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Our New Zealand Wilderness

November 28, 2017, 4:27 pm
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The official or canonical houses of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer should be located away from cities in deserted places.  With this in mind, Bishop Barry Jones RIP, as Bishop of Christchurch, invited us to establish a canonical house in his diocese according to the requirements of our Constitutions.
On Holy Thursday, 13 April 2017 we took possession of our New Zealand Wilderness.
The property is called Mount Saint Joseph's Kakahu.
Procession to take possession
of the Wilderness of Mt St Joseph's Kakahu 

 The altar being prepared in the wilderness.




On the feast of St Joseph, May 1st 2017 the 300 acre property was first blessed and Holy Mass was celebrated at the foot of the wilderness hills which rise another 1300 feet from here to the summit.

 Views from the summit of Mt St Joseph's Kakahu
looking across the Four Peaks Range
and looking to the cities on the plain.

 - 29 September -
Michaelmas 2017
 Holy Mass was offered in the open for the faithful
who came to Mt St Joseph's Kakahu
for the first Wild Sheep Muster. 
 In this place... 
 The altar was in the open
the Faithful gathered to assist from
beneath the verandah.
Now in this place let us make a beginning.

November 2017
Laying the logs.

 The logs for the Wilderness Oratory 
were all taken from the neighbouring forest.



The Wilderness Oratory of St Joseph looking down the verandah.
 The Wilderness Oratory takes shape
view from the West
 View from the South
 The roof.

The stained glass window
-the gift of Mr and Mrs J N Richards - 
which is greatly appreciated.



Making the altar rails




The altar, gradines and throne.

 The temporary altar and footpace
 The gradines are solid Douglas Fir from the neighbouring forest,
 so too, is the throne.

Blessing of the 
Wilderness Oratory of St Joseph
Last Sunday of the Year
26 November, 2017.

 The Wilderness Oratory of St Joseph
was officially blessed by
Rt. Reverend Dom Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B.
Bishop of Aberdeen, Scotland

 DOMINE DEUS, qui licet...  O LORD GOD, Whom the heavens and earth cannot contain, but Who dost condescend to have a dwelling on earth where thy name can be continually invoked, we beseech thee, through the merits and intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, of Blessed Joseph and of all the saints, visit this edifice with thy kindly countenance, and purge it of all evil by the infusion of thy grace. And as thou didst cause the vow of thy beloved David to be fulfilled in the work of Solomon, his son, grant us in this work the realisation of our desires, and banish hence all wicked spirits. Through our Lord.

 Ut hanc ecclesiam, et altare hoc, ad honorem tuum, 
et nomen Sancti tui Josephi, purgare, et bene+dicere digneris.
Te rogamus audi nos.
That Thou wouldst purify and bless + this church and this altar 
to thy honour and the name of Saint Joseph.
We beseech thee, hear us.

 Psalmus 120
LEVAVI oculos meos in montes ... 
I lift up mine eyes to the mountains; 
whence shall help come to me? 
My help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth ... 
 Psalmus 121
LAETATUS sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi: In domum Domini ibimus...
I rejoiced when it was said to me: 'Let us go to the house of the Lord...'

 First Mass in the Wilderness Oratory
offered by Father Anthony Mary
served by Brother Paul Mary
...in montem sanctum tuum et in tabernacula tua...
unto thy holy hill, and into thy tabernacles...


DEUS, qui loca nomini tuo dicanda sanctificas...
GOD, Who dost sanctify the places dedicated to thy name, pour forth thy grace upon this house of prayer, so tht all who here invoke thee, may experience thy assistance. Amen.

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Confirmations 2017

December 2, 2017, 12:25 pm
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On the Feast of Christ the King five young women from the Latin Mass Chaplaincy received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Basil Meeking, Emeritus Bishop of Christchurch. Please keep them in your prayers.
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Please help us bring Salvation! — Updated

February 18, 2018, 12:36 pm
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The world needs priests — good and holy priests — and each of us individually need priests. When we were born, it was the priest who snatched us from the clutches of Satan, and immersed us in the life of grace, a gift infinitely superior to all the treasures of the universe. If we reject God and fall into sin, it is the priest who, with his hand raised in judgement, pronounces the words of absolution, and restores the friendship of God to us. It is the priest in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass who brings us the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ to be our food for the strengthening of our souls in the battle for our eternal salvation. The priest witnesses our marriage, if we receive this sacrament. Who else but the priest will be at our bedside as we prepare to quit this vale of tears, offering us words of encouragement and consolation, forgiving us our sins, giving us the Viaticum, and providing us with the final helps that our holy mother the Church has for us before we depart, worn-out with the labors of life, to stand before the judgement seat of God?

And how is it that this world has not already been destroyed by God, as in the time of Noe, for the many crimes which men daily commit against Him? Is it not because of the Sacrifice of Propitiation, offered daily upon so many altars throughout the world, crying out to Him: “Mercy! Mercy for this, Thy ungrateful world!” The many graces which we have received, not the least of which being that we have been blessed with the Catholic Faith, whilst so many around us have it not; can we not trace this, and the many other favors we have received, to the altars of so many Churches, where a priest stands between us and God, renewing once again the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross and begging graces for the world? How very much we need our priests; how few of them there are: The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few. (Matt. 9:37)

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer have as one of their principal works, the preaching of parish Missions. Parish Missions are a time of immense grace for the faithful during which faith and fervor are immeasurably strengthened, sins — often of many years — are forgiven, and the life of a parish is invigorated. But for this work our most small and most unworthy Congregation needs priests.

