Too true, Dominique.
They are a completely separate religious order, obviously, yet Bishop Thomas Aquinas writes (see EC 865, Feb 10, 2024):
Bishop Fellay disorganized Tradition, walked away from Archbishop Lefebvre's line and made others also depart from it. To resist this departure was the reason for the Resistance coming into existence. We want to follow Archbishop Lefebvre in everything, in doctrine and also in practical solutions, because, as Aristotle and St. Thomas teach, the examples of the ancients serve as principles of action. We follow Mgr. Lefebvre in doctrine and action, especially in relation to modernist Rome, and we do this to be faithful to Eternal Rome, teacher of truth and holiness.
Oh to have such a faithful bastion of Tradition in our backyard! What a blessing it would be. Yet even on the other side of the world, what a consolation it is to have such an example of fidelity to Catholic truth, to the fight for the Faith.
They are truly worthy of our support.
If you haven't done so already, please go to the PayPal link and donate $10 if you possibly can:
https://www.mosteirodasantacruz.org/doacaointernacional (https://www.mosteirodasantacruz.org/doacaointernacional)
Well, we all know that the grass is greener on the other side! ;-)
In my corner of the world, we have a priest who is morally and doctrinally sound. An ex-SSPX priest, he does not compromise with the SSPX, nor does he want us to compromise with the SSPX; he roams the country and the world at the cost of his own health to give the faithful the sacraments and catechism; he does not have links with the conciliar church, neither is he a sedevacantist (although Archbishop Lefebvre said that might one day be a possibility). Our anti-liberal priest fights for the reign of Christ the King and the true Mass and has been described by other Resistance priests as a pillar of the Resistance. He is truly '"an example of fidelity to the Catholic Church and to the fight for the Faith". Of course, we do not have a monastery nearby full of priests like him! There is definitely something consoling about living next to a monastery, a bastion. I guess you could always move to Brazil. I hear there are Benedictine monks and nuns in Kansas too.
“Who also hath made us fit ministers of the New Testament, not in the letter, but in the spirit? For the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth” (2 Corinthians III, 6).
Below is the final report on our fund raising efforts from the Monastery and the reasons for their ongoing financial difficulties. As you can see, they are still very much in need of support:
As promised, here is the report of the donations, in exact numbers, that went into the Monastery's PayPal after your appeal in Cathinfo:
Total number of people who donated: 4
Total in USD: 665.00
Through Bishop Thomas Aquinas' Wise account we received:
- 1 Mass stipend from Australia: 30 AUD
- 1 donation from Canada (but I'm not sure if this person donated because of the post on Cathinfo, as he had already donated before): 371 CAD
We haven't yet received any communication from our correspondent in the US as to whether any checks have been sent there. I don't think so. If I hear from them, I'll let you know.
I take the opportunity to thank all those who have donated or who are yet to donate, as well as those who are praying for our monastery, and assure them of Santa Cruz prayers for their benefactors.
I didn't mention it in the previous email, because I only had more details about it afterwards, but the monastery's current difficulties are basically due to:
- renovations that the monks had to make to the roof of the current cloister, which was collapsing;
- some of the current renovations in the libraries, which are full of mold that is ruining the books;
- we're going to have to build an artesian well, because laboratory analyses have discovered serious problems with the spring water that the monks used for consumption;
- The usual costs of running the school (around 2,000 dollars a month). This school for children and adolescents is perhaps the most expensive activity for the monastery, but H.E. Bp Thomas Aquinas does not give up on this school, because he knows how important it is for the souls of the children and for the society they will form in the future.
If you would like to pass on the outline of this message in Cathinfo, please do. I will also soon be preparing an appeal to be posted on the Monastery's website.
May God bless you and reward you with all the graces you need.
In Corde Mariae,
Renato Müller
Bp Thomas Aquinas' Secretary
...
Mosteiro da Santa Cruz - Nova Friburgo/RJ - Brasil
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PAX
Dear Sir,
Dear Madam,
Thank you very much for all the help you have given and some of you continue to give to our monastery.
Our monastery is currently in great difficulty and urgently needs your help, if it is possible for you to do so.
The monastery has never been in a comfortable financial situation; it seems that Divine Providence wants this to be the case, because in this way our trust in God becomes more evident and meritorious. But the situation is currently a little worse.
As you may know, Bishop Thomas Aquinas and his monastery are responsible for the following works here in Santa Cruz:
- A monastery of Benedictine monks (the main one), with around 15 monks;
- A monastery of sisters, still in its beginnings, with around 5 nuns;
- A quasi-parish of around 150 faithful around the monastery;
- A seminary for the training of secular priests who would dedicate themselves especially to the missions;
- A school for children and adolescents;
- Missions throughout Brazil and some surrounding countries are attended by 2 or 3 of our priests and by the Bishop for Confirmations;
- Some priests coming from the Novus Ordo sought refuge in the monastery and were welcomed by Bishop Thomas Aquinas, so they are also maintained by the monastery.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of Brazilians who have converted to Tradition are poor and in some cases very poor, so not only are they unable to help the Church materially, but they also depend on the monastery for not only the sacraments, but sometimes even the bare minimum to support themselves. It often lends and even donates money to some needy families, allows some to live for free in its annexed properties and its children to be exempt from school fees, etc.
For this reason, we are forced to call on the charity of our foreign benefactors, who have generously helped us since the monastery was founded 30 years ago.
If you can help us once again, we thank you wholeheartedly and will keep you in the monks' daily prayers for their benefactors.
In union of prayer for the soul of H.E. Bishop Williamson,
In Corde Mariae,
Renato Müller
Secretary to Bishop Thomas Aquinas O.S.B.
Holy Cross Monastery
PS: Attached is a beautiful memory of Bishop Williamson, on his last visit to Santa Cruz, visiting our school.
...
Mosteiro da Santa Cruz - Nova Friburgo/RJ - Brasil
Ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus