infallibility, I became the acting President of the International Council in my own right as President of this body, thus I came into active command of the council. Therefore I am now but assuming the powers that came to me automatically upon the death of Shoghi Effendi and that have been mine exclusively of all others upon earth since the death of the First Guardian of the Faith." Mason Remey, Proclamation of the Second Guardian, Ridván 117 B.E.
[FN4] "As time went on Mason Remey assigned increasing responsibilities to me in my capacity as President of the Council. A culmination was reached in the summer of 1965 when I visited him in Florence, Italy, and he instructed me to announce to the Bahá'í World the activation of the second International Bahá'í Council. He left the wording of this announcement to me. I recall wondering to myself at the time how I would word such an announcement as Mason Remey's Proclamation had made it very clear to all of us why Shoghi Effendi had never instructed him during his lifetime to activate the first International Bahá'í Council (created in 1951), for had he done so Mason Remey, as its President (i.e., the head of the Universal House of Justice), would have at that instant automatically become the second Guardian. Upon returning to France where I was residing at the time and reflecting further on how I should phrase the announcement activating the Council, I prepared the statement which appears in the Glad Tidings of October 1965 under the heading of "Council Assumes Task" . This statement was forwarded to Mason Remey for approval, although he had not asked me to do so. A review of this statement will show that I attempted to resolve my dilemma by using such phrases as: "the second International Bahá'í Council (the embryonic Universal House of Justice under the hereditary Guardianship) will not be convened at this time as a collectively functioning body" and "The President will assign responsibilities and tasks to individual members of the Council". However, recalling the circumstances surrounding the creation of the first International Bahá'í Council in 1951, it will be remembered that Shoghi Effendi, himself, had issued all instructions and assigned tasks to individual members of the Council. Therefore, Mason Remey, the embryonic Head of the embryonic Universal House of Justice, remained in this embryonic state destined only to emerge and come into active life as Guardian of the Faith upon the passing of Shoghi Effendi. My situation was different for it is now apparent that the procedure which I conceived and placed into effect with the aim of circumventing activation of the Council really did not accomplish this purpose at all. For the moment I assumed responsibility for directing members of the Council in the performance of their tasks the Council was actively functioning and activated under its President (its activation not necessarily being contingent upon a collective convocation of its members in a given place). The head of this functioning body could only be the Guardian of the Faith. Whether Mason Remey, himself, at the time, grasped the implications of his instructions to me to activate the Council is not known to me. If he did not, however, a subsequent announcement which he directed I prepare and release to the faithful Bahá'ís indicated that he had turned the affairs of the Faith over to me. In a letter under date of February 18, 1966, he stated: "I am turning the affairs of the Faith over to you as the President of the second Bahá'í International Council to handle this for me - you having the other members of the International Council to assist you" and further in this same letter "from now on I will leave you free to conduct the affairs of the Faith, I making suggestions when necessary". (Published in the Glad Tidings of May 1966)." Joel B. Marangella, Proclamation of the third Guardian, November 12, 1969