All are invited to a special community event at the Oratory

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.

Wednesday Evening from 7:30-8:30 PM in the Oratory Hall

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.
  

On May 17, after the 10 AM Mass, we are honored to welcome Mr. Mark Scott Abeln, who will be on hand to present and autograph his brand new book, Catholic St. Louis, A Pictorial History. Mr. Abeln has generously donated the net profit of books sold on this occasion to The Friends of St. Francis de Sales, Inc. We are grateful for Mr. Abeln’s generosity, and also for this excellent undertaking which illustrates and preserves the history of the Catholic Church in St, Louis. Everyone is cordially invited to come meet Mr. Abeln after Mass, and to purchase a signed copy of his book ($32.95) to benefit the Oratory’s restoration effort.

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 Date: Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

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.