A solemn Dominican Rite mass was celebrated at Holy Innocents church yesterday evening. The sacred ministers are members of the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer, who are visiting North America.

(Above) The founder of the Fraternity of Saint Vincent Ferrer, Fr Louis-Marie de Blignières, was the celebrant and preached at the mass. He focussed on St. Vincent Ferrer as very much a saint for our time – now, as then, a period of crisis for the Church. St Vincent practiced both contemplation and a preaching apostolate.

(Above) The “Pax Instrument” as used in the Dominican Rite.

(Above and below) A lively presentation followed.

The Fraternity is dedicated to the Dominican way of life. What is emphasized is contemplation, the Traditional liturgy and Thomistic philosophy. Their house in France is unique fro these features – certainly among the various orders of friars today.

The fraternity, with 23 members and growing steadily, is building a large church and monastery complex in France and needs $370,000 to complete this work.

At its foundation in 1979 associated with Archbishop Lefebvre, since 1988 the Fraternity of St Vincent Ferrer has been recognized by the Vatican. It is separate from the Dominican order even if it maintains cordial relations with some Dominican Friars. This “regular” status does not at all preclude critical commentary of aspects of the Church today: liturgy, moral theology , ecumenism…..

Missa cantata – votive Mass of Our Lady of Ransom (or Mercy) – Fr. Leonard Villa, celebrant.

The congregation filled the cathedral.

Mr Pedro D’Aquino, choirmaster and organist.

Fr. Stephen Saffron, Chaplain of the Regina Caeli council of the Knights of Columbus, homilist.

(Above and below) Friars of the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer on the final day of the Chartres pilgrimage, May 28, 2012.

At Holy Innocents Church, New York:

“On Thursday, November 17 at 6:00 PM, a Dominican Solemn Mass for the Feast of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus will be celebrated by Fr. Louis-Marie de Blignières, founder of the traditional Dominican Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer in France. Fr. Innocent Smith (from St. Vincent Ferrer Church) will be the Subdeacon for this Mass.

After the Mass, there will be a talk/conference (“Saint Vincent Ferrer, a topical Saint for the bizarre times in which we live”) and a short presentation on the history of this traditional Dominican fraternity.

This community is exclusively traditional. It follows all the customs and practices the Dominican Order followed before the liturgical changes. Their conventual life is centred on the solemn celebration of the Divine Office and of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which is its summit.

In 1982, the first friars erected their humble chapel out of an old barn. Today, this chapel is too small to accommodate the families and the faithful who flock to attend their offices, and the sanctuary has become too small to welcome new vocations. Each passing day, there is growing demand for retreats, and there is not enough space to welcome new postulants. Because of this, the friars have an urgent need to expand, which is why they are building a church and a guest-house, as well as completing the conventual cloister.

“Our convent is the point of departure for our apostolic work. It shines a ray of light on those sectors of society known to be in urgent need of assistance: by helping families, by deepening the relationship between faith and reason, and by welcoming and instructing Muslim converts through our ‘apostolats aux frontiers.’”

(Thanks to Eddy J. Toribio)

AND

At Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, Pequannock, NJ (FSSP)

“On Sunday, November 20, 2016, Our Lady of Fatima Chapel will be hosting members of the Fraternity of St Vincent Ferrer, including their founder and superior Fr. Louis-Marie de Blignières who will be preaching at the masses and giving a talk in the afternoon at the Knights of Columbus hall around the corner. The schedule for Sunday November 20 will be as follows:
11:00 AM Solemn High Mass in the Dominican Rite
1:00 PM Brunch at the KofC hall
2:00 PM Talk by Fr. Louis-Marie de Blignieres
The Fraternity of Saint Vincent Ferrer was founded by Fr. Louis-Marie de Blignières in 1979 and became a Religious institute of Pontifical Right on October 28, 1988. The Fraternity’s Priests use the Traditional Dominican Rite (XIII century) for celebrating Mass and for saying the hours of the Divine Office. The seat of the Fraternity is the Monastery of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Chémeréle-Roi, a village in northwest France. Following the ideals of their Father Saint Dominic, these religious work for the salvation of souls by contemplating, studying, and preaching the truth.”

(From the Bulletin of Our Lady of Fatima Chapel)

AND

At St. Vincent Ferrer church, New York:

“Solemn Dominican Rite Mass for the Feast of the Presentation of Mary

On Monday, November 21, 7:00 PM at St. Vincent Ferrer, a Solemn Dominican Rite Mass for the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated. The Mass will be celebrated by members of the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer, a French religious order inspired by the Dominican charism. A reception will take place after Mass with a chance to learn more about the Fraternity.”

(From the bulletin of St. Vincent Ferrer parish.)

Last evening’s Solemn Requiem Mass in the Dominican rite at St. Vincent Ferrer church in New York.

Manuel Cardoso’s requiem was sung accompanied by instruments of the period.

Fr. Innocent Smith OP was celebrant and homilist.

Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Mary’s Norwalk. Mass setting by Cristobal Morales – sung magnificently by the children’s schola!

After 20 years……

Last night  a beautiful Solemn Mass was offered at Most Precious Blood Church in New York for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude.  The mass was sponsored by our society.

Yesterday evening’s Solemn Mass celebrated by Bishop Athanasius Schneider – as viewed from the galleries of Holy Innocents church. Appropriately enough, it was the feast of St. Raphael…

The excellent music featured a mass of Monteverdi.

Bishop Schneider preached on the holy angels.