On the feast of the Redemptorist St Clement Mary Hofbauer, 15th March 2025, in our Christchurch Oratory, the New Zealander, Brother Francisco Maria of the Hidden Jesus, F.SS.R. made his first vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience according to the Constitutions of the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer.
Brother, aged 27 years, lived most of his life in Rangiora and Christchurch before joining the monastery nearly three years ago. He received the religious habit on March 15th 2023. The novitiate was made in Papa Stronsay, Scotland. Now, returned home to New Zealand, in order to make his vows, he was supported by his parents, relatives and friends. It was a very happy occasion indeed.
During the Religious Profession ceremony Brother was addressed by Father Martin Mary on The Prophetic Aspect of the Religious Vocation. The familiar conference was greatly appreciated by those who heard it in person or on livestream.
Sunday, 16 March 2025
The Prophetic Aspect of the Religious Vocation.
Friday, 14 March 2025
Religious Profession Ceremony - New Zealander, Brother Francisco Maria of the Hidden Jesus, F.SS.R.
The ceremony was livestreamed to Papa Stronsay, Montana
and the other places where our members and friends are living.
Wednesday, 5 February 2025
A Sign of Renewed Life
Br Paul Mary admires the new sign for the Mission Immaculata, which will go up once the new fence is properly installed.
Monday, 3 February 2025
Casting out the Myth: Did we perform Illegal Exorcisms?
The Apostolic Visitator, Bishop Robert McGuckin of Australia, and the Chancellor of Christchurch Diocese had an informal meeting with Fr Michael Mary before the Visitation interviews began. Fr Michael Mary asked what the Visitation was about. “The television programmes,” he was told. Thus, by inference, it was about the supposed illegal exorcisms that were their focus.
The priest who had supposedly carried out these illegal exorcisms was absent, recovering from an extremely grave, life-threatening medical condition. The Visitator was content not to interview him, which is strange given that these supposed illegal exorcisms were one of the primary focuses of the Visitation. In fact, exorcisms were never brought up in any of the Visitator’s interviews.
From the Visitator’s report: “Some exorcisms performed by FSSR priests in the past may have been approved but others seem not to have been.” Given that exorcisms, legal or otherwise, were not spoken about during any of our interviews with the Visitator, and that he didn’t interview the priest who supposedly performed them, one wonders how he managed even to come to this weak conclusion.
The truth is that not all exorcisms are equal. The respected Dominican moral theologians Frs. Charles Callan & John McHugh say: “Exorcisms are…of two kinds, the solemn and the private [aka major & minor]. The former are…reserved to clerics who have a special and express permission from the Ordinary [Bishop]. The latter kind may [in certain circumstances] be made even by members of the laity….It is recommended that priests frequently use private exorcisms, at least secretly, for persons who are vexed by temptations or scruples.”
Auxiliary Bishop Julian Porteous of Sydney, Australia says in his introduction to a 2010 manual of minor exorcisms: “Minor exorcisms can be a normal part of the ministry of priests and are used to assist people in the spiritual struggle, particularly in the case of oppression.” The author, Fr Healey explains: “A part, an important part, of the ordinary ministry of a priest is the role of utilising prayers of minor exorcism to meet the spiritual needs of the faithful.” These require no permission.
We had full, written faculties for the cases of Solemn Exorcism our priests performed from three Ordinaries of Christchurch diocese (two Bishops and an Administrator). There is no “may have been approved” about it. The faculties will be in the diocesan archives for inspection or could have been provided by us, had we been asked.
All other similar prayers performed by our priests were the minor exorcisms mentioned above, which do not require the permission of a Bishop and are considered by all to be a potential part of the normal ministry of a Catholic priest.
This distinction is, at this stage, unacknowledged.
It would be extremely constructive and advantageous if all those who claim to have had an exorcism came forward and their paperwork could be examined and verified. In this way the “may have been...” and the “seem not to have been...” could be entirely cleared up. One might be forgiven for thinking that this would have been done during the Visitation. Vague and unspecific statements and accusations are very dangerous.
The extravagant claims in the media (such as that we beat a pregnant woman to get the devil out of her) are inventions of pure fantasy. If only the Visitator had troubled himself to ask us about them.
Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Semper Excelsior writes again - "Who really is the Catholic Priest?"
This true story took place in Paris many years ago, when the world was more carefree than it is today.
