The Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage came to a close in Rome on Sunday October 29 with a Solemn Mass for the Feast of Christ the King at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, the parish church of the FSSP.

On Saturday October 28, pilgrims met at the Basilica of Saints Celso & Guliano for Eucharistic adoration and the Rosary. Outside, pilgrims got ready to process to St. Peter’s Basilica.

The church of Sacro Cuore del Suffragio ( or Sacro Cuore di Gesù in Prati ) as seen on a sombre evening in Rome last week. Completed in 1917, its extravagent neo-gothic style is unlike any other in the center of Rome. The church overlooks the Tiber and is situated next to the truly monstrous court building ( a structure which, like the “Altar of the Fatherland,” is a legacy of the post-1870 regime in Rome).

Inside is a vast Gothic hall adorned with art in an extraordinary syle showing neo-Gothic, Pre-Raphaelite and Art Nouveau influences. A unified ensemble very much a part of its time: the 1890’s to the 1910’s. An underlying theme of the entire Gesamtkunstwerk is remembrance of the dead and prayer for the poor souls in purgatory.

But this church is most famous for the Museum of the Souls in Purgatory. It displays objects showing tangible evidence of visitations to the living of souls in purgatory. The exhibits typically are prayer books or articles of clothing that feature burn marks of hands or fingers left by the deceased. These testimonies have a common theme we should all remember: keep praying and offering masses for the souls in purgatory.

For a description of the church, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacro_Cuore_del_Suffragio#Façade

For an appreciation (in Italian)by famous traditionalist Cristina Campo, see:

https://it.wikiquote.org/wiki/Chiesa_del_Sacro_Cuore_del_Suffragio

(Above) Each morning at 6:30 – 7:15 during the week of the pilgrimage at the FSSP church of Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini a priest celebrated at each side chapel, often before a congregation. This was in addition to the regular masses at the main altar.

(Above and below) Friday, October 27, the first day of the pilgrimage. Before the start of Vespers in the Pantheon (the Basilica of St. Mary of the Martyrs).

(Above) Bishop Athanasius Schneider presided and preached at the Vespers.

(Above) Bishop Athanasius Schneider processing from the Pantheon.

November 1 All Saint Day

Connecticut

St. Mary Church, Norwalk, 8 am Low Mass, 7 pm Solemn Mass.

Sacred Heart Oratory, Redding, 6 pm

Sts. Cyril and Methodius Oratory, Bridgeport, 7:45 am Low Mass, 6 pm Missa Cantata

St. Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, 8 am Low Mass, 6 pm Missa Cantata

St. Stanislaus Church, New Haven, NO MASS SCHEDULED owing to the unavailability of a priest to celebrate the Mass.  

St. Martha Church, Enfield, 7 pm

New York

Holy Innocents Church, New York, NY, 8 am Low Mass, 6 pm Missa Cantata

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 7 pm

St. Josaphat Church, Bayside, Queens, 7 pm

St. Rocco, Glen Cove, Long Island, 7 pm

St. Matthew, Dix Hills, Long Island, 10:30 am

St. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers, 12 noon

Annunciation Church, Crestwood, lower church, 7 pm Missa Cantata

Immaculate Conception Church, Sleepy Hollow, 7 pm low Mass

New Jersey

Our Lady of Sorrows, Jersey City, 5 pm

Our Lady of Victories, Harrington Park, 5:30 pm

St. Anthony of Padua, West Orange, 9 am, 7 pm

Our Lady of Fatima, Pequannock, 7 am, 9 am, 12 noon, 7 pm

Corpus Christi Church, South River, 7 pm Missa Cantata

November 2 All Souls Day

Connecticut

St. Mary Church, Norwalk, 8 am Low Mass, 7 pm Solemn Requiem Mass

Sacred Heart Oratory, Redding, 6 pm Solemn Mass with absolution at the Catafalque, 7:30 pm, Blessing of soul lights and distribution of soul cakes.

Sts. Cyril and Methodius Oratory, Bridgeport, 7:45 am and 8:25 am, Low Mass, 6 pm Solemn Mass and absolution at the catafalque

St. Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, 8 am Low Mass, 6 pm Missa Cantata

St. Stanislaus Church, New Haven, NO MASS SCHEDULED owing to the unavailability of a priest to celebrate the Mass.  

