Saturday 29 March 2008

Vocations and the Traditional Latin Liturgy

Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meum!

“…Immediately after the Second Vatican Council it was presumed that requests for the use of the 1962 Missal would be limited to the older generation which had grown up with it, but in the meantime it has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them…”

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place…”

– Pope Benedict XVI in his Letter accompanying Summorum Pontificum


Say what?

Catholics are a fairly consistent bunch. The way Catholics said Mass for Centuries was almost identical. If you looked at a Missal from 601 AD, you’d see virtually the same central text (the Roman Canon) as in the Missal from 1962. The Missals of 1471 and 1962 are largely identical. So what? So there’s something in there that a lot of folk, over a lot of centuries, thought was worth preserving. We think so too. Like the Pope says: “It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer.” Maybe you agree?


So what has the Traditional Latin Liturgy to offer me?
Truth, Beauty, Goodness. Good start. “The most beautiful thing this side of Heaven,” someone called the Traditional Latin Liturgy. Add authenticity – why don’t we have Baptisms like they had in The Godfather anymore? Throw in some Gregorian Chant – not just music-to-relax-while-you-drive but an integral part of the Traditional Latin Liturgy(1).

That’s the wrapping but what about the substance? Inside you have a tried-and-tested spirituality based upon the centrality of Christ and the personal relationship of each individual with Him. It’s been a winning combination for ages! Maybe it’ll do it for you?


Do people really still do this stuff (outside a film set)?

They do – they do it for real – they do it for life! Since John Paul II appealed for generosity towards the Traditional Latin Liturgy back in 1988, Traditional Seminaries, Monasteries, Convents have been springing up – and filling up with young people – all over the world.

The Fraternity of Saint Peter for Priests opened its second Seminary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Nebraska, USA, in 2000, with 50 Seminarians and reached capacity a few years later.


Get real! We can’t even get Priests for Mass in English!

Get with the programme! Like the Pope said: “…What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” “Dougal, you know you can praise the Lord with Latin too?” (Fr. Ted… sort of) If it works, don’t knock it. Maybe the Traditional Latin Liturgy works for you? Give it a try!


So you’re saying there’s a future in the past?

Not exactly – but even after 1500 years, there’s still plenty of future in the Traditional Latin Liturgy. It’s here to stay and it aims to inspire. It has inspired millions for millennia. Maybe it can inspire you?

1 - Fr. F.W. Faber, Cong. Orat., collaborator of Ven. John Henry, Cardinal Newman.

Saturday 22 March 2008

Traditional Monasteries & Orders with websites

This page serves as the guidepost site for communities around the world that have the Extraordinary Form as its regular liturgy or a major part of its spiritual life.

Communities of men:
Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter – www.fssp.org
Institute of Christ the King – www.institute-christ-king.org
Institute of Saint Phillip Neri – www.institut-philipp-neri.de
Institute of the Holy Cross of Riaumont – www.riaumont.net
Fraternity of Saint Vincent Ferrer - www.chemere.org
Canons Regular of the Mother of God – www.chanoines-lagrasse.com
Canons Regular of St. John Cantius – www.canons-regular.org
Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem – www.canonsregular.com
Benedictine Abbey of Le Barroux – www.barroux.org
Benedictine Abbey of Clear Creek – www.clearcreekmonks.org
Benedictines of the Immaculate -- benedictines-immaculate.blogspot.com
Monks of Mary of Mount Carmel – www.carmelitemonks.org
Servants of Jesus and Mary – www.sjm-congregation.org
Apostolic Administration of Saint Jean Marie Vianney – www.adapostolica.org
Saint Joseph de Clairval Abbey - www.clairval.com/site_abbaye/index.en.html
Fraternidad de Cristo Sacerdote y Santa María Reina - www3.planalfa.es/santamariareina / santa-maria-reina.blogspot.com
Benedictine Abbey of Randol - www.randol.org
Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (FSsR), Scotland - papastronsay.com

Communities of women:  
Benedictine Abbey of Le Barroux – www.barroux.org/monial/monialpres.html
Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles – www.oblatesofmary.com
Canonesses of the Mother of God – www.lagrassecanons.com
Oasis of Jesus, Priest – www.oasisjesussacerdote.es
Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart - www.institute-christ-king.org/AdorersRoyalHeart.htm
Sisters of Saint Benedict - sistersofstbenedictcenter.org
Order of Discalced Carmelites - www.lasvegasmariancenter.com/carmel.htm


-Updated 8/14/2015

Course of Studies at Gricigliano

Course of studies at the Institute of Christ the King's Gricigliano Seminary:

