owry D Autumn 2020, Issue N˚47 “O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy Dowry.” Picture: Second Year FSSP UK seminarians Henry and Conan were delighted to receive the visit of Sr Mari Caritas at their seminary in Nebraska. The three were part of one of our local youth groups in England, and consecrated their lives to God last autumn. Let us pray for them and for many more!

In this issue: Editorial: Gloom versus Glow The Privilege of Motherhood I Go To The King! Good Books For All As Christmas Presents The Philosophy of Christendom Three Books On Priestly Spirituality Sharing our Roman Traditions Catholic Novels: When Fiction Illustrates Faith A Very Priestly Fraternity History And Spirituality Books For All Schools of Prayer Support Our Apostolate (N˚41, Spring 2019)

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) Editorial: Gloom versus Glow

ooking at nature around us in we have taken it easy, being satisfied of hell shall never prevail over Holy this bleak November month, with an average righteousness, Mother Church. But beware again, L we see life hiding away. whereas God meant us to rise and to for those of us whose memory has Daylight is getting shorter and glow and to shine and to radiate His not been amputated by secular shorter. In the sky, a heavy slab of splendour with inimitable education; for those of us who read grey clouds weighs upon us. The graciousness, fecundity and glory! the lives of our forefathers in leaves are falling off the trees. The recusant times or in other glorious bright colours of autumn are fading It is not too late to allow God, the pages in the life of the Church, the away, while the chill of winter is most creative and prolific of artists, devil can cunningly lock us up into looming ahead. to shape our mediocrity and turn it nostalgia. He makes us wish we had into the varied and splendid been born at the time of St Bernard Even more disheartening than the generation of saints in this Covid-19 or St Dominic, or of St Catherine of gloom in nature is the demise of era. It is not prideful to look at the Sienna. By doing so, the devil society. For us Catholics in this sterilises grace in us. He distracts us November 2020, could it get much from the time and place where God bleaker? We feel unsupported, if not in His wisdom and mercy chose to

abandoned, by our leaders both civil plant us and make us grow and bear and religious. Subjected to yet The varied fruit. another lockdown, with no clearer evidence that the alleged threat and splendid On the contrary, friends, our time is justifies the confiscation of our now. Our place is here. We are the fundamental liberties, we can’t see saints God has appointed from all when this oppression will end, if it generation of saints eternity to solve the many problems ever will. The economy is of our modern era. Let us desire to imperilled; workers lose their jobs or in this Covid-19 era. be made saints. If sin abounds, soon will; we are forbidden from divine grace will over-abound. It is travelling or merely from going out irrelevant whether God will make and from sustaining our social life our sanctity known to people in our through innocent entertainments; our empty niches on the walls of our time. Sanctity is mostly hidden, like children and students are denied churches and at our abstract stain the mustard seed in the soil; and like suitable conditions to prepare their glasses and to realise: God wants us leaven in flour. But it does grow and future; our sick and elderly are depicted there one day. God plans does convert the world, through sequestrated in care homes and for men and women alive in two patient intercession, through hospital wards. Much worse than all hundred years to look at these walls sacrificial reparation, through this even, Holy Mass is made and to draw inspiration from the undeterred hope and joy in the Lord inaccessible. virtues He will have put in us after His Immaculate Mother our ordinary Catholics: in me, in you. model. Friends, let us ask the saints and holy For God wants our lives to become angels for help in our present as holy as those of the saints of old. We assure you of our prayer at the troubles, for they are powerful if we altar for a blessed Nativity of the trust in their intercession. But also, So, let us beware of the devil, the Saviour, the yearly anticipation and

let us consider that our loving Father, master in discouragement. The devil token of His final victory. God almighty, allows us to be shrinks our horizon to the short- chastised for our expiation and sighted scope of what the media Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP, Superior of the English FSSP amendment. Let us confess that we depressingly repeat day and night. Apostolate, 15th November 2020. □ have failed to respond to God’s plan The devil wants us to forget that God of sanctity for us. Let us admit that is Lord of history and that the gates

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) I Go To The King!

A visitor to a church run by our Fraternity in Europe sent us the following reminiscences about her conversion. The issue of dress and devotion in church is a delicate one, to which this article provides only a personal illustration.

year or two after my compunction about my misery or my Communion. The very beauty of the conversion to Catholicism, trousers. Our Lord was as present church reflects the solemn reality of A I happened to go to a there as He was at that Latin Mass. this, and everything inside concurs Mass, and from which I came away What sense did it make to cover my to honour as sumptuously as profoundly changed. I had seen no head at the Latin Mass but not at the possible the ineffable dignity of that visions, I had heard no trumpets, it Mass in my church? As if God were which transpires there, and within us was a low Mass and on a very cold not there? Well, the reasoning was : exquisite linens and lace clothe the and dark and early morning; there certainly sound enough, but courage Altar and choicest flowers adorn it was no incense, no Gregorian chant enough I did not have for wearing a like jewels, the Priest is solemnly and no organ. There was instead a veil quite then. However, I did start vested in his sacred garments and most chastening decorum and wearing skirts and dresses, and after the very air is ennobled by plumes sobriety that shook me to the core: a while I just stopped wearing of the most heavenly incense; if it God was in that place and my trousers altogether. And in were given us to see the divine appalling misery was all right there hindsight, I can say that it was the reality of what is unfolding unseen before me. I would have given most important step I took in the all around us and upon the Holy anything to have had, not a veil, but whole of my spiritual life. Nothing Altar, the glory of it would cause us a blanket to cover myself. Before could have removed me more to faint before ever reaching the returning the next day I made sure to effectively from the clutches of the altar-rail. There we come before the have something to put on my head, world than putting away the trousers King of kings, our great Prince at least, and a longer coat for for good. It may seem a very great Who, upon the Altar has wrapping around the trousers. exaggeration to say so, but it is the accomplished the great sacrifice of simple truth. His cruel death which He died to I attended that Mass every day for a crush the horrible enemy of our month, and then it was time to go Every time we go to the Holy Mass souls. In receiving Holy home and to my regular parish it is our royal marriage, and most Communion we are united to our church—and where I felt no especially if we are to receive Holy beautiful Prince-Saviour in the holiest of unions; our flesh becomes

