Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (Formerly known as the Transalpine Redemptorists)

[Dempsey1919]

This is a religious order situated on Papa Stronsay in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum motivated this Order to return, and they are now in full communion with Rome.

I have visited their website and blog but I’d like to know what you think of this Order? Now that they are in good standing with Rome, do they accept the validity of the New Mass and the Second Vatican Council?

Would you place this Order in the same category as the FSSP and the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest?

 

[giuseppeTO]

This is a religious order situated on Papa Stronsay in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum motivated this Order to return, and they are now in full communion with Rome.

I don;t think that is quite accurate. As far as anyone knows, only three of the priests have had their cannonical restrictions lifted but none of the priests have been incardinated by any Bishop, so they can only say private Mass and none have faculties to hear confession until their ordinary (Bishop of Aberdeen) grants these.

The priests are no longer a religious order since that must be erected via Papal Mandate with the cooperation of the local ordinary. So they are not in full communion with Rome, especially if they are still saying Mass attended by the local faithful without incardination.

These are just points of clarification - not meant to be prejudicial. I sincerely hope that they work out all of the details soon - but I believe things will move slowly given their current ambitions and the Diocese they need to get onboard. That is, unless they join one of the other Ecclesia Dei orders (ICK, FSSP, GSI).

 

[JReducation]

This is a religious order situated on Papa Stronsay in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum motivated this Order to return, and they are now in full communion with Rome.

I have visited their website and blog but I’d like to know what you think of this Order? Now that they are in good standing with Rome, do they accept the validity of the New Mass and the Second Vatican Council?

Would you place this Order in the same category as the FSSP and the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest?

After reading their literature and an extensive interview with their superior that someone posted, it seems that they are in full communion with the Holy Father.

There are several interesting points that are similar and different between them and the FSSP.

1. The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer are not a society of secular priests. They are religious in vows. The FSSP is a secular society. Their priests do not take vows (chastity, poverty and obedience) like religious do.
2. On other legal matters they are in the same place as the FSSP, which is a good place to be. They state that union with the Pope is necessary for jurisdiction. Now they can have new priests ordained, they can give aboslution in the confessional and they can perform valid marriages, because they have the authority from the Pope. They no longer have to presume that they have authority, which they did for 20 years. They seem very happy to have this security.
3. As to the OF, they recognize its validity and its sanctity.
4. They may celebrate the OF outside of their chapels or churches that they own.
5. Their superior has the authority to forbid the celebration of the OF in their chapels and churches, but not in those that belong to the diocese or other religious communities. He said that he is comfortable with that law, because it’s the same law that applies to all religious superiors for the EF and the OF.
6. They do accept Vatican II as authoritative and they also realize that there are poor applications and interpretations. They are willing to work with the Church to clarify these problems, because they believe that without the Pope there can be no real clarification and reparation of damages done.
7. MY IMPRESSION is that they see the crisis in the world, not just the Church. I get this from their mission statement.

Let’s pray for them that they may do much good for the world.

JR

 

[rosebudsal]

After reading their literature and an extensive interview with their superior that someone posted, it seems that they are in full communion with the Holy Father.

There are several interesting points that are similar and different between them and the FSSP.

1. The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer are not a society of secular priests. They are religious in vows. The FSSP is a secular society. Their priests do not take vows (chastity, poverty and obedience) like religious do.
2. On other legal matters they are in the same place as the FSSP, which is a good place to be. They state that union with the Pope is necessary for jurisdiction. Now they can have new priests ordained, they can give aboslution in the confessional and they can perform valid marriages, because they have the authority from the Pope. They no longer have to presume that they have authority, which they did for 20 years. They seem very happy to have this security.
3. As to the OF, they recognize its validity and its sanctity.
4. They may celebrate the OF outside of their chapels or churches that they own.
5. Their superior has the authority to forbid the celebration of the OF in their chapels and churches, but not in those that belong to the diocese or other religious communities. He said that he is comfortable with that law, because it’s the same law that applies to all religious superiors for the EF and the OF.
6. They do accept Vatican II as authoritative and they also realize that there are poor applications and interpretations. They are willing to work with the Church to clarify these problems, because they believe that without the Pope there can be no real clarification and reparation of damages done.
7. MY IMPRESSION is that they see the crisis in the world, not just the Church. I get this from their mission statement.

JR

I agree with you, JR. Everything I’ve read has lead me to believe that this is true. I spent quite a while reading their blog and their statements about their return to Rome. I found it quite fascinating.

I think Father Z commented on this a while back as well.

 

[mattwcu]

I could be wrong on this, but from reading Fr. Z and the Sons’ blog it appears that the priests are no longer suspended and enjoy faculties directly from the Holy See to hear confessions. They are working on getting their order regularized and changing their name was a step towards that satisfaction.

For my part, when I saw the video on them a year or so ago, my heart started racing. They look like a tremendous organization and I’m very grateful such a group is back in full communion.

This is a credit to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Father, and the humility of some good Sons of Holy Church.

