Immediately after the 10 AM Mass in honor of King Saint Louis, the patron saint of our city and Archdiocese, the festivities will begin on the grounds of St. Francis de Sales.

In addition to the wonderful food and refreshments, country market, games and prizes, this year’s new attractions include horse rides and a dunking booth!

The Silent Auction this year features many more wonderful items from many generous supporters.  All proceeds will benefit the restoration of St. Francis de Sales.  Among the many excellent offerings up for auction this year are:

Dinner with the Canons           Afternoon with the Abbè              Tea Luncheon for 8 guests

Tax Service                                   St. Louis Symphony tickets           Six Flags tickets

Kemp Auto Museum                 Museum of Transportation           Two Mike’s Catering gift certificate

Hodak’s                                           St. Andrews Missal                           Niche Restaurant gift certificate

Wine Gift Baskets                        Fontanini Nativity Scene               Uncle Bill’s Pancake House

Benton Park Cafè                        Barbeque Grilling Basket                Echert’s Restaurant Gift Certificate

Women’s Purses                         Embroidered Agnus Dei Picture  

O’Connell’s Pub                           Gus Pretzel’s                                         Drury Inn Gift Certificate

Breakfast Basket                         Civil War doll                                      American Girl Doll

And many others…

Weeks of planning culminated on a bright sunny day. By Sunday morning, the empty courtyard bounded by the rectory, the church and the convent had been transformed into a festive little piazza. A large covered tent provided a cozy outdoor room for visitors to shared their meals and visit. Against the brick backdrop of the buildings were various booths set up for games and prizes, a country market, “cake walk,” silent auctions, live jazz band, and, most important of all: the Bar-B-Q stand and the refreshment station.

The crowd poured into this outdoor festival as soon as Mass ended, ready for lunch and an afternoon of family fun. Smiling faces of all vintages soon filled the festive scene.  Until 7:00 PM, this celebration in honor of King Saint Louis, patron saint of the city of St. Louis, rolled through the summer heat, lubricated by live jazz music, plenty of cold beer, a full menu of quintessential summer foods, friendly conversations, and terrific deals from the country market and the auctions.

Friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory is deeply indebted to many volunteers who organized and ran this great community-building event, especially to the young adults who helped in various ways throughout the day. We are also grateful for the many individuals and businesses who provided auction and raffle items and donated the proceeds to the restoration effort. In particular, we wish to thank:

~ Business Contributors to the Silent Auction ~

Two Mikes Catering ~ JoAnn’s Greenhouses, Inc. ~ Five Bistro ~Niche ~ Catholic Embroidery ~ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra ~ Kakao Chocolate ~ O’Connell’s Pub ~ Vin de Set Rooftop Bar & Bistro ~ St. Theodosia’s Icon Shop ~ V.J. Coffee & Tea Co. ~ Quincy Medical Group ~ Monk Rock ~ Moonbeams ~ Bommarito Estate Winery ~ Vincentian Press Catholic Books & Gifts ~ Square One Brewer & Distillery ~ Papa Murphy’s (O’Fallon, IL) ~ Chris’ Pancake & Dining ~ Phil’s Sewing Machines ~ Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar ~ Gus’ Pretzels ~ FirstWatch ~ Cornucopia

 ~ Groups and Individuals ~

Knights of Columbus, Council #14067 , Knights of Columbus Council 14067 Ladies Auxiliary, Benevolent Society,  Mothers of the Visitation, St. Francis de Sales Co-Op, Gardening Committee

Mr. and Mrs. Brandwein, Mr. and Mrs. Breidecker, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton & Family, Patricia Cornell, Mr. and Mrs. Haller & Family, Mr. and Mrs. Hayworth & Family, Mr. and Mrs. Holland & Family, Larry and Elaine Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt & Family, Mr. and Mrs. Serafino & Family, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Stephens, Kathy Voss, Dr. and Mrs. Zivnuska, Natalie Zivnuska

The following photos courtesy of C. Unseth:

Come – one and all, and invite all your friends and family for a festive afternoon! 

In addition to being a fun event for the whole family – with music, games, a quilt raffle, country market, and great food and drinks, there will be terrific auction items available to benefit the restoration effort at St. Francis de Sales Oratory. For more information, contact the Oratory at (314) 771-3100.