one flesh with His Flesh, and our Picture Joseph Shaw: Guild of St Clare Sewing Retreat 2009, England bodies become the Holy Body of our Royal Spouse. How reverently, how carefully we ought to clothe it then! How reverently and carefully we ought to keep it!

***

And so it was that I began wearing dresses. And to my great surprise, it began to change me. It is difficult to remember now the myriad transformations brought on by the dresses and skirts, but a few in particular stand out. For instance, just for starters, I began to think of myself as an adult woman and not anymore as some generic piece of

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) ageless humanity. I was nearing 40 morning trousers in the evening! began to learn how to be gracious at the time. When I started wearing Men on the other hand are always with others. I had always been dresses I realized that I had never stuck with trousers. But that’s the mannered and polite—but a far finer really matured much beyond the age very sort of thing, it seems to me, grace was truly lacking. And of 10 or 11. Oh, I was as mature as that sets us up for believing that we without even trying, I became more anybody else in the way the world actually can do, and have, and be delicate and feminine in my bearing. judges maturity, but I was quite anything we want (the delusion of dismayed to discover instead how spoiled children). And my relationship with my appallingly immature and even husband changed completely. This ignorant I actually was. This Wearing dresses began to soften me, alone could fill a book. Wearing a immaturity resembled something they softened my thinking and they dress was a constant reminder to me like the petulance of spoiled softened my heart. I had never had of my position with regard to him. children. Wearing dresses gave me much of a maternal instinct, but I And to God. Beforehand, to my the authority of an adult, finally, and got softened even into that. Not that graceless mind, we were not much over time the spoiled child got I was particularly wanting to more than just two people living sorted out. become a mother, but I found myself together; ‘man’ and ‘woman’ being quite surprisingly delighted by little secondary distinctions and even I ought to say here that it was not as children and I no longer feared interchangeable: we are all equal if I had never worn dresses at all. On taking small babies into my arms! after all! When I stopped wearing the contrary, I had a lovely trousers I also stopped thinking that collection of dresses. But the going Then, I could not help but notice a we were equal and started seeing back and forth between dresses and new kind of intelligence; it came him as head of the family, for trousers annuls any positive virtue of like an unexpected Spring after instance, and responsible for me. the dress-wearing and serves only to years and years of winter sludge And for the first time ever I felt stoke one’s vanity more. I remember (which I had mistaken for great gratitude towards him, and I was no thinking how wonderful it was to be acumen); it progressed one little more so inclined to criticize him and a woman because a woman can wear flower at a time. My thoughts were tell him how he ought to do whatever she wants: dresses in the being formed by a now gentler heart everything from tying his shoes to informing a more docile mind; I running his affairs. I was becoming more quiet and respectful—with a Picture Joseph Shaw: St Catherine Trust Summer School 2019, Ramsgate. certain holy fear of God conducting me. For years I had been bitterly dismayed with my husband, I am so very sad to say. But in the last years of his life I had learned, by the grace of God, to be a better wife. The evening before his most unexpected death, I happened to look at him from across the room and my heart filled with such love and

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020)

Picture Fr Lawrence Lew OP: Shrine of St Therese of Lisieux.

gratitude, and I blessed the Lord for made me aware of exquisite things so majestic, and so compelling in so splendid a husband. for which it was impossible not to be those ancient pages! They seemed consumed with the most desperate capable of transforming a garden- *** kind of longing. And that first Latin shed into a cathedral like Chartres. Mass was the drop that made the cup What could they not do for a soul? Now, all of these things that I have runneth over: in the dark of that cold They were most assuredly doing written cannot be entirely ascribed to the mere fact of changing trousers morning all the longings and desires some such thing to me. Certain bits for dresses. Because, in fact, the became reality and I was immersed of text, I recall, so astounded me change to dresses was itself an effect in the beatitude of eternal mysteries. (this is the Holy Mass?); they shot And indeed my vileness was keenly into my heart like arrows and lodged of a greater cause. I would not have felt in that great moment, but it there, and will be there for all been at that Latin Mass, which was the catalysing moment of the seemed too, that I was being raised eternity I do believe. These began to trouser-to-dress change, if there had up and clothed in the glorious robes work deep and complex of my eternal birthright. And what transformations in my thinking. And not been first of all, a great desire remained afterwards in the wake of while for the most part they were for God urging me on. it all was something like a hint, an mere phrases, yet, they were In that period, while living abroad, I injunction, maybe whispered by my changing the way I thought about had been reading The Little Flowers guardian angel: Be clothed in your myself and most especially, they had of St. Francis, The Life of St. glory. me reflecting for the first time ever Catherine by Blessed Raymond of on the way God thinks of me, and Capua, Story of a Soul by St. Before returning to my regular there was just no place for trousers; Therese of Lisieux, and Dark Night parish, I had purchased a Roman there was no place for any of the Missal to have with me in that far of the Soul by St. John of the Cross. former things: away place and to remember those These great saints imparted to me a most sumptuous knowledge of the remarkable days of grace at the The princess is decked in her Lord and a supremely beautiful Latin Mass. I would often read from chamber with gold-woven robes; in it at random just for the deep many-coloured robes she is led to notion of Catholicism. And reading refreshment it gave my very hungry the king... □ them made me very homesick for God and for His Holy Church; they soul. There was something so high,