We currently have three students studying at the seminary of the Fraternity of Saint Peter in Nebraska, USA: Br Martin Mary, Br Seelos Maria and Br Peter Mary. Please God, Brs Martin Mary and Peter Mary will be ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in 2020. The cost of educating each student is approximately US $20,000 per year. We are now in very great need of your help if we are to continue to be able to educate our Brothers and have them ordained so that they may be of service to you and the rest of God’s Church in the future. We very earnestly beg you to help in this holy endeavor for the glory of God, and for the bringing of Salvation to people throughout the world. God will not be blind to your generosity, and neither will we. Once Brs Martin Mary, Seelos Maria and Peter Mary reach the altar, they will not neglect to remember at every holy Mass all those who contribute to the cost of their priestly formation. The financial burden of the education of priests is substantial, and we cannot continue to bear it without your generous help. If you are able, please consider contributing to our seminary fund by clicking below:

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Piglets for Easter

April 7, 2018, 12:48 pm
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On Easter Thursday, the brethren welcomed Papa Stronsay's newest inhabitants: three little piglets.  We have started raising Large Blacks, an old English breed which is quite rare now.  It's a small litter, but all three are healthy. Deo Gratias.

 Fr Magdala Maria and Br Romuald in the pigsty following the successful delivery of the piglets.


 
 Br Romuald pointing out their sharp little teeth!


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All Year Long

November 16, 2018, 6:29 am
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The Papa Stronsay Calendar for 2019 is now available for purchase from our website here.


The Papa Stronsay Calendar enables you to easily and fruitfully follow the Church's traditional liturgical cycle.  Possibly the best Traditional Catholic wall calendar on the market, it gives you each day's feast, class and liturgical colour, the lunar calendar, traditional days of abstinence, traditional feasts which are not on the universal calendar, national public holidays for six English-speaking countries, major astronomical events, and so much more, including a whole array of beautiful images which truly make this calendar a feast for the eyes!

Order your copy of the Papa Stronsay Calendar now!

Make sure you don't miss out on future Papa Stronsay Calendars by subscribing to the Calendar mailing list below:
Sign up and we'll tell you when a new calendar is available!
Name:
Email:
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"For this day is born to you a Saviour in the city of..." Christchurch.

December 29, 2018, 2:59 pm
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Christmas Midnight Mass
Mother of Perpetual Succour Oratory
Christchurch, N.Z.
2018

Cecilia and Jude in expectation.

More excitement.

Christmas Carols.

...Et nox in suo cursu medium inter haberet ...
...and the night was in the midst of her course, thy mighty Word O Lord
came from heaven, from Thy royal throne.









Gloria in altissimis Deo...
Glory to God in the highest...
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Exsultabit solitudo...

December 29, 2018, 8:24 pm
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Christmas in the Wilderness of Mount Saint Joseph's Kakahu
2018

Laetabitur deserta et invia, 
et exsultabit solitudo...
The land that was desolate and impassable shall be glad,
and the wilderness shall rejoice...
(Is. 35:1)


Christmas-Eve
The Oratory of Saint Joseph in the Wilderness.
The doors, wide open and waiting.

The space for His dwelling was empty ...

The new Tabernacle arrives.
It is beautiful beyond words! A work of careful devotion!
It is adorned with hand painted images of
the Loving Pelican and the Twelve Apostles.
It arrives just in time to receive Him at His birth
in Midnight Mass.
Let the Wilderness exalt!
Haec requies mea in saeculum saeculi; 
hic habitabo, quoniam elegi eam.
This is my rest for ever and ever:
here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.
(Ps 131:14)
Preparation for Midnight Mass in the Wilderness.
Brother Romuald and Father Michael Mary
await the time for Midnight Mass.
It is Silent Night.
+ He has come. He is here. +

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture
In the Body and the Blood
He will give to all the Faithful
His own self for Heavenly food.

Sleep Holy Babe;
Thine angels watch around,
And bending low with folded wings,
Before th' incarnate King of kings,
In reverend awe profound.

Sleep Holy Babe,
Ah! Take Thy sweet repose;
Too quickly will Thy slumber break,
And Thou to lengthen'd pains awake,
That death alone shall close.

Viderunt omnes fines terrae salutare Dei nostri;
jubilate Deo, omnes terra. 
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God:
Sing joyfully to God all the earth.

(Ps. 97:3)




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2019 Monastic Retreat

January 19, 2019, 5:45 pm
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The second annual "Monastic Retreat" for young people interested in knowing more about monastic life was held from Sunday 13 January 11:00 a.m. until Sunday 20 January at 15:00.
Our two Familiars Isaac and Benedict, with Aidan, a Boy Solitary, all from NZ, made the retreat with Shine, another young person from North Dakota. 

MONASTIC RETREAT HORARIUM
04.55 Rise
05.30 Mental Prayer
06.00 Office of Matins and Lauds
07.00 Holy Mass, Thanksgiving
08.00 Breakfast, Remission. Emptying of night-buckets.
09.00 Office of Terce, Liturgical Studies or Monastic Conference
10.00 Manual Work
12.30 Angelus and closure of Manual Work, wash up.
13.00 Office of Sext, Particular Examen, Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
13.15 Dinner in silence, reading at table
14.00 Recreation
15.00 Office of None, Opening of the Three Hours of the Little Silence -  in Honour of Our Lord’s agony on the Cross
16.00 Spiritual Reading
16.30 Mental Prayer in the cell
17.00 Remission in silence, time to visit the Blessed Sacrament, read, go for a walk alone
17.30 Office of Vespers
17.45 Holy Rosary
18.15 Supper in silence, reading at table
19.00 Recreation
19.30 Night Prayer and Office of Compline
20.10 Remission in the Great Silence (free time to pray, relax, prepare for sleep and the next day)
21.30 Lights Out

MONASTIC RETREAT ACCOMMODATION
The Three Monastic Camps

Camp One: Valsainte
Valsainte was a deserted and despoiled Carthusian monastery in Switzerland: described as empty cells, bare walls and a roof. In 1818 it was given to the homeless community of the Transalpine Redemptorists under the leadership of Venerable Father Joseph Passerat. We commemorated 200 years of that event last year when we hosted the first Monastic Retreat. Our Valsainte is still not much more than a bare shed with a roof, which our retreatants made their monastic paradise.

