Institute of the Good Shepherd: Ordinations and Apostolate in Poland

by Shawn Tribe

The Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP, Institut du Bon Pasteur) have some images up from their recent priestly and diaconal ordinations which took place in their church of St-Eloi in Bordeaux, France. The ordinations were performed by Msgr. Gaidon.













(Image Source: Seminaire Saint Vincent de Paul)

In addition to this bit of news, it came to my attention that the IBP now have a website for their apostolate in Poland (www.pastorbonus.pl):


If you would like to see a little of the work if the IBP in Poland, consider viewing this slideshow of images.

(reposted from The New Liturgical Movement)

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)

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)

Photos from ICRSS Ordinations

The New Liturgical Movemement reports that the Institute of Christ the King has now released a comprehensive collection of photographs from recent priestly and other ordinations hat took place inside the beautiful Santi Michele e Gaetano church in Florence, Italy.

Here is a selection:

This year's new seminarians of the Institute after having been invested with the soutane:


Minor orders being conferred by Bishop Basil Meeking (em. of Christchurch, NZ):


Ordination to the Diaconate, also by Mgr. Meeking:


Priestly ordinations by Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, in the Institute's splendid Florentine church:

Mgr. Burke vesting - you can see that he is wearing the rochet under the amice:




The newly ordained concelebrating:

The ordaining bishops were Bishop Basil Meeking, Emeritus of Christchurch, and Archbishop Raymond L. Burke.

Please see the website for more photos.

International Eucharistic Congress in Canada

International Eucharistic Congress in Québec, Canada (June 18-19-20, 2008):

None of us will ignore that the Juventutem logo depicts… a monstrance. Devotion of youths towards the Holy Eucharist is part and parcel of the Juventutem identity. Therefore Juventutem is glad to be able to partake in this important event. As members of the “Summorum Pontificum generation”, Juventutem youths will travel to Québec and partake in Eucharistic events (liturgical and doctrinal) as encouraged by Pope Benedict XVI: “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”(cf Letter to the Bishops on Summorum Pontificum, July 7th, 2007).

Juventutem is very grateful to the Rt. Rev. André-Mutien Léonard, Bishop of Namur (Belgium) for agreeing to offer a pontifical High Mass in the extraordinary form for Juventutem on this occasion with the approval of Congress authorities. You are invited to attend on Saturday 19th June 2008 in St Francis-of-Assisi Church at 10am in Québec City. The Congress lasts one whole week. During the final week-end (18-19-20 June) various Juventutem chaplains will give lectures on the Eucharist, offer Holy Masses and preside at Vespers, Complines and adoration.

It was announced yesterday that the homily for the Mass of the closing ceremony will be given live from Rome by Pope Benedict XVI.

For more information, please click here.

Pilgrimage to Trier

The New Liturgical Movement has posted a report about a pilgrimage organised by the FSSP, to St Paulin's Church in Trier, the oldest German Town, on April 12th. After Mass, there was a procession into the crypt, where the tombs of Bishop St. Paulin and the martyrs of Trier (Legio Thebaica) are located.

The pilgrims also attended Trier Cathedral and St Matthias Abbey.

Read more HERE.

Papal Address at Rally with Seminarians and Young People

Approximately 25,000 young people and seminarians from around the United States participated in a youth rally with Pope Benedict XVI on the grounds of Saint Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, New York, on Saturday 19th.

The Holy Father personally greeted the seminarians, religious men and women, and others standing in the front row. Cardinal Egan welcomed the Holy Father and Pope Benedict gave him a chasuble as a remembrance of the visit. The Holy Father gave a brief address, an excerpt of which is given below:

Dear friends, the example of the saints invites us, then, to consider four essential aspects of the treasure of our faith: personal prayer and silence, liturgical prayer, charity in action, and vocations.

What matters most is that you develop your personal relationship with God. That relationship is expressed in prayer. God by his very nature speaks, hears, and replies. Indeed, Saint Paul reminds us: we can and should "pray constantly" (1 Thess 5:17). Far from turning in on ourselves or withdrawing from the ups and downs of life, by praying we turn towards God and through him to each other, including the marginalized and those following ways other than God's path (cf. Spe Salvi, 33). As the saints teach us so vividly, prayer becomes hope in action. Christ was their constant companion, with whom they conversed at every step of their journey for others.

There is another aspect of prayer which we need to remember: silent contemplation. Saint John, for example, tells us that to embrace God's revelation we must first listen, then respond by proclaiming what we have heard and seen (cf. 1 Jn 1:2-3; Dei Verbum, 1). Have we perhaps lost something of the art of listening? Do you leave space to hear God's whisper, calling you forth into goodness? Friends, do not be afraid of silence or stillness, listen to God, adore him in the Eucharist. Let his word shape your journey as an unfolding of holiness.

In the liturgy we find the whole Church at prayer. The word liturgy means the participation of God's people in "the work of Christ the Priest and of His Body which is the Church" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7). What is that work? First of all it refers to Christ's Passion, his Death and Resurrection, and his Ascension -- what we call the Paschal Mystery. It also refers to the celebration of the liturgy itself. The two meanings are in fact inseparably linked because this "work of Jesus" is the real content of the liturgy. Through the liturgy, the "work of Jesus" is continually brought into contact with history; with our lives in order to shape them. Here we catch another glimpse of the grandeur of our Christian faith. Whenever you gather for Mass, when you go to Confession, whenever you celebrate any of the sacraments, Jesus is at work. Through the Holy Spirit, he draws you to himself, into his sacrificial love of the Father which becomes love for all. We see then that the Church's liturgy is a ministry of hope for humanity. Your faithful participation, is an active hope which helps to keep the world -- saints and sinners alike -- open to God; this is the truly human hope we offer everyone (cf. Spe Salvi, 34).