Here’s a preview of two (of many!) auction offerings:   

The St. Louis Cardinals are up against the New York Mets this Sunday, April 18, at the Busch Stadium.  The game starts at 7:05 PM, with a good possibility of Adam Wainright pitching.

Once again, the Oratory has received from a generous benefactor 20 luxury suite tickets for our fundraising effort. For a great view of the game in the most comfortable surroundings (“Infield Field Box”), the tickets are bargain-priced at only $50 each. (Food and drink are not included.)

There are only 20 tickets. Please call the Oratory at 314-771-3100 as soon as possible to purchase your tickets. Make checks payable to “Friends of St. Francis de Sales, Inc.”

All proceeds benefit the Oratory’s restoration effort.

Come out and support the Cardinals and the Oratory this Sunday!

What can you do to:

1) Support the Cardinals at Busch Stadium (a great American Tradition),

2) Support the St. Francis de Sales Oratory (a great Catholic Tradition), and,

3) Have fun?

Friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory cordially invite you to join us to watch the St. Louis Cardinals take on the LA Dodgers on Monday, July 27, at 6:10 pm.

For a minimum donation of $100, this special vantage point from the luxury suite comes with convenience and comfort: restroom facilities and big screen TV for replays. Thanks to a generous donor, the Oratory has 20 tickets for Monday night’s game against the Dodgers, currently the National League West Division leader. Another generous donor has provided a superb weather forecast (Monday only), making either indoor or outdoor seating a great way to spend a summer evening with Friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory.

Please reserve your spot by calling the Oratory as soon as possible (314) 771-3100.

Come experience the oratory ~ support the Oratory ~ celebrate our common rich heritage

The city of St. Louis has a regal connection which goes back to the year 1297, when King Louis IX was proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church. By naming the new city after Saint Louis, the early settlers placed their new community under the patronage of a great king and saint. It is a tribute to their hopes and dreams that they wished to appropriate the saintly attributes for themselves and all future residents of this emerging city, and that they wished to ask for the saint’s intercessory prayers and protection.

The feast day of King St. Louis, the patron saint of our city, is August 25. It is customary, just as it was for the early French explorers and settlers, to reflect on the qualities which make a saint a saint, and to make a festive celebration on his feast day.

On the weekend of August 22^nd , we at St. Francis de Sales Oratory invite everyone to join us in a celebration to honor King St. Louis and to introduce all comers to the Oratory.

Only a few years ago the Oratory was in danger of being closed and razed to the ground. Thanks to the vision of Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, the church and the surrounding campus with several buildings were preserved and entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest so that it may bring new life to the church and neighborhood. A return to the best elements of tradition – family, genuine friendship, respect for cultural history, and religious values – is the motivation for our efforts here. St. Francis de Sales was once a center of both religious and social life for its members, and it is again.

On Saturday, August 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m, in celebration of this occasion, we are bringing back to life a tradition of festive summer bazaars and sizzling barbecues. The courtyard between the Church and the school will be transformed into a garden setting. Activities for children (face painting, clowns, games, etc.) and adults (silent auctions) will be held, while hourly drawings will be held for “attendance prizes.” A variety of refreshments will be served, including the Knights’ famous barbecue. The music group Jazzwind will entertain in the courtyard.

On Sunday, August 23, the External Solemnity of St. Louis of France, after the 10:00 Mass, the Knights will again be in the courtyard between the church and the school, serving their barbecue. Organ recitals inside the Church, as well as music from Jazzwind outside, will be performed.

In support of the Oratory’s on-going restoration efforts, your generous support of this endeavor will be greatly appreciated.

In a letter of instructions left by King St. Louis to his son Philip, he wrote, “If the Lord bestows upon you any kind of prosperity, thank him humbly and see that you become no worse for it, either though vain pride or anything else, because you ought not to oppose God or offend him in the matter of his gifts. Be kindhearted to the poor, the unfortunate and the afflicted. Give them as much help and consolation as you can. Thank God for all the benefits he has bestowed upon you, that you may be worthy to receive greater.”

Come join us, get to know us, and together, let’s honor the patron saint of St. Louis.