The four retreatants camped the week in Valsainte -the old wool shed. Camping conditions were improved this year.
Looking around Valsainte's four cells for four retreatants.
Each retreatant must have his own cell.
Already we need more cells for next year.
The cell - looking out.
The cell - looking in
Valsainte - Father Anthony Mary checking the entrance.


 Camp Two:  The Hermitage of Mt St Joseph's Kakahu.

The hermitage comprises of two cells, bathroom, and kitchen/refectory.
Shine's mother Corrie, and Samantha Maria were present to help the retreat, to pray and they also provided the meals. They lodged in the two cells of the hermitage.

Corrie and Samantha Maria preparing the midday meal...

At prayers...
paying a visit, and watching how it is done.
Samantha Maria is a Daughter of the Most Holy Redeemer 
living the contemplative and active life.



Camp three: The Laura of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour

During the retreat the five monks' accommodation was set up as
 the Laura of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour 
in the lower field (or paddock as we say in New Zealand). 

The Church on earth is called the Church Militant.
Monks are Milites Christi - Soldiers of Christ...
A monastery is a soldiers' camp.
Each monk had a tent.
From a tent to the hermitage.

MONASTIC RETREAT MASS and PRAYERS


The morning Mass in Mt St Joseph's Oratory.

The Holy Mass
The Liturgy of  audible prayers, of whispered prayers and silence.
The small oratory Mass necessarily includes the sounds of the dawn chorus of waking nature.
Benedicite, montes et colles, Domino...
Benedicite, omnes volucres caeli, Domino. 
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord...
All you birds of heaven, bless the Lord.
[Sunday, Lauds Canticle Dan. 3]

Prayers.
Prayers before Our Blessed Lord in the Tabernacle of the Altar.
Internal, spiritual, invisible.
Heart speaks to heart.
Ora. Ora. Ora.

MONASTIC RETREAT WORK

Ora et labora.
Prayer and Work.

Work one: Firewood

Brother Seelos Maria cutting wood.

Gathering the rounds of wood.

Working together.

 Using the splitter.

Aidan and Father Anthony.

Isaac and Benedict packing the wood away.


 The Boy Solitary 
Living the Hidden Life in union with the Boy Jesus.

Work two: Valsainte


Concrete arriving for the floor of Valsainte.

Waiting for the concrete.

Father Anthony Mary moving the concrete.

 The Supervisors ready to throw medals into the concrete.

Screeding the concrete.

Observing the finishing touches.
Job done.



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A solemn and moving ceremony for the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer

February 14, 2019, 3:54 am
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On February 9th, 2019, 
Brothers Martin Mary, F.SS.R. and Peter Mary F.SS.R.
were ordained to the Subdiaconate 
in the Saint Peter and Paul Chapel 
Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, in Denton, Nebraska. 

The ordaining prelate was 
the Most Reverend Bishop Robert W. Finn, D.D. 

There were seven ordained for the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter. 

The Rector Major, Father Michael Mary, was present 
for the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer.

Brother Martin Mary, F.SS.R. and Brother Peter Mary, F.SS.R.
during the procession into the chapel.

Accedant omnes qui ordinandi sunt ad Subdiaconatum.
Let all who are to be ordained to the Subdiaconate come forward.

The Bishop's Address:
"Filii dilectissimi, ad sacrum Subdiaconatus Ordinem promovendi...
Beloved sons, you are about to be promoted to the Sacred Order of Subdiaconate, you must consider carefully what is the office that you seek today. So far, you are free and if you wish you can go back to a secular manner of living; should you receive this order, you will not be free to change your mind; you will have to be unceasingly at the service of God. Yet to serve Him is to reign. With His help, you will have to keep chastity and to be always faithful in the service of the Church. 

So as there is time, think about it and 
if you wish to persevere in your resolution 
(si in sancto proposito perseverare placet), 
in the name of God, come forward."

Those to be ordained Subdeacons take a step forward
signifying their willingness and desire to receive the order.
They step forward.

All to be ordained prostrate themselves
while the bishop kneels
and the solemn Litany of the Saints is chanted.

 Kyrie eleison.   Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.   Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.   Kyrie eleison.
Christe, audi nos.   Christe, audi nos.
Christe, exaudi nos.   Christe, exaudi nos.

Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Dei Genetrix, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Virgo virginum, ora pro nobis.

 Tradition of the Instruments.
The Bishop passes into their hands an empty chalice and a paten saying;
VIDETE CUIUS MINISTERIUM VOBIS TRADITUR;
IDEO VOS ADMONEO, UT ITA VOS EXHIBEATIS,
UT DEO PLACERE POSSITIS...
 SEE WHAT MINISTRY IS PUT INTO YOUR HANDS;
I WARN YOU TO LEAD A LIFE BY WHICH
YOU MIGHT PLEASE GOD.


Brother Martin Mary, F.SS.R. knelt before the bishop:
Reception of the Amice.
Accipe amictum... Receive the amice, 
by which the watch over one's voice is signified. 
In the name of the + Father and of the + Son and of the Holy + Ghost.
Amen.
Reception of the Maniple.
 Accipe manipulum... Receive the maniple,
by which the fruits of good works are signified.
In the name of the + Father and of the + Son and of the Holy + Ghost.
Amen.

