![o{]:¬)](http://www.wdtprs.com/blog/wp-images/topimage.JPG)
Transalpine Redemptorists REGULARIZED!
Rorate has something which I heard about a couple days ago, but which I couldn’t confirm concretely.
Let there be sung Non nobis and Te Deum.
Here is the site of the Transalpine Redemptorists:
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Canonical Good Standing1 July, 2008
Feast of the Precious Blood
My dear friends,
I am happy to inform you that last June 18th, before Cardinal Castrillon and the members of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei in Rome, I humbly petitioned the Holy See on my own behalf and on behalf of the monastery council for our priestly suspensions to be lifted.
On June 26th I received word that the Holy See had granted our petition. All canonical censures have been lifted. [They waited until after the SSPX’s deadline at the end of June to announce this.]
Our community now truly rejoices in undisputed and peaceful possession of Communion with the Holy See because our priests are now in canonical good standing. [Praise God!]
We are very grateful to our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI for issuing, last July, the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum [It is bearing fruit.] which called us to come into undisputed and peaceful Communion with him.
Now we have that undisputed communion! It is a pearl of great price; a treasure hidden in the field; a sweetness that cannot be imagined by those who have not tasted it or who have not known it, now for many years. Its value cannot be fully expressed in earthly language and therefore we hope that all traditional priests who have not yet done so, will answer Pope Benedict’s call to enjoy the grace of peaceful and undisputed communion with him. Believe us, the price to pay is nothing; even all the angry voices that have shouted against us and calumniated us are as nothing when weighed in the scales against undisputed communion with the Vicar of Christ; others have died for it; what are raucous voices?
We publicly thank all those souls who have prayed for us over the last months; some of you have truly stormed heaven for us. You have kept us afloat. We are deeply grateful. [You are welcome!] Especially we thank that priest who was unknown to us, until June 16th when he wrote in fraternal support. Where did he come from? Why us? But he told us of the number of Masses, Offices, prayers and sacrifices he had personally said for us; he had also enlisted the prayers of contemplatives and Third Order societies and had a great number of people fervently praying for us with an abundance of prayers. We were amazed! Thank you Father! Thank you also to that brave person who, so kindly wrote to us to say that if he said any more prayers for us he would be floating! What wonderful people! Thank you! [See what prayer can do?]
Looking to the future, the next stage will be to have our community canonically erected. So please, dear friends, keep praying for us, there will be many crosses to bear; but they will be yokes sweetened by the grace of these last days.
We assure you all of our very best wishes.
Your devoted servant,
Fr. Michael Mary, C.SS.R.
Vicar General
I am very pleased and proud of those men, who made this good decision.
This definitely helps to place some gentle pressure on the SSPX as well.
As more and more people find they really don’t have good reasons to stay separated from the Bishop of Rome, that they can still have concerns and maintain an identity even in their submission to Peter, so too the SSPX will have to make an act of submission or run the risk of becoming less and less relevant for the cause of Tradition in unity with the Catholic Church.
PRAY! PRAY NOW!
Fr. Michael Mary used the biblical images from Christ’s parables of the pearl of great price, the treasure hidden in the field (cf. Matthew 13).
The Lord speaks of the value of being an heir of the Kingdom of heaven. Christ opened for us the kingdom of heaven: this is the essence of the Gospel which we embrace and, as a Church, we announce. We are made heirs to this kingdom, but we can lose the kingdom, too. To maintain our claim and membership, we must make sacrifices. Nothing is worth imperiling our membership our inheritance. All other things, as precious as they might seem, must be set aside.
If you are separated from the Church, knowing who and what the Church really is, you are in peril.
I also note that in Matthew 13 we have the wonderful words which in many ways describe Pope Benedict:
He said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old.
Summorum Pontificum is bearing fruit, friends. Brick by brick the rebuilding of the Benedictine Marshall Plan is taking shape.
Not only pressure on the SSPX, but on their own congregation!! I wonder if I could get a few to transfer to KC? The Holy Ghost is moving like a prarie storm through the souls of the faithful!
Comment by Craig — 1 July 2008 @ 3:06 pmIt seems that the Transalpine Redemptorists’ disputes were more Liturgy-oriented, whereas with the SSPX their main dispute concerns teachings on religious liberty. Is this accurate?
