Profession of Fr Celestine Maria, F.SS.R.

On the Feast of St Alphonsus, 2nd August,  Fr Celestine Maria of the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary, F.SS.R. made his temporary profession of the Vows of Religion: Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

  The Novice is questioned by the Superior regarding his desire to give his life entirely to God in Holy Religion, and his firm resolve to persevere therein.

 Prostrate on the ground and covered with the funeral pall while the Veni Creator Spiritus is chanted by the community, the Novice prepares to die to the world.

 Fr Celestine Maria, F.SS.R. pronounces his vows, kneeling before his God and ours; Him Who will judge us on the last day.

 Father receives the Pallium of the professed monk.

 All kneel while the newly-professed recites a prayer of thanksgiving.

Deo gratias et Mariæ! 

We wish Father Celestine all the best, and pray that he, and we persevere in this most excellent vocation of Religious Life.

Rejoice with us!

Dear Friends,

For the love of Jesus and Mary

rejoice with us!

We rejoice because of the Beatification today of 

not now the Venerable, but the  

Blessed Maria Celeste Crostarosa.

Rejoice with us!

Today is the 8th anniversary of our 

reconciliation with the Holy See in 2008

thanks to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo.

The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. (Ps. 88:2)

On this anniversary of that great grace, 

from which we have never looked back, 

I publicly announce the joyful news

that we have received yet another grace 

for which we are most deeply grateful to God.

On 18th May 2016, 

His Lordship, the Bishop of Aberdeen, 

Dom Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B. 

signed the Decree of Approval 

for the Constitution of our Congregation.

May God reward him exceedingly!

Deo gratias et Mariae! - 

Thanks be to God and to Mary!

Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R.

Rector Major

25 May AD 716 - 2016. 1300 years since St Duncan, Abbot of Iona.

Celtic Cross on St Columba's island of Iona.

St Duncan, Abbot of Iona, in Scotland.

St Duncan's name in Irish is St Dunchadh. (It means Brown (Dun) Noble, Chief or Warrior.

If the ancient Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters are correct, today marks 1300 years since this holy man's soul took flight for heaven, leaving his exiled body in the monastery-island of Iona. It was 25 May, 716.

Duncan was a rich young man; well connected. 

His paternal grandfather was Moelcobh, King of Ireland. 

But Duncan heard Our Lord in the Holy Gospels saying...

"If thou wilt....Si vis... If you will" 

Duncan, if thou wilt be perfect go, 

sell what thou hast and give to the poor, 

and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, 

and come follow me."

Si vis.... If thou wilt... follow Jesus perfectly... 

It would not be an easy choice. 

The Gospel records another young man who being struck at those words went away sorrowful because he had great possessions. But no! 

We rejoice today. 

All rich that he was, Duncan abandoned the world!

He made the perfect choice!

Guided by Jesus he chose for himself
the happiest of all happy options: 

the monastic and missionary life.

We rejoice today.

By God's grace Duncan joined St Columba's missionary-monastic order. 

First he lived in an Irish coastal monastery.  

After a time, he willed to embrace a holy exile for the love of Jesus by leaving his native country. St. Columba had done this. Thousands of other monks had done this same thing.

He had been thinking of going to live as a foreigner in Germany, but instead, it became clear in prayer that God willed him to cross the sea to the monastery island of Iona. He was soon made Abbot. Under his guidance the monks of Iona adopted the Roman calculation for Easter and the Roman Tonsure. Fishermen and seafarers invoked him for the protection of their boats and safety on the sea. He was a saint with the gift of miracles. As a man he was a Scripture scholar. His preaching was persuasive, eloquent and zealous.

We Rejoice that Religious life, 

opened by Jesus to all who will to embrace it

is

The happiest of all happy options.

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Jesus said to him:

"Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, bear not false witness, do no fraud, honour thy father and mother. But he answering, said to him: Master, all these things I have observed from my youth.

And Jesus looking on him, loved him, and said to him: One thing is wanting unto thee: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. 

