Damian Thompson has mentioned the possible full reconciliation of the curiously-named traditionalist Transalpine Redemptorists with the Holy See. I visited their blog to find out more, and found this most interesting (if a little long) account by their superior, Fr Michael Mary, about his attitude to this question.
I have been reading their regular newspaper, Catholic, for some years now, and have found it really quite edifying. It would be a genuine joy to be able to have no reservations at all about their work.
They have members following a number of different rites who, as you'll see on the accompanying YouTube video, wear a curious variety of headgear.
They have wandered quite a lot over the years; I seem to remember them being in Guildford when I was a seminarian nearby, at the SSPX Mass centre run by the formidable Miss Hobbs (who I seem to remember was a childhood friend of Charles de Gaulle). I used occasionally to attend Mass there, until the Episcopal consecrations put me off the idea. Then, I think, the community moved to the Isle of Sheppey, a bleak spot at the best of times. That not being bleak enough, they moved to their present home on Papa Stronsay, in the Orkneys. This establishment looks very permanent; they are in the process of building a substantial monastery which has already attracted quite a lot of attention, and from this remote spot carry out quite an apostolate.
Which is to say, it would be very encouraging to have them fully on board, as it were.
3 comments:
Thanks for posting this Father - truly fascinating.
A post with a strong maritime flavour !
But then Papa Stronsay must be one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Orkneys. You're certainly never very far from the sea.
I at first thought this a strange place for Fr. Sim and his community to end up, but they seem to have settled into their life of prayer and austerity in this remote place.
It says something about the state of the Church when Fort Augustus Abbey stands empty, abandoned by its few remaining monks, while the traditional Redemptorists strive to build a new monastery to house their thriving community on its bleak islet.
As we are moving to Orkney in July, we are VERY keen to see the day when the Transalpine redemptorists are in full, visible communion with the successor of Peter! The parish in Orkney is blessed with a very sound resident priest (a convert from presbyterianism), but he is in his 80s. In the long term, the diocese needs the help that the Redemporists would be able to offer.
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