YOUR Favorite Priestly Society/Order?

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I’m a big fan of the F.S.S.P. I belong to one of their parishes. Everything is done as if Vatican II never happened. So if you like gregorian chant, the latin mass and other ancient Catholic treasures then you will like the FSSP.

The most happiest, funniest, holiest, priest I’ve ever met belongs to the FSSP. They are trully wonderful men. They are also the fastest growing Catholic religious order in the World.
 
Tsuwano said:
Really? I don’t. Besides, the SVD is a missionary order which means that not all their churches have kneelers. Sometimes they don’t even have roofs. Sometimes it is hard for a missionary to carry a complete set of liturgical vestments and equipment on the back of his motorcycle as he attempts to navigate a jungle trail in the highlands of New Guinea. Besides that, the two day trips to cover 60 miles kind of wear you out. It is true that as missionaries, the SVD are interested in enculturation in order to make the Gospel of the Lord accessible to those who have yet to hear it, but this is hardly “liberal.” The Jesuits did the exact same thing in India, Japan, China, South America, and elsewhere, as did other religious orders, and indeed, as did St. Paul, so I don’t think this constitutes a liberal approach to either theology or liturgy. Other than this, every Church I’ve been in that is served by the SVD in Europe and America does indeed have kneelers and the proper liturgical vestements are worn.
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I don’t think he was referring to Jesuits who were/are missionaries in the field. What about churches, chapels, and Newman centers at universities in the United States, accessible by eight-lane freeways, and the only necessary carrying of vestments being from the rectory or sacristy?
 
I was raised in San Francisco, California when it was a strong Catholic town (While it is hard to believe now, it was true once upon a time). I have found memories of dioceson priests as well as Franciscians, Dominicans and Jesuits.

Jesuits enjoy a reputation of being reffered to as the “Special forces” of priestly orders. They make great teachers and military chaplins. The Domincans are known for their work in medical and teaching fields. The Franciscians are well respected for working with the poor.

I don’t know if this helps. But I pray you find your vocation.
 
CarlosBarrera said:
For instance, the Jesuits are (generally speaking) a good order. However, if you attend their masses, most of the time, the church doesn’t have kneelers, the priests wear the stole on the outside of the chasuble, and a lot of the times, the color of their vestments could be mistaken for a rainbow blanket. That, I consider to be liberal.

I must add that not all Jesuits are liberal and some are very orthodox.đź‘Ť
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It is disturbing to think that the Jesuits were once regarded, without exception, to be the “Special forces” of the priesthood. Know one would think to use the term “Liberal” to describe any in their ranks. God help us all.
 
JaMc said:
I don’t think he was referring to Jesuits who were/are missionaries in the field. What about churches, chapels, and Newman centers at universities in the United States, accessible by eight-lane freeways, and the only necessary carrying of vestments being from the rectory or sacristy?
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I think I responded to that. As far as I know, the Society of the Divine Word , in all the Churches they serve in the United States and Europe, are orthodox in every way. Does anyone know differently?
 
Tsuwano said:
I think I responded to that. As far as I know, the Society of the Divine Word , in all the Churches they serve in the United States and Europe, are orthodox in every way. Does anyone know differently?
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I went to a university under the Society of the Divine Word and a cousin of my mother (one of the priests who actually officiated their wedding and who I know personally) is an SVD priest. Some of them are liberal, some of them are more conservative. I think my uncle is probably more conservative.
One of my lawyer friends (who studied in the same university) says that one of the foreign priest there is known to distribute condoms to commercial sex workers at night. Then, it took time for the administration to remove a poster supporting the controversial reproductive health bill pending in our congress, not until a lay faculty member who happens to be an apologist complained about it.
They can be liberal regarding celebration of the liturgy. This is my personal experience during a retreat I attended (I live in a city and the retreat house does have enough chairs to be used in a proper chapel). The priest asked us to remain seated the whole time, then past around the hosts as well as the chalice during Holy Communion. I felt scandalized so I decided not to receive our Lord in the two forms during that time. When I talked to my chaplain, a numerary priest of Opus Dei (I had recently joined Opus Dei as an associate member at that time) about the incident, he asked me to pray for this priest and all those who celebrate the liturgy in such a liberal manner.
 
