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After a solemn novena comprised each day of a sermon, sung Litany of Loreto, devotional prayer and hymn, followed by Benediction, Monsignor Gilles Wach, Prior General, renewed on December 8 the consecration of the Institute to Mary Immaculate. As every year, white votive candles lit up Gricigliano in honor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. This novena and consecration were also solemnly made in all of the houses of the Institute throughout the world.
Solemn moment of the Consecration
The Holy See having granted the Institute the status of Pontifical Right on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary two months before, the feast of the Immaculate Conception this year was a special day of joyous thanksgiving for this great privilege accorded by our Holy Father.
A 2009 commemorative calendar will be available in all of the apostolates of the Institute across the country, as well as in our online store in the next few days.
The consecration of the Institute to Mary Immaculate and her important place in the canonical life of its members is outwardly expressed in the blue of the choir habit.
Photos from Around the World
 Msgr. Wach renews the consecration. A decorative candle made by one of the seminarians is lit In her honor. |
 Novices and postulants of the Sisters Adorers in prayer to Mary Immaculate |
 Seminarians in prayer after the night Office of Compline |
 Gricigliano is lit up with white votive candles in honor of Mary Immaculate |
 Consecration to Mary Immaculate in Old Saint Patrick’s Oratory, Kansas City, Missouri |
 Feast of the Immaculate Conception at St. Mary’s Oratory in Wausau, WI |
 Missions in Gabon: feast of the Immaculate Conception in a church currently being built in her honor in the capital of Libreville |
 Holy Mass |
 Marian Procession through the streets of Rennes, France |
 Procession |
 Candlelight procession at St. Margaret Mary's in Oakland, CA |
 Candlelight procession |
 Procession |
St. Louis, MO - Over 1,000 faithful gathered in the church of St. Francis de Sales Oratory, to assist at the Solemn Pontifical Mass celebrated by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Robert J. Hermann, Administrator of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. From the powerful beginning of the “Premiere Symphonie” of Guilmant to the sweeping phrases of the Credo of the “Messe Solemnelle” of Charles Gounod to the soaring lines of the closing hymn of “To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King,” sixty musicians filled the magnificent Gothic edifice of St. Francis de Sales church. The splendor of the sacred liturgy was adorned fittingly by the majesty and richness of the music, directed by Mr. Nick Botkins, Director of Sacred Music and Master of the Choirs at the Oratory.
His Excellency, Bishop Hermann gave a moving sermon. He invited all faithful of good will to reclaim the fullness of the sacraments. He impressed upon all present the “verticality of the architecture of the church” which corresponds so visibly with the theocentricity of the Mass.
The Holy Mass was followed by a festive gathering in the Oratory Hall, celebrating St. Francis de Sales church’s German immigrant heritage. Complete with traditional German food and beer and even a German band, the afternoon was enjoyed by hundreds of families with children of all ages who crowded the church hall. This overwhelming turnout was a testament to the thriving youthful community of faithful at the Oratory.
Tradition for Tomorrow
On this 100th Anniversary, it was also announced that St. Francis de Sales is beginning a capital campaign called “Tradition for Tomorrow.” This campaign will raise the necessary funds to restore the church of St. Francis de Sales to its former glory and ensure that it remains a true landmark of South St. Louis. More information can be found at TraditionForTomorrow.com.
See photos and read details about the event at the TraditionForTomorrow.com blog post: Where You There?
On this, the 100th anniversary of St. Francis de Sales, the campaign to restore this historic landmark to its full glory has been announced. A new Web site, TraditionForTomorrow.com, has also been launched to give information and news about the restoration, and includes a blog to record the restoration project.
St. Francis de Sales, built at the turn of the last century, is known to locals as “the Cathedral of South St. Louis” because of its elegantly-designed exterior and 300-foot spire. In July, 2005, the church building and campus were given to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest to maintain and administer the sacraments according to the Missal of 1962. The Archbishop of St. Louis, His Grace, the Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke erected the church as an Oratory of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Today, St. Francis de Sales Oratory serves the whole archdiocese of St. Louis and is the center of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
Are you a member of a parish choir which sings Gregorian Chant? Are you a choir director who is starting or building a Gregorian Chant schola? Are you familiar with the basics of Chant, but wish to master the Gregorian art? Then this Chant workshop on the weekend of January 9-11 is for you.
Overview
Canon Wulfran Lebocq, center
Under the direction of Canon Wulfran Lebocq, participants will learn the fine points of the classic method of Solemses as taught by the late Dom Joseph Gajard and will sing each day at Holy Mass and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. On the final day, participants will sing at a Solemn Pontifical High Mass celebrated by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago.
About Canon Wulfran Lebocq
His Excellency, Bishop Joseph Perry
Having studied for several years with the Schola Saint Gregoire (Le Mans, France), Canon Lebocq has been serving as the Choirmaster of the schola cantorum of the Institute’s Seminary in Gricigliano since his ordination to the holy priesthood in 2003. He has participated in three Gregorian Chant CD recordings. Most recently, he directed the Institute’s schola for the November 3 All Souls Day Solemn High Requiem Mass which was broadcast on EWTN.
Details
Please see the event flyer for details about this unique opportunity!
