Sunday, Dec. 16th is Gaudete Sunday in Advent, rose vestments (violet alternative)
Wednesday, December 19th is Ember Wednesday
Fri. Dec. 21st is Ember Friday, Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle, red vestments
Sat. Dec. 22nd is Ember Saturday
These are the days that Los Gatos CA has the "specialty men's retreat."
(St. Aloysius Gonzaga Retreat Center, Fr. Emily in charge)
Usually the SSPX priests' retreats are a 5-day, abbreviated form of the
30-day Ignatian retreat. IMHO the effectiveness of these Ignatian
retreats, especially for priests, cannot be overestimated. Any priest who
could manage to attend one preached by Bishop Williamson, especially now,
would never live to regret his decision. This is the stuff of the front lines of
spiritual combat against the spirits of wickedness in high places. The text
they use is Christian Warfare: it is not mislabeled.
On a natural level, one might presume that the bishop would take this
opportunity to grandstand, to complain about the unjust treatment he
has recently received, to do what comes natural in the present state of
affairs. NOT. An Ignatian retreat is not doing what comes natural. It is
all about taking charge of your inclinations, and putting into practice the
most diligent means one can muster to discern the will of God in one's
life and to act in conformity therewith.
But as we saw this past summer in Switzerland, even an Ignatian retreat
is not immune from corruption! It can even culminate with a pre-arranged
photo-opp on the tomb of the Founder: since he's dead now, and he is
no longer able to defend his own memory. He has handed down what he
had received, he has given us our meat in due season, and now it's our
turn, but.... The whole thing can be commandeered to diversion, so as to
produce an effect that is obviously in diametrical opposition to the
manifest will of God, unfortunately.
Third Secret of Fatima time again! The apostasy in the Church begins
with those who hold the highest offices, but not all.
I highly doubt Bishop Williamson's retreat will suffer from such a defect.