Comment by TJB — 1 July 2008 @ 3:14 pmFather,
On your thread on the SSPX, someone calling himself “H” posted the link to the Transalpine Redemptorists (“H”) blog at 2:38 PM!
Laus Deo!
Comment by Deo volente — 1 July 2008 @ 3:17 pmDeo Gratias
Comment by Joe of St. ThĂ©rèse — 1 July 2008 @ 3:27 pmThis is great news. Father, have you seen the documentary video of the monks on Youtube? It is a good video, and it is around 20 minutes long. Heres the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d20nzljVYPM
Comment by Phillip — 1 July 2008 @ 3:27 pmGreat news! They shall have my prayers.
Comment by Melody — 1 July 2008 @ 3:37 pmThis is of course a reason for great joy.
Comment by B. — 1 July 2008 @ 3:38 pmYet I would still be very interested to know what triggered the change in the hearts of the Transalpine Redemptorists. IIRC they used to be very firmly attached to the SSPX, had on the website that they look to the bishops of the SSPX for guidance etc.
Someone one angelqueen said that one of the Redemptorists told her that on January 1st something happened that made them change their outlook towards Rome, but refused to say what that was. AFAIK on January 1st nothing important of public knowledge happened.
Father, I also forgot to mention that there seems to be something wrong with the combox on the previous post regarding Anglicans. I cant comment and a lot of weird text is displayed.
Comment by Phillip — 1 July 2008 @ 3:39 pmLet us hope that this step will show to many in the SSPX who are still hesitant that no compromise is, in fact, involved in such an undertaking.
Comment by Dominic — 1 July 2008 @ 3:46 pmI know nothing about this group…can anyone provide some background information?
Comment by Brendan — 1 July 2008 @ 3:49 pmDoes anybody know how large this group is? How many priests? Nuns? lay people?
Comment by Jack Regan — 1 July 2008 @ 3:53 pmWonderful! Thank God!
Comment by Sacramento Mom — 1 July 2008 @ 3:56 pmPerhaps people could celebrate this wonderful news by taking the opportunity to help out the community with its financial needs. Details of how to contribute are given here:
http://www.papastronsay.com/monastery_appeal.htm
Comment by Felipe Childers — 1 July 2008 @ 3:56 pmThis is truly outstanding news! It is always easy to let emotional ties and deep suspicion get in the way of the integrity of faith—and always better when those things do not prevail.
Comment by Abe — 1 July 2008 @ 4:01 pmJust as it is important to storm heaven for unity, when this happens let us not cease praying, turning intercession into praise and thanksgiving – we owe God so much! Praise to our God who makes all things new, who can grant miracles of grace. I am sure that if those of goodwill in the SSPX were to trust the Holy Father and make the step, they would be rewarded with the same joy and blessings that these fathers are receiving.
Comment by Calleva — 1 July 2008 @ 4:08 pmGlory in the highest to God, and on earth peace to men of good will!
Comment by Legisperitus — 1 July 2008 @ 4:08 pmI hope that the process of getting the Transalpine Redemptorists “canonically erected” will go well and show the SSPX that they have nothing to fear in trusting Pope Benedict. This could be a model for bringing the SSPX and other groups back into full communion with the Church.
Comment by Brian Walden — 1 July 2008 @ 4:19 pmQuestion: What does ‘regularized’ mean? Canonical censures lifted, but no canonical status yet? But now they are in full communion? Their priests could celebrate Mass, with the pastor’s permission, in any diocesan church? The same will be true for the SSPX the moment the decrees of excommunications and priestly suspensions are lifted?
Comment by Franzjosf — 1 July 2008 @ 4:20 pmWe are so happy to hear this that we’re switching our Everyclick charity from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal to the Transalpine Redemptorists.
They’ll get 1p (£.01) for every time you search the web.
http://charities.everyclick.com/info.xq?id=54559
Comment by Kradcliffe — 1 July 2008 @ 4:22 pmJack Regan:
This congregation has 20+ religious priests and brothers.
Comment by David — 1 July 2008 @ 4:35 pmDeo Gratias, Most Definitely Te Deum Time
Comment by Jef — 1 July 2008 @ 4:37 pmSee ? It doesn’t take much: A little HUMILITY and 7 days and that’s it !
And this is why we will not be seeing the SSPX reunited with the Church in the near future: Humility is a scarce commodity around Écone.
