Our American Foundation - Montana Rosa Mystica - Christmas Letter from Father Michael Mary

Dear Friends,

Live Jesus our love and Mary our hope!

On behalf of the members of the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, 

I announce with joy and gratitude to the Infant Jesus and His Most Holy Mother 

that on the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, 7 October 2020 

our religious order was granted a canonical invitation to establish a monastery 

in the diocese of Great Falls - Billings, 

which is the Eastern diocese of Montana in the United States of America. 

His Lordship the Bishop of Great Falls - Billings
Bishop Michael Warfel,
signing with the Rector Major

Father Michael Mary
the canonical agreement and invitation into the diocese.

Then, having received extraordinary providence from our Most sweet Infant Jesus

on the Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 

18th December 2020, 

we purchased the 200 acre hilly domain of 72 Red Shale Lane, Forsyth, Montana

with the intention of building there the future monastery of our American foundation,

and a place in their own country, for our much loved American vocations.

Here is a place that is according to our Constitutions, a holy wilderness for prayer and retreat;

and should God so Will our monks would spread from here as missionaries to wherever they are called.

18 December, 2020
Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Purchase of property in Rosebud County, Montana

signed for the Congregation by

Father Michael Mary and Brother Romuald Marie.

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Our Constitutions call us to preach Missions and also "... to propagate the Faith of Jesus Christ by: Retreats; Spiritual Direction; Perpetual Mission churches; pastoral care of the most abandoned souls living in isolated or forsaken places, even if they be but few in number; the Apostolate of the pen and of Digital Communications;  appropriate apostolates among non-Catholics and non-Christians; working good to all men but especially to those who are of the household of the Faith. (Galatians 6:10)"

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Along with the monastery to be built here, we will build a retreat house to enable the preaching of retreats. It will also provide for private retreats for souls seeking solitude and silence, prayer and rest with the Traditional Latin Mass.

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The property is in a quiet location in Rosebud County within our diocese of Great Falls - Billings. It has its own fresh water well. It is off the grid and powered by a generator and solar panels. There is also a small cabin which will serve as a base when, in God's time and providence, we are in a position to  begin building.

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Our Constitutions direct that for our monastery, we are to live in "a laura of individual separated cells within an enclosure." In simple language this means that each monk will live in a separate cell or hut, and the separate little hermitages would be set out around the monastery chapel and common facilities: library, refectory and common room. It should be a simple enough build. Everything is on ground level and can easily be built in stages. The cells and other buildings would be wooden built on concrete pads.

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The name we have given t the property is: Montana Rosa Mystica.

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The Name is given for the following reasons:

The purchase date was the Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin and the Friday in Embertide. The Gospel of the day was of the Visitation and in Latin the Holy Gospel said: 

Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione.

And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste. 

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Montana was indicated in the Holy Gospel on the day of purchase.

Montana which means hill country perfectly describes the hilly location we have purchased;

Montana is also the name of our State in the United States.

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Rosa Mystica is a title of Our Lady from Her Litany of Loreto which we usually pray twice daily.

Rosa Mystica describes Our Lady as the root of Jesse and the stem from which buds forth the flower Who is Jesus. As the Christmas hymn sings.

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Flos  de radice Jesse 

Est natus hodie;

Quem nobis jam adesse,

Laetamur unice.

Flos ille Jesus est,

Maria Virgo radix

De qua flos ortus est.

A spotless Rose from Jesse

Hath blossomed forth today;

Rejoice ye Christian people

In song and tuneful lay;

Sweet Mary is the stem,

And Jesus is the rosebud,

The Babe of Bethlehem.

Montana Rosa Mystica has three significant associations with the Rose. 

Firstly, the house was established in the diocese on the feast of the Most Holy Rosary. 

Secondly, the consecrated property is situated within Montana's Rosebud county.

Thirdly, the name of the monastery to be built on Montana Rosa Mystica will be:

Monastery of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary Refuge of Sinners. 

The Immaculate Heart of Mary bears upon itself  White, Red and Gold Roses.

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Domain of Montana Rosa Mystica.

Monastery of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary Refuge of Sinners.

The monastery chapel will be named for the Bonnie Prince, the Infant Jesus, Who is the Rosebud the Babe of Bethlehem.

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Until the monastery is built, the community has  received the warm and supportive hospitality of the Parish Priest and Faithful of Jordan Montana. We have been kindly invited to celebrate Traditional Latin  Masses in the parish church every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10.00 a.m. We offer the holy sacrifice on the other days in our basement chapel at Most Holy Rosary House. At present we are four monks here in Montana: Father Michael Mary, Brother Romuald Marie, Brother Alfonso Maria and Father Gerard Maria.

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We are seeking donations towards the building of the monastery at Montana Rosa Mystica.