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) The Philosophy of Christendom

Presentation of the book : a manual of political philosophy, by Fr Thomas Crean OP

ccording to the ancient society, where both citizens and these principles, or instead of them, definition, human beings those in public office recognise that a confused jumble of images: the A are rational animals. This the final purpose of life on earth is emperor Constantine marching to means that we cannot reach to attain the supernatural happiness , Charlemagne being crowned unchanging truths with our minds of heaven, union with the Blessed in St Peter’s on Christmas day, except through the help of our Trinity through the grace of Jesus mounted knights in armour, kings in senses; Isaac Newton, so the story Christ; where the is gorgeous robes, monks copying goes, was spurred on to his publicly recognised as the accredited bibles by hand, archery, lutes, researches into the law of gravitation representative of God on earth, who sailing ships, peasants working in thanks to a bump on the head from provides by her teaching and the fields, heretics being burnt at the an apple. One consequence of this sacraments the means to reach this stake, scholars disputing in Latin dependence of mind on sense is that final end; and where the laws and throughout the universities of people often have trouble institutions of the country are shaped Europe… And since today we have disentangling some principle from by, and protect, these beliefs. This other fashions in clothing and music, the images with which it was ideal for society has no necessary in warfare and technology and legal clothed when they first encountered connection to any century or land or sanctions, and since our powerful it. technology or fashion. men today rarely wear golden crowns but are content to remain Take ‘Christendom’, for example. Yet, for many people, modestly behind the scenes, and This word names a timeless ideal of ‘Christendom’ evokes as well as since we no longer require even our

PicturePictures Fr Lawrences Fr Lawrence Lew LewOP: Below:OP: Below: Father's Father's Serra's Serra's Landing Landing Place Place or Celebration or Celebration of the of First the First Mass Mass (oil on(oil canvas), on canvas), unsigned, unsigned,attributed attributed to Léon to Léon Trousset. Trou sset.Right: Right: Padrão Padrão dos Descobrimentosdos Descobrimentos, LiLisbon.sbon., Lisbon.

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020)

the common good and authority; the family; servitude; the scope and origin of temporal power; forms of government and law; economics and international relations; the unity and distinction of temporal and spiritual power. This means that, as we hope, the book may serve not only as a kind of manifesto for Catholic action, distinguished professors to know shrink from infusing the whole of but also as an aid for students of their Latin verbs – for such reasons, their political action with their political philosophy at school or I think, ‘Christendom’ may seem Catholic faith, not trafficking with university. The perverse idea that like something noble perhaps, but the rights of God for the sake of a nothing of importance happened in hopelessly outdated. lesser end, such as restoring some philosophy between Aristotle and favourite dynasty to the throne of the 16th century still lingers in many Ever since Socrates, it has been the Spain. The word has thus come to places. Partly as a result, too many job of philosophy to distinguish the denote an uncompromising Catholics, ignorant of their own essential from the accidental. insistence on what the Second traditions, suppose that the best they Hence, in our recent book Vatican Council called “the duty of should hope for from politics is to be Integralism: a manual of political men and societies toward the true left alone by a ‘neutral State’. But philosophy, Alan Fimister and I religion and toward the one Church with the passing of each year it have attempted to identify the of Christ”. As such, ‘integralism’ becomes clearer that such an timeless principles upon which any does not name one brand of aspiration is vain, and that our Christendom must rest, both the Catholicism among others; rather, as Lord’s words, The one who is not mediaeval one that was destroyed by my fellow author and I consider, it is with me is against me apply to the Reformation and by various a word like ‘Trinitarianism’ or societies as well as to individual secularising revolutions, especially ‘iconodulia’ - simply the technical men. We hope that Integralism: a that of ; and also a future term for the Catholic position in one manual of political philosophy will Christendom, if God again grants area of doctrine. help to revive aspirations which are such a thing to His people. both more realistic and more worthy We decided to write the book as a of Christ’s kingship over the The word ‘integralism’ is apparently ‘manual’ of political philosophy, th nations. □ of 19 century, Spanish origin. St that is, as a work that proceeds as Paul once told the clergy of Ephesus clearly as possible by definition and The book can be ordered on that he had not shrunk from inference from the most Amazon and from various declaring to them ‘the whole counsel fundamental notions to more distributors as listed on of God’. The Spanish ‘integralists’, complex ones. Thus, successive www.editiones- likewise, were men who did not chapters cover the idea of a society; scholasticae.com/distribution/

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) Sharing our Roman Traditions

Fr Henry Whisenant describes his time with the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in Warrington as priest-in-residence before taking up a newly created traditional ministry in his home diocese last summer.

