Luceism

Luceism

Luceism is a Catholic traditionalist political, social, and economic philosophy emphasizing the centrality of the Catholic Faith, distributist economics, and the primacy of family and community. It was developed in the early 21st century as a response to secular liberalism, socialism, and globalism, aiming to establish a society fully ordered according to divine and natural law.

Etymology

The term Luceism derives from the Latin word lux ("light"), symbolizing guidance, divine truth, and moral illumination. Its adherents describe it as living “in the light of truth and faith.”

Principles

Luceism is structured around five Catholic “Lights”:

• The Light of Faith – Only the Catholic Faith fully reveals divine truth and provides the moral foundation for society.
• The Light of Order – Political authority is legitimate only when aligned with God and Catholic teaching.
• The Light of Justice – Economic systems must protect human dignity, the family, and widely distributed property.
• The Light of Tradition – Cultural and social institutions must preserve Catholic wisdom and practice.
• The Light of the Common Good – Society exists as a communion ordered to God, not merely as a collection of individuals.

Political Philosophy

Luceism is skeptical of modern liberal democracy and secular governance. Instead, it advocates:

• Catholic Integralism – All public law, education, and governance must recognize and reflect Catholic teaching.
• Subsidiarity – Power is exercised first at the family, parish, and community levels, with higher authority safeguarding justice in accordance with divine law.
• Communitarian Order – Governance balances freedom with duty, and authority with service to God and the common good.

Economic Thought

Luceist economics draws from Catholic Social Teaching:

• Supports widespread property ownership by families and local communities.
• Rejects both unrestrained capitalism and state socialism when they violate Catholic principles.
• Encourages small businesses, guilds, and cooperatives as morally sound economic structures.
• Views work as a vocation, not merely a source of profit, and condemns exploitation, monopolies, and usury.

Cultural Views

• Only Catholic culture, education, and traditions are recognized as legitimate.
• Art, literature, and music should reflect divine truth and elevate the human soul.
• Traditions must be preserved through faith, passing Catholic moral wisdom from generation to generation.

Catechism of Luceism

Q1: What is Luceism?

A: Luceism is the philosophy of living in the Light of Truth and Faith. It seeks a society rooted in Catholic teaching, family, justice, and tradition.

Q2: Why is democracy not enough?

A: Democracy without virtue risks mob rule. True authority comes from God and must be exercised in accordance with Catholic moral law.

Q3: Why is globalism bad?

A: Globalism erases identity, undermines local economies, and promotes secular relativism. Luceism defends nations and communities rooted in Catholic truth.

Q4: Why not socialism?

A: Socialism enslaves man to the state, violates property rights, and undermines the family, contrary to Catholic teaching.

Q5: Why not capitalism?

A: Capitalism in its liberal form reduces human life to profit and competition, concentrating wealth and disregarding moral obligations. Luceism promotes distributive ownership serving families and communities.

Q6: Why is tradition important?

A: Tradition preserves the Catholic wisdom and practices necessary for moral and social order.

Q7: Why must faith guide society?

A: Without the Catholic Faith, society falls into relativism, corruption, and moral decay. Faith provides the foundation for law, culture, and the common good.

Q8: Can non-Catholics participate?

A: Non-Catholics may live peacefully under Catholic order, but public institutions, laws, and education must reflect Catholic teaching.

Relation to Other Ideologies

• Conservatism – Shares respect for tradition and order, but Luceism is more radical in rejecting secular liberalism.
• Traditionalism – Closely aligned, framed as a constructive restoration of Catholic society.
• Ultraconservatism / Reactionary Thought – Opposed to modernity, but Luceism distinguishes itself by building a structured, faith-centered society, not merely resisting change.

Vision

Luceism envisions a society of:

• Strong, property-owning, Catholic families.
• Localist, just economic systems.
• A state fully aligned with divine law and Catholic teaching.
• Culture, education, and art shaped by Catholic truth and beauty.

See Also

• Catholic integralism
• Distributism
• Traditionalism
• Subsidiarity

References

• (As a self-created ideology, primary sources are internal writings and manifestos by adherents of Luceism.)*