Your personal prayer, your times of silent contemplation, and your participation in the Church's liturgy, bring you closer to God and also prepare you to serve others. The saints accompanying us this evening show us that the life of faith and hope is also a life of charity. Contemplating Jesus on the Cross we see love in its most radical form. We can begin to imagine the path of love along which we must move (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 12). The opportunities to make this journey are abundant. Look about you with Christ's eyes, listen with his ears, feel and think with his heart and mind. Are you ready to give all as he did for truth and justice? Many of the examples of the suffering which our saints responded to with compassion are still found here in this city and beyond. And new injustices have arisen: some are complex and stem from the exploitation of the heart and manipulation of the mind; even our common habitat, the earth itself, groans under the weight of consumerist greed and irresponsible exploitation. We must listen deeply. We must respond with a renewed social action that stems from the universal love that knows no bounds. In this way, we ensure that our works of mercy and justice become hope in action for others.

Dear young people, finally I wish to share a word about vocations. First of all my thoughts go to your parents, grandparents and godparents. They have been your primary educators in the faith. By presenting you for baptism, they made it possible for you to receive the greatest gift of your life. On that day you entered into the holiness of God himself. You became adoptive sons and daughters of the Father. You were incorporated into Christ. You were made a dwelling place of his Spirit. Let us pray for mothers and fathers throughout the world, particularly those who may be struggling in any way -- socially, materially, spiritually. Let us honor the vocation of matrimony and the dignity of family life. Let us always appreciate that it is in families that vocations are given life.

...I urge you to deepen your friendship with Jesus the Good Shepherd. Talk heart to heart with him. Reject any temptation to ostentation, careerism, or conceit. Strive for a pattern of life truly marked by charity, chastity and humility, in imitation of Christ, the Eternal High Priest, of whom you are to become living icons (cf. Pastores Dabo Vobis, 33). Dear seminarians, I pray for you daily. Remember that what counts before the Lord is to dwell in his love and to make his love shine forth for others.

I would exhort you all to read the full text, available online here.

Chartres pilgrimage

Chartres has been a site of Christian pilgrimage since the Middle Ages. The pilgrimage route was revived before the first world war, and since the 1980s, the association Notre-Dame de Chrétienté has organised an annual 100km (75 miles) pilgrimage from the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris to Notre-Dame de Chartres, over three days. About 15,000 pilgrims, mostly young families from all over France, participate every year.

Pilgrims are organized into groups of 20-65 people, that are referred to as "chapters". Each chapter is accompanied by at least one chaplain, who hears confession and gives spiritual direction to each pilgrim who avails himself of the priest's presence.

Here is some footage of a Chartres pilgrimage, when they first see the towers of Chartres (Pentecost afternoon) (German language):

Aaccording to an old tradition, the anthem Salve regina strikes up at this point. Camp is made for the second night about 7:30pm, with the Eucharistic Lord in a specially decorated tent. There is also -- wisely -- a tent for the Order of Malta, who tend to those with feet problems. Eucharistic Adoration continues through the night (or so I think the video infers).

A plenary indulgence is granted, under the usual conditions. Three further videos (German language) can be found here, here and here. For more information about this year's Chartres pilgrimage (10-12 May), please email: chartres@petrusbruderschaft.de

In related news, according to NLM, the Mass in the usus antiquior is now going to be ccelebrated each Sunday in the Church of St. Peter (Eglise Sainte-Pierre) in Chartres, as of Pentecost. This church, which is quite stunning, has been noted by some to be the second most important church in Chartres, following the Cathedral itself.

Pilgrimage to Lourdes

On March 29 – 30, the Institute of Christ the King conducted a pilgrimage to Lourdes, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady there. The superiors, seminarians, and sisters of the Institute came en masse from Gricigliano, along with many of its priests from France , led by their Provincial Superior, Abbé Benoît Jayr. All joined by friends and faithful from France, Ireland, Italy and the United States.

Pictures from the Pilgrimage show the various elements of the Institute of Christ the King:

Msgr. Michael Schmitz, Vicar General of the Institute and Superior in the United States, holds the Sacred Host for the 'Ecce Agnus Dei' during Mass in the Upper Basilica at Lourdes. The Mass was served by seminarians from the Institute's Seminary at Gricigliano, near Florence, Italy.
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A Priest of the Institute leads the Sisters of the Institute and the faithful through the Stations of the Cross with the Upper Basilica in the background.
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Inside the Sanctuary of the Upper Basilica, the Priests of the Institute sit nearest to the camera in their distinctive blue-trimmed birettas and blue mozettas, representing the Institute's consecration to the Immaculate Conception. Towards the apse, the seminarians of the Institute sit in choir. The altar boy in red soutane is not a seminarian (we think).
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This view into the nave of the Upper Basilica shows us the three grades of the Sisters of the Institute, the Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus, Sovereign Priest, who have their convent near to the Institute's Seminary. To the rear of the group are the fully professed sisters in black veils. To the front are the eight novices in formation wearing white veils and the blue choir mantles, again representing the Institute's consecration to the Immaculate Conception. Just to the left of the picture, you can see two ladies in black mantillas, who are postulants, awaiting formal admission to the noviciate.
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Finally we see the Institute's seminarians and novices, the future Priests and Sisters of the Institute, participating in the torchlight procession of Lourdes.

Regina Caeli, Laetare!

(Images: The New Liturgical Movement)