r, excuse me, can you (let alone converse in) tell me where the wasp Latin. We are part of an “E spray is?” I asked the age that despises supermarket attendant. I was keen to familiarity with the find a quick fix to the last-ditch liturgical rubrics, in October invasion of the critters in favour of an my presbytery, but wasn’t seeing the approximate and sui item anywhere in the store. generis of celebration. We are “Aisle 13, above the bin bags”, unaware of previous, replied the attendant, without sensible deliberations to missing a beat. difficult pastoral cases, and end up ad libbing or “Wow,” I said, “That’s impressive searching the web. that you knew that offhand! They should give you a raise.” Some may take exception to this “17 years mate!” was his answer. In diagnosis. And to some, other words, he’d been working at thankfully, it will not the store so long that he knew the apply. But I think there aisles back to front. are many, like me, with liturgy, and the spiritual life, can the whom it will strike a chord. I had faithful themselves be effectively Somehow, this prosaic encounter some wonderful lecturers at Oscott formed and sanctified. This is ethos immediately set me thinking about College during my six years of I found in living with Fr de the priesthood. Does today’s priestly formation, and I have been Malleray, Fr Verrier, Fr Stewart, Fr presbyterate have the same intimate, fortunate to have been put in the Loewenstein and Deacon (now Fr) offhand knowledge of the things of way of good books to keep up my Gilbride. Each of them had spent the spirit that this superstore study, and good advice as to how to seven years at seminary being attendant had of his wares? I know live the priestly life. But I have formed in the 2,000 year old that I for one fall short here! H. J. discovered many holes too - areas tradition of the Church. After Sire, in his riveting book Phoenix where even as a priest I had little Ordination, they and their confreres from the Ashes: The Making, idea what the Church taught or around the world live in Umaking, and Restoration of counselled on a certain topic before communities which encourage Catholic Tradition, makes the claim the year 1965. ongoing intellectual and spiritual that never has the Catholic clergy formation, helped by times of been less educated than since the This is why I am so grateful for the ordered communal prayer, regular . Is he right? year I was able to spend with the days of recollection, and the I think he is. As a whole, we as FSSP in St Mary’s Warrington from frequent discussion (deliberately in priests have stopped studying the summer of 2019 to the summer meetings, or ad hoc at meals) of Aquinas in any systematic way. We of 2020. The Fraternity makes clear relevant theological, liturgical and are largely unfamiliar with the that its primary purpose is the pastoral principles. I found them to teaching of the saints and the formation and sanctification of be men who at all times are keenly manuals in dogmatic, moral and priests. Only through priests who are conscious of their high priestly ascetical theology. We cannot read thoroughly imbued in the faith, the calling.

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020)

One thing that struck me about the any diocese), Fraternity was the priests’ charity nevertheless I and discretion. They were reluctant saw firsthand to speak ill of others; their in my year with conversation was modest and them how they balanced, and finished in a timely are always in manner when the day’s next duty need of more called. But at the same time the priests to meet community life was very natural, the many and many a laugh did I have with demands - these men at table or washing up in especially the kitchen! On Saturday evenings when there are in the summer we developed the so many calls Fr Whisenant in his new church in Withermarsh Green; custom of having a barbeque in the to open new and offering a Rorate Mass in Warrington last Advent. garden. With Warrington being in apostolates the North West, the weather was beyond those often against us, and Fr de Malleray that they have. (a true Frenchman) would be My answer is an emphatic: No! sceptical, and I (a native Texan) The faithful in Warrington, for their When my bishop asked me about used to sunny climes would counsel part, were amazing. Sometimes once starting a diocesan chaplaincy, the surrender, but Fr Verrier, ever the will hear the cynical adage about the proposal resonated very much with true Brit, led us manfully to Latin Mass: “the Mass you love for an idea that had been in my mind for persevere in the face of the the people you hate”. I found that a few years; I felt a natural elements... So we ate those buns in nothing could be further from the connection to the place where I grew a tent in the pouring rain! On truth. The parishioners were not up and for which I was ordained, Sunday evenings we made a point of crazy, or snooty, or constantly and I knew there was a desire on the gathering together to watch a film carping! They were generous, part of many people for a regular together at the end of a busy day, upbeat, and down to earth, and they traditional apostolate in this area. and on occasion we would take loved having the Fraternity and the excursions in the car, anywhere Latin Mass in their church, It is in fact because everything went from the Peak District to the Welsh including those who had discovered right with the Fraternity that I felt coast. These gatherings served to it of the first time. Moreover, they enabled to take the present step. The season the priestly life with the made any newcomers, like myself, FSSP encouraged me to keep my relaxation that community life so immediately and abundantly sights on what the priestly ministry readily provides. welcome. That is the effect that is all about, and showed me how the living the fullness of the faith and traditional priesthood is lived day to This is important, for the labour of attending the traditional liturgy day. Granted, now I will not have the priests in the Fraternity can be seems to have - it makes people the boon of community life that I intense! When they are not want to bring others into it! had with them, and I still have much celebrating the sacraments, they are to learn and study along the way. regularly preparing talks, sermons At the end of my year in But the year that Fr de Malleray and articles, organising the music, Warrington, I accepted a proposal generously allowed me to spend instructing catechumens, children from my Bishop in the summer to with them helped me to find my feet and engaged couples, and giving come back to the diocese and for this new endeavour, and I will be spiritual direction - not to mention establish a Latin Mass chaplaincy ever grateful for that kindness. My coordinating in Warrington a here. Since, during my year with the hope is that as the Fraternity grow massively successful fundraising FSSP, there had been a very real themselves, they will continue to be project to buy more property around question whether I would apply to instrumental in the formation of the church in order to expand their pursue a postulancy with them, other diocesan or religious clergy work. So although the Fraternity people sometimes ask: Did discovering the riches of Catholic has, I believe, around a dozen something go “wrong” with the tradition, so that equipped for the ordinations a year for its roughly 50 Fraternity for me to return to the work of ministry we may all build up apostolates (many times the ratio of diocese? the Body of Christ (Eph 4: 12). □