Year of Spirituality

  • Introduction to the spiritual life - the Psalms - M. l'abbé Wulfran Lebocq i.c.r.s.p.
  • Catholic Doctrine - M. l'abbé Paul-Antoine Lefèvre i.c.r.s.p.(F.L.P.C)
  • Introduction to Sacred Scripture - M. l'abbé Marcus Kuenkel i.c.r.s.p.
  • Introduction to reading the lives of the Saints - M. l'abbé Marcus Kuenkel i.c.r.s.p.
  • History of Spirituality - M. l'abbé Dominique Pillet
  • Study of the writings of the Popes - M. l'abbé Benoît Merly i.c.r.s.p.
Introduction to the Liturgy
  • Introduction to the Breviary - the Psalms - M. l'abbé Benoît Merly i.c.r.s.p.
  • Introduction to Philosophy - M. François-Xavier Clément (F.L.P.C)
  • Basic Methodology - M. l'abbé Benoît Jayr icrsp (F.L.P.C)
  • Latin - M. D. Del Nero
  • Gregorian Chant - M. l'abbé Wulfran Lebocq i.c.r.s.p.
Years of Philosophy
  • Metaphysics - M. l'abbé Paul-Antoine Lefèvre i.c.r.s.p. (F.L.P.C)
  • Natural Theology - M. l'abbé Paul-Antoine Lefèvre i.c.r.s.p.(F.L.P.C)
  • Logic - M. Bruno Couillaud. (F.L.P.C)
  • Methodology in Experimental Sciences - M. Michel Siguen
  • History of Greek Philosophy - M. Pierre Magnard
  • Natural Philosophy - R.P. André Boulet
  • Psychology - M. François-Xavier Clément
  • Ethical Philosophy - M. Jean-Baptiste Echivard (F.L.P.C)
  • History of Philosophy - M. Antoine Joseph Assaf
  • Political Philosophy - M. l'abbé Benoît Jayr i.c.r.s.p.(F.L.P.C)
  • Contemporary Philosophy - M. Assaf (Sorbonne, F.L.P.C)
  • Introduction to Theology - M. l'abbé Tancrède Guillard i.c.r.s.p. & Mgr M. Schmitz i.c.r.s.p
  • Ecclesiastical History - M. Philippe Conrad, M. Pichot-Bravard
  • Liturgy - M. l'abbé Tancrède Guillard
  • Apologetics - Père Jean de Britto
  • Canon Law - M. l'abbé Michel Cambon
  • Introduction to Sacred Scripture - Père Jean de Britto o.s.b.
  • Salesian Spirituality - Mgr Gilles Wach i.c.r.s.p.
  • Introduction to Patrology - M. Philippe Caspar
  • Latin and Greek - M. Domenico Del Nero
  • Gregorian Chant - M. l'abbé Wulfran Lebocq i.c.r.s.p.
Years of Theology
  • De Deo Uno et Trino; De Verbo Incarnato - R.P. Dom Chauveau m.b
  • De Gratia - R.P. Jean de Britto o.s.b.
  • De Novissimis - M. l'abbé Tancrède Guillard i.c.r.s.p.
  • De Ecclesia - Mgr R.-Michael Schmitz i.c.r.s.p.
  • De Eucharistia - M. l'abbé Claude Barthe
  • De Sacramentis in genere - R.P. Dom de Lillers, m.b.
  • De Penitentia - R.P. Jean de Britto
  • De Matrimonio - R.P. Jean de Britto
  • Moral Theology - The Virtues - R.P. Dom de Lillers, m.b.
  • Moral Theology - M. l'abbé Karl Lenhardt i.c.r.s.p.
  • Droit canonique - M. l'abbé Michel Cambon
  • Patristics,Sacred Scripture - R.P. Dom Dominique Maurin, m.b., M. L. Touchagues
  • Ecclesiastical History - M. Philippe Conrad, M. Pichot-Bravard
  • Liturgy - M. l'abbé Claude Barthe
  • Ascetical and Mystical Theology - R.P. Dom de Lillers, m.b.
  • Introduction to Patrology - M. Philippe Caspar
  • Gregorian Chant - M. l'abbé Wulfran Lebocq i.c.r.s.p.

Friday 21 March 2008

Annual Retreat - OLGS

The FSSP Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary offers an annual retreat each Autumn to allow candidates to fulfill their visitation requirement and to provide an opportunity for the seminary application board to interview them. Candidates will need to have completed their application material by 19th May, 2008. The cost of the retreat is $100. If you are interested in attending, you should check availability of space with the Vocations Office in your area.

This retreat is not open to men who are only discerning but such men may contact the seminary (see here for email) to see about making a visit during the academic year. A separate visit does not replace the requirement to make the vocations retreat once a candidate decides to apply.

Further information: