2017 was full of true Catholic victories


(...)Now how is that for GOOD NEWS?
As to the Sacred Liturgy, I have listed SIGNIFICANT FIRSTS that have been observed this past year below. They support the the Swiss Nuncio’s contention that the future of the Catholic Church is indeed the Traditional Latin Mass. Will have more to say on this in a future post.
  1. The first sighting of Cardinal Muller, the former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at a Summorum Pontificum function. (see here)
  2. TLM establishing itself in the most hostile environment to Tradition, on the Island of Malta at St. Paul’s in Birkirkara. It has taken 10 year from the promulgation of the Moto Proprio Summorum Pontificum, but it has finally happened. VERY SIGNIFICANT FIRST (see here)
  3. Another Maltese first: Malta (Pro Tradentina) discovers Fr. Z. (see here)
  4. TLM re-emerging in a historic Chicago parish (St. Stan’s) where the pastor is trying to convert the N.O. mass goers to the TLM. VERY SIGNIFICANT FIRST (see here)
  5. A new “Prime Time regular TLM in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia was established. Any new TLM around Washington D.C. is newsworthy, given the proximity to power. This is the only ‘prime time’ Sunday TLM inside the Beltway in Northern Virginia. (see here)
  6. In the country of Poland, 2017 saw the TLM being offered in ALL dioceses. The first time this has been the case since 1970. 40 parishes where daily Mass offered. 119 venues where Mass offered regularly. (see here – in Polish)
  7. In the country of Holland, another hostile environment for Catholicism in general, we witnessed the SSPX being able to acquire the St. Willibrord Church against a backlash of hostile secular anti-Catholic forces. (see here)
  8. TLM re-emerges in Gary Indiana. First time in 50+years that TLM will be offered at Holy Angles Cathedral. (see here)
  9. After a 50 year absence the Traditional Latin Mass returned to the oldest cathedral seat of the oldest city in Ireland. (see here)
  10. First TLM at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia in nearly 50 years. (see here)
  11. The world’s northern-most Latin Mass offered in Finland. (see here)
  12. First time a sung Mass in the old form has been celebrated in Devon (UK) in 46 years, according to the Latin Mass Society. Bishop establishes centre for the traditional Latin Mass in Devon. (see here)
  13. In June 2016, TLM Our Lady of Lourdes Church (Missionaries of St. John the Baptist) moved in unnoticed. In 2017 anti-Catholic locals fret “Will a Traditional Catholic church change this small town?” So much for diversity! (see here)
  14. First reports of TLM thriving in fastest growing dioceses in Catholicism, i.e. Nigeria. NYTime informs us: The Latin Mass, Thriving in Southeastern Nigeria (see here)
  15. Bishop offers first TLM “in years”, joining “growing ranks of those who celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form” in England and Wales. The Tablet not happy. (see here)
  16. First sighting of N.O. monastery converting to Catholicism. Philadelphia’s Carmelite Monastery of St. Joseph and St. Anne, celebrated the 115th anniversary of its foundation with a Solemn High Mass offered on Wednesday, July 26 2017. Further, “The Philadelphia Carmel, which was down to three active members, marked the arrival on July 25 of 10 new members drawn from thriving Carmels in Valparaiso, Nebraska in the Lincoln Diocese, and Elysburg, Pa. in the Diocese of Harrisburg, which was itself established by nuns from Valparaiso.” FSSP takes over chaplaincy (see here)
  17. New Traditional Women’s Religious Order :Filiae Laboris Mariae officially establishment on June 9th with a Solemn High Mass in Independence, Missouri. (see here) 
  18. Singapore: “The Archdiocesan Liturgical Music Commission put out a call for men who could chant the Mass Ordinary and Propers. Once the word was out, hundreds of Catholics flocked to the church each night – young and old, lay and religious.” (see here)
  19. Hungary: The “Community of St Philip Neri” (http://www.szentfulop.hu/) celebrated the first Rogation Day with a traditional procession and solemn Mass at Balatonederics, a small village located on the north shore of Lake Balaton in Hungary. The community was founded in 2016 by priests and faithful of the diocese of Veszprém to organize and promote celebrations of the traditional rite.” (see here)
  20. Institute of Christ the King welcomed Bishop Athanasius Schneider for the celebration of a baptism in the traditional Pontifical Rite. First not only for the church, but also for His Excellency and the ICK clerics at this church. (see here)
  21. The Visitation Monastery in Brooklyn will have its first traditional Latin Mass since the post-Conciliar liturgical reform on Monday, August 21, 2017. (see here)
  22. A real FIRST. An ‘immaculate’ new internet radio station broadcast pre-1955 Easter Triduum. “This new internet radio station of the Franciscan Friars at Gosport, England, hope to be instruments in the hands of the Immaculate with the slogan: “Bringing Forth Christ Through Mary”. (see here) and here)
  23. EWTN journalist Edward Pentin makes appearance at The Roman Forum (see here) and Catholic Identity Conference (see here).