 

[I_Believe]

Fr Michael Mary is a huge influence on my stance regarding the crisis. He is a very wise man, and can see the good in BXVI.
Fr Michael Mary:

But now we must ask ourselves if a glimmer of light has not begun to show through the clouds of confusion that for many years have darkened the sky of eternal Rome. For we now have a Pontiff, a successor of Peter, ready to allow us to adhere fully to this timeless tradition of the Church and its complete expression in Catholic life without apparent compromise. He seems ready to “let us do the experiment of Tradition” as Archbishop Lefebvre asked so many years ago.

This glimmer of light has manifested itself above all in recent months in the courage with which the successor of Peter stood up against opposition from many quarters in promulgating his letter motu proprio “Summorum Pontificum”…

Read the entire article here…
papastronsay.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

God Bless Fr Michael Mary !

 

[JReducation]

Fr Michael Mary is a huge influence on my stance regarding the crisis. He is a very wise man, and can see the good in BXVI.

Read the entire article here…
papastronsay.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

God Bless Fr Michael Mary !

Thanks for the link. I’m not sure if I read this one or another that has the same format. But the message seems the same. I like the way that Fr. Michael Mary puts the Council into perspective.

He doesn’t deny the Council, but sees that there has to be some work to be done to get it in harmony with Tradition. Unlike other people who want to make it go away, he understands that this process is a normal one of all councils. The aftermath is confusing and things fall on their own, because they are not good for God’s people and other things fall into place.

This is a Traditionalist that I can respect and believe that he loves the Church. My prayers are with him and his congregation.

“Anyone who is not against us is with us.”

**The ambiguities of the Second Vatican Council remain to be clarified, this is certain. But far from denying the bi-millennial tradition of the Church, the Roman authorities seem ever more acutely aware of the need to reconcile the Second Vatican Council with tradition. How exactly to do so remains the poignant question of our day. It is a question that will not be solved easily nor soon – this we can gather from the manner in which the Church **

papastronsay.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

Thanks again for the link.

JR

 

[I_Believe]

Thanks for the link. I’m not sure if I read this one or another that has the same format. But the message seems the same. I like the way that Fr. Michael Mary puts the Council into perspective.

He doesn’t deny the Council, but sees that there has to be some work to be done to get it in harmony with Tradition. Unlike other people who want to make it go away, he understands that this process is a normal one of all councils. The aftermath is confusing and things fall on their own, because they are not good for God’s people and other things fall into place.

This is a Traditionalist that I can respect and believe that he loves the Church. My prayers are with him and his congregation.

“Anyone who is not against us is with us.”

**The ambiguities of the Second Vatican Council remain to be clarified, this is certain. But far from denying the bi-millennial tradition of the Church, the Roman authorities seem ever more acutely aware of the need to reconcile the Second Vatican Council with tradition. How exactly to do so remains the poignant question of our day. It is a question that will not be solved easily nor soon – this we can gather from the manner in which the Church **

papastronsay.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

Thanks again for the link.

JR

Your welcome JR.

And thanks for sharing your thoughts on Fr. Michael Mary’s views.

 

[DonaNobis_Pacem]

I read about this some time ago, and I am thrilled that these religious men have finally run home to Rome, and the pope has welcomed them with open arms. I see this as a modern-day version of the famous parable of the prodigal son. May God be praised!

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (nee Transalpine Redemptorists) will, as JR and I_Believe have stated, have the opportunity to do a lot of good for the Church and all Catholics in communion with the pope. We should definitely offer many prayers for them.

 

[mullenpm]

Pardon my intrusion into this highly intellecual thread (and I am quite serious about that), but I am confused by a certain statement.

“1. The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer are not a society of secular priests. They are religious in vows. The FSSP is a secular society. Their priests do not take vows (chastity, poverty and obedience) like religious do.”

What vows would an FSSP Priest take. Not take a vow of chastity? What then is a secular society?

 

[JReducation]

Pardon my intrusion into this highly intellecual thread (and I am quite serious about that), but I am confused by a certain statement.

“1. The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer are not a society of secular priests. They are religious in vows. The FSSP is a secular society. Their priests do not take vows (chastity, poverty and obedience) like religious do.”

What vows would an FSSP Priest take. Not take a vow of chastity? What then is a secular society?

This is off topic, but I’ll try to make this as clear and concise as possible.

There is the priesthood which is a sacrament. Deacons, priests and bishops receive this sacrament. Vows are not part of the sacrament. A person who has received the sacrament but has not made vows is called a secular deacon, priest or bishop, depending on his rank.

There is religious life which is not a sacrament, but a way of living the gospel. People who become religious join orders or congregations. These are communities. Members of these communities make three vows: chastity, poverty and obedience.

A persone can be a priest or a religious. You don’t have to be both. Some men are called to be both. There are men who are priests and also religious, such as the Redemptorists, Dominicans, Franciscans, etc. There are also men in these orders who are not priests, but are religious because they belong to the community and have made the three vows.

A secular institute such as the FSSP is a society of secular priests. They make a promise to live according to the rules and regulations of the society. But they do not make the three public vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.