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales cordially welcome Professor Howell, and cordially invite all faithful at the Oratory and their friends to hear Professor Howell’s presentation on “Corpus Christi: How and Why the Church Celebrates the Eucharist.”

This presentation will take place on Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2009.

At the Oratory, the Feast of Corpus Christi will be celebrated on Thursday, June 11, 2009, and as an External Solemnity on Sunday, June 14, 2009, with a Solemn High Mass and Eucharistic Procession.

Corpus Christi Mass times:  Thursday at 8 AM (Low Mass), and 6:30 PM (Solemn High Mass); Sunday at 8 AM (Low Mass) and 10 AM (Solemn High Mass with procession.)

Notes

Dr. Howell is a noted professor of theology currently teaching at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has written numerous books and articles on various subjects related to the Faith, notably on science and religion. His articles and columns have appeared in the popular apologetics magazine “This Rock.” The subject of his current research and anticipated new publications is the Holy Eucharist, a recurring theme in many of his previous works.

Corpus Christi is Latin for “Body of Christ.” The institution of this feast by Pope Urban IV dates back to 1264. St. Thomas Aquinas’ hymns composed specifically for this feast (e.g. Pange lingua, Tantum ergo) have since become well-loved main staple in the Church’s liturgical celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.

The origin of this feast and its theological implications are specifically Roman Catholic, and as such, have been especially appreciated by those who are drawn into the Roman Catholic Church by the love of the Holy Eucharist.

Dr. Howell was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1978. For 18 years, he ministered as a pastor and instructor of theology and biblical exegesis. The study of “the Last Supper” and his subsequent study of the Catholic understanding of the Holy Eucharist played a pivotal role in his decision to be received into the Roman Catholic Church.

June 3^rd – July 29^th

St. Francis de Sales Oratory and its Director for Sacred Music, Mr. Nick Botkins, are pleased to announce a nine-week course in Gregorian chant for beginners. The lessons will be offered once a week on Wednesday evening from 7:30-8:30 PM in the Oratory hall. The course runs from June 3^rd to July 29^th. Information brochure is available by contacting the Oratory (314) 771-3100.

Goal of This Course

The goal of this course is to teach beginners to sing chant, and to become well-acquainted with three different settings of the Mass that the Church has suggested for use throughout the year. These settings include: Mass XI Orbis factor (Post-Pentecost), Mass IV Cunctipotens genitor Deus, and Mass IX Cum jubilo (for Feasts of the Blessed Virgin).

Other material to be covered will include:

• The responses of the faithful
• Sprinkling Antiphon Asperges Me
• Te Deum
• Hymns for Benediction
• Seasonal Marian antiphons
  

Participants will be exposed to Gregorian chant notation (a.k.a. square notes), and brief explanations will be made regarding this notation.

Who May Attend?

Any lay people who are interested in learning about Gregorian Chant and are willing sing it at Mass is welcome. This course is designed for the beginner, thus no prior experience in Gregorian chant or Church Latin is necessary, but the ability to carry a tune will be helpful.

Faithful of the Oratory, as well as visitors from parishes are welcome. Clergy and seminarians are also welcome, if they wish to learn the above mentioned material. Participants are encouraged to bring friends to introduce them to this form of sacred music.

Course Material

Copies of all music will be provided. Please provide your own one-inch binder, and a pencil for making notes during class.

Date, Time, Location of Lessons

These lessons will be held every Wednesday evening in the Oratory Hall, beginning on June 3^rd. Each lesson will last between 45 and 60 minutes, and will begin promptly at 7:30 PM, so please be punctual. There will be time to socialize before and after each lesson. Mr. Botkins will be available to answer any question you may have regarding the course material.

Throughout the nine-week course, all participants are encouraged to attend the High Masses at the Oratory, on Sundays or feast days, to practice what they have learned.

How to Register

Send an e-mail to Mr. Nick Botkins (nbotkins@institute-christ-king.org), and please indicate your name, phone number, parish, and level of singing experience.

Fee

These lessons are offered free of charge to both diocesan parishioners and faithful of the Oratory. Donations are welcome, and will be directed towards the restoration effort.

Experienced Choristers & Musicians Who Know Chant

You are most welcome to join one of the Gregorian scholas at St. Francis de Sales Oratory:

• Gentlemen’s Schola rehearses Saturday morning from 9:15 – 10:30.
  