I’ve never heard a bad word about the Franciscans in my life. Although, when you refer to priestly orders, I think it is very rare for lay Catholics to realize their own share via baptism in the priesthood of Christ. I wish there were a “lay priestly order” available to us! 👍
 
jaaraf said:
I went to a university under the Society of the Divine Word and a cousin of my mother (one of the priests who actually officiated their wedding and who I know personally) is an SVD priest. Some of them are liberal, some of them are more conservative. I think my uncle is probably more conservative.
One of my lawyer friends (who studied in the same university) says that one of the foreign priest there is known to distribute condoms to commercial sex workers at night. Then, it took time for the administration to remove a poster supporting the controversial reproductive health bill pending in our congress, not until a lay faculty member who happens to be an apologist complained about it.
They can be liberal regarding celebration of the liturgy. This is my personal experience during a retreat I attended (I live in a city and the retreat house does have enough chairs to be used in a proper chapel). The priest asked us to remain seated the whole time, then past around the hosts as well as the chalice during Holy Communion. I felt scandalized so I decided not to receive our Lord in the two forms during that time. When I talked to my chaplain, a numerary priest of Opus Dei (I had recently joined Opus Dei as an associate member at that time) about the incident, he asked me to pray for this priest and all those who celebrate the liturgy in such a liberal manner.
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You’re correct when you state that there are individual priests within the Society who may not be as conservative as others. Without passing judgement as to whether this is good or bad, I would simply say that one priest (or even more than one) does not make the community. Have you read the Constitutions of the Society of the Divine Word? Do you know about other priests in this world wide society? Do you have an understanding of the charisms they attempt to live out in their communities? Do you think the priest who was handing out condoms to sex workers in the brothels of Manila is a greater indictment against him than against the society in which women have to work as sex workers to make a living? I also ask you to pray for this priest and the people he ministers to. I am not a member of Opus Dei, but I trust my call to prayer may have as much sincerity as your Opus Dei priest.
 
Obviously, my favorite is the Legionaries of Chirst. I am one.

There are a lot of other good ones out there.đź‘Ť

In Christ,
Br Matthew, LC
 
I’d have to say ICKSP (Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest). I am truly impressed by them every single time I attend one of their Masses - the music, the sermons, everything!

Their site: Institute of Christ the King Website
 
mexilad said:
It is disturbing to think that the Jesuits were once regarded, without exception, to be the “Special forces” of the priesthood. Know one would think to use the term “Liberal” to describe any in their ranks. God help us all.
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Wow, nothing like generalizing a whole group, eh? I’m lucky enough to belong to a Jesuit Parish and my daughter attended a Jesuit University. She could not have had a better education and learned how to think from all points of view. One Sunday I went to a FSSP mass in the morning and my regular parish in the evening. The homily at the FSSP parish concerned indulgences (20 minutes) and the homily at my home parish concerned treating all people with respect, even if you don’t agree with their point of view. To be quite honest, the homily done by the Jesuit priest was much more insightful and helped me in everyday life. It’s almost as if you are anti-intellectualism. I am 57 years old, and I don’t need to go to church to have a twenty minute lecture on indulgences. To each their own however.:rolleyes:
 
CarlosBarrera said:
I feel a definite call to the priesthood but am not of age to join a seminary, so as of right now, I am just browsing different groups.

Carlos
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Carlos,
Have you checked out the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, at OrderofMercy.org? They are Marian, Eucharistic, and faithful to the Magisterium. They take a fourth vow of offering themselves for others whose Catholic faith is in danger.
They are an ancient order founded in Spain, but they are very active in the U.S., and are based in Philadelphia.
The Facebook page is at Fr-Joseph Thomas Eddy.
Best wishes in your discernment.
 
I think my FSSP priest is absolutely the best. Beautiful liturgies, very orthodox, best sermons I’ve heard in years.
 