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) A Very Priestly Fraternity

By Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP, Vocations Promoter for the FSSP in England and Ireland.

he release of the annual 2010; Fr Matthew statistics of the Priestly McCarthy in 2011; Fr T Fraternity of St Peter Ian Verrier in 2015; Fr encourages priestly vocations. James Mawdsley in Founded thirty-two years ago by 2016; Frs Alex Stewart twelve clerics from four countries, and Krzysztof Sanetra the FSSP now numbers 504 in 2017; Fr Seth members including 330 priests. The Phipps in 2018. In average age of members is 38 years. addition, Fr Patrick Only ten members are deceased. The O’Donohue, an Irish FSSP is present in 146 dioceses on diocesan priest, was four continents and runs two incorporated in the international seminaries in Bavaria FSSP in 2018. and Nebraska (the only English- speaking traditional seminary in Four of these priests hierarchical communion with the trained in Wigratzbad, Church so far), plus a First Year Europe; seven trained seminary in Sydney, Australia. at OLGS, USA. Six seminarians from the The FSSP has been serving in the UK (including one UK since 1999. The FSSP gained from Ulster and one twelve new priests from the UK & from Wales) are Ireland over the past eighteen years with St. Thomas as a teacher" and currently on formation at our two Canon 251, "Philosophical (2002-2020). Eleven FSSP Priests seminaries. One of them should from the UK were ordained: Fr instruction must be grounded in the become a deacon in May 2021. perennially valid philosophical Konrad Loewenstein in 2002; Fr Brendan Gerard in 2006; Frs heritage." The doctrinal formation is Like Abraham of old, it takes implemented through a deep Matthew Goddard and William courage and faith to leave one’s Barker in 2009; Fr Simon Harkins in liturgical life and a consistent country with no guarantee of being discipline and spirituality. However, assigned back home after ordination. because their calling is not that of Our seminarians would naturally be contemplative and scholars but of glad to study and minister in the UK apostolic priests, FSSP seminarians and Ireland. But they prioritize the are sent on short pastoral placements quality of seminary formation and every year to experience their future the assurance of a fully traditional ministry to souls. ministry once ordained. The challenges of the modern world, More young men apply than are they notice, call for a time-proofed admitted, and many more attend our configuration to Christ the vocation weekends or individual Sovereign High Priest. The FSSP meetings than choose to apply. offers this through a philosophical While we do all we can to foster and theological curriculum based on vocations (including through our St Thomas Aquinas according to 7,000-strong international prayer Canon 252 # 3, "Students are to network, the Confraternity of Saint learn to penetrate more intimately Peter), we must ensure that our the mysteries of salvation, especially

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) seminarians have natural virtues and before parochial activities. workshops for diocesan and apostolic skills to serve fruitfully as Numerically, the Fraternity is religious clergy. It also welcomes priests later on. Many young men involved mostly with the laity: them to spend time informally in its are pious, learned and generous, but whether families, young adults, or houses and it produces books and a healthy balance of the skills the sick and the elderly. articles on priestly spirituality. (On needed for a would-be pastor in the Constitutionally though, precedence the fssp.co.uk website, clergy third millennium requires careful is for priests. In its seminaries in readers may subscribe to a circular assessment. At the core of the Europe, America and First Year in e-newsletter.) calling, there must be a deep desire Australia, the Fraternity is allowed to imitate Christ as Priest, serving to train also seminarians sent by Annual Vocation Weekend of souls essentially through the daily their own bishop or religious discernment 29-31 Jan. 2021, offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the superior, with a view to returning to Warrington WA1 2NS - for 18+ Mass, the sacrament of Penance and their home diocese or community single Catholic men. Contact: the clear and sound teaching of the rather than join the FSSP (such a [email protected]. saving truths of Christ’s revelation. case occurred in this country.) In Resources: books on the Sacred In centuries past, circumstances led addition to fostering the Priesthood: aroucapress.com/x-ray- young men from Great Britain and sanctification of its own 504 clerics, of-the-priest; and on the Holy Ireland to seek priestly formation the Fraternity organises spiritual Eucharist: www.lumenfidei.ie/produ where it was best provided. The retreats as well as liturgical ct/ego-eimi-it-is-i. □ need to re-evangelise what was once the Dowry of Mary calls for many, many courageous young men to enter the lists and joyfully follow the Good Shepherd of souls. We are grateful to the bishops in this country who support our vision, entrusting ministries to us, ordaining our priests and authorising our publications.

The Constitutions of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter state that its primary mission is to train future priests and to support those already ordained, including diocesan and religious fellow priests: “12. To aid the sanctification of the clergy, the Fraternity of Saint Peter will offer priests the possibility of retreats and days of recollections. The houses of the Fraternity may host priestly societies, and periodicals to be published for the sanctification of priests. The Fraternity will be pleased to come to the aid of aged or sick priests, or those with special needs.” This ministry is listed even

All pictures FSSP Wigratzbad: Seminarian at St Peter’s Basilica; ritual ice-cream tasting in Rome; tour of the Eternal City with pastor of the FSSP personal parish Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini.

