Franciscan Friars swap at Guadalupe Shrine

LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (September 1, 2015) – The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe announces that Father Louis Maximilian M. Smith, General Delegate of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate in the United States, recently informed His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke that Father Peter M. Fehlner and Friar Joseph M. Schmitzer will soon be transferred away from the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Both Father Peter and Friar Joseph will be transferred to a friary in Griswald, Connecticut, where they will assume new duties. “We are greatly saddened by this news. These beloved friars have faithfully served at the Shrine since the time of the Dedication of the Shrine Church in July 2008, and they will be sorely missed,” said Leif E. Arvidson, Executive Director.

continue at Guadalupe Shrine

Both have been at the Shrine since its foundation.  Two friars are coming to take their places.  This move has been made by the FFI.  Sad news for us in La Crosse, I think we are all very attached to both Fr. Peter and Br. Joseph, they will certainly be missed.

The Catholic Times profiles Brother Joseph Schmitzer, FFI

Since the interview is in PDF, I posted the whole thing here.  
Year of Consecrated Life Q & A:
Brother Joseph Schmitzer, Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate Serving at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse.

Sister Donna: Tell us a little about your background.

Brother Joseph: I am 36 years old and grew up with my eight brothers and sisters in a small town called Logan in Southeastern Ohio. After graduating from high school I spent a number of years working with my father installing and sanding hardwood floors and I did this more or less until the age of 22 when I entered religious life. SD: How did you discover your vocation to be a brother?

BJ: During my time working after high school I read a book called “True Devotion to Mary” by St. Louis de Montfort. It inspired me to consecrate myself to Mary as a way of offering my work to Jesus in the most pleasing way through her hands as His sinless mother.

As I began to live this out I started to notice a conviction growing in my heart that a life of service to God was something that I should look into. The priesthood, however, was not something that I was particularly drawn to as I enjoyed very much working with my hands and had no real desire to go to college. So when I visited some religious communities and discovered that through the brotherhood there was the possibility of committing myself to God in a way that more suited me. I was very happy to follow that path.

SD: What role did your parents and other family members play in your vocation?

BJ: My mom was the spiritual “backbone” of our family and she made sure we all made it to church each Sunday and were involved at our parish. While I have to confess that I didn’t always appreciate her efforts growing up nor did I always hold the Faith as a top priority in my life, her perseverance and good examples planted many seeds which most certainly had their effect in my eventual decision to put Christ at the center of my life and follow Him as a religious.

SD: What drew you to the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, and how long have you been a brother?

BJ: I was drawn, in particular, to the FFI because of their fourth vow of Consecration to Our Lady. By this vow we give ourselves as a community to Mary as her possession and property, asking her to use us in whatever way she wants for the Kingdom of her Son and to transform us into His image. This vow is the base on which our other vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience are observed–all with, in, and through the Immaculate for the greatest possible glory of God. As I was looking into religious life I was already trying to live out this kind of Marian Spirituality from the influence of “True Devotion to Mary” so the ideal of the FFI made me feel right at home. I have been a brother now for 13 years and my final vows were made in 2007. While the life of a brother in our order is in many ways similar to the priests because we all observe the same schedule and community life, most of our work involves the practical needs of the Friary and of the apostolates while theirs is more generally occupied with administering the sacraments, studying, giving spiritual direction, etc.

During my time as a brother I have been a cook (It must not have been too bad as they kept me on for five years), worked maintenance, coordinated Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, taught Catechism and Apologetic classes, and performed sacristy work as I am now at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I have also been involved in some internet and computer projects.

Fra. Angelo: State of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate

Fr Angelo at 2011 Marian Symposium

In the interest of full disclosure, I love the FFI and pray for the friars I know daily by name.

I suspected that Fr. Angelo was one of the friars who appealed for intervention.  This is the first time he publicly admitted such.  I thought Fr. Angelo had written some good pieces on the topic of traditionalism vs. tradition.  It's along the lines of something Michael Matt talked about a while back asking what is this whole "tradition-minded" thing versus "traditionalist."  At any rate, there's distinctions to be made along those lines, but the point is Fr. Angelo was planning on publishing a book on the topic but it seemed to go by the wayside after the intervention began, and perhaps a sign of the struggles within the FFI.

I am one of the original five friars who appealed to the Holy See concerning the problems within our Institute. I mention this in the interests of full disclosure.

State of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate(full article there is a must read on the topic)

I do not ask the Friars at the Guadalupe Shrine anything on the topic of the visitation; I am on the outside looking in like everyone else.  Because Fr. Peter Fehlner wrote the forward to Fr. Angleo's book, I have assumed it would be a fair assumption that he also felt a visitation was needed for the order.