  24. St. Alphonsus Liguori in Baltimore, Maryland given over to the FSSP. This is the first national shrine to be entrusted to the care of the FSSP. (see here)
  25. Poland: The son of the Polish Prime-Minister, Mrs. Beata Szydło, was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of the Catholic Church, a FIRST no doubt in over 50+ years. Fr. Tymoteusz Szydło is a diocesan priest that offered his first Traditional Latin Mass in the Church of the Holy Cross in Krakow, served by the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) in Poland, on the Feast of Pentecost. (see here)
  26. UK: Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus, establish a community alongside the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest apostolate in Lancaster Diocese. (see here)
  27. Belgium: Not just in front of abortuaries! Young Faithful Catholics protest blasphemous “celebration of Luther” by dying NO sect at Brussels Cathedral. Pray Hail Mary during “service” in Catholic Church. Get removed by police. (see here)
  28. Italy: Proper Catholic Mass returns to church consecrated in Anno Domini 549. After many decades, this historic building once again witnessed the liturgy of the West which was its own for centuries. Celebrated by Cardinal Burke, a Pontifical Mass was held in the nearly 1500-year-old building. Time is indeed greater than space! (see here)
  29. Another personal parish (ICK) in New England. Institute of Christ the King announced it has been invited into the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, to start an oratory at Saints Cyril and Methodius parish. Those oratories! (see here)
  30. UK:Institute of Christ the King given another church in Preston, England. In July, Bishop Campbell gave them another historic church, close to St Walburge’s: the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury and the English Martyrs. And much, much more. (see here)
  31. Riding to the sounds of the guns! Veritas Bonitas Pulchritas Chicago is a young, enthusiastic group committed to Tradition not based at any parish and that organizes traditional Latin Masses at various parishes, chapels and shrines. They have their own chaplain, acolytes and professional singers.
  32. Five of their eight monthly Masses thus far have been at locations where the traditional Mass has not been publicly offered since 1969 — and each Mass has averaged 100 people. (see here)
  33. EWTN More evidence of mainstream media turning: EWTN will broadcast live the Pontifical Latin Mass which His Excellency Bishop Joseph Perry will celebrate at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the 10th Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum. Who would have thunk only a few short years ago? (see here)
  34. FSSP sets own record for most ordinations in a year. The growth of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) has been well known. This year, however, was a record-setter for the Fraternity as it ordained 19 young men into the priesthood — it’s most ever in a single year. (see here)
  35. Rome has given SSPX right to ordain priests without permission of local ordinary. It started with absolution and moved recently to marriage. Now Pope Francis has given the three bishops of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) the right to ordain priests without the permission of the local ordinary. (see here)
  36. The un-demonization of the SSPX spreads in France. Last week we reported on the decision of Bishop Alain Planet of the French diocese of Carcassonne to give full privileges to priests of the SSPX to celebrate marriages within that diocese. This week we received similar news from the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon. There is nothing surprising about this as the diocese is shepherded by Bishop Dominique Rey who has shown himself to be a strong supporter of tradition. His Excellency welcomes men into his seminary who prefer to offer the traditional rite of Mass and he regularly ordains those men according to that rite. (see here)
  37. Traditional Carmelites need to building a new monastery. There is a Carmelite community in Elysburg, PA, that uses the Tridentine Mass and Breviary exclusively and who need help building a new monastery. Because they are true blue cloistered nuns (no internet use, no videos, no CDs – just joyfully hidden away in their monastery), I wondered if you might be able to alert your readers to their need. (see here)
  38. Denmark: Holy Week using Traditional Liturgy returns. For the first time since 2005, the Sacred Triduum was offered in the traditional rite of Mass in the diocese of Copenhagen along with other significant Masses of the Lenten and Easter seasons. These Masses were organized by the St.Charles Borromeo Group, a lay association which promotes the use of the traditional liturgy throughout the diocese. (see here)
  39. Traditional Latin Mass for Annunciation in Florence, Mass, the first diocesan Latin Mass known of in the area in years. (seehere) 
  40. The monks of the traditionalist Benedictine abbey of Clear Creek complete construction of the chevet of their Abbey church. Thank everyone for prayers. (see here)
  41. Unheard-of since the Papal States fell: Rome covered in posters critical of the Pope. Rome wakes up with something quite new, and very old, in its streets: posters throughout the City (in the style of the old “pasquinate“) critical of the Pope. (see here)
  42. Never seen before: Arabs come to Francis’ rescue. PopeFrancis is the poster boy for Muslim-backed group. Hundreds of posters praising the Pope have been put up around Rome, sponsored by an organisation funded by Sheik Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, where sharia prevails. (see here)
  43. Well, it’s a start: Mexican Archbishop orders Last Gospel read in all Sunday Novus Ordo Masses. So, while the “Reform of the Reform” is dead for the universal Church, some particular churches (and no only parishes) may be moving ahead with bringing some elements of Roman Tradition to the new, and made-up artificial rite of Paul VI.(see here)
  44. Poland: Regular daily Masses offered in Niepokalanów, Poland. Starting from October 29, 2017 (Sunday, Solemnity of Christ the King), Holy Mass will be offered at Niepokalanów in the chapel of St. Maksymilian Maria Kolbe. Niepokalanów monastery is a Roman Catholic religious community in Teresin, Poland founded in 1927 by Franciscan Minor Conventual Friar Maximilian Kolbe. (see here – in Polish)