Rorate Caeli

EXCLUSIVE: Rorate confirms, Bishop Bruskewitz leads apostolic visitation of FSSP North American District

Bishop Huonder, Abbot Courau in Wigratzbad

Truly an ordinary visitation

The following information and confirmation was obtained exclusively by Rorate Caeli. Please cite accordingly if you re-post, including if you already re-posted.

The recently mentioned Ordinary Apostolic Visitation of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) is, as its name indicates, a routine measure determined by the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED).

The first news item of the visitation was posted by the FSSP themselves (see here) only with the name of the principal visitator. Rorate can now confirm that the visitation is indeed happening, and the officials are:
  • Bishop Vitus Huonder, of Chur/Coire (Switzerland), Principal Visitor (Wigratzbad)
  • Dom Hervé Courau, O.S.B., Father Abbot of Notre-Dame de Triors (France), Co-Visitor (Wigratzbad)
  • Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, Bishop Emeritus of Lincoln, (United States)
Bp. Huonder in Wigratzbad
As many know, Bishop Huonder is very close to the FSSP, and so is Bishop Bruskewitz, a constant fixture at FSSP ordinations during his days as Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska, the diocese where the Fraternity has its American seminary.

Bp. Bruskewitz in FSSP Ordinations
As for Dom Courau, he is the founder and first and current Father Abbot of one of the few Traditional Benedictine monasteries in the world, Triors, a daughter-house of Fontgombault.

Dom Courau celebrates Mass in a visit to Heiligenkreuz Abbey (Vienna)
While many -- rightly so -- look at any and all apostolic visitations under the brutal lens of some ongoing events, we are assured by multiple knowledgeable sources that, as this is not an "extraordinary" but an "ordinary" visitation, we should expect nothing harmful to come of it. Time will tell.

In any event, bear in mind that the extraordinary visitation whose unbelievable consequences gave rise to the current disastrous collapse of the traditional charism of the Franciscans of the Immaculate was not conducted by the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (the Franciscans of the Immaculate were never under their jurisdiction), but by the Congregation for Religious.

We are also told other traditional institutes under the PCED, such as the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, will have their ordinary visitation shortly. We also expect those to be friendly.

Please, keep all institutes and orders under the jurisdiction of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei in your prayers.