Also you may have seen that the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate have now been placed under visitation.  

For the most part I have not posted on this topic much(I guess this is probably my first time commenting at length).  I have appreciated efforts of the Rorate Caeli blog covering the story, and although Fr. Angleo has stated that it's a personal matter to the FFI and Rorate should butt out and quit stirring up the masses, I am one of the faithful whom go to the Friars for instruction and sacraments, so I don't feel like it's idle gossip or war mongering to try to learn the facts.  I mean, to have a religious order charge with "crypto-lefebvrian and definitely traditionalist drift" has so many implications it's hard to imagine why such a vague and quite frankly a non-criminal charge was brought.  Calling a religious a "crypto-lefebvrian" is like calling an American a "closet-communist."

Okay, so Father Angelo has posted details on why the visitation was called for and the current state.  The visitation was called for in January of 2012, one year before the resignation of Pope Benedict in 2013(I think an important point to note).  The list of grievances "definitely" brought forth at that time:

1. the authoritarian implementation of Summorum Pontificum,
2. the manipulation of the General Chapter of 2008 in this regard,
3. the traditionalist drift in the seminary and apostolic work,
4. our association with known sympathizers of the traditionalist movement,
5. the arbitrary character of the government of the Institute and absence of any mechanism to address this problem,
6. the ways in which all these problems had been affecting the formation program,
7. the influence of the former Mother General of the Sisters on the Founder,
8. and the increasingly radicalized character of the sisters’ community.

Number 4 seems to be an indication of a relationship with the SSPX or its members, although still at issue is what constitutes "traditionalist."  In this context, "traditionalist" seems to essentially equate to the SSPX.  But we can see that it was this original intervention that also lead to the recent intervention on the Franciscan Sisters (but honestly, I had assumed the intervention was all along on both orders considering their relationship).

And I guess this is what it boils down to, indeed an incredibly hefty charge, Fr Angelo states that the FFI founder,  Fr. Stefano M. Manelli,  directed the Friars to support a hermeneutic of rupture - or that specifically the Vatican II Council is fundamentally flawed and cannot be read within the tradition of the Church - and later claims the use of "every Machiavellian tactic" to suppress opposition.

The author presumes to suggest that the Founder and the friars who support him advocate the “hermeneutic of continuity” taught by Benedict XVI, when, in fact, under the Founder’s direction our Institute became one of principle instruments of the traditionalist movement in Italy to undermine the authority of that same hermeneutic.

Anywho, I'd highly recommend reading the article to those following the situation.

The order seems on the road to a definite split.  

Cardinal Burke walks out of Rome Summorum Pontificum conference after Pope Francis criticized

Finally, Sandro Magister gave his contribution as a lecture on which Katholisches.info already reported (see separate report Pope Francis and the Liturgy - "Pure Functional Access" Reservations to Tradition, weakness in the knees before the Lord ). Master analyzed in a critical manner, the previous decisions of Pope Francis in the Liturgy: The ban for celebration in the old rite by the Franciscans of the Immaculate, the dismissal of all five consultants for the Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, who were close to the liturgical understanding of Benedict XVI., the refusal to genuflect in the Holy Mass at the words of consecration, although from papal Mass to papal Mass always newly master of ceremonies Guido Marini always included the two relevant points and finally the halting by CDF, that they no longer check the bizarre special forms in the Mass of the Neocatechumenal Way, as Benedict XVI. had ordered. Magister has also expressed the opinion that the Pope is "friendly" to everyone, "except with the traditionalists."

"Scandal Currently The Dominant Characteristic of Climate in Rome"
The lecture finally came to a scandal. Magister so openly expressed his criticism of Pope Francis, that Cardinal Burke and Archbishop Pozzo had to leave the room. “The response of Cardinal Burke and Archbishop Pozzo is indicative of the currently prevailing climate in Rome,” the website Chiesa e Postconcilio (Church and Post-Conciliar). “Was it because of the time for both of them or was it simply a precaution, because of the polite but harsh criticism by Magister of Pope Francis? The withdrawal of a Cardinal during a major event is something glaring. All interpretations are allowed, “said the Spanish Catholic blogger Francisco de la Cigoña.

details at Eponymous

HT Fr. Z

Photo

Taylor Marshall on the Franciscans of the Immaculate situation

Father Stefano Manelli

Pope Francis has instructed that the Franciscans of the Immaculate may not celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. No more Latin Mass for the FIs – without permission.