• Ladies’ Schola rehearses Thursday evening from 5:15- 6:30.
  

Review of the Book

Catholic St. Louis: A Pictorial History by William Barnaby Faherty S.J., with photography by Mark Abeln (Reedy Press, 2009) has just been published.  It is a collaborative effort between a noted historian of St. Louis, Fr. William Faherty, S.J., and a noted native photographer and blogger, Mr. Mark Scott Abeln (“Rome of the West,” www.romeofthewest.com).

The narrative of Fr. Faherty in this book is typical of his other works on the history of Catholic St. Louis: factual and colorful interweaving of people and events which filled the quintessential American immigration story of the Nineteenth Century. The photographic artistry of Mr. Abeln is also typical of his many published works on the Internet: technically superb, and artistically provocative.

This collaboration proves the inadequacy of the cliché, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” While each of Mr. Abeln’s color photographs illustrates beautifully various St. Louis area churches, the collection of these photos, taken as a whole, says far more than the sum of its parts. When combined with a historical narrative, the synergistic result is an account of a people who formed the rich fabric of St. Louis society.

The history of St. Louis is Catholic Americana at its very best.  It is a story featuring a cast of characters who sequentially dominated the St. Louis scene for more than a century, and left their individual marks on the building of America – from frontier schools and  hospitals to universities. It is also a story of the Universal Church at its best.  Although they came from many lands in Europe – France, Belgium, Ireland, and Germany, they shared one common frame of reference: the Church.

Mr. Abeln’s photography of the edifices of faith illustrates beautifully the complex diversity of St. Louis’ people and their past. More than that, his photography captures a sense of the sacred which is the essence of Catholic architecture.

By its nature, most Catholic churches, particularly those of past centuries, are photogenic. Tradition, form, and function have always combined to express an other-worldly beauty.  Mr. Abeln’s selection of subjects illustrates more; he is able to bring forth dignity and beauty to show a truism: a Roman Catholic church is never empty, even when it is devoid of human presence. In addition to architectural details, the depictions include many solemnly decorated altars, stained-glass windows, side altars, and statues. The Real Presence is always accompanied by saints and angels – visibly represented by the statues and stained-glass representations, and invisibly by the collective consciousness of Catholic tradition. The collection of photographs manages to show this.

In this collection of photographs, there emerges an additional element which is not easily captured on paper. Through these beautifully composed photographs of sacred space, Mr. Abeln is able to show a dignity which beckons – an irresistible invitation to go visit the actual place, to be near the real altar, thus giving a new meaning to the American evangelical protestant term “altar call.” In contemplating these images, the reader gets the sense that, indeed, the Altar calls.

This book may be enjoyed on several levels: as a pictorial record of St. Louis’ rich Catholic history, or, with quiet contemplation, as a reminder to all Catholics that there are sacred spaces, likely inside our own neighborhood parish church, where we will find peace and solace.

The Time: 7:15 pm

The Game: St. Louis Cardinals vs Philadelphia Phillies

The Oratory has terrific tickets. Who’s coming?

The Cardinals are back for four home games next week, starting with the Phillies on Monday and Tuesday. A generous benefactor has provided the Oratory with 15 seats in a luxury suite at Busch Stadium for Tuesday night’s game against the Phillies, last year’s World Series Champion.

For a minimum donation of $100 per ticket, you and your companions will see the Cardinals resume their home game advantage from a luxurious vantage point. In addition to comfortable indoor and outdoor seating, the luxury suite includes a big screen TV to see the replays, as well as convenient restroom facilities (a bonus during the flu season).

Come support the Oratory and enjoy a great evening with friends and family in a venerable American tradition – at the ball game!

To reserve your tickets, please contact the Oratory as soon as possible. Call (314) 771-3100 and ask for Jon Roche or Dana Cole, or email sfds@institute-christ-king.org, and arrange payment by check made out to ”The Friends of St. Francis de Sales, Inc.”

The occasion was none other than the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the dedication of this church, and the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales was packed to standing-room only last Sunday, the 23rd of November.  An estimated 1,200 souls came to assist at the Pontifical Solemn High Mass celebrated by the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Bishop Robert Hermann. 