An actor, who was playing the part of a Catholic priest, was in such a hurry to leave the theater one day after his performance, that he did so while still wearing his costume, which was the traditional full length black cassock. As he hurried along the street, there appeared a small child before him. With joy, the child took the actor's hand and kissed it! "Good morning, Father," he called over his shoulder as he ran happily away.
Reverence and Familiarity
The actor was astonished! That innocent action of the child made such a deep impression on him. As he continued walking he thought, who on earth is a Catholic priest that he would attract such reverence and familiarity? The question did not leave his mind. He began his research and study into Catholicism, and happily, this led him to becoming a Catholic!
Where is this reverence for priests now? Reverence that leads to such conversions? Respect that sets them apart from the rest of humanity?
We mustn't be fooled by the fact they look like the rest of us. The Catholic priest harbors Divinity within him! He is called Another Christ - Alter Christus. You and I are not an Alter Christus, but the priest is. He is different. He is like the Tabernacle with the hidden Christ inside - silent, secret but there. In the confessional the priest as an Alter Christus brings us the tender mercy of God.
At the altar the priest, an Alter Christus breathes out upon the Host, speaking in the very person of Christ, "This is My Body" so that we, too, may briefly possess the Divine within us. What a mystery! What a grace!
As Jesus can no longer walk among us, He has hidden Himself inside the priest so He can draw out of us our childlike love and reverence for Him.
As Jesus carried the Cross, the priest carries the whole world on his shoulders with his prayers.
As Jesus was tossed about on a boat, the priest is tossed about this world, exiled, unwanted.
And thus he knows he is truly following in the footsteps of that Divinity within him, when as Alter Christus he sleeps through the storm, because he knows, all is God's will.
"If the world hate you, know ye that it hath hated me before you." (Jn 15:18),
St Alphonsus Maria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
The dignity of the priest is estimated from the exalted nature of his offices.
Priests are chosen by God to manage on earth all his concerns and interests. "Divine," says St. Cyril of Alexandria, "are the offices confided to priests."
St. Ambrose has called the priestly office a Divine profession. A priest is a minister destined by God to be a public ambassador of the whole Church, to honor Him, and to obtain His graces for all the faithful. The entire Church cannot give to God as much honor, nor obtain so many graces, as a single priest by celebrating a single Mass; for the greatest honor that the whole Church without priests could give to God would consist in offering to Him in sacrifice the lives of all men. But of what value are the lives of all men compared with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is a sacrifice of infinite value? What are all men before God but a little dust? As a drop of a bucket, as a little dust. They are but a mere nothing in His sight: All nations are before Him as if they had no being at all.
Thus, by the celebration of a single Mass, in which he offers Jesus Christ in sacrifice, a priest gives greater honor to the Lord, than if all men by dying for God offered to Him the sacrifice of their lives. By a single Mass, he gives greater honor to God than all the Angels and Saints, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, have given or shall give to Him; for their worship cannot be of infinite value, like that which the priest celebrating on the altar offers to God.
Amabssador of the Whole World to intercede with God
Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Jesus has died to institute the priesthood. It was not necessary for the Redeemer to die in order to save the world; a drop of His Blood, a single tear, or prayer, was sufficient to procure salvation for all; for such a prayer, being of infinite value, should be sufficient to save not one but a thousand worlds. But to institute the priesthood, the death of Jesus Christ has been necessary. Had he not died, where should we find the victim that the priests of the New Law now offer? a victim altogether holy and immaculate, capable of giving to God an honor worthy of God. As has been already said, all the lives of men and Angels are not capable of giving to God an infinite honor like that which a priest offers to Him by a single Mass.
that a priest offers to God by a
Single Holy Mass
at the
Mother of Perpetual Succour Oratory, Christchurch, N.Z.
Friday, 3 January 2025
Who really is the Catholic Priest? - Submitted by Semper Excelsior - a member of the laity
St Francis said if he were to meet at one time an angel and a priest, he would first salute the priest.
The following is a short and easily read excerpt from a book by St Alphonsus Liguori regarding the dignity of the Priesthood and is included here for the information and education of souls. May it deepen the reverence of those who already have a love for the Priesthood - and may it create new reverence and respect in the hearts of those who have not known this information thus far.
If there is a person reading this, who has done the unfortunate deed of blackening the good reputation of a priest, be it known that it is for your benefit that this has been included here - that your eyes may be opened to see what it is you have done and who exactly it is that you have done it to - so that you who have sat in darkness and in the shadow of death may be enlightened and your feet may be directed into the way of peace (Luke 1:79).
