Priestly Fraternity of St Peter

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is a Clerical Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical right, that is, a community of Roman Catholic priests who do not take religious vows, but who work together for a common mission in the world. The mission of the Fraternity is two-fold: first, the formation and sanctification of priests in the cadre of the traditional liturgy of the Roman rite, and secondly, the pastoral deployment of the priests in the service of the Church.

The Fraternity was founded on July 18, 1988 at the Abbey of Hauterive (Switzerland) by a dozen priests and a score of seminarians. Shortly after the Fraternity's foundation and following upon a request by Cardinal Ratzinger, Bishop Joseph Stimpfle of Augsburg, Germany granted the Fraternity a home in Wigratzbad, a Marian shrine in Bavaria that now lodges the Fraternity's European seminary. In the same month of October there arrived a handful of priests and some thirty seminarians ready to start "from scratch". There are currently almost 200 priests and 110 seminarians in the Fraternity.

A website has been specifically prepared for Vocations to the FSSP.

Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

(Continuing our look at Traditional Communities, we turn now to the Benedictines of Mary, also known as the Oblates of Mary, in Massachusetts.)

The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles is a traditional monastic community of women who desire to imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary in the giving of herself to God to fulfill His Will, especially in her role of assistance by prayer and work to the Apostles, first priests of the Catholic Church.

Originally established in the diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, the congregation now operates in that of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri. The congregation is now eleven years old, and is dedicated to the imitation of Our Lady's retirement from the world in quiet seclusion, as well as her apostolic charity.

Unmarried Catholic women of sound mind and body with spiritual maturity, ages 16 through 30 may begin a correspondence with Mother Therese regarding a vocation to the religious life. She will send a series of questionnaires, and will possibly allow for the opportunity to spend at least a week's time experiencing our life of prayer and work within the enclosure.

Serious inquirers may write to:

• Priory of Our Lady of Ephesus
  Reverend Mother Therese
  1400 NE 42nd Terrace
  Kansas City, Missouri 64116
  www.benedictinesofmary.org
  

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.

Abbaye Notre Dame de Fontgombault

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontgombault is a Benedictine monastery of the Solesmes Congregation, founded in 1091, and located at Fontgombault in the département of Indre, France. They still celebrate the Classical Monastic Roman rites, and Tridentine Mass, and have foundations in France and in Oklahoma, USA.

This video consists of extracts from the DVD Documentary about Fontgombault, "Fons Amoris":

And from another video, "Visages de la Vie monastique":

The monastery was also host to an important liturgical conference in July 2001, which is the subject of the book Looking again at the Question of the Liturgy with Cardinal Ratzinger (ISBN 0-907077-42-0).

More information is available on Wikipedia, or on the Diocese of Bourges website (French language). Click HERE for a high quality photograph of the Abbey.

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.
~~*~~


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.
~~*~~

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).
~~*~~

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.
~~*~~


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)

Traditional Communities of France

by Shawn Tribe

If you speak French, someone there has published a book on Les communautés traditionnelles en France -- the religious orders in France that use the classical rite, and that are in union with the Holy See.

The description of the book is roughly as follows:

For the first time, the traditional Catholic communities authorized by the Vatican are the subject of a book. Photo album and beautiful book, this work presents the 17 secular and regular religious communities in communion with Rome. Without taking sides, the author, Thomas Grimaux, invites to come and see what they are really about. Everyone speaks about them but nobody really knows them: the traditional religious communities authorized by the Holy See remain a mystery. However, strong of vocations and faithful young people, they constitute an essential element of the New Evangelization wanted by John Paul II. Better, Benedict XVI has just set up one of them - the Institute of Good Shepherd - and would like to liberalize the use of the “Latin mass”, the mass of Saint Pius V, that of before the Vatican II Council.

The book is a smaller coffee-table sized casewrap hardcover book, and as the title suggests, it goes through the various traditional communities in France (in communion with Rome) -- it also touches into the Institute of Christ the King and their seminary in Italy [and the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter. --Ed.].

The book is in French of course, but I must say, even if you don't speak French, I think many would find this book interesting and worthwhile. The reason for that is the book will first of all introduce you to a number of French monasteries and orders attached to the classical Roman liturgy that you may have less familiarity with. In the book, they include any relevant contact information, or website addresses as well, where they have them.

But in addition to that, what will also make the book interesting (perhaps most interesting to non-French speakers) are the great number of colour photographs of these communities, their day to day activities, and of course various liturgical shots as well.

I was impressed by the fact that the book is up to date enough that they include the Institute of the Good Shepherd.

(reposted with permission from The New Liturgical Movement; many of the communities linked to from here are featured in this book)

Institute of the Good Shepherd [updated]

ego sum pastor bonus: et cognosco meas, et cognoscunt me meæ
I am the good Shepherd: and I know Mine, and Mine know Me (Jn. 10:14)

Under the Roman calendar of 1962, yesterday was often called "Good Shepherd Sunday", so called because the Gospel tells us of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. As pointed out on The New Liturgical Movement this also means it was a feast day for the Institute of the Good Shepherd.

The Institute of the Good Shepherd is a Society of Apostolic Life of traditionalist Priests in full communion with the Holy See. Founded only in September 2006, the Institute has grown quickly.

Founded with only 5 priests and a some seminarians, the institute now numbers 23 priests and 35 seminarians. Four deacons of the Institute were ordained on Saturday 23 February, this year, by Archbishop Luigi de Magistris, in the basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.

The New Liturgical Movement has a feature on the life of the Institute, with photographs of the main Church in Paris, Saint-Eloi.

Click on the links below to find out more information on the Institute. If you read French and/or know further information about the Institute, its entrance requirements and applications process, please do let us know!

Links:

• www.institutdubonpasteur.org -- Institute of the Good Shepherd
• cccsp.free.fr -- Centre Saint-Paul, IGS centre in Paris
• www.seminairesaintvincent.fr -- Seminary of St Vincent de Paul
• www.ibproma.com (English) (new!)
  
• Wikipedia article
• Ordination photographs by J.P. Sonnen (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
  
• Photographs from the Seminary
  

(photo: New Liturgical Movement)

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Sunday, April 13th is World Day of Prayer for Vocations:

"The Church prays everyday to the Holy Spirit for the gift of vocations. Gathered around the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles, as in the beginning, the ecclesial community learns from her how to implore the Lord for a flowering of new apostles, alive with the faith and love that are necessary for the mission."

-- Pope Benedict XVI

Chris at the Catholic Converts blog is organising a 24 Hour Rosary for Vocations. He is therefore looking for a minumum of 24 people to each take a different hour of the day to pray the Holy Rosary for Vocations.

You can find out more about this effort at the blog. Please pray for holy Priests, monks and nuns!

How you can help

Here are some things you can do to help:

Spread the word!

• Can you feature this site on your blogs? Or ask your friends to do the same?

• Would your Parish or Diocese feature this in a newsletter, on a website? Would you ask them?

• Are there other websites we should be featured on, or linked from?

Let us know! After all, these blogs are to encourage Vocations, so people need to see them!

Translation

• Could you translate materials about the societies, institutes and religious communities listed here out of their original languages and into English?

Be our eyes and ears

• Is there content we ought to feature? If so, tell us!

• Do you have information on courses of studies in various seminaries, entrance requirements, website links?

• Have you personal experience of one of the communities featured here? Share your experiences with us!

Oh, and if you know others discerning their vocations, point them this way! May the Lord send us more holy Priests, monks and nuns than we can know what to do with!

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.

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 the Good Shepherd - www.institutdubonpasteur.org / cccsp.free.fr / www.seminairesaintvincent.info / www.ibproma.com

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.