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Over five hundred faithful and friends of the Institute — a much larger crowd than expected—participated in a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians at the Basilica of Holy Hill near Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Saturday, May 23. Large chapters of faithful from St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee, from St. Joseph’s Oratory in Green Bay, From St. Mary’s Oratory in Wausau, from St. Mary’s in Cashton, from St. Mary Oratory in Rockford, and from the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago, as well as pilgrims from the Deep South and Eastern seaboard States all converged on Holy Hill in thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin Mary for graces received by the Institute, especially the Pontifical Right status granted by the Holy See last autumn. Despite an ominous weather forecast, sunshine broke through the threatening clouds as the pilgrims walked in procession up the hill praying the Rosary and singing Marian hymns.

Inside the crowded Basilica Reverend Canon Olivier Meney, Rector of St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee, was the celebrant of a beautiful Solemn High Mass, for which many members of the choirs of the participating apostolates joined together to provide the beautiful choral music and Gregorian Chant. From Rome Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz, Provincial Superior for the United States, sent a letter to the pilgrims conveying the best greetings and blessing of Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature in the Vatican, and of Monsignor Gilles Wach, Founder and Prior of the Institute. After an outdoor picnic lunch, the faithful gathered once again for a spiritual meditation, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and the renewal of the Consecration of the Institute to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

A wonderful manifestation of the family spirit of the Institute, this pilgrimage expressed the power of charity to unite the faithful in the sacred Liturgy of Holy Mother Church. It is indeed through charity that the harmony of God’s objective truth must be reestablished in its rightful place of precedence over subjective human reality both in society and in our own individual lives. In the sermon of the Solemn High Mass Reverend Canon Matthew Talarico reminded the faithful that they share in the mission of the Institute of Christ the King: veritatem facientes in caritate, "Living the Truth in Charity." The Catholic Faith, as well as Catholic culture and identity, can be resumed in this phrase of St. Paul. Following the example and invoking the intercession of Our Lady and of the patron saints of the Institute, we must strive to benefit from the graces we receive from the Liturgy in order to make God’s truth loved by those whom we meet each day. This involves practicing charity even in the little details of daily life at home, in the workplace, at school, as well as teaching children the truth in a manner which is both gentle in its firmness and loving in correction, so that the goodness and beauty of God’s truth may attract people of today's world to seek salvation in Christ and His Church.

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In joyful gratitude to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Institute, for having received the Pontifical Right status from the Holy See, the Institute organized a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. His Grace, Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, offered a Pontifical High Mass in the Upper Basilica on Saturday, April 25, followed by Solemn Te Deum and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Later that afternoon, Archbishop Burke gave a spiritual conference together with Monsignor Gilles Wach and Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz, for the several hundreds of faithful who came from all over France, the United States, and beyond. Dozens of Institute priests and seminarians, as well as the Institute's Sisters Adorers wearing their blue choir mantle, led the large crowd of faithful in a candlelight procession in honor of Our Blessed Mother. On Sunday, April 26, Monsignor Wach celebrated a Solemn High Mass and offered Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the afternoon to conclude this very beautiful Marian pilgrimage.

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At a Wednesday audience in early April, Monsignor Wach presented Reverend Mother Mary of the Love of God of the Adorers of the Royal Heart to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The other Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart were also present. Engaging the Reverend Mother in conversation for several minutes, the Holy Father graciously granted the Apostolic Blessing upon our young and ever-growing community of Sisters, as well as upon all members of the Institute and the faithful of its apostolates.

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Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI kindly expresses his gratitude to all of the many people who offered him the very abundant spiritual bouquet presented to him by the Institute in March. The following letter has been received from the Vatican Secretariat of State:

I gladly confirm the reception of your letter with which you have presented a rich spiritual bouquet with promises of prayers for Our Holy Father from the faithful who are associated with the Institute of Christ the King in many places across the United States.

His Holiness has asked me to convey his gratitude to all of you for this beautiful sign of fidelity to the successor of St. Peter and of his service as universal Shepherd.

Pope Benedict XVI includes your intentions in his prayers as well and grants you wholeheartedly the desired Apostolic blessing.

With best Easter wishes and kind regards,

Monsignor Gabriel Caccia
Assessor

On Saturday, May 23, the Institute is organizing a Marian pilgrimage for the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians at her national shrine in the beautiful Basilica known as "Holy Hill," near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The program of events for this pilgrimage is listed below:

• 12:00 noon Departure of the Rosary Procession from the lower parking lot
• 1:30 pm Solemn High Mass in the Upper Basilica celebrated by Monsignor R. M. Schmitz
• 3:00 pm Family picnic
• 4:00 pm Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the St. Therese Chapel (Level 2)
  Spiritual meditation given by Monsignor Schmitz
• 5:30 pm Dismissal

For more information, please contact the closest Institute apostolate.

The Most Reverend Donal B. Murray, Bishop of Limerick, Ireland, has officially confirmed in a recent document that the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is charged with the care of the Latin Mass Apostolate in the Diocese of Limerick. Monsignor Wach, Prior General of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, warmly thanks Bishop Murray for having confided this apostolate in Limerick to our community and assures him that the canons of the Institute of Christ the King will take it upon themselves to exercise their priestly ministry in a spirit of service and ecclesiastical communion.

With the permission of the Most Reverend Bishop of Limerick and the welcoming kindness of Reverend Father Irwinn, the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite has been celebrated regularly at St. Patrick's Church on Dublin Road for the past three years.

Since the beginning of the Institute's work in Ireland, Reverend Canon Wulfran Lebocq was appointed as the Institute priest responsible for the Limerick apostolate. Deeply touched by the welcome he has received and continues to experience, Canon Lebocq assures you of his prayers and priestly devotion and relies on your faithful support and assistance..

Learn About Our New Ireland Apostolate »

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Dino Fisichella, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University and President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, celebrated a Pontifical High Mass at the Abbey church of the Three Fountains in Rome. This Mass celebrated on March 28 was the highlight of the Institute pilgrimage to Rome for the Year of Saint Paul.

According to venerable tradition, Saint Paul was beheaded on this spot during the reign of the Emperor Nero. His head bounced three times on the ground, thus miraculously causing three fountains of pure water to spring forth.

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