 Clothing in the Tunicle.
Tunica... May the Lord clothe thee with the tunic of joy
and with the vestments of joy.
In the name of the + Father and of the + Son and of the Holy + Ghost.
Amen.
 And so then did Brother Peter Mary, F.SS.R.
Reception of the Amice.
Accipe amictum... Receive the amice, 
by which the watch over one's voice is signified. 
In the name of the + Father and of the + Son and of the Holy + Ghost.
Amen.
 Reception of the Maniple.
 Accipe manipulum... Receive the maniple,
by which the fruits of good works are signified.
In the name of the + Father and of the + Son and of the Holy + Ghost.
Amen.

Clothing in the Tunicle.
Tunica... May the Lord clothe thee with the tunic of joy
and with the vestments of joy.
In the name of the + Father and of the + Son and of the Holy + Ghost.
Amen.
 Then the Bishop presented them with the Book of Epistles saying:
ACCIPE LIBRUM EPISTOLARUM, ET HABETE POTESTATEM LEGENDI EAS
IN ECCLESIA SANCTA DEI, TAM PRO VIVIS, QUAM PRO DEFUNCTIS.
IN NOMINE PA+TRIS ET FI+LII, ET SPIRITUS + SANCTI. AMEN.

RECEIVE THE BOOK OF EPISTLES AND HAVE THE POWER OF READING THEM
IN THE CHURCH OF GOD, BOTH FOR THE LIVING AND FOR THE DEAD.
IN THE NAME OF THE + FATHER AND OF THE + SON AND OF THE HOLY + GHOST. AMEN.
The Dismissal.
Recedant qui ordinati sunt Subdiaconi...
Let those who have been ordained Subdeacons
return to their places...
(With what sweet order 
the Church governs her ceremonies!) 
The Holy Mass continues.
We are at the time for the Epistle.
One of the newly ordained Subdeacons chants the Epistle.

Offering of Candles.
Wearing the mitre, the bishop takes his seat and receives the offerings
of the newly ordained subdeacons.
After the Agnus Dei
the bishop gives the kiss of peace to the ministers.
For the first time the newly ordained Subdeacons 
approach to kiss the altar and receive the Pax from the bishop.  

The recessional procession.
Father Ferguson & Father Michael Mary

Our Subdeacons.
Orkney sent them a friendly gust of wind that catches their tunicles.
The nine newly ordained Subdeacons with Bishop Finn.

At the end of a solemn and moving ceremony.
Our Hearty Congratulations to our Subdeacons
who will be ordained Deacons 
on 30 March, 2019.
Thanks be to God and to Mary ever Virgin!
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Transalpine Redemptorist Deacons

April 23, 2019, 7:35 pm
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On 30th March our two Subdeacons, Br Martin Mary and Br Peter Mary we ordained to the Diaconate in a beautiful ceremony at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary where they have both been studying.  They were ordained along with seven other seminarians of the Fraternity of Saint Peter.

 The Ordinandi wait pensively for the procession into the church to begin.

 Fr Magdala Maria, F.SS.R. was present representing the Transalpine Redemptorists.  He was Deacon for the ceremony.

His excellency Bishop Joseph Perry conferred the Diaconate.  Fr Magdala Maria takes his place to the bishop's left.

 Having been called forward, the nine Subdeacons kneel and are addressed by the bishop.

They then prostrate themselves before the altar while the Litany of the Saints is chanted.

 Having risen, the bishop prays for them, and blesses them.

Accipe Spiritum sanctum...
Receive the Holy Ghost...
 The Matter of the Sacrament: Bishop Perry lays his right hand upon the head of each candidate...

Accipe Spiritum sanctum...
Receive the Holy Ghost...

Emitte in eos, quaesumus Domine, Spiritum sanctum...
Send forth the Holy Ghost upon them we beseech Thee O Lord...
...and he pronounces the Form of the Sacrament over all while extending his hand.  At this moment the Church was given nine new Deacons, and the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer got two of them!
 
Accipe stolam candidam de manu Dei...
Receive the shining stole from the hand of God... 
The newly ordained Deacon is presented his stole to kiss...

 ...and is then clothed in it by the bishop.

Induat te Dominus indumento salutis...
May the Lord cloth thee with the garment of salvation...
He receives the Dalmatic.

 Accipe stolam candidam de manu Dei...
Receive the shining stole from the hand of God...


 Induat te Dominus indumento salutis...
May the Lord cloth thee with the garment of salvation...
 
Accipe potestatem legendi Evangelium in Ecclesia Dei...
Receive the power of reading the Gospel in the Church of God...
Each Deacon in turn places his hand upon the Evangelarium, the book containing the Gospels of each Mass, from which it is now his duty to chant the Gospel and a solemn Mass.


 Br Peter Mary and Br Martin Mary offer their candles to Bishop Perry.

 Br Peter Mary receives the Pax from Bishop Perry during Mass.

 The ordination complete, our two new Deacons process out of the seminary chapel.


 Continuing the seminary custom, the newly ordained kneel before the image of Our Lady and chant the Salve Regina invoking her protection over their ministry.

Br Martin Mary and Br Peter Mary with Fr Magdala Maria following the ordination.

Thanks be to God for this, His gift for our Congregation.  May He protect our new Deacons, and our entire Congregation from all harm, and make our work fruitful for the salvation of souls. Amen.
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Notice of the passing of Josephine Sim, R.I.P.

May 19, 2019, 6:22 pm
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Josephine Frances Rae Sim, R.I.P.
1932 - 2019
(Photo taken of her in 2009 - click to make larger)

Of your charity please pray for the soul of
Josephine Frances Rae Sim, R.I.P. 
who peacefully passed from this world into eternity
on Sunday 19th May, 2019
in her 67th year of married life.