Comment by Jo — 1 July 2008 @ 4:41 pmThanks, Kradcliffe, what a great idea. I have just joined you! Let’s welcome these wonderful people back with a little practical help.
Comment by Calleva — 1 July 2008 @ 4:51 pmJo,
Comments like yours are easy to make but why don’t you just wait and see what happens before commenting on what you think the SSPX will do.
Comment by anonymous in Michigan — 1 July 2008 @ 4:55 pmI think SSPX had more of a history of being kicked around over decades (by such unsavory characters as C. Villot, etc.,) that they’re knee-jerk reaction is to sometimes say uncharitable things about the Vicar of Rome.
TR, living as they do on a very remote isle off the N. Coast of Scotland, have had a little more room to breath.
It is uncharitable to say that “pride” drives the “schism” of SSPX without knowing more of their history, and without realizing, that without them, there would be no Summorum Pontificum, [I reject that premise. – Fr. Z] no FSSP and no Transalpine Redemptorists. Don’t be so quick to judge!
Bp. Williamson, for instance, and despite off-the-cuff remarks and rhetoric has good things to say, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOYETE5Co38&NR=1
I also think Fellay, despite his sometimes harsh rhetoric, is a genuinely humble shepherd.
Comment by KOM — 1 July 2008 @ 5:10 pmI meant to say “Vicar of Chirst,” and I meant to post this link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=seZrX5qu4gM
sigh, must be getting tired—maybe Fr. Z is creating a blog addiction :)
Comment by KOM — 1 July 2008 @ 6:02 pm“why don’t you just wait and see what happens before commenting on what you think the SSPX will do”
I read the DICI article.
The Pope bends over backwards to accomodate Bp. Fellay, requesting simply the respect the Vicar of Christ on Earth deserves. In return Fellay quotes Lefebvre and requests the lifting of the excommunications.
A humble man would answer the Pope’s “ultimatum” with a simple: “yes please”, “where do I sign”.
BTW, Summorum Pontificum was issued by Benedict; the FSSP was created thanks to the pastoral solicitude of John Paul II; and the regularization o the Transalpine Redemptorists was due to their humility. The SSPX opposed and/or criticised all three.
Comment by Jo — 1 July 2008 @ 6:06 pmI think I shall go to the Shrine of St. John Neumann tomorrow and pray for the intentions of the Transalpine Redemptorists.
Comment by dcs — 1 July 2008 @ 6:20 pmPraise God!
What relationship (if any) does this group have with the one that is in Ukraine?
In ICXC,
Fr. Deacon Daniel
Comment by Father Deacon Daniel — 1 July 2008 @ 6:21 pmFather,
It seems to me that the Benedictine Marhsall Plan is not only working, but bearing much good fruit. Not only have some nuns from the CMRI regularized, but now we have the Transalpine Redemptorists. It seems to me that we are living in tremendously exciting times.
I wonder how the rest of the Redemptorist community will respond to this news. I also wonder how they will accept the Transalpines into their larger organization.
Also, isn’t it interesting that when St. Alphonsus himself died the Redemptorists were split in half? It seems to me that history is repeating itself.
Comment by Brother Juniper — 1 July 2008 @ 6:30 pmJo,
With all due respect, neither you nor anyone else know the contents of the letter Bp. Fellay sent to Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos. The Cardinal seemed pleased, and the note has been passed on to Rome.
I think the fact that you are willing to pass condemnation in advance is problematic.
Put down the Patrick Madrid and Pete Vere book and pray for unity.
Comment by Cathguy — 1 July 2008 @ 6:32 pmPraise God,
I greatly admire these good men.
Here is their website http://www.papastronsay.com/
Comment by Limbo — 1 July 2008 @ 6:53 pmJo, your analysis is truly horrific. John Paul 2 gave us Ecclesia Dei, which acknowledged that Roman Catholic priests were NOT allowed to say the traditional mass, without special permission from their bishop, which (invariably) never came. The exception was in the tiny FSSP. Lefebvre and SSPX rejected JP2’s “offer” because the “offer” only applied to “traditionalists”. It did not acknowledge the right of ALL Catholic priests to use the traditional missal. Lefebvre knew that the new missal cannot stand alongside the old, and if they were both allowed, the old would win out.
