Showing posts with label Msgr. Gilles Wach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Msgr. Gilles Wach. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Record Number of New Entrants in the Seminary of the Old Rite Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

(Gricigliano)  The Institute of Christ the King and Sovereign Priest has shown a record number of new entrants to the institute's own seminary.  The new year shows 20 candidates, who will begin their academic year 2012/2013.  Msgr Micheal Schmitz offered this in the November Letter of the Institute.

The Institute of Christ the King and Sovereign Priest, canonically instituted in 1990 is a society of Apostolic and Papal right.  The founder is the Champagne, France born priest Gilles Wach.  He was responsible for clerical professions of the priestly society Opus Sacerdotal founded in Lourdes in 1964, who during the confused post-Conciliar period seeked to strengthen an unabbreviated continuation of the faith under the motto Doctrina, Fortitudo, Pietas.

The Way of Traditional Priestly Formation -- Once to Africa and Back

In the 80s of the previous century Msgr Gilles Wach found himself incardinated in the Archdiocese of then Archbishop of Genoa, Giuseppe Cardinal Siri in Italy, as the situation in French seminaries was no longer satisfactory to ensure a priestly formation with the significance of Catholic Tradition.  After a call for help to the former Prefect of the Congregation of Faith, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, and the then emeritus Prefect of the Congregation of Clergy, Silvio Cardinal Oddi, it came to the founding of a new society which was obligated to offer the Tridentine Mass in 1988.

The canonical recognition of the Society of Apostolic Life followed in 1990 through the then Bishop of Moil in Gabun, because of the difficulties then for communities connected to Tradition.  Msgr Cyraique-Simeon Obama had been a student of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in Libreville.  Since then, Msgr Wach became General Prior of the Institute.

Establishment of the General House of the Priestly Seminary in Gricigliano

With the help of Augustinus Cardinal Mayer OSB structures were found in Tuscany which were lent by the Benedictine Abbey of Fontgambault.  In 1991 the then Archbishop of Florence, Silvano Cardinal Piovanelli published the necessary decree for the foundation of a General House and a priestly seminary for the Institute.  Thus the new society could come from Africa to Europe and settle in the small town of Pontassieve in the Archdiocese of Florence.  In Gricigliano, a part of the city is located the Gernal House and the Seminary of St. Philipp Neri of the Institute.  Since then the Institute has experienced enormous growth.

The Institute numbers 61 priests, six deacons and more than 80 seminarians.  Msgr Wach found important support in the building of a community which brings the Institute to the German speaking areas.  The settlement of the German District of the Institute is located in Bavarian, Gmain.  The Institute follows the form of Choirmasters and Monastic Scholars.

The 2008 Recognition of the Soceity of Apostolic and Papal Right

In 2006 the Institute established the Heart of Jesus Society as a lay association of the faithful for the spiritual support of the Institute.  In 2008 the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest was recognized by the Papal Commission Ecclesia Dei as a Society of Apostolic Life and Papal Right.  The Institute celebrated the Holy Mass and cared for the Liturgy of the Hours completely in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.  A female branch of contemplative sisters also belongs to the community.

The Mission of the Institute of Christ the King and Sovereign Priest  " is the honor of God and the sanctification of priests in the service of the Church and souls. Its specific aim is missionary: to spread the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ in all spheres of human life. Our work is carried out under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception, to Whom the Institute is consecrated."

Link to Katholisches...