When you wound a priest by taking from him the only thing he can truly call his own - his good reputation - you very likely make a martyr of him. His agonies, accepted with charity and resignation, drift upwards and he attracts the tender sympathies of his heavenly Mother, who is reminded of the swords that pierced her heart and the tears she shed when her Son suffered on the earth. She receives the pains of her son the priest, consoles him as only she can and mystically changes his suffering into graces to be poured back down to the earth for the salvation of souls - perhaps your own.
Since the dignity of the priest surpasses all other created dignities and since he offers for you never ending prayers, may you see fit to pray for him in return, and leave him and all his doings to God alone. And while there's time, may you avail yourself of the compassion of God in this era of His unfathomable Mercy. Written by the Saints, the following is for your benefit. Proceed with caution, however, for once you have read it, you will be fully responsible as you will know the Truth and will no longer be able to use ignorance as an excuse!
The Dignities and Duties of the Priest
The Dignity of the Priesthood
I
Idea of the Priestly Dignity
IN his epistle to the Christians of Smyrna, St. Ignatius, Martyr, says that the priesthood is the most sublime of all created dignities: "The apex of dignities is the priesthood." St. Ephrem calls it an infinite dignity: "The priesthood is an astounding miracle, great, immense, and infinite." St. John Chrysostom says, that though its functions are performed on earth, the priesthood should be numbered among the things of Heaven." According to Cassian, the priest of God is exalted above all earthly sovereignties, and above all celestial heights----- he is inferior only to God. Innocent III says that the priest is placed between God and man; inferior to God, but superior to man. St. Denis calls the priest a Divine man. Hence he has called the priesthood a Divine dignity. In fine, St. Ephrem says that the gift of the sacerdotal dignity surpasses allunderstanding. For us it is enough to know, that Jesus Christ has said that we should treat his priests as we would his own person: "He that heareth you, heareth Me; he that despiseth you, despiseth Me." Hence St. John Chrysostom says, that "he who honors a priest, honors Christ, and he who insults a priest, insults Christ." Through respect for the sacerdotal dignity, St. Mary of Oignies used to kiss the ground on which a priest had walked.
Monday, 23 December 2024
Exorcisms Part 4. Sorry. ... It doesn't add up....
The publicity on television and in the newspapers was all about "Illegal Exorcisms".
It was said that an "expert" was to coming from Rome to hold an investigation into the "Illegal Exorcisms". The fact is that we may never know why the Apostolic Visitation was called. It may be disappointing for the people who thought it was indeed about the "Illegal Exorcisms" but the facts do not seem to add up to that being the reason at all. It could have been a 'smoke screen' for something else. It could be that the people complaining were a convenient occasion.
For the world it looked to be about "Illegal Exorcisms". But "Illegal Exorcisms" are not difficult to decide. Legal or illegal Exorcisms are a simple matter of arithmetic. You simply count the Faculty Letters issued by the local ordinaries and match them with the people who received the Rite of Exorcism. That does not take two months of Apostolic Visitation to sift.
The fact is that the Apostolic Visitator never asked any member of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer any questions about Exorcism.
The Apostolic Visitator never asked to see any paperwork at all, about anything at all. He wasn't interested either in asking questions or receiving answers.
Concerning Exorcisms this is all that came back from Rome:
"Exorcisms
The Bishop of Christchurch has put a stop to all unauthorized exorcisms. Some exorcisms performed by FSSR priests in the past may have been approved but other seem not to have been."
Comments:
1. The first sentence makes no sense at all: How can authority put a stop to what is unauthorised? If it is unauthorized, it means that authority was ignored in the first place. So if authority is ignored, how could authority put a stop to what was, and would always be, excluded from?
2 The second sentence concludes nothing at all. It is not arithmetic. "some... may have... other seem not." This was a question of straight arithmetic. The answer was easy to find. Certainty was possible.
We had headlines! We had TV exorcism graphs on the map! Experts. Unfortunately it produced nearly two lines and thoroughly concluded nothing when a conclusion was certainly possible. Whatever it was all about, it certainly wasn't sincerely looking into Exorcisms and finding the truth about them. Nor was it about anything we were questioned about.
Believing the experience of the Apostolic Visitation was a sincere event in our lives is proving to be a challenge.