The Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (Transalpine Redemptorists) Erected
August 15, 2012 5 Comments
A traditionalist group based on an island in Scotland has been formally established as an institute within the Catholic Church.
The Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists, was erected today, on the feast of the Assumption, as a Clerical Institute of Diocesan Right.
The community, which has about 15 members, has been in limbo since 2008 when it announced that it wished to enter into full communion with Rome.
The group’s decision was a response to Pope Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, which allowed priests to celebrate the traditional Latin Mass freely.
Previously, the community had been a part of the worldwide Society of St Pius X (SSPX), the estranged traditionalist group currently in dialogue with Rome.
This evening the community were to make a public profession of vows at their home on Papa Stronsay, a tiny, windswept island in Orkney, off the north-east of Scotland. The profession will be celebrated by Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB of Aberdeen, who, as their diocesan bishop, granted them canonical recognition.
Bishop Gilbert was ordained as Bishop of Aberdeen exactly a year ago, taking over from Bishop Peter Moran, who had retired.
Truly, Pope Benedict XVI is the Pope of Christian Unity.
Their website is here with the Decree of Erection.
About Fr Stephen Smuts
The sublinked earlier article from 2010 is revealing. There is a number of interesting similarities with the ‘Ordinariate story’:
(i) The whole process has taken 4 painfully long years and they had some daunting moments on the way (“We had the feeling that we should go back, that we had made a big mistake.”).
(ii) Despite the initial unanimous vote (by secret ballot), some members of the congregation later changed their mind and left. Also their “lay support base” have decreased by half (from 4,000 to 2,000) after they had announced their decision to seek recognition by Rome.
(iii) Clearly the determined leadership has been the key in keeping them on the track.
(iv) Their humility and patience has really ‘paid off’, as despite the losses on the way the community has grown from 15 to 18 since the initial regularisation of their status (lifting of priestly suspensions).
As a result of the Holy Father’s efforts at restoring unity the Catholic Church is getting creme de la creme of devout Christians full of the pioneer spirit (visible also in a number of Ordinariate communities, e.g. in Scranton).
“You’re not just sitting on your thumbs. You’re mixing cement, slaughtering cows, handling boats and ropes. In monastic history, monks always did work, they built the monastery themselves. They didn’t have people to do it for them.”
Would that “monastics” read some of the works of Bernard of Clairvaux again! His work, ‘On Grace & Free Choice’ would be a nice place to begin! It is good to note, that it is the term “free choice” (liberum arbitrium) and not “free will” (libera voluntas) which is the operative point in Bernard!
This is what Western asceticism looks like. So much different from some celebrity-seekers and tearoom queens.
Tearoom queens. I like that!
Honestly, some Jesuits make me wonder if Saint Ignatius of Loyola would put a palm on his face if he saw them. I know some clergy and religious who are more obsessed with being known as “Spiritual adviser to this celebrity, or that president.”
Seeing this congregation really makes me glad with the hope that all is not lost.