This magnificent church, now an Oratory administered by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest was completed and dedicated for sacred use on November 26, 1908. One hundred years later, in his sermon Bishop Hermann pointed out the Oratory as a treasure for the whole Archdiocese, with the verticality of its architecture and its liturgy, and with the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales.

“We are not drawn to God by iron chains, but by sweet attractions and holy inspirations,” wrote St. Francis de Sales (d.1622), affectionately known as the “Gentleman Saint,” a Doctor of the Church, and the patron saint of this church.  The splendid liturgy on Sunday was a perfect illustration of “sweet attractions and holy inspirations” meant by St. Francis de Sales, and the “verticality” spoken of by the Bishop. The same liturgy did for us last Sunday as it did for the congregation of one hundred years ago: it lifted our gaze and expanded our hearts upward, toward things eternal and toward God.   

If the interior walls of the Oratory could proclaim, they would echo from memory that the architecture, the music, and the liturgy were harmoniously integrated as they were one hundred years ago. The magnificent “Messe Solennelle” of Charles Gounod, late 19th century composer, reverberated as a soaring anthem of worship to God, and was a perfect adornment to a Pontifical Mass. Over sixty musicians, forty of them orchestra members as well as a full choir and three soloists contributed to this majestic offering of temporal prayer to God. 

As a tribute to the original community of faithful who built and worshipped at this church a century earlier, the Mass was followed by the Kirchweifest in the church hall, with a bounteous feast of German food: bratwurst, sauerbraten, applesauce, potatoes, cole slaw, red cabbage, and a dessert of Black Forest cake. 

Well over 500 guests were served by the current diverse community of the faithful at the Oratory, which includes numerous families with young children. The warmth and vibrancy of the community were evident everywhere. For example, the cakes were made and donated by some members of the Oratory, who vied for prizes in a contest for the best-tasting cake. A large ice sculpture of the church was on display, commissioned by the caterers, Two Mikes Catering, on this occasion assisted by several members of the Knights of Columbus. 

And with an eye toward the future and the work ahead, on view were architectural drawings for the proposed reconstruction of a theater in the former grammar school, a project involving several students of Washington University. 

Were you there last Sunday, you would have seen a seamless continuum of past traditions which serve as the foundation of community life in the present, and the anchor for the community’s hope for the future. 

Were you not there last Sunday, you are cordially invited to visit the Oratory and join in the restoration effort, since the object of preservation is not only a magnificent Gothic edifice, but a cornerstone in the vibrant community life of St. Louis.

Dear friends and faithful of St. Francis de Sales,

Every church is a gateway to heaven. St. Francis de Sales, now an Oratory of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, shows clearly that those who sacrificed their time and material goods for its construction wanted this sacred edifice to be a visible door to the eternal glory of the Most High. The “Cathedral of South St. Louis” is an imposing sign of God’s presence in the City of St. Louis, and, together with the beautiful liturgy it serves, forms a spiritual and artistic landmark radiating far over the borders of this important American metropolis. St. Francis Oratory is a beacon of faith and culture for St. Louis and for the entire nation.

It is with deepest gratitude that the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, its Prior General Msgr. Gilles Wach, and all our priests and seminarians thank Holy Providence and the Archbishop of Saint Louis for the invitation to take care of this magnificent building so that it will offer “Tradition for Tommorrow.” Also in the name of our Prior General, I thank my confreres at the Oratory for their incessant efforts for this restoration project, and I thank all of you for your dedication and generosity. On this 100th anniversary of the consecration of this most impressive house of God, we shall approach our coming tasks with renewed enthusiasm and a fervent spirit of prayer and sacrifice. Our generosity will be once more the beginning of a huge success, and, at the same time, the base of many graces and blessings.

All the faithful of St. Francis de Sales Oratory, its generous benefactors and all its friends are included in my prayers on this important occasion. I encourage you to collaborate with the Institute of Christ the King to make St. Francis de Sales Oratory visibly again what it really is: a dwelling for the Blessed Trinity, and thus a gateway to heaven for us all.

Yours very gratefully in Christ the King,

Msgr. R. Michael Schmitz
Vicar General and Provincial for the US

Please inform your family and friends of this noble endeavor and TraditionForTomorrow.com, and stay tuned to this blog for the latest information about the restoration project.