kozlosap said:
Wow, nothing like generalizing a whole group, eh? I’m lucky enough to belong to a Jesuit Parish and my daughter attended a Jesuit University. She could not have had a better education and learned how to think from all points of view. One Sunday I went to a FSSP mass in the morning and my regular parish in the evening. The homily at the FSSP parish concerned indulgences (20 minutes) and the homily at my home parish concerned treating all people with respect, even if you don’t agree with their point of view. To be quite honest, the homily done by the Jesuit priest was much more insightful and helped me in everyday life. It’s almost as if you are anti-intellectualism. I am 57 years old, and I don’t need to go to church to have a twenty minute lecture on indulgences. To each their own however.:rolleyes:
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I’m glad the Jesuit schooling worked out for your daughter (I went to a school run by a Jesuit and it was living Hell). But when you say that some here seem “anti-intellectualism”, what exactly do you mean? I’m not trying to argue here but I find the wording a little funny. In response to the OP, my favorite orders are the FSSP, and SSPX. Also, I have read many good things about the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. However, I would probably suggest one of the former. Right now, I’m in a similar situation, not sure if I should go SSPX or FSSP. Good luck in discerning your vocation! 👍
 
brotherjoe said:
I’ve never heard a bad word about the Franciscans in my life. Although, when you refer to priestly orders, I think it is very rare for lay Catholics to realize their own share via baptism in the priesthood of Christ. I wish there were a “lay priestly order” available to us! 👍
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Just a quick clarification. . . .

Franciscans are not a priestly order. We are a family of over 100 branches that we call obediences, because each branch has its own government.

The common threads are several:
  1. We all follow the same rule.
  2. We are not orders of priests. We are orders of brothers.
  3. Some brothers are priests, but they remain brothers, unlike other orders where one is either a priest or a brother. Franciscans do not make this distinction. If you join one of the many branches of the Franciscan family, you join because you hear Christ’s call to be a brother and a son of St. Francis of Assisi.
  4. If you are called to be a priest, it is a vocation within a vocation. Unlike Dominicans, Jesuits, Salesians and others, there are no such creatures as “Franciscan priests or Franciscan Fathers.” There are Franciscan Friars. The term “friar” is a distortion of the Latin word, Frater.
  5. The Franciscans do not distinguish between the ordained and the non-ordained or as we say, the clerics and the non-clerics. Many people have mistakenly used the term priest and lay-brother to refer to the Franciscans. This is a term that comes from other religious families. St. Francis simply called all of his sons, brothers and he referred to the brothers who are priests. That’s why you will notice we wear the same habit, make the same vows, have the same rights and the same obligations. What distinguishes one friar from another friar is his ministry.
  6. The ordained Franciscan is a brother who serves his brothers as a priest. The term brother, among Franciscans is not used as it would be among Dominicans. They use the term to mean that they are all sons of St. Dominic, part of the great Domnican family. Among Franciscans, the term “brother” is a state in life. You are a consecrated brother by virute of the vows and by virtue of the way of life as a brother. It’s a very unique charism. Today there are two other religious families that have adopted the same principle: Mother Teresa’s Missionary Brothers of Charity and the Missionaries of the Poor. Among the Missionaries of Charity they are not allowed to use the title Father. Everyone is Brother. Among Franciscans, this will vary from one house to another. In some places you will hear everyone called Brother, Friar or Father and Brother. It’s very fluid, because it’s not important to the Franciscans whether you are a priest or not. What is important to us is to be a son of St. Francis, who was a layman until 1209 when the order was formally recongnized and the first brothers made vows.
Originally, the priests came ordained. Anthony was a former Augustinian. Elias was a Diocesan Priest. Like them, there have been many others who were priests before they became brothers. They joined the brotherhood because they were called to a life of obedience, prayer, poverty and brotherhood.

We’re definitely not a priestly society or priestly order. We have many priests and we love them dearly, not because they’re priests, but because they’re our brothers. A brother-priest can be a confessor, a teacher, a janitor, a cook, or you can find him in a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, in street ministry, at a university, or at a parish. A non clerical brother can also be a cook, janitor, teacher, parish administrator, theologian, physician, or you can find him in a soup kitchen, homeless shelter or living the life of a hermit.

What makes each branch of the family every unique is our ministry, our culture, and accidentals that are not found in the Rule of St. Francis. The Rule of St. Francis is absolute to all of us. It cannot be changed. However, throughout history, situations have arisen that were not addressed in the rule. Each community and each region responded to those situations according to their resources and their insight.

Because the family is so huge, it was impossible to govern from one central office, as was the case during the life of St. Francis. Gradually, the Church allowed each group to congregate and gave them their own Minister General and their governing council. Each group wrote its own constitutions to fit the culture, needs of the Church and circumstances in which they lived without touching the rule.

I hope this helps.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
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