St. Martha Church, Enfield, 7 pm

New York

Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, New York, NY, 7 pm, Solemn Requiem Mass

Holy Innocents Shrine and Church, 128 W 37th St, 8 am Requiem Low Mass, 5:15 PM Requiem Low Mass, 6 pm Requiem High Mass

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine, 448 E. 116th St., 7:00 am Requiem Low Mass, 7:45 am Requiem Low Mass, 7 pm Solemn Requiem Mass

St. Josaphat Church, Bayside, Queens, 7:00 pm Requiem High Mass

Our Lady of Refuge, Bronx, 6:30 PM Requiem Mass

St. Rocco, Glen Cove, Long Island, 7 pm

St. Matthew, Dix Hills, Long Island, 10:30 am

St. Paul Church, Yonkers, 12 Noon Requiem Mass

Annunciation Church, Crestwood, lower church, 7 pm Missa Cantata

Immaculate Conception Church, Sleepy Hollow, 7 pm low Mass

New Jersey

Our Lady of Sorrows, Jersey City, 7 pm

Our Lady of Victories, Harrington Park, 5:30 pm

St. Anthony of Padua, West Orange, 9 am, 7 pm

Our Lady of Fatima, Pequannock, 7 am, 9 am, 12 noon, 7 pm

We return  – for the last time, hopefully  – to the topic of traditionalist pilgrimages with some corrections and additions.  First, correcting my earlier post, after some additional discussion, I think there is no independent FSSP pilgrimage to Auriesville. The FSSP may be providing spiritual direction to the Pilgrimage for( the) Restoration,  but that pilgrimage has been for many years directed by the National Coalition of Clergy and Laity (NCCL). 

Second, I was already  aware that this pilgrimage had been moved to Pennsylvania in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID restrictions in New York State. In 2022 and 2023 it returned to Auriesville. There is an account online of the 2022 pilgrimage. It seems from this that the Pilgrimage for Restoration,  while not returning to the larger scale of the assemblies of 2005 or so,  nevertheless has recovered somewhat from a low point ten years ago. And their 2022 pilgrimage was accompanied by a sitting Bishop. Have the actions of Pope Francis, especially Traditionis Custodes,  shaken some people out of their torpor and revived interest in the TLM – as has happened elsewhere?

As for the pilgrimage of the FSSPX (the “Pilgrimage of Tradition”), it too has continued despite the disdainful attitude of the authorities at Auriesville. It now seems to be roughly comparable in size to the Pilgrimage of Restoration. The FSSPX even claims that its pilgrimage started in 1993 – meaning that it predates the Pilgrimage for Restoration. I will leave it to experts to debate that point.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski has informed me, however,  that a newer,  much more significant claimant to the honor of being the “American Chartres Pilgrimage” has emerged not in New York, but in Oklahoma. Since 2020, a “Three Hearts” pilgrimage to Clear Creek Abbey has taken place. With the blessing of Cardinal Raymond Burke, it grew from a few dozen pilgrims in the first year (2020) to more than 1,500 in 2022 –  substantially larger than the older “competitors” in Auriesville. Now there is, of course, no tradition at Clear Creek of such a pilgrimage or devotion.  However, the monks of Clear Creek Abbey  – and Cardinal Burke –  obviously are more welcoming to traditionalist pilgrims then the authorities in Auriesville. The fourth edition of the pilgrimage will be this weekend.  This year Cardinal Burke will celebrate the concluding Mass. Information on the Three Hearts pilgrimage can be found here:

The Three Hearts Pilgrimage 

The Three Hearts Pilgrimage (Facebook)

There is undeniable vitality in the world of Traditionalist pilgrimages. In 2023 the pilgrims have continued to come. The desire to make a sacrifice for the Faith and to display it openly to the world, not just individually but in the company of many others, remains alive and well in the Traditionalist community. Up to now no pilgrimage having national recognition has emerged. Maybe that is attributable to the way we do things in America: spontaneous, independent (and uncoordinated) entrepreneurial activity. These efforts, however,  have over the years overcome obstacles such as lack of communication, great geographical distances, lack of  supportive national traditions such as still exist in Europe and,  in Auriesville, changing relationships with the local establishment in charge of the goal of the pilgrimage. I do expect this post to generate even more responses with suggestions, corrections  and clarifications. But is that not also a welcome sign of life?