Who being struck sad at that saying, went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looking round about, saith to his disciples: How hardly shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus again answering, saith to them: Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches, to enter into the kingdom of God? It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Who wondered the more, saying among themselves: Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking on them, saith: With men it is impossible; but not with God: for all things are possible with God. 

And Peter began to say unto him: Behold, we have left all things, and have followed thee.  

Jesus answering, said: Amen I say to you, there is no man who hath left house or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, Who shall not receive an hundred times as much, now in this time; houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions: and in the world to come life everlasting. (Mk. 10: 19-30)

St Enda of Aran

Today is the feast of St Enda of Aran, patriarch of Irish monasticism. It was St Enda who formally introduced monasticism to Ireland by founding a monastery on the isle of Aran which became, in the words of St Columba, the "Sun of all the West".

Numberless saints known only to Our Lord lived and died on Aran; learning from that great monastic school all that was necessary to lead a holy life of virtue. 

"Hearing how blessed Enda lived apart,

Amid the sacred caves of Ara-mhor,

And how beneath his eye, spread like a chart,

Lay all the isles of that remotest shore;

And how he had collected in his mind

All that was known to man of the Old Sea

I left the Hill of Miracles behind,

And sailed from out the shallow, sandy Leigh. 

Oft, as we paced that marble-covered land,

Would blessed Enda tell me wondrous tales--

How, for the children of his love, the hand

Of the Omnipotent Father never fails--

How his own sister, standing by the side

Of the great sea, which bore no human bark,

Spread her light cloak upon the conscious tide,

And sailed thereon securely as an ark."

- Denis Florence McCarthy, 'The Voyage of St Brendan'

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Perpetual Profession of Br Alfonso Maria

Today, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Br Alfonso Maria pronounced the three vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience perpetually, joining to them the fourth vow and oath of Perseverance in the Congregation until death.  Please join us in thanking God for the great grace he has given to Br. Alfonso, and for the great gift which Brother has made of himself to God.  May he have a grace filled life on earth, and a crown in the life hereafter!

 

 Br. Alfonso lies prostrate during the chanting of the Veni Creator Spiritus.

 

Br  Alfonso pronounces his vows before the Most Blessed Sacrament exposed.  Here, with his hand placed upon the Holy Gospel, he makes his Vow and Oath of Perseverance until death in the Congregation.

Deo Gratias et Mariæ

Leaving all for Christ

Today the of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer received a new member into its ranks.

The postulant kneels and is questioned by the Superior regarding his desire to enter our Congregation.

The brethren chant the Veni Creator Spiritus while the postulant is covered with the Funeral Pall.

He is clothed in the Religious Habit:

Son, put on Our Lord Jesus Christ, always surrounding thy body with His mortification. 

  

 

 Kneeling he receives the crucifix:

Receive, my Son, the image of the crucifix, image of thy Master and Redeemer, who suffered for thee and offered Himself for thee. Place it as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm.

 Our Lady's Rosary is placed in his hands:

Receive, Son, the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may She always be a wall to protect thee, a mother to nourish thee, a star to guide thee and the door to thy salvation...

 Do Thou, however, learnest diligently to love and imitate Mary, and to propagate Her most salutary devotion everywhere. In dangers, in anguishes, in doubtful things, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May Her sweet name not disappear from thy lips, nor disappear from thy heart.

He is clothed with Our Lady's Scapular:

Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.

 And finally, a new name.

Welcome to our Congregation Br Jerome!

 Br Jerome's mother and father came from America to be with him.

As did his Godmother.

 The community on Papa Stronsay.

General Council of the Congregation

Notice

The General Chapter of the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer are happy to announce the election of the General Consultors of the Congregation.

Vicar General: Very Reverend Father Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.

First Consultor: Reverend Father Magdala Maria, F.SS.R.

Second Consultor: Reverend Brother Nicodemus Mary, F.SS.R.