If you would like to send a contribution please make checks payable to: 

"Transalpine Redemptorists Inc."

and send them to us at our current address which is:

Most Holy Rosary House

1809 Brusett Road

Jordan MT 59337

Your name will be recorded amongst our benefactors for whom we pray daily.

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All of us here in Most Holy Rosary House send you our prayerful greetings in this holy season.

Devotedly in Jesus our love and Mary our hope,

Father Michael Mary, F.SS.R.

Rector Major

Christmas photos

The Bonnie Prince arrived in the United States on 13 December, 2020.
At present the image is enshrined in Most Holy Rosary House.
Already He has received a precious ring. I encourage you to send him tassels, cross-stitched linen, rings, chains and other objects of piety or of value to adorn His shrine.
How often jewellery lies in jewellery boxes unused. Piety often turns these objects into prayers.
Send your gifts to the shrine of the Bonnie Prince.
Jewellery will be fixed into the wood of the shrine as your gift to the Infant Jesus.
Cross-stitched linen, candle sticks and other objects will be exclusively used in His oratory.
Gifts and ex votos will adorn His shrine as purely spiritual offerings.

I look forward to seeing the Bonnie Prince enshrined in the monastery church
in Montana Rosa Mystica.

Reciting the Most Holy Rosary in the basement chapel
before the Blessed Sacrament and the image of the Bonnie Prince.

Altar of the Infant Jesus.
Straw adorns the floor of the basement chapel.
A spotless Rose from Jesse
Hath blossomed forth today;
Rejoice ye Christian people
In song and tuneful lay;
Sweet Mary is the stem,
And Jesus is the rosebud,
The Babe of Bethlehem.

O my Sweetest Love,
I am sorry that I have offended Thee.
I desire to be always faithful in Thy service.
Enkindle in me Thy love.
Make me chaste and holy.
Mary my Mother,
Grant that I may belong entirely to Thee
And to Thy Son Jesus.  -  St Alphonsus.

Photos concerning Montana Rosa Mystica.

32 miles along the US94 from Miles City

take the exit for Rosebud Creek Road.

19.8 miles along the Rosebud Creek Road we turn off

into the Cherry Creek Road.

This is Cherry Creek Road.

Cherry Creek Road continues through the Wild Horse Ranch Subdivision.

Father Gerard Maria opens the gates into

Montana Rosa Mystica.

[SW quarter section of section 32, Township 3N and 44E

of Rosebud County -the technical position.]

Montana - Hill Country

Ponderosa Pines

Wilderness setting for solitude and silence.

Setting for a Laura of cells.

Setting for a solitary retreat cabin. 

A large flat area looking to a distant horizon.

Looking to the original cabin. 

A possible site for the retreat house complex.

Our recreational visit to Montana Rosa Mystica 

21st December, 2020

Ponderosa Pine cones in abundance.

Solemn Requiem Mass for the soul of Bishop John Basil Meeking, STD

Tuesday 15 June, 2020

Father Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.

 celebrated 

Solemn Requiem Mass 

for the repose of the soul

of

Bishop John Basil Meeking, S.T.D.

Emeritus Bishop of Christchurch.

The Deacon was Rev. Fr. Sumich, F.S.S.P.

The Subdeacon was Rev. Fr. Yousef Marie, F.SS.R.

The Mass was served by the

Knights of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord

and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

The Requiem Mass was live streamed.
The link is here.

The Live Streaming Link to our Latin Masses in New Zealand

Dear Friends,

Praised be Jesus and Mary ever Virgin!

The events over the last weeks have prompted us to live-stream the Holy Mass from New Zealand. In this way those who cannot be present at Mass may join us in spirit. These are difficult times for everyone.

We hope that our Latin Masses will add to the availability of Masses especially given that the New Zealand Time Zone begins the day that will later dawn upon all the other countries in the world. (New Zealanders pride themselves on their being the first out of bed on each and every new day in the year!). Bear in mind that New Zealand live-streams across the Date Line from America's tomorrow.

We will also begin live streaming from Papa Stronsay when possible.

Mass is celebrated in Wilderness of Mt St Joseph's Kakahu, in the Te Moana Gorge,

2079 Te Moana Road, Kakahu, N.Z.

 at 8.00 a.m. 

(N. Z. Daylight Time).

The Link to this Mass is here.

Holy Mass is celebrated at the

 Mother of Perpetual Succour Oratory, 

141 Rutland Street, St Albans, Christchurch, N.Z.

 4 hours later at Midday (N.Z. Daylight Time).

The Link to this Mass is here.

Both of these Masses are displayed on the same link. 

It is possible to press the Set Reminder button for each of the forthcoming Masses.

We hope that these Masses will be pleasing to God and of benefit to the souls that seek Him.

