Guest Book
For Christmas, I bought my husband a copy of the standing desk calendar available from the Institute of Christ the King. I have never seen a calendar like it. Every page in color, it has photos that are not commonly available . January 9, shows a picture of Cardinal Silvio Oddi arriving in Gricigliano in the 1990s to offer Mass. Another page for January 11 has a rare snowstorm picture of the Institute seminary. Each page sports an added keepsake, a quote from one of the Institute's patron saints. January 10's quote from St. Francis de Sales is one that I will try to commit to memory because it has always been a favorite: "Be at Peace and put aside all anxiety. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it." This quote is a daily consolation!
It is amazing how many angels are in the Cathedral of the South side, St. Francis de Sales. There are angels on the altar rails, angels on the stations of the cross, angels on the ceilings, and angels in the stained glass windows. The best angels are the ones ( I count 33 of them in total) in the beautiful altar piece behind the altar. My favorites are cherub heads (8 of them) that are under the arch above the pointed roof of the tabernacle. They are a bit hidden and you must look hard for them from the communion rail. Any visitor to search them out will not be disappointed!
Last year we were present for Christmas Midnight Mass at St. Francis de Sales. The crib scene was so lovely and a welcome change from our west county parish, that has eliminated the creche in church for a much smaller version put in the vestibule where all the parishioners talk loudly after masses. This was sad for me and I was grateful to see SFdSales solemn reverence for the large crib at Midnight Mass. The best surprise was the great privilege all mass goers had in privately venerating the precious relic of the Holy Crib after mass. Christmas 2008 will be forever held dear to me also since the solemn high mass hosted StL Symphony Orchestra instrumentation during the stirringly sung Mozart Mass and carols . How could we feel any closer to heaven here on earth? (Too bad we had to wait during the half hour ride home before we could have our hot chocolate. )
We have been attending the Immaculate Conception Novena of masses and found it to be like a retreat. Thanks for selecting wonderful homilists during these nine days. The new little transcept organ really adds to the Advent liturgies as well as the litany processions.
We toured the Oratory a week ago. What a maginificent church! I can't believe they even thought of tearing it down at one point. It needs a lot of TLC to restore its original beauty though.
This is good news: These new members of the board bring competence and new ideas. I know that Canon Wiener made good friends of the Institute in the Bay Area. Let's all work together here in St. Louis to create another island of faith, liturgical solemnity and spiritual beauty. The Institute is awesome!
How exciting that His Highness has joined the board for the Oratory! At every turn, Our Lord is adding credibility & stability to the Oratory. The Holy Spirit is doing a great work of restoration and renewal...not only in our buildings but in our hearts as well! Not a day goes by that I don't pray for Canon Apple & give thanks for the Institute of Christ The King, Sovereign Priest. I can't wait for Sr. Rosalind Moss to finish her novitiate & start interviewing for her new order at St. George's, so that I can mov e to St. Louis & be a part of it all! Kendrick Glennon Seminary is FULL of seminarians in cassocks & birettas. God Bless all our nuns and all our little "Father O'Malleys!" St. Louis is well on its way to reclaiming the title "The Rome Of The West.' Laudator Jesus Christus!
My family members loved meeting Duke Paul of Oldenburg! He is such a credit to our Catholic Church. How wonderful he has found his true Heritage--- lost to his line for so many years. We are so happy to hear he is a new member of the St. Francis de Sales Oratory board.
I LOVE THE ORATORY!!!
I visited the Oratory for the first time August 4th-8th...WOW! I really love the Latin Mass (which I grew up with) and was impressed by it's celebration in the great beauty & total atmosphere of reverence! I cried at Mass almost every day whilst there. BTW - I had flown out from California to put my application in just down the road at St. George's Parish in Affton for Sr. Rosalind Moss's new religious order "THE DAUGHTERS OF MARY, MOTHER OF ISRAEL'S HOPE," which will start accepting applicants in June 2010. When I heard about Mother Marie & the nuns coming in, my own hope is that we will all be friends & fellow Sisters in Christ together. They also are a relatively new order, fully orthodox and faithful to the Magisterium. No "Sr. Social Justice with a picket sign" happening there! New beginnings..."I have come to set the world on fire...and how I wish that it were already ablaze!" See thee soon, St. Louis!
In the bulletin for October 11, 2009, there was an entry called the"Little Chronicles of the Sister Adorers at St. Francis de Sales Oratory." It was a delightful story to read; I only hope there will be more soon where that story comes from... Thank you so much!
My House will be called a House of Prayer. It is beautiful to see that, since the arrival of the Sister Marie of the Love of God, St. Francis de Sales Oratory has Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament daily at 5:00pm (6:30 pm on Thursday), which is accompanied for the whole month of October with the recitation of the Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed. Vespers follows daily except Tuesday and Thursday. The Canons, Abbé Alex and the five candidates have also begun chanting Lauds at 7:00 am and Sext at noon. St. Francis de Sales Oratory is thus alive with prayer seven days a week. May God deign to send the funds to repair the tower so the bells can ring again to beckon the people to come join in these public prayers of the Church!
