Gain a Plenary Indulgence for the Feast of Christ the King

Traditionally, the Sunday preceding the Feast of All Saints, this year October 28, 2012, is the feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. One may gain a plenary indulgence by the public recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and so the Fraternity exhorts all faithful Catholics to offer, or renew, their consecration to the Sacred Heart of our Sovereign Lord.

“The kingship and empire of Christ have been recognized in the pious custom, practiced by many families, of dedicating themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; not only families have performed this act of dedication, but nations, too, and kingdoms. In fact, the whole of the human race was at the instance of Pope Leo XIII, in the Holy Year 1900, consecrated to the Divine Heart.

We institute the Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ to be observed yearly throughout the whole world on the last Sunday of the month of October–the Sunday, that is, which immediately precedes the Feast of All Saints. We further ordain that the dedication of mankind to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which Our predecessor of saintly memory, Pope Pius X, commanded to be renewed yearly, be made annually on that day.”

– Quas Primas,
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI, December 11, 1925

Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates ourselves today to Thy Most Sacred Heart.

Many indeed have never known Thee; Many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful children, who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children, who have abandoned Thee; Grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. 

Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.

Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound  from pole to pole with one cry; praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; To it be glory and honor forever. R. Amen.

Every year, throughout the North American District, the priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter and the faithful who freely associate themselves with the Fraternity, renew the consecration of the North American District to the Blessed Mother of God. This re-consecration is done on the first Sunday of October, the Sunday recognized by the Church as being closely associated with the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. We encourage all who have not yet done so, to join in the renewal of the consecration during this month of the Rosary. The consecration in this manner is significant first and foremost because the Fraternity has chosen as one of its principle patrons, Our Lady under her august title of Mother of God. Secondly, the Feast is significant because Our Lady through the Rosary preserved so many tenacious adherents to the devotion through difficult years and, as if rewarding them with fruits for their labors, the traditional Mass was once again made available to many of them and to some the traditional Mass was made available through the ministry of the Fraternity. Finally the re-consecration on the feast of the Holy Rosary brings to mind St. Pius V who instituted the feast after the great catholic victory over the Muslim invaders at the battle of Lepanto. St. Pius also codified the traditional Mass, ensuring that it would be preserved for centuries to come, and through whose intercession it can be reasonably assumed that the traditional Mass is continually preserved by the highest guardians of orthodoxy even in our day through both the Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei Afflicta and Summorum Pontificum.

Act of Consecration of the North American District of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter to the Blessed Mother of God

This consecration is made on the first Sunday of October by the members and faithful of the North American District of the Fraternity. For private use only.

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Help of Christians, behold this day before thy feet, the priests and seminarians of the Fraternity of Saint Peter, together with all those who, united with us as a spiritual family, place their hope and trust in thee. O Queen and Mother of all priests, it was by thee that Jesus, the Divine High Priest and Victim, was given unto the world, and He in turn has given thee to us.

Intercede, therefore, we implore thee, for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross. Look with favor upon the work we seek to do for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Obtain for us by thy prayers the graces we need as members of the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, to be instructed and enlightened by her Magisterium, to be devoutly zealous for the graces of her Sacraments, and to be unfailingly loyal in our unity with the Vicar of thy Son.

(This section is offered by priests and seminarians only:) Conscious of our own frailty, and of the hatred of the world for the works of light, we offer thee this day, and beg thee to take under thy patronage, our Priestly Fraternity. We invoke thee, this day and evermore, as our advocate and Queen, and devote ourselves and all those souls who seek our priestly care, together with all our works and all we have and are, to thy loving protection. To thee and to thy Immaculate Heart, we entrust and consecrate ourselves. Assist us in our endeavors to spread the Kingdom of thy Son, so that those who have strayed from the truth may once more attend to the teaching of the Church; those separated from her unity may return to the one true fold; those in sin may be restored to a state of grace; and those who have abandoned the Sacraments may return with fervor to receive them. O Virgin Most Pure, do thou, together with Saint Peter, and all the angels and saints, pray for us all. May thy love and protection be ever upon our Fraternity, so that we may faithfully proclaim the Holy Gospel and bring the Sacraments to ever more souls. Obtain for us by thy prayers that we may persevere in grace until death, when we may be united with thee, our loving Mother, in our heavenly home. Amen.

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter recently celebrated a beautiful Solemn High Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, on Sunday, August 5, 2012. The faithful responded enthusiastically, filling Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in Turners Falls to overflowing. More than 400 souls crowded the church, leaving standing room only. A procession formed at the entrance, which included many young girls in traditional Polish dress, and several parish sodalities, each with their own banners.

Fr. Robert Fromageot, FSSP, was present, along with six seminarians and a music director from Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska. Fr. Fromageot celebrated the Mass and preached the sermon, while Fr. Kevin Lutz, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio, was Deacon. Mr. Nicholas Lemme, music director at OLGS, assisted Mr. Henry Gaida, the parish music director at Our Lady of Czestochowa.