Of course they are celibate, because the Church demands that all priests in the Latin Rite be celibate. They have to obey their bishop.

The religious who have a vow of chastity are also celibate, but they also have a new family, the religious community. They are married to their community. They even give up their biological families and usually have little contact with them for the rest of their lives. People in institutes don’t have this obligation. That’s the difference between celibacy and chastity.

Both are called to live a life of purity, but those who take the vow of chastity must bind themselves to their community as their new family. The FSSP can leave the society and join any diocese they want.

Religious such as the Redemptorists, Dominicans, Franciscans etc can never leave their community unless they obtain special perission from the Holy See. It makes ont difference whether they are priests or bothers. They are bound to their commuity for life. They are not subject to the authority of a bishop. Their superior is their authority. They obey their superior and their founder. The only person who can go over the head of their founder is the Pope. They cannot own any property as individuals. They can ownly own property as a community. The FSSP priests can own personal property, because they don’t make a vow of poverty. They can own their own car, house, condo, inherit money from their parents, etc. Religious can’t do any of that. They can’t even inherit money from their families. They give up the right to own or inherit anything.

Hope this helps.

JR

 

[mullenpm]

Thanks JREducation, it explained it well; didn’t mean to throw the thread off track.

 

[catholic101]

They are a very good order, full of holy men.

 

[JReducation]

They are a very good order, full of holy men.

Our Church is blessed with many good communities of secular and religious men and women. We don’t hear enough about them. That’s the problem.

I’ve been with my community since 1998 and love them very much. They are not as traditional as the Sons of the Holy Redeemer, because we never felt the need to go that route. But there are many paths that lead to the main road.

The most important thing for the Lord and for the Church is that we follow the path that the Church approves. As long as that’s the case, we will all end up in the same place.

As Teresa of Avila said, we will all end up in the throne room of His Majesties Castle that resides within our soul.

JR

 

[fin]

does this mean that the Sons of the Most holy Redeemer are not officially part of the SSPX anymore?

 

[Dauphin]

does this mean that the Sons of the Most holy Redeemer are not officially part of the SSPX anymore?

They’ve been banished by the SSPX; their magazine is no longer allowed at SSPX chapels. Bishop Williamson used the analogy that they were now joining a colony of lepers, and were certain to catch leprosy (ie. heresy).

 

[JReducation]

does this mean that the Sons of the Most holy Redeemer are not officially part of the SSPX anymore?

The Sons of the Holy Redeemer are now a religious congregation in full communion with the Holy See. Therefore, they are not part of the SSPX.

In one of the articles posted earlier on this thread, Fr. Michael Mary reported that the SSPX had encouraged the Holy Redeemer seminarians to threaten with separation from the Congregation in the hopes of stopping the dialogue between the Holy Redeemer Congregation and the Holy See. The SSPX also told the Holy Redeemer Congregatioin that their seminarians were no longer welcome at their seminary. In my opinion, it is unfortunate that the SSPX authorities at the seminary acted this way. One should encourage and pray for every step toward reconciliation rather than try to throw a wrench int the wheel.

Of course this is Fr. Michael Mary’s perspective. The perspective of the seminary rector at the SSPX may be different. I have not read anything from that side so I would not know.

But in conclusion, yes the Congregation of the Holy Redeemer is now a religious congregation within the Catholic Church in good standing with the Holy See, with its own constitutions that allow it to celebrate only the EF if they so choose. In other words, they have the same rights as any other religious community.

Let us pray for them and for their ministry. And let us thank God that they are back home.

Fraternally,

JR

 

[DonaNobis_Pacem]

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer have come back to Rome and been received with open arms. It seems they are very happy to return to full communion with the See of Peter, and are now content with their new life within the walls of Rome. They saw that they were going nowhere without the authority of the pope to keep them secure; without the Holy Father, they would have been like the house built on sand, and eventually they would have experienced a collapse. Perhaps they might have splintered further, no one knows what could have happened.

In the end, they realized that the key element to regaining good standing and full communion with Rome was trust in the Holy Father. Fr. Michael Mary understands that the Church has gone through some growing pains since the Second Vatican Council, but he has expressed willingness to work with Pope Benedict XVI in obedience to harmonize the Council’s directives more fully with Sacred Tradition. This order has not been happier or more at peace since rejoining Rome; they have come back in joy, humility, and repentance. The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer realized that where Peter is, the Catholic Church is to be found.

If only the SSPX would let go of their suspicions and realize that, without full communion with Rome and willingness to obey Pope Benedict XVI, they accomplish nothing for Holy Mother Church or Her members. Pray hard that the SSPX will not be enticed to turn their back fully on the Holy Father.

 

[NewsTheMan]

Reviving a thread! So is the story with these guys still the same? Do they have official ‘canonical status’ within the Church? Would applying to their seminary be allowed and encouraged?

 

[Walking_Home]

Reviving a thread! So is the story with these guys still the same? Do they have official ‘canonical status’ within the Church? Would applying to their seminary be allowed and encouraged?

---

I believe they are still waiting – but don’t know for sure. As to applying to the seminary --why not contact them–and see what they say.