Could you be the 50th?

Last night I was able to read some of Dowry, the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter's (FSSP) magazine on the Faith and today managed to find the excellent and inspiring video above. In an order of Priests that embodies what we now understand in terms of the 'new liturgical movement' the magazine article, written by Fr Armand de Malleray, tells us that...

On numerous occasions, Cardinal Heads of Roman Dicasteries, the closest collaborators of the Sovereign Pontiffs, have travelled to our houses of formation either to stay with us or to ordain our priests. These include the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship.

In October 1988, only three months after our foundation, the Holy Father has granted us the status of pontifical right which, among other effects, puts our seminaries under the direct authority of our own Superior General and of the Holy See via the Ecclesia Dei Commission, once the diocesan bishop has granted us his permission to open a seminary in his diocese.

The FSSP are looking forward to their 50th ordination to the Priesthood since they started 20 years ago. They continue to attract vocations in the United Kingdom while the Priesthood more generally has suffered greatly in terms of attracting young men.

If I were a young man who felt he called to the Priesthood, the traditional edge of the FSSP would be very appealing. The attraction is based on just how very seriously they take the Catholic Faith, how seriously they take religion, how seriously they take God. They really mean it!

The tonsure in the shape of the Cross

For example, look at the picture on the right where a new Priest is having his head tonsured in the shape of the Cross, marking him out as belonging to Christ.

This is from their website...

'In the Church, the members of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter have the fundamental charism of sanctifying themselves through the faithful celebration of Holy Mass and the Sacraments in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. At the same time, they offer to souls the fruits of the graces of their vocation by making the liturgy in the Extraordinary Form available to all Catholics. Throughout the seminary's intensive seven year program, each of the various elements and stages of formation has as its purpose the formation of priests whose union with God is pursued through the traditional liturgy.'

The FSSP have one seminary in Wigratzbad in Germany and one in Denton, Nebraska in USA. They have a house in Reading, England, the site of which you can browse here. As Fr Armand de Malleray makes clear in his article in Dowry...

Repeatedly we pray in remembrance that all this is done by His power, not ours; by His goodness, not ours; of His mercy and according to His Plan, not ours. Because if we fix our eyes on the human being, some may be scandalized, saying in their hearts: How can this wretched man, this moral cripple, be on the path to the priesthood!? And finding the idea too stupid, too outrageous, they reject the reality of the priesthood, or even of God. But when we fix our eyes on God it is simple to see: with Him all things are possible, even the filling of earthen vessels with grace, the strengthening of the weak, the salvation of sinners. Our part is to co-operate. Then the bishop gave a crucifix to each candidate. During the offertory I stared at mine, realising with new force: Jesus, You have given all of Yourself to me. I want to give all myself to You. This is the exchange He asks of us, and it is unspeakably good!

Say a prayer for the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter that more young men will be attracted to laying down their lives in the Priesthood and leading the Faithful to worship God 'in spirit and in truth'.