Mass over the tomb of St. Philip Neri
1) The blog of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer has additional posts up on the just-concluded Roman pilgrimage of Fr. Michael Mary and five FSSR seminarians:
Saints Peter and PaulSaint Philip NeriThe Basilica and Catacombs of Saint Sebastian2) Inside the Vatican article: F.SS.R still "in no man's land"; but no regrets over reconciliation with Rome.
A journey of a different sort is discussed in the latest newsflash of Inside the Vatican (
Letter from Rome #10: 'Totally Alone.'), which has a long article on the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, touching on the details of their daily rule of life as well as the long process of regularization with Rome.
Excerpts:
Father Michael Maria (photo), 55, born in New Zealand, and Brother Magdala Maria, 29, born in Sydney, Australia, but descended from one of the kings of Samoa, were for many years members of the Society of St. Pius X.
However, two years ago, after Pope Benedict published his motu proprio on the liturgy, Summorum Pontificum (July 7, 2007), the two, and several of their friends, decided to leave the Society and try to return to full communion with Rome.
They have hoped for many months that their "assimilation" into the Church might take place quickly, but it has not yet occurred.
"We are still in no man's land," Father Michael told me. "We're not incardinated anywhere, though we have received faculties to hear confessions from our local bishop in Scotland."
***
... two years ago, Father Michael decided that Pope Benedict's gesture in permitting wider use of the old liturgy compelled him to respond. He decided to seek a way to return to full union with Rome.
"We have drawn up a contitution for an order called Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, and we have presented it to the Ecclesia Dei Commission for approval," Father Michael said. "We have been hoping against hope that it would be accepted quickly, perhaps before Cardinal (Dario) Castrillon-Hoyos retires on July 4..."
"But that is only three days away..." I said.
"I know," Father Michael said. "We are losing hope. But we haven't given up."
***
"What is your daily life like on the island?" I asked.
"We rise at 4:55 a.m.," Father Michael said. "We wash and dress and at 5:25 a.m there is a bell to go to the chapel. There we spend 30 minutes in mental prayer, and then we celebrate Mass at 6 a.m. according to the old rite, in Latin. After Mass we have a quarter hour of Thanksgiving. At 7 a.m. we have breakfast...
... At 7:30, we pray a rosary in the chapel. At 8 a.m., we pray the hours, Prime and Terce, according to the 1962 Breviary. From 8:30 to 12:30, we work. We have a farm, and we are still doing lots of construction. At 12:30 a bell rings, and we gather in the chapel for Sext and None, as well as a particular examen of conscience, and a litany to Our Lady. At 1 we eat lunch in silence while an inspirational reading is read. At 1:30 we have an hour of recreation, starting with washing the dishes, then talking in the common room. From 2:30 to 5:30 we have a little silence in honor of Our Lord's three hours on the cross. We include in this time a half hour of mental prayer, a half hour of spiritual reading, and 15 minutes of Eucharistic adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. At 5:30 we say Vespers and Compline and spend time in mental prayer meditating on the Passion of Our Lord. At 6 p.m. we have supper followed by 1 hour of recreation. From 7:30 to 8 p.m. we have night prayer, and from 8 to 9 we have free time. At 9 p.m. we have lights out."
***
"I have been attacked harshly by many in the Society since I left," Father Michael said. "But I have no regrets. I want nothing more than to be in union with the Holy Father, and to serve him, as the Vicar of Christ."
(NB: It is, of course, incorrect to refer to the former Transalpine Redemptorists as having been "members of the Society of St. Pius X.")
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