Clear Creek Benedictine Ordinations

by Shawn Tribe

Recently the Benedictines of Clear Creek had the ordination of one of their monks to the diaconate. They have posted a few photos of this event, which also gives you a view into their ongoing monastic building project.



(reproduced with permission from The New Liturgical Movement)

Age limits

A reader asks:

What is the age limit for traditional vocations? I have heard of gentlemen up to 75 being admitted, but I think many are in their 40's and 50's these days. Though, I am hearing of many in their 40's and 50's being denied, too, from the Texas dioceses. Also, there are dioceses which preclude men from entering the seminary if they have been divorced.

Are you able to help? I know the FSSP, for example, has a general age limit of 35 years, but will consider individuals over that on a case-by-case basis.

Spera in Deo - new TLM resource

by Fr Tim Finigan

Patrick Cheng has started a new blog "Spera in Deo" to provide online resources for the usus antiquior of the Roman Rite. He collects together a collection of resources for Sundays and feast day. These include online propers, leaflets, chants and other background materials, including links to the relevant page of Guéranger's L'Année Liturgique.

(reproduced from The Hermeneutic of Continuity")

Chapter of the Institute of Christ the King

by Gregor Kollmorgen

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest's annual Chapter has been meeting in Gricigliano. They were visited by two eminent prelates, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard and Archbishop Raymond L. Burke. Cardinal Ricard is Archbishop of Bordeaux, in whose archdiocese the Institute has a Mass apostolate. He is also President emeritus of the National Conference of French bishops and the vice-President of the International Conference of European bishops. His Eminence remarkably told the chapter:

"I thank you in the name of the French bishops for the good work of the priests of the Institute in the dioceses of France."

Archbishop Burke, during his visit, blessed and crowned an antique statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Here are some pictures:

Cardinal Ricard assisting at the throne at a Solemn Mass:

Archbishop Burke blessing and crowning the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

Archbishop Burke with Msgr. Schmitz:

Note that the Archbishop is wearing a tufted fascia (instead of the fringed one) which used to be worn with choir dress. I hope we can discuss this reasonably, but it is certainly interesting that the Archbishop who is one of the foremost canonists and known for his meticulous observation of the law does wear this item of vesture when many argue that its abolition by Paul VI is still in force. However, let us not only focus on this one rather specific point at such a splendid occasion.

Read the accounts with more pictures here and here.

(reproduced with permission from The New Liturgical Movement)