Dowry Autumn 2019, Issue N˚43 “O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy Dowry.” (Picture: Restored In this issue: statue of Archangel St Michael on the top of Editorial: God is at work Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey. Our turbulent My First Christendom Pilgrimage To Chartres times make his intercession more The Fraternity in the Czech Republic needed than ever: Reviving Religious Life in Britain Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us Catholic Film Production in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against Heroic Priest in the Trenches the wickedness and the snares of the devil. Fostering Extra-liturgical Devotions May God rebuke him we humbly pray and do FSSP England Charity Bursar’s Report thou O Prince of the Heavenly Host, cast Mental Prayer as Union with Christ into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who For Your Diaries wander through the world seeking the ruin Support Our Apostolate of souls. Amen.) (N˚41, Spring 2019) Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°43, Autumn 2019) Editorial: God is at work rethren, be sober and total number of our candidates for year. In the watch: because your the priesthood to 180, including our Portsmouth diocese, we give thanks ‘B adversary the devil, as a other seminarians from the UK for the steady growth of our roaring lion, goeth about seeking Emmanuel, Gwilym and Miklos. personal parish in Reading, and for whom he may devour!’ (cf 1 Peter the ordination by Bishop Philip 5:8). How does this warning by the Pray also for several young women Egan of four Gosport Franciscan first Pope St Peter apply to us in about to begin religious training in priests – the first time in decades a 2019-2020 Britain and Ireland? Are various convents. Pray for three English diocesan bishop would the lion’s fangs closer to our souls young men beginning an informal ordain his own subjects in the than we assume? life in common to discern God’s traditional form in his own will for them. Pray for other young cathedral. The devil is the master of despair. adults who are bold enough to He leads the wicked to distrust commit to Christian marriage (three Although still modest in sizes, our God’s mercy, thus neglecting to couples in or from Warrington only congregations in Warrington, repent. Those seeking justice, the this past summer, others in Reading Reading, Chesham Bois and devil tries to weaken through and one more betrothed couple from Edinburgh are dynamic, as multiplying scandals without and London). Our monthly youth group evidenced by their many varied within the Church. No doubt he is in London stably attracts 70 young devotions and extra-liturgical particularly active nowadays. As a activities. In Ireland where we serve consequence our supernatural trust every other Sunday, our families in Christ the Saviour and in His and young adults are also Holy Church can be lessened. Let Altogether, 45 young men generously committed and continue us assess our condition and exercise entered our seminaries to beg of God for a permanent the virtues contrary to despair and apostolate by our Fraternity. disbelief. Our forthcoming retreats last month. on the sanctity of the Church will be Dear friends, let us cast away any opportunities to strengthen up our hint of despair and gloom, for those are the devil’s minions. Let us faith and hope. Let us ask for the professionals. Last summer we firmly believe Our Lord Who help of God Almighty, of Our Lady organised Catholic holidays for 100 assured that ‘The gates of hell shall Immaculate, of St Michael the youths. Meanwhile, in Bedford, not prevail against [Holy Church]’ Archangel and all the holy angels Warrington and Reading, families (Matt 16:18). Let us ask now saint and saints. Let also take courage are courageously taking educational John-Henry Newman to obtain for from the good example of not a few initiatives with the assistance of our England a new spiritual spring. lay people, priests and even priests. prelates. With our bishops, let us take part in At long last, thanks to your the preparation of the Rededication ‘Where sin abounded, grace did generosity, we signed the purchase of England as the Dowry of Mary th more abound’ (Romans 5:20). Dear of Priory Court, the large building next 29 March. Having much to be friends, there are signs that the next to St Mary’s Shrine Church in thankful for to Almighty God, let us grace of God is at work, and Warrington. This will help us do pray that our communities continue powerfully so. As you will read in more and better for God and souls. to grow and thrive. this issue of Dowry, young people As ever, we give thanks for the Please be assured of our prayer on are starting answering the call to fatherly support of our Archbishop this feast of the Divine Motherhood religious life: pray for Tom and Malcolm McMahon OP of of Our Blessed Lady. Henry from England and for Conan Liverpool, who came like every from Ireland who began formation year to give the sacrament of Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP, to the sacred priesthood at our Confirmation to our candidates, Superior of the English seminary in America. Altogether, most of whom were adult converts FSSP Apostolate, 45 young men entered our prepared by our priests over the past 11 October 2019. □ seminaries last month, bringing the 2 Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°43, Autumn 2019) My First Christendom Pilgrimage To Chartres By young pilgrim Jacek Witkowski, from Juventutem London hen questioning people was I prepared for the inspiring be a good Catholic have a role to about this, one would unity expressed by the others in my play in my life. normally expect answers chapter. It was needless to say, that I W The truth is, this journey is for summing up to “done it once, that have made good friends with the was enough” or “it was good fun, rest of the English-speaking anyone. I have met so many but… no showers and not enough community before we even exited different people travelling, 7 and 70 rest…”, but the fact of the matter is Paris. year olds alike, short, tall, blonde, that people coming from the brunette, male, female… More than that, this walk, or as Chartres pilgrimage are rarely first- If you feel like you would like to timers or ones to shy away from a some veterans would call it, “stroll expand your understanding of our spiritual challenge, especially in the park of over 100km” was when combined with a little bit of a physical exertion. Or at least after a sufficient amount of time has passed in order to forget about the bruised legs and painful blisters… which most people tend to do relatively quickly. Instead, one hears expressions, such as “you have to come next year, it will change your life!” (when touching upon the subject of the pilgrimage with a group of Chartres veterans, one should expect to hear a chorus of joyful, Latin, Catholic marching songs). The fact of the matter is that there is only one word to describe attending this holy feast filled with rosary praying, faith, connect with other, great during Pentecost: “life changing”. continuous singing, quiet Catholics or even complete your contemplative walking and conversion to the true faith, then For me, this journey started as meditations given by priests, without doubt, this journey is something to stop the nagging of my brothers and laymen alike, giving perfect for you. family to see for myself and ending everyone a lot of important up in an unexpected realisation that information on subjects varying There is only so much words can this was the answer to my prayers from discerning vocation to how to explain, and in this particular case… pretty much all along. No-one live a good and virtuous Catholic you have to experience what prepared me for the 14,000 people I life as well as history on various countless others have experienced. will see gathered in one place, and saints and the Catholic church itself And hopefully, with some grace then filing out in what seemed to be throughout the ages. In an from God, I will see you there. and endless stream of French, extraordinary turn of events, I was German, American, Flemish, ¡Viva Cristo Rey! given the opportunity of a lifetime Belgian, Irish, Canadian (yes, even to really learn, think through, pray Save the dates for the forthcoming Swedish!) travellers spanning as far and realise how big God, my love pilgrimage of Pentecost: 30th May – as the eye could see ahead. Neither for Him and how important it is to 1st June 2020. □ 3 Dowry – Catholic periodical by the FSSP in Great Britain & Ireland (N°43, Autumn 2019) The Fraternity in the Czech Republic By Deacon Roger Gilbride, FSSP fter China, the Czech this group of faithful his attitude had had the same revelation, and so Republic, is the country changed. In a land thirsting for one travelled to Jerusalem to take A with the highest percentage practicing Christians and for priests, precise measurements between the of atheists in the world, and it is in this vibrant group of dedicated Garden of Olives, the Sanhedrin’s this land of St Wenceslaus and Catholics was a pleasant sight for court, Pontius Pilate’s palace etc. In numerous other saints that Fraternity the bishop.