Dear Friends and Benefactors of the Society,

Exactly two years ago, over two million rosaries were offered as a spiritual bouquet to the Holy Father, asking from him, as the prelude of a normalization of the present state of affairs, an official declaration allowing every priest to offer freely and without fear of retribution the Holy Sacrifice according to the tridentine Missale Romanum, "restored to the original form and rite of the Holy Fathers," and forever canonized by St. Pius V in the Apostolic Constitution Quo Primum on July 14, 1570. The Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, 7 July 2007, acknowledged the legal rights of the Tridentine Mass, which was never abrogated. Despite the modest number of our congregation in Ireland, we took the challenge at heart and were able to contribute with 32,583 documented pledges. 

In a second major round of the spiritual combat for Tradition, our superior general, Bishop Bernard Fellay, has requested from your generosity another bouquet of one million rosaries, this time to request -through the intercession of the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary- the removal of the decree of excommunication of our bishops, so that they may exercise their episcopal ministry without hindrance. In his letter of  23 October last, which we published in this bulletin, the bishop writes: "We will take it to heart to pray with renewed fervour that, in these difficult hours of history, the Holy Father may fulfil with fidelity his august functions in accordance with the wish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the good of all the Church. We are utterly convinced that such a gesture coming from the Sovereign Pontiff would have as profound an effect on the Mystical Body as the freedom of the traditional liturgy." 

It is a matter of strict justice and truth.  I invite you again to join this Rosary Crusade, by offering your daily rosary for this intention. We have time until Christmas. Let us be generous. 

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On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Father Paul Biérer will pronounce his perpetual oblation in the Society, linking himself for life to our priestly family. In uniting our prayer of thanksgiving to the joyful offering of Father Paul, we remember the main purpose of our Society: the preservation of the Catholic priesthood. 

Whereas other congregations and religious families in the Church have their specific fields of apostolate (education, hospitals, contemplative life, parish work, study, preaching), and many can be easily distinguished by a unique spirituality, the priestly Society of St. Pius X concentrates its work in the immutable and always plentiful source of every apostolate and spirituality: the Sacrifice of Our Saviour, the Holy Mass of all times. The Mass is our apostolate, our spirituality, our life. In the Mass we find our holiness and our vitality. 

It is upon the Holy Mass that Christendom was built; from the Mass come forth all the splendid accomplishments of our European culture: civilization, art, beauty, progress, stability, and peace. Save the Mass and all is saved, all can be rebuilt. It is the True Mass that matters. There should be no doubt in our minds that, once more, it will be upon the Mass that the restoration of Christendom will take place.

This is why Father Fabrice Loschi, Father Régis Babinet, Father David Nichols, Brother Gerard-Francis, and myself, will unite our oblation to the perpetual one of Father Paul Biérer, along with six hundred priests and clerics all over the world, kneeling before the Altar of the God who is the joy of our youth.

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And can we count as well on your prayers for vocations from Ireland? This is the Land of the Mass; Ireland’s loyalty to the Latin Mass is imperishable, because it is sealed and confirmed by the blood of martyrs. Founded upon the Mass, the very identity of our country asks for priestly vocations. A glorious missionary past is the still recent witness. 

I think I already quoted the superb address of Archbishop Glennon of St. Louis, U.S.A., to a quarter of a million Irish adorers at the great Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, that "Italy may have her glorious basilicas, France her stately cathedrals, England her regrets, but Ireland has her holy places, her martyrs and especially her Mass-Rocks. But more than that, in the hearts of her people dwells a faith in the Mass as adamantine as the granite walls that guard their island shore." Such is the treasure we defend!

Surely the Master of the Vineyard is calling a number of our young Irish to join His labourers. One of our men entered last October the seminary of Winona, U.S.A., and two more will soon follow to Holy Cross Seminary, in Goulburn, Australia, God willing. Your prayers and sacrifices will contribute to determine their resolution; in this spirit we invite you to add to your daily rosary the powerful prayer: Oh, Lord, grant us Priests! Oh, Lord, grant us holy Priests! Oh Lord, grant us many holy Priests! Oh, Lord, grant us many holy religious vocations! St. Pius X, pray for us!

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As the Nativity of Our Saviour approaches, your priests in Dublin and Athlone, with Brother Gerard-Francis, extend to you and to your dear ones their best wishes and prayers for a holy Advent and a happy Christmastide.

May the Holy Family reward your constant support, loyalty, affection, and example.

 

                                                                            Father Ramón Anglés