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) Schools of Prayer

By Ferdi McDermott, Headmaster

t Chavagnes International College, our English A Catholic boarding school for boys, situated in the west of France, near Nantes, Mass is celebrated daily in the main College Chapel, Monday to Friday according to the 1962 missal, for all boys and Masters. On Sundays, Mass and Vespers in the Extraordinary form attract parents blueprint the checklist for Catholic … in the late 2nd century, in the of pupils and a growing local schools from Vatican II’s shadow of the great library of following of friends and supporters. Gravissimum Educationis: a broad Alexandria, where, three centuries In addition, there are confessions, education not just confined to before, the chief librarian adoration, Benediction and other religious teaching, a deep education Eratosthenes had first calculated the devotions held regularly in our which creates a habit of intellectual circumference of the globe, St chapel. The strains of Gregorian discipline, a moral formation and, Clement of Alexandria ran a school chant can be heard every day. Why, lastly, a formation in prayer, for boys where the mathematics of might you ask, do we place the especially in the context of the Pythagoras, the oratory of Cicero Church’s liturgy at the heart of our Sacred Liturgy. and the epic poetry of Homer were life as a school? taught alongside not only Sacred Let me tell you about the first ever Scripture and Christian doctrine but At Chavagnes, we take as our Catholic boarding school for boys also Greek athletics and dance. And

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020)

every day, the pupils would recite translated Pope Gregory’s colleges, grammar schools, all the psalms and attend the liturgy. Encyclical into Anglo-Saxon, the founded with the gifts of the faithful call was already going out across and built on daily prayer and 6th century St Gregory the Great the land: "education for all." In worship. Hundreds of them still was a rich young man who had set what we came to call the Dark exist, although they have sadly up a community following St Ages, with the Roman Empire in departed from the faith that Benedict's Rule in his family villa. collapse and the threat of the prompted their creation. When he became Pope, he famously Norsemen ever present, the English sent Augustine to Canterbury with a (with the Welsh, the Irish and the We are the only ones left standing group of Anglo-Saxon boys Scots) busied themselves with the in this great English tradition, at discovered in the slave market of creation of centres of prayer, culture least in the sense of an officially Rome. And out of this community and learning. In a climate of recognised English Catholic school grew the first English Catholic uncertainty, but in a spirit of faith, for boys, with the liturgy at its boarding school, with the worship the whole of England had taken, as heart, attempting to perpetuate those of God at its heart. First there was it were, “the Benedict Option". traditions of Clement, Benedict, Canterbury, then Rochester. Gregory, Augustine and Alfred in Schools began to spring up And so when at the end of the 13th our own time. And we are in everywhere in England, under the century, Innocent III asked every France! Although we are in that part influence of Gregory the Great’s religious house to open a school, of France which belonged for a long Regula Pastoralis. Several of them England already had a massive head time to the English kings! Since still exist today, 1,400 years later. start. By the time of the our foundation in 2002, several of Reformation there were Catholic our Masters and boys have joined By the time of the 9th century schools in every English town: the FSSP; in fact we have counted Alfred the Great, who himself monastic schools, chantry schools, one priestly vocation a year.

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) The Privilege of Motherhood

By Rhoslyn Aguirre Ramirez

he Most Important very valuable point that God chose How far we have fallen from God's Person on earth is a to bring new life into the world in instruction to Adam and Eve: “T mother. She cannot this way and we know that God claim the honour of having built does nothing by accident. There is "And God blessed them, saying: Notre Dame Cathedral. She need surely great meaning behind this Increase and multiply, and fill the not. She has built something more choice. earth" (Genesis 1:28)? magnificent than any cathedral - a dwelling for an immortal soul, the Sadly, I found during pregnancy Now many are too afraid and selfish tiny perfection of her baby's body… and since giving birth that our to do so, scared of being chained to The angels have not been blessed society does not honour their child. Or, if they do have with such a grace. They cannot motherhood as Venerable József children, their numbers must be share in God's creative miracle to Mindszenty does. They may pay lip limited, spaced out and every detail bring new saints to Heaven. Only a service to mothers but I challenge planned. human mother can. Mothers are you to find concrete evidence of closer to God the Creator than any this in the behaviour of the average Indeed, there is little else more other creature; God joins forces person today. repulsive to modern society than a with mothers in performing this act mother who feels of creation... What on God's good Consider, for example, couples who privileged to earth is more glorious than this: to seem almost paralysed with fear and have children be a mother?” indecision when it comes to the and happily question of whether or not to allow devotes herself to The quote above was written by themselves to have children. On the her family and Venerable József Cardinal one hand, there is the natural urge her home, Mindszenty - Prince-Primate of to have children. This is very strong uninterested in a Hungary and passionate defender of and I have seen many women career. Truly, the Church against Communism wrestle with this as they desperately many consider and Fascism. He was arrested try to satisfy the world whilst this to be an numerous times; in 1949, Venerable silencing their God-given maternal insulting and József Mindszenty was tortured and instinct. On the other hand, there is degrading imprisoned by the Hungarian the knowledge that they would have concept. Communist government for, among to give up their freedom, their sleep, other things, refusing to permit their ability to come home every So how should Hungary’s Catholic schools to be evening with no responsibilities. we view secularised. He was released during They would have to accept that motherhood? Is it the Hungarian revolution of 1956 their bodies would never be the honest to look at but was later forced to seek asylum same again. There is the financial it through rose- in the American embassy in burden too. tinted glasses Budapest for the next 15 years, instead? I don’t following the invasion of Hungary How many times have we heard think so. by the . He died in people casually say that they do not in 1975. like children, that they prefer to go As Alice Von on holiday and buy a new car rather Hilderbrand, a Venerable József Mindszenty’s than allow themselves to bring new champion of courage only adds more weight to human lives into the world? women and his beautiful and true words on femininity, motherhood. Indeed, he makes a points out in her