Readers of my blog know that I am an associate member of the Franciscan of the Immaculate’s MIM. I’ve been a fan of the Franciscans of the Immaculate for awhile now.

So what’s going on?

The order’s founder is Father Stefano Manelli. He is a man known for his sanctity. He received his first Holy Communion from Padre Pio in 1938. He is also the author of one of my favorite books on Mary, Devotion to Our Lady. I give out copies of this book.

Over time Father Manelli has gravitated toward the Latin Mass of 1962, the Latin Breviary of 1961, and to Msgr. Brunero Gherardini’s reading of Vatican II.

Here is my subjective, non-authoritative, outsider’s interpretation of the facts:

continue at Canterbury Tales

Yep, go read, great post.  

Also this: Vatican Insider Interview with FI Spokesman

Pope Francis severly restricts/bans Friars of the Immaculate from saying the TLM

All the details are at Rorate: IMPORTANT: Pope Francis severely restricts the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate from celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass, imposes the Novus Ordo on all their priests
UPDATE: FULL TEXT OF THE DECREE that abrogates Summorum for the FFI 

Sandro Magister's latest column (For the First Time, Francis Contradicts Benedict) has the details.

The total ban on the Mass begins August 11th of this year. 

HT Andrea & Creative Minority

My "home parish" (Guadalupe Shrine is not a parish) is staffed with the Friars who celebrate the Traditional Mass.

I have no idea what this means at this point.  But if everything indicated is true, it appears that the fears of this pontificate were indeed well founded.  Why he is "picking on" the Friars is unclear as well. 

This comes on the heels of this: Cardinal Burke sees ‘perfect continuity’ between Popes Benedict, Francis in liturgical teaching

And this:
First EF Solemn Masses at Franciscan Friary in Griswold, Connecticut

especially this:

Readers may also be interested to know that the friars will be switching over to the usus antiquior beginning this Ash Wednesday as their primary form of the Roman liturgy.

UPDATE: Fra. Angelo has thoughts on the matter.

The restrictions on our community are specific to us and have been put in place for reasons specific to us.  Pope Francis has not contradicted Pope Benedict.  The visitation of our community began under Pope Benedict and the Commission was recommended by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz who was appointed to the Congregation by Pope Benedict.

UPDATE 2: Hmmmm...   Rorate makes this note and I assume he means our dear Father Angelo

Rorate has learned from its own sources that the "internal dissidents" were led by an American member of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate who was notable for his opposition and hostility to the any criticism of Vatican II, in direct contrast to the Italian friars of the FFI, many of whom adhered to the "Gherardini line" of loyal but unflinching criticism of at least some elements of the Conciliar documents.

UPDATE 3: Fr. Z has comments on the situation

Friars of the Immaculate are these guys:


This is terrifying.

The Blessed Virgin Mary; The Helper in Childbirth

While there is only one Virgin Mary, scholars have catalogued more than 1,100 distinct icons of the Mother of God. Spread out in front of us, it is difficult to understand why there are so many. In their variety, we wonder if they all could possibly represent the same historical individual? Every icon represents a different part of Our Lady, emphasizing specific facets of her life, personality, and intercession. Despite the multiplicity of her icons, no single image has captured her fullness or proven adequate.

Some icons are named for shrines and places where miraculous events occurred, like the Virgin of Vladimir, a city in Russia. Some are titled with words of praise, like the icon called “Life-Giving Spring” or “All Creation Rejoices in Thee”. Other icons are titled after our own needs, and testify to Our Lady’s intercession. We know of icons called “The Mother of God, Confidence of Sinners”, or “She Who Soothes My Sorrows”, or the very beautiful and famous icon called “Perpetual Help”.

This icon of the Mother of God is called “The Helper in Childbirth“. The first prototypes of this icon appeared in Western Russia, in the early 19th century. It was made for a very practical and urgent need – the difficulties in conceiving and giving birth.

continue at Griswold Friars

Looks like photos of the icon are not for sale, only public veneration at the Friary in Connecticut.

HT LC

Friars!

The Pinoy Catholic blog is reporting the Solemn Pontifical Mass of a Filipino Ordinary in his own diocesan cathedral:

"Easter Monday, April 25, 2011. The Ordinary of the Diocese of Novaliches, Most. Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, D.D., celebrated a Solemn Pontifical High Mass at the throne, according to the 1962 Missal promulgated by Bl. Pope John XXIII (the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite), in the Cathedral Shrine and Parish of the Good Shepherd, the seat of his diocese. It was the first Extraordinary Form Mass ever celebrated in the Cathedral.

The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate assisted in the Mass.

New Liturgical Movement