Devotedly

Father Michael Mary, F.SS.R.

Papa Stronsay

Come and See

This past week saw our third annual Familiares retreat.  The Familiares are young men who, being too young to formally enter the monastery, and wishing to further explore the religious vocation, join themselves to the Sons of the Most Redeemer as Familiars, in the spirit of the Minor Seminaries and Juvinates of old.

Those who wish to become Familiars join themselves to our religious family in a formal manner.  They are clothed in the habit of the Congregation, and are permitted to wear it on certain occasions, to enter into the enclosure of the monastery and join us for an experience of religious life.

One such occasion is the annual Familiares retreat.

In this way they respond to Our Lord's offer to "come and see":

The next day again John [the Baptist] stood, and two of his disciples.  And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God.  And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  And Jesus turning, and seeing them following him, saith to them: What seek you? Who said to him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?  He saith to them: Come and see. They came, and saw where he abode, and they stayed with him that day: now it was about the tenth hour. (Jn. 1:35-39)

The retreat is held at our Mount Saint Joseph's Kakahu Monastery, in New Zealand.  The week began with the clothing of a new Familiar who came all the way from the United States

The candidate waits at the start of the ceremony.

He receives the Habit of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer from the hands of the Superior.

Thanksgiving.

During the time of the retreat, the Brothers moved out of their cells to make way for the Familiares, and set up camp in a new and temporary monastic Laura.

Br Xavier Maria, beads in hand, leaves his temporary desert-cell.

Cassian says: “The religious prays little who prays only when he is on his knees in the choir or in the cell.” To fulfil the obligations of his state, a religious should keep his soul continually united with God; but to maintain this constant union, continual prayer is necessary. There are three means of acquiring the habit of continual prayer; namely, silence, solitude, and the presence of God. These were the means that the angel suggested to St. Arsenius when he said: “If you wish to be saved, fly into solitude, observe silence, and repose in God by always keeping yourself in his presence.” — St Alphonsus, The True Spouse of Jusus Christ

The Familiars took up their residence in Valsainte, an old wool-shed converted into accommodation.

 It is named after an old ruinous Carthusian monastery occupied for a time by Venerable Fr Joseph Passerat, C.SS.R.

The front door, with Fr Passerat's portrait beside it.

 Valsainte's small but beautifully decorated chapel.

 The Familiars' home for the week.  It's a work in progress but already Valsainte is sealed, double-glazed, heated by a wood stove and fully insulated. It has hot and cold running water, showers and toilets.

There are seven cells.

Each day began at 04:55 with the sound of the bell.  All, Familiars and monks, rose promptly, and made their way in the first grey light of dawn for the morning meditation, followed by the Divine Offices of Matins and Lauds in common, starting at 05:30.

 At 07:00 the Familiars served the morning Mass.

Our Lord's sacrifice renewed mystically, yet really, upon the mount, drawing down graces for the world.

 Breakfast followed Mass and Thanksgiving.  In the monastic fashion, breakfast was taken in silence.

 The body having been refreshed, it can once more be engaged in offering praise to God.

The Office of Terce at 09:00.

 Each day after Terce, the Farmiliars received a conference in Valsainte on aspects of religious life from Fr Anthony Mary or Br Martin Mary.

 Then followed the morning's labour.  Here The Familiars are cutting wood, generously donated by a neighbour.  It's loaded into the back of the vehicle...

 ...driven to the wood-shed...

 ...unloaded...

 ...and carefully stacked to dry for winter fuel.

Br Seelos Maria cut the logs, which were split, and stacked in the same manner.

 

 Another important task was picking the abundance of ripe cherries.

Many made it...but there were quite a number which mysteriously disappeared between the branch and the bowl!

So much fruit ready for harvest...

The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few.  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.

(Matt. 9:37-38)

After the Office of Sext, and Particular Examen, lunch was served.  We were most grateful that, once again, Sr Marie-Celeste and Mrs Enander were able to be part of this retreat and provide the all-important work of preparing meals.

Thank you both for you great effort and generosity!

The afternoon was for spiritual exercises in one's own cell: spiritual reading and mental prayer followed by a visit to the Blessed Sacrament.

Vespers and Rosary were said in common at 17:30, followed by supper and community recreation.

Night prayers and Compline at 19:30 brought the day to a close.

On Thursday they took a long hike, and conquered Devil's Peak, which stands at 1587m (5206ft), planting a cross at the top and renaming it Holy Cross Peak!

The retreat was ended with a beautiful sung Mass, served by the Familiares and Br Seelos Maria.

Well done Familiars for a good and grace-filled week.  May God continue to lead you along the path of perfection, and draw you ever closer to Himself, and if it be His Holy Will, into the sanctuary of Religious Life!