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) book ‘The Privilege of Being a revered in the modern world. It’s no important. This is why she deserves Woman’: ”[w]hen the Old wonder that many look down on to be honoured, not just one day a Testament wishes to illustrate mothers, especially those blessed year with a card and a bunch of severe trials, it usually refers to a with many children, if they look at flowers, but with proper respect for woman in labour”. And, as GK her life through the lens of the the awesome task she has been Chesterton famously said, “…a world. Happily, we do not. given. woman's function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it We do not believe that when we As we think and meditate on is minute”. die, our bodies will rot in the motherhood, it’s appropriate to end ground and that will be the end of with the thought of our own Blessed Motherhood is heroic because it is our influence. We do not believe Mother - our guide and model! difficult, because it requires a that all our actions will cease to be woman to take up her cross daily important once we take our last “Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, (Luke 9:23). It requires a woman to breath. We know that when a thou art the joy of Israel, thou art attempt, every day, to die to her mother is blessed with the the honour of our people” selfish desires and give herself conception of her unborn child, a (Judith 15:10). totally, first to God, then to her human being with an eternal soul is husband and to her children. growing inside her. A mother’s Article first published on influence on the destiny of that www.pietystall.co.uk; reproduced I admit, on the face of it, this eternal soul is incomparable. with permission. □ doesn’t sound very appealing when compared to the carefree life so This is why a mother is so (Picture Fr Lawrence Lew OP, Ravenna)

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) Good Books For All As Christmas Presents

As suggested by various priests

How Catholic Art Saved the Faith Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Christus Vincit: Christ’s Triumph The Triumph of Beauty and Truth Eucharist Unlocking the Secrets of Over the Darkness of the Age, by in Counter-Reformation Art the Last Supper, by Brant James Bishop Athanasius Schneider with by Elizabeth Lev, Sofia Institute Pitre, Doubleday Religion, 2011 Diane Montagna, Angelico Press

Not long after Martin Luther’s What was the Passover like at the Bishop Schneider addresses such defiance of the Church in 1517, time of Jesus? What were the Jewish topics as widespread doctrinal dialogue between Protestants and hopes for the Messiah? What was confusion, the limits of papal Catholics broke down, brother Jesus purpose in instituting the authority, the documents of Vatican turned against brother, and Eucharist during the feast of II, the Society of St. Pius X, anti- devastating religious wars erupted Passover? And, most important of Christian ideologies and political across Europe. all, what did Jesus mean when he threats, the third secret of Fatima, Desperate to restore the peace and said, This is my body… This is my the traditional Roman rite, and the recover the unity of Faith, Catholic blood? To answer these questions, Amazon Synod, among many theologians clarified and reaffirmed Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs others. Like his fourth-century Catholic doctrines, but turned as about the Passover of the Messiah, patron, St. Athanasius the Great, well to another form of the miraculous Manna from heaven, Bishop Schneider says things that evangelization: the Arts. Convinced and the mysterious Bread of the others won’t, fearlessly following that to win over the unlettered, the Presence. As he shows, these three St. Paul’s advice: “Preach the word, best place to fight heresy was not in keys; the Passover, the Manna, and be urgent in season and out of the streets but in stone and on the Bread of the Presence have the season, convince, rebuke, and canvas, they enlisted the century’s power to unlock the original exhort, be unfailing in patience and best artists to create a glorious wave meaning of the Eucharistic words of in teaching” (2 Tim 4:2). His of beautiful works of sacred art — Jesus. Along the way, Pitre also insights into the challenges facing Catholic works of sacred art — to explains how Jesus united the Last Christ’s flock today are essential draw people together instead of Supper to his death on Good Friday reading for those who are, or wish to driving them apart. and his Resurrection on Easter be, alert to the signs of the times. Sunday.

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) Three Books On Priestly Spirituality

The Traditional Mass, by Michael The Priestly Blessing, by Msgr X-Ray of the Priest in a Field Fiedrowicz, Angelico Press (2020). Rossetti, Ave Maria Press. Hospital, by Fr. Armand de www.avemariapress.com/products/T Malleray, FSSP. Arouca Press, he-Priestly-Blessing 2020; aroucapress.com/books/x-ray- of-the-priest.

