The Transalpine Redemptorists

I need to be clear about two things right off: (1) At this time this venerable order is in a state of canonical irregularity with the Holy See, in part due to their working relationship with the Society of Saint Pius X and (2) I have always respected and admired them – who can’t? – for the tenacity that they have show in re-establishing (after centuries!) a monastic community on an island off the coast of Scotland. In watching that, it becomes pretty clear, that is not an easy life.

In my admiration of them, I had long hoped that their situation of canonical irregularity would be regularized and their relationship to the Holy See would become unimpeded… But figured it was a long shot.

When the SSPX made it abundantly clear they would NOT be obedient to the Holy See (so what else is new?) and use the revised Good Friday Prayers for the 1962 Missal, The TAR very cooly and humbly asserted:

Notice
In what concerns the Solemn Prayers of the Good Friday Liturgy, the Transalpine Redemptorists will obey with submission the newly promulgated Prayer for the Jews as ordered by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on February 4th 2008.

Fr. Michael Mary, C.SS.R.
Vicar General
8 February, 2007

Kudos and props to them.

Still more heartening words from the most recent blog entry:

+ William: Well, is there anything going on between the Redemptorists and Rome?

+ Our little monastery is separate from the SSPX. As one SSPX priest told us when we were having a penniless moment: “We are united in Faith and separated in finances.”
I liked the quip! It shows that the two organisations are separate. And it follows that if the SSPX is able to speak with Rome there should be no reason why we would not be able to do so either.

+ William: What is the basis of having relations with Rome?

+ It is because we believe that Benedict XVI is the Pope, of course. He is the head of the Church. We are set upon working towards reunion. If we remain in an ‘imperfect communion’ we will eventually become a separate organisation altogether.

+ When I recall the day of the Consecrations in 1988 there were numbers of young children playing on the grass around the canvas cathedral. Do you know, now 20 years later, most of those girls and boys will be married. The 3rd generation of 1988 Tradis is on its way: that is, a generation that does not know normal Catholic life, that has no real contact with their juridical bishops, parishes and clergy. Already there are possibly 2 generations of people who are isolated from the Catholic ‘wheat and chaff’ that makes up a diocese. This is a serious situation unless we want to become a separate Church fitted out with our own bishops, parishes and clergy. We need a reconciliation asap.

Please keep them in your prayers.

The latest chapter in the return of  the Transalpine Redemptorists.

Benedict the Re-Gatherer indeed!

[Originally posted March 10 by ASimpleSinner at the old blog address.]