She was fortified by the sacrament of Extreme Unction,
assisted by the Prayers for the Dying
and clothed in the holy scapular of Our Lady of Mt Carmel.
+
She is survived by her husband. Ivan Rae,
Her three sons: Fr. Michael Mary, Ivan Anthony Rae, Alexander Turfus
Her three daughters: Susanne Maree, Deborah Helen and Angela Mary
and her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was herself the 10th of 11 children
born to William and Catherine Wilson
of Wingatui, Otago, N.Z.
She is survived by her older sister Nuala.
+
The Funeral Mass of Requiem
will be offered in 
St John the Baptist Catholic Church
7 Killarney Street 
Alexandra, 9320
on
Saturday, 25 May at 1.00 p.m.
+
Prayer from the Absolution:
Deliver O Lord, we beseech Thee,
the soul of Thy handmaid Josephine Frances Rae
from every bond of her sins
that in the glory of the resurrection
she may live anew,
being raised up in the fellowship of Thy Saints and elect.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
+
Eternal Rest grant unto her O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.

May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed
through the mercy of God,
 rest in peace.
Amen.
+
Absolve quaesumus, Domine,
animam famulae tuae Josephine Frances Rae
ab omni vinculo delictorum:
ut in resurrectionis gloria,
inter sanctos et electos tuos resuscitata respiret.
Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Requiescat in pace.
Amen.

Anima ejus, et animae omnium fidelium defunctorum
per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.
Amen.
+

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June - Winter In the Silence of the Snow at Mt St Joseph's

June 29, 2019, 5:48 pm
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Views around the hermitage at Mt St Joseph's Kakahu.

 South.

 East.




After the snow.
Gleaning the fallen branches.
 The chant of the chainsaw!
Alas, its sound is not sufficiently appreciated.
When it stops, 
the silence of the gorge is refreshed and vibrant! 

 And the clicking sounds from the pruning blades
and pine gives a hint of incense.

A peaceful morning.
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St Alphonsus High and Dry

August 1, 2019, 9:17 am
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On the eve of the feast of our Holy Father St Alphonsus the time and tide are just right to easily remove the Monastery barge, St Alphonsus, from the water in order to undergo some maintenance.

The trailer having been rolled down the slipway and under the St Alphonsus, both are slowly pulled back up the slipway.
 
 Whilest each tractor individually has the pulling power to do the job, they do not have the traction to pull the St Alphonsus's 20-plus tonnes, so the wheels spin.
 
 With both pulling in tandem, however, the objective is easily accomplished.

 Br Romuald checks with Fr Magdala if this is far enough.

Using a powerful jack, the vessel is lifted off the trailer.

Each pull of the lever lifts the St Alphonsus's bulk only a few millimetres, but by this an enormous weight is lifted with little effort.

With the weight lifted off the wheels by the jack, Fr Magdala and Br Edmund bring more blocks to place underneath.  The St Alphonsus is not sitting quite correctly on the trailer.  With the weight lifted, the trailer can be repositioned.

The trailer having been repositioned, Brother moves the slightly precarious support-blocks at the back of the boat further forward so that they are lifting both the boat and the trailer off the ground.

 
 The aim is to ensure that the massive weight of the boat is not resting on the wheels for longer than it needs to, in order to prevent damage to them.


Done.  The St Alphonsus and its trailer are held securely, just slightly above the ground.



We wish a very happy feast of St Alphonsus
to one and all!
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News from Mt St Joseph's Kakahu in the New Zealand Wilderness

November 5, 2019, 1:53 am
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- Mount Saint Joseph's Kakahu -
Kakahu is the district in Canterbury, New Zealand,
Kakahu is Maori for a cloak.
The 300 acres of wilderness is named after the cloak of St Joseph.
We are here to stay and our nest move
is to build a monastery of huts
in honour of the Infant Jesus hidden in the cloak of Saint Joseph
and we will call the place
The Monastery of the Hidden Jesus
if God so Wills, so will it be.
St Joseph in his cloak presenting the Hidden Jesus.
We implore St Joseph to be
the patron and Foster-father of this place.

St Teresa said we'd only need a bell to begin a monastery.
It marks the hours of prayer, work and silence.

Our first construction:
The Oratory of St Joseph in the Wilderness.
It was blessed by the Bishop of Aberdeen. 

During the retreat we held last summer we set up our cells in the field. 

Prayer.

Silence.

Winter 2019.

Time for action.
In the solitude of Rosary Gully
we decided to build a prototype cell.
The first foundation hole.
St Teresa said that everything was in beginning.
So we began in earnest.
The ground was stony, the digging was slow, but....

We all got into it, 
and God is good who give work to men
Gloria Patri et Filio + et Spiritui Sancto...

(to be continued)
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Papa Stronsay Calendar 2020

December 5, 2019, 5:22 pm
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The Papa Stronsay Calendar for 2020 can now be purchased from our website HERE.


As always, our Calendar is jam-packed full of all kinds of Liturgical, religious and secular information, that will leave you wondering how you ever managed without it!

It features a photo from the life of our Congregation for each month.

 

Each month our calendar gives you the Liturgical feast and colour, the four major phases of the moon, the liturgical zodiac, the traditional days of abstinence, the major astronomical occurrences, national public holidays for eight English-speaking countries, as well as many other interesting treats that help you live your day-to-day life as a Catholic, and participate in the life of our Religious Congregation.