Due to the strong desire of the parishioners and the great generosity of the pastor, Fr. Lutz and the seminarians stayed for several days and offered three more Masses – in the form Missa Cantata – including one at a monastery of cloistered Dominican sisters in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Later in August, in response to continued interest by the parish, another Fraternity priest, Fr. Damonn Sypher, offered a Missa Cantata during his Massachusetts vacation.

The Fraternity wishes to offer thanks to Fr. Charles Jan DiMascola, the pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa, for his generosity, and to His Excellency Bishop Timothy McDonnell, for the overflowing spirit of faith and charity of the faithful and clergy of the Diocese of Springfield.

More pictures of this Mass will be in the upcoming newsletter. If you do not receive the FSSP Newsletter, Sign Up Today.

In celebration of the one-hundredth anniversary of Saint Benedict parish in Richmond, Virginia, a Traditional Solemn High Latin Mass was offered this year on the Feast of the Assumption.  Fr. James F. Kauffmann, SSL, the pastor of Saint Benedict, joined with Fr. Robert Novokowsky, FSSP, and Fr. Karl Marsolle, FSSP, Pastor and Parochial Vicar, respectively, of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Richmond, to offer the Mass for the greater glory of God and Our Lady.  Father Novokowsky was Priest, Father Marsolle Deacon, and Father Kauffmann Subdeacon for the Mass.

Over 600 congregants of St. Benedict’s and faithful from the area were in attendance.

The choir sang the Missa Brevis by Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967) under the direction of guest conductor Dr. Axel Theimer of Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, who was accompanied by Mr. James A. Dorn, choirmaster and organist at St Benedict Church.   The propers were sung by the schola from St. Joseph Church, led by Mr. David Pedersen, choirmaster.  Additionally, the choir sang Ave Maria by Franz Biebl (1906 – 2001) and Ave Maris Stella by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907). Prelude music was performed by the St. Benedict Trombone Quartet.

Very great thanks to the celebrants for the beautiful Mass, and to Father Kauffman and parishioners of Saint Benedict on their one-hundredth anniversary as a parish.

At the further ends of North America, the Fraternity was graced with the presence of two greater prelates for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

His Grace, Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, visited the Fraternity parish of Holy Family in Vancouver British Columbia.  Archbishop Miller assured the young people that courage and bravery is needed to spread the Gospel message to a world that is often indifferent, if not hostile to our Christian faith, and stated: “The world today needs brave men and women who know their faith and can explain it to others; those who stand up for what they believe in. It takes courage to follow Jesus, because the pressures to compromise are enormous. It is so easy just to follow the crowd and do what ‘everybody else does.’ But that is not the way of Jesus.”

In Guadalajara, Mexico, His Eminence, Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, administered Confirmation at the church of Our Lady of Pilar, the Fraternity’s apostolate.

The Fraternity wishes to thank Archbishop Miller and Cardinal Íñiguez for their gracious visits and imparting the grace of the Sacrament of Confirmation upon young souls.

This year’s Camp St. Isaac Jogues, at headquarters in Elmhurst PA, was an enjoyable success with campers involved with a variety of sports and activities, along with daily Mass and devotions. This year included adoration and a solemn procession of our Lord on the Feast of Corpus Christi.  Fr. Antony Sumich, FSSP, led campers and seminarians on 10 days of rugby, soccer, camping and an  Olympiad.  Camp St. Isaac was truly a exercise for both body and spirit. The boys made lifelong memories and hopefully learned lessons of faith and responsibility. We look forward to next year’s camp!

Camp St. Peter in the Black Hills of South Dakota was a rousing success, where campers enjoyed camping and the sights of the the Black Hills.  Fr. Christopher Hathaway, FSSP, the founder of the camp, provided for the physical and spiritual needs of the camps with daily Mass and Confession, along with the “Ask Father” session each night. Campers enjoyed hikes, fishing, sports and “Ultimate Ninja” along with the stunning beauty of God’s creation. Camp St. Peter was truly a exercise for the body and the spirit.  The boys made lifelong memories and hopefully learned lessons of faith and responsibility that they will carry with them throughout life. We look forward to next year’s camp!

Fr. Brian T. Austin, FSSP was in Birmingham, Alabama this summer to conduct a Latin Mass Conference. The conference was held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Saturday, July 7, 2012, which is the 5th Anniversary of the release of Summorum Pontificum, the Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI that encourages the widespread use of the Traditional Latin Liturgy according to the 1962 Roman Missal. Una Voce Northern Alabama was started in response to Summorum, and their local Latin Mass community in Birmingham has greatly benefitted from the liturgical freedom of the past five years. The workshop was sponsored by Una Voce Northern Alabama.

Fr. Austin began the conference at 9 a.m. by celebrating a Sung High Mass. Music for the Mass included the Missa Brevis of Palestrina, motets by Elgar and Pergolesi and the traditional chants for the votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Following a short break after Mass, Father gave a presentation in the Church titled The Liturgical Reform of Pope Benedict XVI.