Shows the organic process by which A renewed theology of priestly This book identifies sinful the Roman rite was built up from its blessing, encouraging brother priests hindrances and spiritual resources foundations into a magnificent to embrace the habit of blessing for a fruitful and rewarding priestly structure, marked by the people, objects, and events. This life in the twenty-first century. accumulated riches of each age provocative and inspirational book through which it passed, and shows how the blessing is integral to “Written with both imagination and characterized by order, beauty, and the identity of priests and crucial to rigour, and merits a wide piety in its texts, gestures, rubrics, the spiritual wellbeing of all the readership” - Fr Aidan Nichols, chants, and calendar—ranging from faithful. O.P. the major elements to the most minute details. Many priests shy away from “Fr de Malleray’s reflections on the blessing people and objects because nature of the priesthood are In view of ever deepening interest in of a lack of awareness of the rich fascinating and perceptive, and will the traditional form of the Roman tradition of Church blessings and a edify both clerical and lay readers.” rite of Mass—which, according to deficit in training for this important - Dr Joseph Shaw, PhD, Oxf, Benedict XVI’s Summorum pastoral practice. Chairman of The Latin Mass Society Pontificum, demands “due honour for its venerable and ancient Rossetti traces the history of “Full of instruction yet easy to usage”—a comprehensive but blessing in both the Old Testament read.” - Fr Thomas Crean, O.P. concise introduction to its history, and the New Testament. He also “I am happy to recommend this form, and theology is more than ever explores the various types of robust set of meditations.” - Dr desirable. blessing, such as praise of God, the invocation of special benefit from Peter Kwasniewski God, and being consecrated to God.

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) Catholic Novels: When Fiction Illustrates Faith

Loss and Gain: The Story of a Mitre and Crook, by Fr Bryan The Egyptian Guide – From Jihad Convert, a novel by St John-Henry Houghton (a reprint from the 1970s to Joy, by Evelyn Oliver, Regina Newman. Ignatius Press. prophetic original). Order: Press. Order: Amazon, LMS lms.org.uk/product/mitre-and-crook

Mostly autobiographical: a pleasant In this deeply Catholic novel, a opportunity to become familiar with Bishop Edmund Forester, looking sentimental encounter in Cairo leads the spiritual journey of the great 19th out over his little diocese of to conversion and heroism. While century convert. Stamford, was distressed at what he Islamists and liberals connive to saw. In the early 1970s, a pragmatic oppress Christians, Catholic beliefs This novel about a young man's bishop decides to allow the and practices prove vital for intellectual and spiritual traditional Mass to go on. development was the first work John protection and spiritual survival. Henry Newman wrote after entering A novel unique in the annals of The Egyptian Guide is a beautiful the Roman Catholic Church in 1845. Catholic literature. It takes the form story of a woman’s faith journey. It The story describes the perplexing of letters from the bishop himself: a contains a wide range of questions and doubts Charles tough infighter—and a saint; a man comparisons between life Reding experiences while attending of humility and charity—with a nose experiences and the realities of faith. Oxford. Though intending to avoid for humbug and an eye for the The author uses rich descriptive the religious controversies that are absurd. What emerges from these language to explore the depths of being heatedly debated at the remarkable letters is a bishop for the conversion, love, forgiveness, and university, Reding ends up leaving ages. But along with this their interactions expressed through the Church of England and extraordinary man we are treated to geopolitical events, terrorism, becoming a Catholic. A former what may be the most incisive radical conversion, and consecrated Anglican clergyman who was later analyses of the crisis in the Catholic life. The chapters are short. The plot named a Catholic cardinal, Newman Church ever to see print. What is fast-paced, and it covers a full wrote this autobiographical novel to duller writers take chapters and range of emotions. Reading this illustrate his own reasons for books to say, Bishop Forester novel was at times exhilarating, at embracing Catholicism. declaims in a few pages. And other times heartbreaking, but unforgettably. wonderfully satisfying.

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020) History And Spirituality Books For All

Phoenix from the Abandonment to Divine Ashes: The Providence, by Fr Jean- Making, Unmaking Pierre de Caussade S.J. and Restoration of This spiritual classic Catholic Tradition, seems to have been by Henry Sire, written just for our times Angelico Press. of worry and uncertainty. A concise summary of the history of The Soul of The Christendom as well Apostolate, by Dom as a prescient Jean-Baptiste Chautard. diagnosis of our modern situation. A classic on the primacy Serious and pious, of the interior life. yet simultaneously Against the temptation witty! of activism, or against helplessness when one is Liberalism: A prevented from actively Critique of Its serving God, this book Basic Principles reminds clergy and laity and Its Various that personal prayer is Forms, by Cardinal the key. The interior life Louis Billot, S.J. seeks God in everything. Arouca Press. A It is a life of prayer, very short book, teaching us to live in the essential to presence of God. It understand the root teaches us that God of the ideological grants fruit to our disease affecting initiatives in proportion modern society. with their root in mental prayer. Ego Eimi – It is I: Falling in A Saint in Hyde Park, Eucharistic Love, by E. S. Siderman. by Fr Armand de Anecdotal account of Malleray, FSSP; Lumen Fidei. the life and words of Fr Order: Vincent McNabb, the lumenfidei.ie/produ Dominican who ct/ego-eimi-it-is-i/ preached to the crowds on Hyde Park Corner, “May the present never failing to make book, a beautiful them stop and think and impressive about the deeper ‘paper shrine to the Most Holy Eucharist’, have a wide questions. Out of print, diffusion and be a practical spiritual aid in order to renew but second hand copies the Catholic Faith, the Catholic Love and the Catholic available on various Worship of the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist.” sites. + Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Foreword to the book

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Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°47, Autumn 2020)

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Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, Vocation Weekend of discernment 29-31 Jan. St Mary’s Priory, Smith Street, 2021, Warrington WA1 2NS - for Catholic men 18+ Warrington WA1 2NS Cheshire, England Clergy Retreat, 7-11 June 2021, 01925 635 664 Douai Abbey, Berks RG7 5TQ [email protected] Both events subject to Covid-19 regulations fssp.co.uk 20