 

The video below shows our 2016 calendar and gives a good idea of what you can expect from this years calendar


Click below to order your 2020 Papa Stronsay Calendar!

http://papastronsay.com/bookshop/product.php?ID=61

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Come and See

January 19, 2020, 11:01 pm
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This past week saw our third annual Familiares retreat.  The Familiares are young men who, being too young to formally enter the monastery, and wishing to further explore the religious vocation, join themselves to the Sons of the Most Redeemer as Familiars, in the spirit of the Minor Seminaries and Juvinates of old.

Those who wish to become Familiars join themselves to our religious family in a formal manner.  They are clothed in the habit of the Congregation, and are permitted to wear it on certain occasions, to enter into the enclosure of the monastery and join us for an experience of religious life.

One such occasion is the annual Familiares retreat.

In this way they respond to Our Lord's offer to "come and see":

The next day again John [the Baptist] stood, and two of his disciples.  And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God.  And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  And Jesus turning, and seeing them following him, saith to them: What seek you? Who said to him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?  He saith to them: Come and see. They came, and saw where he abode, and they stayed with him that day: now it was about the tenth hour. (Jn. 1:35-39)

The retreat is held at our Mount Saint Joseph's Kakahu Monastery, in New Zealand.  The week began with the clothing of a new Familiar who came all the way from the United States

The candidate waits at the start of the ceremony.

He receives the Habit of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer from the hands of the Superior.

Thanksgiving.

During the time of the retreat, the Brothers moved out of their cells to make way for the Familiares, and set up camp in a new and temporary monastic Laura.

Br Xavier Maria, beads in hand, leaves his temporary desert-cell.
Cassian says: “The religious prays little who prays only when he is on his knees in the choir or in the cell.” To fulfil the obligations of his state, a religious should keep his soul continually united with God; but to maintain this constant union, continual prayer is necessary. There are three means of acquiring the habit of continual prayer; namely, silence, solitude, and the presence of God. These were the means that the angel suggested to St. Arsenius when he said: “If you wish to be saved, fly into solitude, observe silence, and repose in God by always keeping yourself in his presence.” — St Alphonsus, The True Spouse of Jusus Christ

The Familiars took up their residence in Valsainte, an old wool-shed converted into accommodation.

 It is named after an old ruinous Carthusian monastery occupied for a time by Venerable Fr Joseph Passerat, C.SS.R.

The front door, with Fr Passerat's portrait beside it.

 Valsainte's small but beautifully decorated chapel.

 The Familiars' home for the week.  It's a work in progress but already Valsainte is sealed, double-glazed, heated by a wood stove and fully insulated. It has hot and cold running water, showers and toilets.

There are seven cells.

Each day began at 04:55 with the sound of the bell.  All, Familiars and monks, rose promptly, and made their way in the first grey light of dawn for the morning meditation, followed by the Divine Offices of Matins and Lauds in common, starting at 05:30.

 At 07:00 the Familiars served the morning Mass.

Our Lord's sacrifice renewed mystically, yet really, upon the mount, drawing down graces for the world.

 Breakfast followed Mass and Thanksgiving.  In the monastic fashion, breakfast was taken in silence.

 The body having been refreshed, it can once more be engaged in offering praise to God.
The Office of Terce at 09:00.

 Each day after Terce, the Farmiliars received a conference in Valsainte on aspects of religious life from Fr Anthony Mary or Br Martin Mary.

 Then followed the morning's labour.  Here The Familiars are cutting wood, generously donated by a neighbour.  It's loaded into the back of the vehicle...

 ...driven to the wood-shed...

 ...unloaded...

 ...and carefully stacked to dry for winter fuel.

Br Seelos Maria cut the logs, which were split, and stacked in the same manner.
 
 Another important task was picking the abundance of ripe cherries.

Many made it...but there were quite a number which mysteriously disappeared between the branch and the bowl!

So much fruit ready for harvest...

The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few.  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.
(Matt. 9:37-38)

After the Office of Sext, and Particular Examen, lunch was served.  We were most grateful that, once again, Sr Marie-Celeste and Mrs Enander were able to be part of this retreat and provide the all-important work of preparing meals.
Thank you both for you great effort and generosity!

The afternoon was for spiritual exercises in one's own cell: spiritual reading and mental prayer followed by a visit to the Blessed Sacrament.

Vespers and Rosary were said in common at 17:30, followed by supper and community recreation.

Night prayers and Compline at 19:30 brought the day to a close.


On Thursday they took a long hike, and conquered Devil's Peak, which stands at 1587m (5206ft), planting a cross at the top and renaming it Holy Cross Peak!

The retreat was ended with a beautiful sung Mass, served by the Familiares and Br Seelos Maria.

Well done Familiars for a good and grace-filled week.  May God continue to lead you along the path of perfection, and draw you ever closer to Himself, and if it be His Holy Will, into the sanctuary of Religious Life!
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The Live Streaming Link to our Latin Masses in New Zealand

April 3, 2020, 4:56 am
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Dear Friends,

Praised be Jesus and Mary ever Virgin!

The events over the last weeks have prompted us to live-stream the Holy Mass from New Zealand. In this way those who cannot be present at Mass may join us in spirit. These are difficult times for everyone.

We hope that our Latin Masses will add to the availability of Masses especially given that the New Zealand Time Zone begins the day that will later dawn upon all the other countries in the world. (New Zealanders pride themselves on their being the first out of bed on each and every new day in the year!). Bear in mind that New Zealand live-streams across the Date Line from America's tomorrow.

We will also begin live streaming from Papa Stronsay when possible.


Mass is celebrated in Wilderness of Mt St Joseph's Kakahu, in the Te Moana Gorge,
2079 Te Moana Road, Kakahu, N.Z.
 at 8.00 a.m. 
(N. Z. Daylight Time).