The Liturgical Reform of Pope Benedict XVI (Notes – PDF)

Fr. Austin’s Conference Audio: [audio:https://fssp.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/2012-UVNA-Conference.mp3|titles=2012 UVNA Conference]

Dates: September 17th – 21th, 2012  (Monday – Friday)

Cost: $400

Program

Each workshop comprises a five-day residential course at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary including both classroom sessions and practical hands-on instruction. All instruction, training materials, meals, and room & board at the seminary are provided.

Low Mass Workshop:

• A comprehensive introduction to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and its liturgical principles
• An overview of the 1962 Roman Missal and liturgical calendar
• A complete explanation and demonstration, with practical hands-on instruction, in the ceremony of Low Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal
• Tips and strategies for gaining proficiency in Latin
• An introduction to Sung Mass and Gregorian Chant

Registration

To register, please go to the MASS TRAINING SIGN UP page and follow the steps listed. Please note that we need all the documentation listed before we can secure your reservation. Please register in advance as spaces are limited and will be allocated on a “first come, first serve” basis.

Financial Assistance Available

For priests who require financial assistance, Una Voce America has set up a financial aid plan. For details please contact Una Voce America, c/o Mr. Jason King, PO Box 1146, Bellevue, WA 98009 or e-mail INFO@UNAVOCE.ORG

From Mr. Daniel Heenan (an FSSP seminarian):

From June 18-28th the Saint Francis Xavier Mission Trip of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter journeyed to the remote town of Banica in the Dominican Republic for a ten-day mission trip. Banica is situated along the Haitian border, about a five-hour drive from the capital, Santo Domingo. Many people in this region live in abject poverty. Though the parish was established in the early 16th century by Spanish missionaries, for most of its history it has not had a resident priest. Approximately 20 years ago, the diocese of Arlington, VA began sending priests to care for the Catholic population of about 8,000 souls in the parish of San Francisco in Banica and in the neighboring parish of San Jose.

Like other groups that make similar trips, the Saint Francis Xavier Mission Trip sought to serve Christ in the poor, and, through this encounter, sanctify those who participated in the trip. To this end, the group built two outhouses in the small town of Cercadillo, which is situated about 15 miles outside of Banica but takes close to an hour to reach by truck due to the poor condition of the roads. This simple amenity represents a tremendous asset to these people who have no running water and no electricity. The young people also built a simple fence around the village’s cemetery to add to its dignity and to keep out the animals.

The goals of this trip, however, were not limited to the corporal works of mercy. Along with dirtying their hands with difficult manual labor under the intense summer sun, the FSSP also provided training in the Traditional Latin Mass to the pastor of the mission, Fr. Keith O’Hare, of the diocese of Arlington, VA. Seminarians likewise provided training in serving the Traditional Mass to the altar boys of the parish. During the group’s stay, three sung Masses and one Solemn High Mass were offered in Banica (certainly the first Solemn Mass in a long time and perhaps even the first ever considering the scarcity of clergy in the region) and a second Solemn High Mass was offered at the end of the trip in the church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the historic colonial zone of Santo Domingo.

Just as the evidence of the impact of the work in the village of Cercadillo could be seen in the new structures that were built and the friendships made with the local residents, so too were the spiritual results evident as curious residents found their way to the back of the church during the group’s Masses and holy hours and followed the group’s example in receiving at the altar rail, going to confession, and even wearing chapel veils, as the altar boys gained a new appreciation for the richness of the church’s tradition, and as Fr. O’Hare began making plans to regularly celebrate the extraordinary form.

A trip such as this certainly leaves participants with a renewed fervor for their faith, wonderful new friendships, and a countless store of anecdotes. One such story that beautifully encapsulates the blending of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy occurred during the final day working in Cercadillo. While digging post holes for the cemetery fence, a man came up and asked to speak to a priest. A man on the other side of the village, he related, was dying and wanted help from the Church. What he was requesting at first, however, was help finishing the latrine that the dying man had begun. He saw that the group of Americans had been building outhouses for other villagers and, since the man had taken ill and was unable to finish the one he had begun, his family was hoping they could receive similar assistance. Hearing that the man was dying, the priest was alerted and he and one of the seminarians immediately went to see him. This man who had sought material help was about to receive something much greater, for this man had been away from the Church for years and on account of that had not even thought it possible to request the sacraments. The dying man’s daughter, who had just arrived from the capital the previous day, greeted the Americans with tears in her eyes. She explained how she had prayed and wept through the night beseeching God to look after her father who had been away from the sacraments for some time. She extolled the mercy of God for the fact that that very day a priest had ridden into this remote village – something that is not an ordinary occurrence. When the visit was concluded, the two clerics returned to the rest of the group to find the fence nearly completed. Father was then able to consecrate the cemetery, hallowing the ground in which the body of that newly sanctified man would perhaps soon be interred.

If you would like more information about the Saint Francis Xavier Mission Trip or would like to contribute to future projects, please contact SFXMission@gmail.com.