The world premiere of a new opera entitled Gracchus will be presented at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut, at 4 p.m., August 19, 2023. 

Gracchus is described as an opera of civic redemption, with Christian allegory, set in second century‒B.C. Rome.

The opera was composed by Mr. David Hughes, the libretto being the work of Rev. Fr. Richard Munkelt. Fr. Munkelt is a diocesan priest in residence at Saint Anthony’s Chapel in West Orange, New Jersey. Mr. Hughes serves as Music Director at Saint Patrick’s Oratory in Waterbury, Connecticut. Both parishes, administered by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, are dedicated to providing the traditional sacraments to the Catholic faithful. Please consider purchasing tickets to what is sure to be a very special opportunity and supporting the creative work of those who have given so much of their lives to the Latin Mass Community. Tickets can be purchased, and more information found, on their website at gracchusopera.com. 

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This Pentecost weekend the Traditional Paris-Chartres pilgrimage takes place. This year we read of a record number of pilgrims – some 16,000 (excluding those who are not actually walking the pilgrimage trail). So many, in fact, that days ago registration needed to be closed (an unprecedented step!). Instead of one American chapter, this year there are several. Let us remember that, on this same weekend, the FSSPX leads a similar but smaller pilgrimage from Chartres to Paris.

For the Paris-Chartres Pilgrimage, these numbers would be extraordinary in ordinary times. But these times are not ordinary. For the Pope since 2021 has been conducting a war against the Catholic Traditionist movement. He seeks to exclude Traditionalists from the Catholic community – to isolate, humiliate and eventually eliminate them. As far as Pope Francis and his entourage are concerned, there can be no more talk of liturgical peace, of the coexistence of the old and new rites. Yet, despite it all, a greater number of pilgrims than ever are now undertaking this arduous journey.  

I myself have made this pilgrimage six times.1) In the early 1990’s the “Pilgrimage of Christendom” was a revelation for me: Solemn High Masses, encountering men like Michael Davies, Gary Potter, John Rao or Michael Matt, the magnificent concluding liturgy in Chartres Cathedral and above all the experience of living, singing and praying for three days among so many fellow traditionalists. 

As time went on some of the initial elan seemed to dissipate. The general structure of the pilgrimage exhibited remarkable continuity. But there were years where the number of participants stagnated, where instead of the earlier militant traditionalism with all its political ramifications efforts seemed to be more focused on securing good relations with the hierarchy, the papacy and even elements of the secular etablishment.  

By the early 2010’s these uncertainties of direction appeared to have been resolved. Perhaps this was attributable to Summorum Pontificum. By 2010-2012 the pilgrimage was more professionally managed than ever and was now welcomed in both Notre Dame de Paris and Chartres cathedrals (in the latter by the bishop himself). Bishops now celebrated the concluding liturgy in Chartres. As for the American contingent, what had once been a rather elderly group was now predominantly youthful like the vast majority of the European pilgrims. It seemed that a happy accommodation with the Church establishment had been finally achieved and a course of moderate growth by an upcoming generation assured. 

Then came Pope Francis, the Covid restrictions and Traditionis Custodes. The pilgrimage, however, survived it all and even flourished. After the Paris-Chartres pilgrimage had been suspended for two years, the local and regional chapters in France took to the streets instead. In 2022, the pilgrimage was resumed. Record numbers braved perhaps the worst weather any pilgrimage had ever experienced – but eventually battled their way through to their spiritual destination.2)

This weekend the largest group of pilgrims ever assembled begins its journey. Is the challenge of adversity needed to help the Traditionalists refocus on their roots, to rediscover what a precious gift they have been given in the Traditional liturgy? For once again the Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Christendom has become the calm, measured but militant public assertion of the Traditionalist cause. The pilgrimage has explicitly recommitted to the Traditional liturgy despite pressure from unnamed parties. The message is clear: Traditionalists are not going away! Moreover, the pilgrimage also remains absolutely committed to the restoration of “Christendom”: “the light of the Gospel projected on our countries, our families, our morality and our work.” (from the twitter account of Notre Dame de Chrétienté)

This year’s pilgrimage has attracted more attention than ever from the secular French media. And the masses at the opening and close of the pilgrimage will still be celebrated in St. Sulpice (substituting for Notre Dame de Paris during the latter’s reconstruction) and Chartres cathedral. 

I wish all the pilgrims well in the challenging yet rewarding days ahead! We will keep you in our prayers.

1. For complte coverage of several prior pilgrimages see: The 2010 Paris to Chartres Pilgrimage (last of a 4-Part Series) The Society of St Hugh of Cluny (5/31/2010); (The 2012 Chartres Pilgrimage – Conclusion (last of a 4-part report with photos) The Society of St Hugh of Cluny (6/1/ 2012)
2. “Numbers don’t Lie,” The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny (6/8/2022).

News from the Sisters of Charity of New York:

The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of New York will no longer work toward finding nor accepting new members to our Congregation, in the United States.

[W]e, Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of New York, continue to live our mission to the fullest, while acknowledging that we are on a path to completion.

The decision was not an easy one.  Currently there are 154 Sisters of Charity of New York.

Press Release, “The Sisters of Charity of New York Vote on Congregation’s Path to Completion,” (April 27, 2023)

In 1846 the Sisters of Charity of New York split from Mother Seton’s foundation for various reasons following from the reaffiliation of the United States sisters with those of France. Notably, the New York sisters retained the original habit of Elizabeth Seton with its quaint bonnet. These sisters were in the past ubiquitous in and around New York City, running St. Vincent’s Hospital, the New York Foundling Hospital, Mount St. Vincent’s College and many other institutions – as well as teaching at parochial schools (80 in 1913).

Some idea of the comprehensive character of charitable work performed by the Sisters of Charity may be obtained from even a brief consideration of their institutions for the care of suffering humanity under all conditions. …Every age and condition of life that needs care, from before birth till death, has special provision made for it. 1)

The Sisters of Charity of Mount St. Vincent, who have always been the largest group in the archdiocese, were by common consent the strictest of the non-contemplative sisterhoods. in 1962 they has 1,368 professed Sisters, 70 novices and 45 postulants. In 1978 the figures were 895, two and one respectively. In 1995 the only figures available listed their total as 623 Sisters. 2)

Today, as their press release indicates, there remain only 154 elderly sisters. Most of their apostolates have also either disappeared or have been utterly transformed. The most spectacular example was the inglorious closing of St. Vincent’s Hospital in 2010.

1. The Catholic Church in the United States of America, Vol. II, at 65 ( The Catholic Editing Company, New York, 1913). Interestingly, this publication gives the Sisters of Charity of New York “around 1400 members” in 1908 – approximately the same number as in 1962 (see Footnote 2) – but I wonder if the base is the same?
2. Cohalan, Msgr. Florence D. , A Popular History of the Archdiocese of New York at 399 ( United States Catholic Historical Society, Yonkers, New York, 2nd Edition, 1999).