Holy Mass is celebrated at the
 Mother of Perpetual Succour Oratory, 
141 Rutland Street, St Albans, Christchurch, N.Z.
 4 hours later at Midday (N.Z. Daylight Time).

Both of these Masses are displayed on the same link. 
It is possible to press the Set Reminder button for each of the forthcoming Masses.

We hope that these Masses will be pleasing to God and of benefit to the souls that seek Him.

Devotedly
Father Michael Mary, F.SS.R.
Papa Stronsay

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Solemn Requiem Mass for the soul of Bishop John Basil Meeking, STD

June 16, 2020, 6:54 am
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Tuesday 15 June, 2020
Father Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.
 celebrated 
Solemn Requiem Mass 
for the repose of the soul
of
Bishop John Basil Meeking, S.T.D.
Emeritus Bishop of Christchurch.

The Deacon was Rev. Fr. Sumich, F.S.S.P.
The Subdeacon was Rev. Fr. Yousef Marie, F.SS.R.

The Mass was served by the
Knights of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.

The Requiem Mass was live streamed.
The link is here.




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Our American Foundation - Montana Rosa Mystica - Christmas Letter from Father Michael Mary

December 28, 2020, 6:54 pm
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Dear Friends,
Live Jesus our love and Mary our hope!

On behalf of the members of the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, 
I announce with joy and gratitude to the Infant Jesus and His Most Holy Mother 
that on the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, 7 October 2020 
our religious order was granted a canonical invitation to establish a monastery 
in the diocese of Great Falls - Billings, 
which is the Eastern diocese of Montana in the United States of America. 

His Lordship the Bishop of Great Falls - Billings
Bishop Michael Warfel,
signing with the Rector Major
Father Michael Mary
the canonical agreement and invitation into the diocese.

Then, having received extraordinary providence from our Most sweet Infant Jesus
on the Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 
18th December 2020, 
we purchased the 200 acre hilly domain of 72 Red Shale Lane, Forsyth, Montana
with the intention of building there the future monastery of our American foundation,
and a place in their own country, for our much loved American vocations.
Here is a place that is according to our Constitutions, a holy wilderness for prayer and retreat;
and should God so Will our monks would spread from here as missionaries to wherever they are called.

18 December, 2020
Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Purchase of property in Rosebud County, Montana
signed for the Congregation by
Father Michael Mary and Brother Romuald Marie.
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Our Constitutions call us to preach Missions and also "... to propagate the Faith of Jesus Christ by: Retreats; Spiritual Direction; Perpetual Mission churches; pastoral care of the most abandoned souls living in isolated or forsaken places, even if they be but few in number; the Apostolate of the pen and of Digital Communications;  appropriate apostolates among non-Catholics and non-Christians; working good to all men but especially to those who are of the household of the Faith. (Galatians 6:10)"

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Along with the monastery to be built here, we will build a retreat house to enable the preaching of retreats. It will also provide for private retreats for souls seeking solitude and silence, prayer and rest with the Traditional Latin Mass.

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The property is in a quiet location in Rosebud County within our diocese of Great Falls - Billings. It has its own fresh water well. It is off the grid and powered by a generator and solar panels. There is also a small cabin which will serve as a base when, in God's time and providence, we are in a position to  begin building.
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Our Constitutions direct that for our monastery, we are to live in "a laura of individual separated cells within an enclosure." In simple language this means that each monk will live in a separate cell or hut, and the separate little hermitages would be set out around the monastery chapel and common facilities: library, refectory and common room. It should be a simple enough build. Everything is on ground level and can easily be built in stages. The cells and other buildings would be wooden built on concrete pads.

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The name we have given t the property is: Montana Rosa Mystica.
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The Name is given for the following reasons:
The purchase date was the Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin and the Friday in Embertide. The Gospel of the day was of the Visitation and in Latin the Holy Gospel said: 

Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione.
And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste. 

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Montana was indicated in the Holy Gospel on the day of purchase.
Montana which means hill country perfectly describes the hilly location we have purchased;
Montana is also the name of our State in the United States.
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Rosa Mystica is a title of Our Lady from Her Litany of Loreto which we usually pray twice daily.
Rosa Mystica describes Our Lady as the root of Jesse and the stem from which buds forth the flower Who is Jesus. As the Christmas hymn sings.
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Flos  de radice Jesse 
Est natus hodie;
Quem nobis jam adesse,
Laetamur unice.
Flos ille Jesus est,
Maria Virgo radix
De qua flos ortus est.

A spotless Rose from Jesse
Hath blossomed forth today;
Rejoice ye Christian people
In song and tuneful lay;
Sweet Mary is the stem,
And Jesus is the rosebud,
The Babe of Bethlehem.

Montana Rosa Mystica has three significant associations with the Rose. 
Firstly, the house was established in the diocese on the feast of the Most Holy Rosary. 
Secondly, the consecrated property is situated within Montana's Rosebud county.
Thirdly, the name of the monastery to be built on Montana Rosa Mystica will be:
Monastery of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary Refuge of Sinners. 
The Immaculate Heart of Mary bears upon itself  White, Red and Gold Roses.

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Domain of Montana Rosa Mystica.
Monastery of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary Refuge of Sinners.
The monastery chapel will be named for the Bonnie Prince, the Infant Jesus, Who is the Rosebud the Babe of Bethlehem.

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Until the monastery is built, the community has  received the warm and supportive hospitality of the Parish Priest and Faithful of Jordan Montana. We have been kindly invited to celebrate Traditional Latin  Masses in the parish church every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10.00 a.m. We offer the holy sacrifice on the other days in our basement chapel at Most Holy Rosary House. At present we are four monks here in Montana: Father Michael Mary, Brother Romuald Marie, Brother Alfonso Maria and Father Gerard Maria.

