16 traditional priests together in one place
With Mass Centres and priests spread out accross our huge country it is unusual to see so many priests together in one place. However, for a priests retreat it becomes a reality.
As we know, Canada is a huge country with a small population spread along the North side of the USA border “a mari usque ad mare” – from sea to sea.
We have to face this geographic reality not only in material things, but also within our religious microcosm of Catholics faithful to tradition. It's a matter of fact that most SSPX chapels spread across the country are without a residing priest.
It is therefore quite uncommon to witness a gathering of sixteen priests of the Society of St. Pius X together in one place for a five-day event. So then, what was the special occasion that triggered such a special gathering of our priests?
It was a priestly retreat, given by Fr. Matthew OSB, from the Benedictine Monastery of Bellaigue in France, a religious community friendly to the SSPX. This monastery follows all the good traditions of the Church, in particular the monastic rule drafted by St. Benedict, the father of Western Monastic life.
Before becoming a Benedictine monk, Fr. Matthew used to be a SSPX priest, who laboured in the apostolic field of the SSPX missions of Mexico.
During this five days’ retreat, Fr. Matthew spoke about the importance of the liturgy in the life of a priest. He illustrated this by giving many examples gathered from his years as a missionary priest of the SSPX and as a Benedictine monk.
After giving this retreat in French at our retreat house of St. Césaire, Fr. Matthew is scheduled to preach in English to our fellow English speaking priests at our priory of Langley BC.
Refreshed by these retreats, may God grant that our priests be able to renew their dedication to work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls in the huge field of the apostolate of tradition throughout Canada.
