Author Topic: Explosive Growth Forecast for SSPX USA (Read 5698 times)

Augstine Baker · « **on:** July 11, 2011, 01:03:27 PM »

Editor: The Devil is said to have once said that if there were more priests like St. John Vianney, he wouldn't stand a chance. Well, we're going to get a lot more priests from the Society of St. Pius X, whether liberal naysayers like it or not.

At the present moment, there are about 60 Seminarians in formation for the United States which compares to the number of French Seminarians, which promises enormous growth for the future. The Society has substantially more French priests with Americans trailing behind at at distant second, if this trend continues, Americans could be the ones supplying most of the Society's vocations. Also, ordinations have been trending down since the mid-eighties, but that trend is showing signs of reversing as the SSPX Seminaries are filled to overflowing. All of this is good, because the number of priests in the Society have been dramatically growing since it was founded in the seventies.

http://eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2011/07/explosive-growth-forecast-for-sspx-usa.html

MaterDominici · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2011, 01:32:22 PM »

I saw the ordination announcement this year and no deacons were listed. Was this a change in the way they do ordinations or will there be no new priests in the US next year?

Augstine Baker · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2011, 02:36:22 PM »

Quote from: MaterDominici

I saw the ordination announcement this year and no deacons were listed. Was this a change in the way they do ordinations or will there be no new priests in the US next year?

Good question, will look around, but I do know that there are Americans in the other Seminaries, but I don't know if any have been ordained Deacons there.

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2011, 02:56:59 PM »

I do not mean to rain on anyone's parade, but no one in Traddieland is fit to mend the many holes in St. Jean Vianney's threadbare cassock, carry his moldy potato as suppertime approaches, etc. Quantity is not quality and increases in the former do not have any direct connection to the latter.

Augstine Baker · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2011, 04:13:12 PM »

Quote from: gladius_veritatis

I do not mean to rain on anyone's parade, but no one in Traddieland is fit to mend the many holes in St. Jean Vianney's threadbare cassock, carry his moldy potato as suppertime approaches, etc. Quantity is not quality and increases in the former do not have any direct connection to the latter.

Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was a superlative gardener and chose men of high character, intelligence and most important, holiness to lead the Society.

I'd say that the SSPX has yielded a hundred fold so far in this day.

SeanJohnson · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2011, 04:50:59 PM »

Quote from: gladius_veritatis

I do not mean to rain on anyone's parade, but no one in Traddieland is fit to mend the many holes in St. Jean Vianney's threadbare cassock, carry his moldy potato as suppertime approaches, etc. Quantity is not quality and increases in the former do not have any direct connection to the latter.

Of course, we cannot go by external appearances, but when I was a seminarian in the SSPX, I met a good number of priests there who seemed to practice the virtues in an heroic manner.

Would I compare them the the Cure of Ars?

Who am I to do that?

But our times are not without sainted clergy, and there were several I have known who, well, on judgment day, I would rather be them than me.

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2011, 04:52:28 PM »

That may be true...but none of them has turned out to be another St. Jean Marie Vianney. Such is life...and is not required for ordination.

SeanJohnson · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2011, 04:53:50 PM »

Quote from: Augstine Baker

Quote from: MaterDominici
I saw the ordination announcement this year and no deacons were listed. Was this a change in the way they do ordinations or will there be no new priests in the US next year?

Good question, will look around, but I do know that there are Americans in the other Seminaries, but I don't know if any have been ordained Deacons there.

There were 11 deacons ordained in Winona, MN (St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary) this year.

I do not know how many sub-deacons were ordained.

But you will get at least 9 more SSPX priests from Winona (i.e., I think 1 of the 11 was another Benedictine, and there may have been a Dominican, but I don't remember exactly).

Nonno · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2011, 04:59:21 PM »

Wow, talk about a tearing down of St. John Vianney by making virtual Saints of the lot of SSPX clergy!

Explosive growth? The Arians had that.

Doctrinal error? The Arians had that, too.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2011, 05:13:31 PM »

Quote from: Seraphim

There were 11 deacons ordained in Winona, MN (St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary) this year.

I do not know how many sub-deacons were ordained.

But you will get at least 9 more SSPX priests from Winona (i.e., I think 1 of the 11 was another Benedictine, and there may have been a Dominican, but I don't remember exactly).

Thanks for the info!
Ordination to the sub-deaconate won't happen until next spring.