Pope Benedict has acknowledged that the traditional missal was NEVER legally abrogated (we all know it was illegally suppressed under Paul VI and JP2), and therefore all priests always had the right (de jure, not de facto, of course) to use that missal. John Paul 2 was wrong and Lefebvre was right on that issue. Perhaps you should credit Benedict with finally allowing true justice in liberating the mass, as SSPX has done rather than giving undue credit to JP2.
Comment by David Kastel — 1 July 2008 @ 7:16 pm“It is uncharitable to say that “pride” drives the “schism” of SSPX without knowing more of their history, and without realizing, that without them, there would be no Summorum Pontificum,”
KOM, would you also say that Martin Luther was a great reformer because without him we would still be selling indulgences?
Comment by BCatholic — 1 July 2008 @ 7:25 pmOn these threads, everyone is always saying to go easy on the SSPX.
However, when I go to somewhere like AngelQueen, and read the threads on this particular issue, all I see is bile – accusing this order of selling out to “Modernist Rome” and so on.
You can tell me that this is not typical of the SSPX, and perhaps I can accept that contention if you point me to some other place to read the opinions of the SSPX members – even Rorate Coeli is split between those who revile this decision as selling out and those who are glad about it.
Comment by Jan — 1 July 2008 @ 7:26 pmJan,
Sadly, that is what most followers of the SSPX are about. Their identity is only to be AGAINST the Church in Rome and to never ever admit that the SSPX has made any error or committed any evil.
I fear that it’s not pride that drives these followers, but something far more insidious. There is evil talk. Let us pray that Bishop Fellay will ignore his followers and choose unity with the Body of Christ.
Comment by Patrick — 1 July 2008 @ 7:44 pmJan,
Not everyone has time to read blogs and post in comment boxes and online forums. I suspect that most people who attend the SSPX Masses are too busy living their lives to get caught up in all this online controversy. I’ve seen lots of online crazies, but also met incredibly humble people. But I haven’t seen them posting online; they’d probably think it was a waste of time and spiritually useless. Online forums allow people to easily draw false conclusions. Minorities seem like majorities. Compare the readers of this blog to average parishioners at a typical parish, for instance. Most groups are self-selected. We think of Benedict’s Marshall plan because we get news about his activities and hear about all the good parishes out there. If we unplugged from the Internet, and just looked at our local parish life, we might be tempted to think that nothing much had changed in the Church. Further, Angelqueen has the habit of censoring and kicking off anyone who voices the slightest criticism of the SSPX, even SSPX supporters. The shrill voice you hear now is because all the moderate voices got the boot. That forum is the creation of one man, don’t let it, or any personal blog, speak for an organization.
Comment by Breier — 1 July 2008 @ 7:58 pmIt is indeed a correct statement, following on from what Brother Juniper said, that the apostolic exhortation Summorum Pontificum is bearing fruit.
But does anyone here know about the Aussie connection with the TransAlpine Redemptorists?
3 of their priestly students had been studying at the SSPX seminary in Goulburn, New South Wales. (That is a beautiful country town which I once drove through!)
But the superior withdrew his seminarians from there, to immense protestation by the rector, Fr Peter Scott.
(This happened after a number of young men from India had been in the same seminary, but left to enter their ordinary diocesan seminary in Bombay).
This was an interesting development that among observers appeared to presage some sort of rapprochment with the Holy See, particularly after the TAP’s positive response to the motu proprio.
Now we have the news that their canonical status has been regularized.
The SSPX criticisms of the Church over matters like collegiality, ecumenism, and religious freedom, are hardly reasons to be cut off from Holy Mother Church.
It is often forgotten that in 1977 Archbishop Lefebvre wrote a letter to Pope Paul VI where he indicated he would accept all the documents of Vatican II, if he could interpret them in the light of tradition.
To me that has always been the criterion for judging the controversial Council, that if an ambiguity exists, one interprets it in the manner of a previous document that is more unequivocal, but at the same time allowing for development in the Church’s understanding of its response to a temporal situation.
Let us hope more people will have the courage to come back home, like these courageous men in Scotland.
Schism more than anything else, is a want of charity, as St Paul admonished that there is to be no schism in the body (1 Cor 12:25)
Could that be a reason Pope Benedict has declared the coming year, the Year of St Paul?
Comment by Andrew — 1 July 2008 @ 8:00 pmI’d like to see the SSPX affiliated Capuchins of Morgon, France reconciled, and able to celebrate and foster only the TL