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We are seeking donations towards the building of the monastery at Montana Rosa Mystica.
If you would like to send a contribution please make checks payable to: 
"Transalpine Redemptorists Inc."
and send them to us at our current address which is:

Most Holy Rosary House
1809 Brusett Road
Jordan MT 59337

Your name will be recorded amongst our benefactors for whom we pray daily.
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All of us here in Most Holy Rosary House send you our prayerful greetings in this holy season.

Devotedly in Jesus our love and Mary our hope,
Father Michael Mary, F.SS.R.
Rector Major

Christmas photos

The Bonnie Prince arrived in the United States on 13 December, 2020.
At present the image is enshrined in Most Holy Rosary House.
Already He has received a precious ring. I encourage you to send him tassels, cross-stitched linen, rings, chains and other objects of piety or of value to adorn His shrine.
How often jewellery lies in jewellery boxes unused. Piety often turns these objects into prayers.
Send your gifts to the shrine of the Bonnie Prince.
Jewellery will be fixed into the wood of the shrine as your gift to the Infant Jesus.
Cross-stitched linen, candle sticks and other objects will be exclusively used in His oratory.
Gifts and ex votos will adorn His shrine as purely spiritual offerings.

I look forward to seeing the Bonnie Prince enshrined in the monastery church
in Montana Rosa Mystica.
Reciting the Most Holy Rosary in the basement chapel
before the Blessed Sacrament and the image of the Bonnie Prince.


Altar of the Infant Jesus.
Straw adorns the floor of the basement chapel.
A spotless Rose from Jesse
Hath blossomed forth today;
Rejoice ye Christian people
In song and tuneful lay;
Sweet Mary is the stem,
And Jesus is the rosebud,
The Babe of Bethlehem.

O my Sweetest Love,
I am sorry that I have offended Thee.
I desire to be always faithful in Thy service.
Enkindle in me Thy love.
Make me chaste and holy.
Mary my Mother,
Grant that I may belong entirely to Thee
And to Thy Son Jesus.  -  St Alphonsus.

Photos concerning Montana Rosa Mystica.


32 miles along the US94 from Miles City
take the exit for Rosebud Creek Road.


19.8 miles along the Rosebud Creek Road we turn off
into the Cherry Creek Road.


This is Cherry Creek Road.


Cherry Creek Road continues through the Wild Horse Ranch Subdivision.

Father Gerard Maria opens the gates into
Montana Rosa Mystica.
[SW quarter section of section 32, Township 3N and 44E
of Rosebud County -the technical position.]

Montana - Hill Country


Ponderosa Pines
Wilderness setting for solitude and silence.

Setting for a Laura of cells.


Setting for a solitary retreat cabin. 

A large flat area looking to a distant horizon.

Looking to the original cabin. 
A possible site for the retreat house complex.

Our recreational visit to Montana Rosa Mystica 
21st December, 2020

Ponderosa Pine cones in abundance.

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Flower of Montana - the Flos de Radice Jesse

April 2, 2021, 10:17 pm
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Flower of Montana
Flos de Radice


Dear Friends,
Live Jesus our love and Mary our hope!

In the interests of clarity and concord, I have changed the name of the property we bought in Rosebud County, Montana. 

It was called: “Montana Rosa Mystica”. I have changed it to “Flower of Montana.” The name is simpler in expression, but all is not lost. 

In this case, “Flower” refers to Our Lord who is the Flower of the Root of Jesse. “…And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root…” (Is. 11:1) 

Jesse is the root, Mary is the stem, Jesus is the Flower that buds from the Stem –
“… and Jesus is the Rosebud, the Babe of Bethlehem…” 

With ‘Flower’ we think of ‘Rose’ and by it we intend to commemorate that our Order was planted in the soil of Montana on the feast of the Holy Rosary; that land was bought in the County of Rosebud.

As things worked out, by Providence, the purchase date, December 18 2020 was also Ember Friday before Christmas:
On that day of land purchase, the Gradual of the Holy Mass chanted “…Thou hast blessed Thy land….” 

The Lesson of the Mass was the prophecy of the Flower of Jesse (Is.11:1)“… and a flower shall rise up out of his root…”; 

The Gospel proclaimed that Mary went with haste into “Montana” the hill country. 

It was also the Feast of the Expectation which commemorates Our Lady as the Expectant Mother with Her unborn Child: – Feast of the Virginal Stem and the Rosebud both together, of Most Holy Mary, the God-laden Stem, the Mystical Rose. 

All these nuances we tried to capture in the title Montana Rosa Mystica. In changing the name of the land to Flower of Montana we at least intend to recall the same events with the mystical and sacred mysteries foretold by the Prophet Isaiah.  

Monastery of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary
Refuge of Sinners


The monastery, when it is built, will have its own more important title and focus:
Monastery of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of Sinners.
Our Lady said at Fatima:“My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.” 

Most Important will be the chapel or church. This will be named after the Infant Jesus, but its title is not yet finalised.

I thank Our Blessed Lord for the riches of His Providence in arranging for our religious Order to be planted in Montana on the feast of the Most Holy Rosary and that land was found in the hill country of the Rosebud County. As the Rose planted on the rivers, may the Flower of Montana be received as a fragrant offering to His Glory serving whatever purpose may please His Majesty; that it be a land of obedience and prayer, of humility, chastity and fraternal charity, a little Montana where He is loved above all, loved exceedingly, and loved through the Immaculate Heart His Most Sweet Mother Mary, and our Mother also.

Father Michael Mary, F.SS.R.

Holy Saturday, 2021

Visit to Flower of Montana
February, 2021

Winter Photos.

(Warm weather photos in the posts below.)









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