LordPhan · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2011, 02:00:00 AM »

Quote from: Nonno

Wow, talk about a tearing down of St. John Vianney by making virtual Saints of the lot of SSPX clergy!

Explosive growth? The Arians had that.

Doctrinal error? The Arians had that, too.

You have all the appearances of a schismatic. Arians had that too.

LordPhan · « **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2011, 02:11:03 AM »

Quote from: MaterDominici

I saw the ordination announcement this year and no deacons were listed. Was this a change in the way they do ordinations or will there be no new priests in the US next year?

Not this Sunday past, but the one before, I met a Seminarian who had become a Deacon. He visited our chapel and I talked with him alot at our church picnic.

A smart man, we had a nice talk, he is most humble and very well versed in the faith.

Hobbledehoy · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2011, 02:52:01 AM »

I was wondering if I could be given a general outline of the syllabi that are used in the SSPX Seminaries here in the States, and how these may differ from those of other countries. For example, how many years are devoted to philosophy and which tomes and authors are used in the pertinent courses; how many years are devoted to theology, and which tomes and authors are used; what authors are consulted in matters of ascetic and mystical theology, and in moral and pastoral theology, &c.

I am genuinely interested in the methods and structures whereby the SSPX Seminaries educate those aspiring to Sacred Orders, since their growth is indeed "explosive."

MaterDominici · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2011, 12:06:36 PM »

Quote from: Hobbledehoy

I was wondering if I could be given a general outline of the syllabi that are used in the SSPX Seminaries here in the States, and how these may differ from those of other countries. For example, how many years are devoted to philosophy and which tomes and authors are used in the pertinent courses; how many years are devoted to theology, and which tomes and authors are used; what authors are consulted in matters of ascetic and mystical theology, and in moral and pastoral theology, &c.

I am genuinely interested in the methods and structures whereby the SSPX Seminaries educate those aspiring to Sacred Orders, since their growth is indeed "explosive."

Depending on why you'd want to know, it might be best just to write to the seminary and ask. There are a few here who could answer from personal experience, but the information would not be the most current.

Matthew · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2011, 10:45:20 PM »

I was at the SSPX seminary in Winona, MN about 8 years ago.

0 year (optional): Humanities. Literature, Music, History, English Comp, Grammar, Latin
1st year/Spirituality: Emphasis on forming a spiritual foundation. Acts of the Magisterium (using "Popes against the Modern Errors"), Liturgy, Latin, Ascetical & Mystical Theology (using "The Spiritual Life" by Tanquerey)
2nd & 3rd year/Philosophy: Logic, Philosophy, Scripture, Church History, Latin
4th - 6th year/Theology: Moral Theology, Dogmatic Theology, Scripture, Church History, Latin (if needed)

All seminarians attend spiritual conferences twice a week. Weekly meetings/confession with spiritual director, who is chosen by the seminarian in the first month after arrival at the seminary.

Seminarians pray Prime, Sext, and Compline in common every day; Lauds, Sext, Vespers and Compline on Sunday. Daily Mass, with sung Masses every feast day (II class or greater). Daily Rosary, except Thursday there is Benediction.

Then there are liturgical functions throughout the year -- processions for Christ the King, Rogation days (including blessing of the fields), etc.

Every month there is a Sung Mass for 1st Friday and 1st Saturday, as well as a Sung Requiem Mass for friends and benefactors.

While I was there, there were 2 funerals. I don't remember who the 2nd one was for, but the 1st was for a classmate of mine! He drowned while on recreation.

Besides the 3/4 hour after lunch/dinner, there are two "major" recreation periods during the week (Wednesday, Sunday) and seminarians must go outside for 2 hours out of the 3 hours they have "off". To go into town, they must ask permission. Some play sports, but others go for walks, etc.

Seminarians have 4 "spiritual duties" which must be performed every day:
Rosary (said in common most days, but sometimes seminarians must say it on their own)
30 min. spiritual reading
30 min. scripture reading
15-20 min. meditation

As far as studies go -- emphasis on Aristotle & St. Thomas.
The Summa
Prummer
I'd have to look into the curriculum in more detail -- I'll have to write a part 2 :)

Orders are received as follows:
1st year - Reception of Cassock (Feb 2)
2nd year - Tonsure (Feb 2)
3rd year - Porter/Lector (March)
4th year - Exorcist/Acolyte (March)
5th year - Subdeacon (March), Deacon (June)
6th year - Priest (June)