Third Consultor: Reverend Brother Martin Mary, F.SS.R. 

The term of the Offices is for six years.

Habemus Patrem!

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer are pleased and proud to announce that today, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, the election of the Rector Major of the Congregation was held on the Holy Island of Papa Stronsay, overseen by His Lordship Bishop Hugh Gilbert of Aberdeen, and that Very Rev Fr Michael Mary, F.SS.R. was elected to govern our Congregation for a further six years.  Deo Gratias et Mariæ!

The newly elected Rector Major, Very Rev. Fr Michael Mary, F.SS.R., kneels before the altar and makes the acts of Profession of Faith and Fidelity to the Church.

 Having been installed as Rector Major by the Bishop, Very Rev. Fr Michael gives the Pax (Peace) to Fr Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.

 Each member of the Congregation demonstrates their submission and fidelity to the new Rector Major by kneeling before him and placing their joined hands between his.

 The bells joyfully cry out:

Habemus Patrem!

 The members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer currently living on Papa Stronsay, with their bishop, Dom Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B. following the installation ceremony.

Very Rev. Fr Michael Mary with the eleven voting members.

Thanks be to God for blessing His "Most Small Institute"!

Throwing Off the Old Man — Taking the Religious Habit

On the 2nd February, the feast of the Purification of the Most Blessed Virgin, We had the great joy of receiving a new novice into our Congregation.

Kneeling before the Rector Major, Very Rev. Fr Michael Mary, the candidate for the novitiate is questioned as to his resolve to enter our Congregation.

 He receives the Holy Habit of the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and then the Holy Rosary is first placed in his hands while he is exhorted to take the Blessed Virgin as his Mother, Protector and Guide throughout the time of his Novitiate and, God willing, his religious life.

 He is give the Scapular of Mount Carmel, which constitutes a part of our Habit.

 Finally the candidate is given the zucchetto or skull-cap, as well as his new religious name: Br Edmund, after St Edmund Campion.

Happily Br Edmund's mother and father came from Kansas to be with him on this occasion.

Fr Michael Mary and Br Edmund.

Congratulations Br Edmund!

Candlemass at our Chapel in Christchurch

This is one of the three principal blessings observed by the Church during the year; the other two are the Blessing of the Ashes, and the Blessing of the Palms.

Saint Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury [Enarrations on St. Luke], speaking on the mystery, bids us consider three things in the blest Candle: the Wax, the Wick, and the Flame. The Wax, he says, which is the production of the virginal bee, is the Flesh of our Lord; the Wick, which is within, is his Soul; the Flame, which burns on the top, is his Divinity. 

The Candles in preparation for the blessing

The blessing before the Mass: “that as these candles, by their visible light, dispel the darkness of the night, so our hearts burning with invisible fire, and enlightened by the grace of the Holy Ghost, may be delivered from all blindness of sin; that the eye of our soul being purified, we may discern those things that are pleasing to thee, and beneficial to our souls.”

Distribution of Candles . . .

. . . to all the faithful, young and old.

A short procession outside the chapel. . . 

. . . representing the Holy Family

There were seventeen children below the age of ten
(Correction to previous figures. Apologies.)

The real presence of Our Lord presented during the Mass
at the Elevation to the Most High God

"We must hold this as a principle of our spiritual life - that the Mysteries brought before us, feast after feast, are intended to work in us the destruction of the old, and the creation of the new, man." Dom Gueranger

New Year's Eve in Christchurch

 In keeping with tradition, the last hour of 2013 was spent in making a Holy Hour in front of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The Chapel is lit only with candles for a few minutes and Our Lord is adored in silence.

 A Te Deum was sung in order to gain the plenary indulgence and to thank our Lord for all the graces, blessings and crosses received during the year.

 Singing hymns during the Holy Hour

 Fr Anthony Mary incenses the Blessed Sacrament ... 

...and blesses the faithful

After Benediction, the Veni Creator Spiritus was sung in order to gain the indulgence and usher in the New Year