At Our Lady of Lourdes in NW Philly they offer both forms. This is also a formation house, a few blocks from St Charles Seminary, where I met a few of them. They have an amazing group of men there, very supportive of the seminarians at SCS, and IIRC they’ve produced at least one vocation for the Cistercians at Spring Bank (Br Stephen).View attachment 8854Does anyone know if the Mercedarians say Mass in the Extraordinary Form? They have an amazing history and look pretty traditional. Any other information, aside from what is on their website, or experience with them?
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I was a fellow religious seminarian at SCS, so most of my contact with them was in the halls or giving them a lift back to the parish/friary. They obviously had a strong community life it the house, and a fairly regular schedule. They maintain common prayer, at least in the evenings (was able to join them one vespers) and common supper. (I believe this is typical of the order in the US, but it is also a formation house where more attention is paid to the basics).Dear CDNowak,
Thank you for your response. I am glad to hear they offer the EF Mass at least on Sundays and I assume on major feast days, since 3 of the feasts of their order were removed from the new calendar.
What kind of life do Mercedarians live? There isn’t much on their website and I hesitate to write to them until I am ready to “go for it.” From what I can tell, here in US, they mostly do parish work. Outside the country they do various forms of social work. Are there other kinds of ministries? Do they live in community? Does their day follow a certain regimentation?
I had some concerns reading over their website. There was an article about how, in the early 80s, the order, particularly in Latin America, wanted to redefine Our Lady of Mercy as Our Lady of Liberation. Which gave me reason for pause. That sounds like it came out of Liberation Theology which was very popular in Latin America in the early 1980s, but greatly condemned by the Church. I am curious if this type of thinking still permeates the order today?
We do live in common. Pray the Divine Office in Common – Morning and Evening and have COnventual Mass. We also make a communal Visit to the Most Blessed SAcrament, daily; recite the Rosary, daily (in common), have communal meals and recreation…Dear CDNowak,
Thank you for your response. I am glad to hear they offer the EF Mass at least on Sundays and I assume on major feast days, since 3 of the feasts of their order were removed from the new calendar.
What kind of life do Mercedarians live? There isn’t much on their website and I hesitate to write to them until I am ready to “go for it.” From what I can tell, here in US, they mostly do parish work. Outside the country they do various forms of social work. Are there other kinds of ministries? Do they live in community? Does their day follow a certain regimentation?
I had some concerns reading over their website. There was an article about how, in the early 80s, the order, particularly in Latin America, wanted to redefine Our Lady of Mercy as Our Lady of Liberation. Which gave me reason for pause. That sounds like it came out of Liberation Theology which was very popular in Latin America in the early 1980s, but greatly condemned by the Church. I am curious if this type of thinking still permeates the order today?
Fra David,We do live in common. Pray the Divine Office in Common – Morning and Evening and have COnventual Mass. We also make a communal Visit to the Most Blessed SAcrament, daily; recite the Rosary, daily (in common), have communal meals and recreation…
We follow the Rule of S. Augustine, given to us in 1235.