- Event Flyer (PDF file with workshop details and schedule)
- Map to the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago
A Sample from the Institute's Schola
After an extensive three-year restoration project, Old Saint Patrick’s Oratory in Kansas City was solemnly dedicated by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Robert W. Finn, with all of the traditional ceremonies of this venerable rite. During the sermon of the beautiful Solemn Pontifical Mass which followed, His Excellency remarked to the great number of faithful who had come from far and wide for this solemn event:
I am full of confidence as I renew today my entrustment of the Oratory to the Institute of Christ the King, for whom “doing the truth in love,” is much more than an ecclesial motto – but indeed, a dynamic interior motive of outgoing apostolic love. Through Monsignor Schmitz, I express my profound thanks to Reverend Monsignor Gilles Wach, Founder and Prior General of the Institute, for his solicitude to the Diocese, in providing this spiritual foundation for our Oratory.
Afterwards, there followed a warm reception for all.
View Photos of the Ceremony with Monsignor Camille Perl
With deepest gratitude to the Blessed Trinity, to Christ Our King, and His Immaculate Mother, to St. Joseph, to St. Michael the Archangel, to our patron saints, to the entire court of heaven, and with filial thankfulness to our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and his faithful collaborators, we have the joy to announce a very important event:
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVIOn the feast day of Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary, the Vice-President of the Commission Ecclesia Dei, Very Reverend Monsignor Camille Perl, has read in our Seminary chapel the official decree by which, in the name of the Holy Father, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest was erected to the status of a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right. Also our Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus received the status of Pontifical Right. The Decree was signed by His Eminence Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos. A Solemn Te Deum followed the reading of the Decree.
Born out of a profound union with the Holy Father in Rome and the Institute's founder and members having always lived in a continuous and unwavering spirit of faithful Romanitas, the Institute was granted the Pontifical Right after the formal time of experience and interrogation which is a traditional custom for the Holy See. Various positive Apostolic Visitations conducted by the Roman Curia and a very favorable consultation of all the Most Reverend Bishops in whose Dioceses we are invited to serve have finalized this canonical process.
After this affirmative evaluation of our spirituality and our international presence and work, the Pontifical Right is an expression of the appreciation of the service of the Institute of Christ the King by the Roman Pontiff and his collaborators to whom we are deeply obliged. The Pontifical Right will make it even easier for the Institute to conduct its service for the Church according to its constitutions and gives to Monsignor the Prior General rights and duties that are in unison with our canonial lifestyle.
View Photos of the Ceremony with Monsignor Camille Perl
BENEDICTO XVI SUMMO PONTIFICI PAX, VITA ET SALUS PERPETUA!
The Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago welcomed a full crowd of people, including the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Consul General of Germany in Chicago, who had come from far and wide as well as from the local surrounding area to attend the Benefit Recital held in honor of His Highness, Paul Duke of Oldenburg, Germany, a long time friend of our Institute, on Saturday, September 27.
After His Highness spoke about his conversion to the Catholic Faith, there followed a delightful program of sacred baroque music and of traditional spirituals sung by the widely-acclaimed tenor, Mr. Trevor Mitchell. The friendly warmth and lively conversation at the reception which followed testified to the success of this fundraising event, which is owed in large part to the generosity of our benefactors and of the volunteers who gave their time and effort.
A descendant of Queen Victoria and Czar Alexander II and an acclaimed Chicago-born tenor will come together on Saturday, September 27, to support the restoration of the Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Internationally acclaimed tenor Trevór Mitchell will be performing works of Sacred Baroque music and traditional Spirituals at a benefit recital, proceeds of which will be used for the restoration of the historic church building. The recital will take place at 3:00 PM inside the landmark church building on the south side of Chicago.
Paul, Duke of Oldenburg
Paul, Duke of Oldenburg will be coming from Germany to participate as the guest of honor of the event. A long-time friend and supporter of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, His Highness is active in both the political and social arenas, promoting the cause of family values in Germany. A convert to the Catholic Faith, he will speak briefly about his experience with the beauty of the Latin Mass.
Trevór Mitchell, Tenor
Best known for his work in oratorio and early music, Trevór Mitchell is acclaimed as having "simply the most uniquely beautiful and easily produced tenor instrument most people will ever hear." Mr. Mitchell's career as a soloist has taken him across the United States as well as to Austria, Italy, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and other countries of Europe. He is also a member of the professional nine-voice ensemble “Chicago a cappella.” He will be joined in this unique program by violinist Marty Davids, known for his expertise in early music, and pianist Terree Schofner-Emrich, who will also play period organ.
Donations for the benefit recital are gratefully received. For more information, please call the Shrine at 773-363-7409 or email desk@institute-christ-king.org. Tickets are available at $25.00 a piece.
Donation Form and Promotional Materials
- Form: Participate with Your Contribution (PDF)
- Music Program (PDF)
- Flyer for the Event (PDF)
- Press Release (PDF)
About the Shrine of Christ the King
The Chapter meeting in Gricigliano was blessed with the visit of yet another special guest: Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. After a two mile procession from Gricigliano to the Motherhouse of the female branch of the Institute, the Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest, His Grace blessed and crowned an antique statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Prior General of the Institute, Monsignor Gilles Wach, then renewed the Consecration of the whole Institute to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament then followed. Finally, a festive cena was held in honor of His Grace as the finale to this year’s Chapter meeting.
The Institute's annual Chapter meeting in Gricigliano was honored by the presence of Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, Archbishop of Bordeaux, in whose archdiocese the Institute has a Mass apostolate. Cardinal Ricard is President emeritus of the National Conference of French bishops and the vice-President of the International Conference of European bishops. His Eminence assisted at the throne and preached at a Solemn High Mass. His Eminence also celebrated Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form at the house of the Institute's Sisters. He said to the gathering of priests: "I thank you in the name of the French bishops for the good work of the priests of the Institute in the dioceses of France."