I would like to live in that convent too. It looks beautiful now!
The Mass of the External Solemnity of St. Louis of France was very uplifting, (especially the close contact with the relic of St. Louis, King of France).Thank you very much. Kudos to Mrs. Patricia Carr for all of her great helpful ideas. As wonderful as last year's weekend was -- this year's event had great family friendly improvements to it: so much going on -- the auction, games, booths ... something for everyone. The only "thank you" left is to heaven! We were gifted with lovely fall weather in what is traditionally one of the most hot and humid weekends of the whole year! Next year maybe we could add some strolling strings for even more musical variety. It looks like the Oratory is getting a great reputation for music these days. I'm sure it will be even more wonderful next year.
Hurray for the St. Francis de Sales Knights of Columbus! They worked very hard to make Summer at the Oratory so successful. We attended on Sunday and really enjoyed overwhelming hospitality. The food was great but the helpfulness and atmosphere was even better. Thank you. One of the highlights of our great day was to venerate the relic of our city's protector and namesake, St. Louis of France. I wonder if anywhere else in St. Louis this was done. Aren't we privileged? The organ concerts in the church on Sunday were exceptional. Thanks to everyone involved at St. Francis de Sales for such a wonderful weekend!
I have been there, it was really beautiful, both days were successful: perfect weather, many families and friends of the Oratory came. I was there with friends who hadn't been at a traditional Mass, ever. They were deeply impressed and loved the church architecture. Thank you to the Institute of Christ the King!
St. Francis de Sales will have a great impact on the religious, cultural and social life in this city. Its majestic architectural presence in the center of South St. Louis calls for a renewal of the liturgical practice of all of us. Who would not be effected by its beauty and grandeur.
On the feast of Our Lady's Assumption 3 new confirmands were added to St. Francis de Sale's Oratory. What a great day it was! We all look forward to another happy day when all the lights will be lit in the impressive tower, (pigeons will be gone), the clock will tell the correct time as the bell chimes once again and the Cathedral of South St. Louis will illuminate the St. Louis sky! Wouldn't it be great to have it all fixed for Christmas Midnight Mass? Can you sign the guest book more than once?
What a joy to see that in this city the Institute is producing the fruits of the Church's rich tradition. The arrival of the Adorers will generate again many spiritual gifts for all of us. Isn't it wonderful that these priests and religious are equipped so well - with not much more than their love for the truth and beauty of the liturgy and the teachings of their patron saints. St. Francis de Sales Oratory in St. Louis is the place to be when we want to understand how to live the truth in charity in the 21st century.
I am very happy that this historic church is in the care of the Institute of Christ the King. Many members of my family attended this church at one time and I am pleased beyond measure that the form of the Holy Mass which they knew is being celebrated there again. I pray daily for the success of the renovation project.
This is all extremely encouraging. The spirit of genuine Catholic AND American generosity and service bears fruit. We all are very grateful to God and to those who respond to His abundant graces. Hopefully there will be many photos of the work.
How important is it for this restoration project? (1) Steeple Tower: is a welcoming sign and draws the people to the church from a great distance by its visual profile, pointing upward toward the heavens. (2) Exterior: the church is the most important structure in the environment. The façade is often the most memorable part of the building. It tells us of the riches awaiting us inside. (3) Interior: everything leads to the sanctuary, the place in the church built especially for the altar of sacrifice. The sanctuary sets aside the holiest part of the church, God?s dwelling place. We must preserve our sacred churches. So many Catholic Churches are so uninspiring and fail to "raise the hearts and minds of man to God." The atmosphere created by the church building affects not only how we worship, but also what we believe. Ultimately, what we believe affects how we live our lives. We pray for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and for all involved in this project; and we look forward to its completion.
What a beautiful church, I've never been, but I hope to visit one day. I'm glad such a magnificent church is being used for its original intended purposes and not like so many in Europe where they've become more like museums. You guys are restoring the Catholic faith and traditions!
We were at Mass this morning and really enjoyed the men's schola music! Five or six voices filled the whole church space very nicely. Lovely assist to the solemnity of Holy Mass! How fortunate anyone was to be at St Francis de Sales at 10 am! Thank you very much.
It was such good news to hear of the visit to SFdS of Sister Mary of the Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus. What a great dream that Sister could begin a branch of the Adorers here in the United States at St. Francis de Sales. The whole diocese of St. Louis would be blessed soundly to have so many more good quality prayers on board here. Our family is very excited. As members of St. Francis de Sales Oratory, we are very grateful for all the Institute does for us. May God continue to bless us all in these times.
I think the restoration of the Oratory is a very worthy project, and will go a long way towards rekindling a love for the sacred liturgy and for an authentic Catholic culture. Thank you very much, Institute of Christ the King, for taking on this project!