MASTERPIECES 2014 by Donna Sue Berry by Beverly Stevens

REGINA Inspiring. Intelligent. Catholic.

Masterpieces 2014

by Donna Sue Berry

Christmas in Harvard Square The Boys of St Paul’s Choir School

By Donna Sue Berry

he ethereal sound of young voices fills the air and evokes a vision. Incense at midnight Mass. A night sky lit with choirs of angels in glory. Christmas beauty. The angelic voices that you’re hearing, however, belong to the earthly boys of St. Paul’s Choir School in Harvard Square, Boston. Their newly released album CHRISTMAS IN HARVARD SQUARE is a major debut label and international recording by

Regina Magazine | October 2014

AimHigher Recordings. Founded in 1963 by Theodore Marier, an internationally acclaimed scholar of Gregorian chant, St. Paul’s Choir School is a musically-intensive, academically-rigorous Catholic day school that forms and educates boys in grades 4 through 8; they sing the week-day masses at St. Paul’s Church. St Paul’s accepts boys from the greater Boston area and beyond. The boys develop their diverse musical talents for the great glory of God, enrich-

“Still, still, still, let all the world be still.”

ing the liturgical services at Saint Paul Church and serving the community at large by the performance of master works of choral literature. Once a boy’s voice changes, he enters the Schola Cantorum, singing several times each month and rehearsing each week. The full Choir of St. Paul’s includes professional male altos, tenors and basses who sing the 11a.m. mass on Sundays.

The Choir frequently tours the U.S. and internationally, including performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. They also sang in a papal audience for Pope Francis in 2013. Here, Regina Magazine interviews the Choir’s English director John Robinson, and the American producers Monica and Kevin Fitzgibbons about the making of this extraordinary Christmas music.

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MR. JOHN ROBINSON: “Boys at St. Paul’s School are seeing everything through new eyes, and the legacy of great and beautiful Catholic music which has been left to us is a truly remarkable gift.”

John Robinson is responsible for the Choir of St. Paul’s in daily sung Mass and oversees the thriving church and school music departments. Mr. Robinson initially was a chorister and organ pupil of Dr. Roy Massey at Hereford Cathedral in England, later Organ Scholar at Canterbury Cathedral and subsequently at St John’ College Cambridge. On graduating Cambridge, he worked at Carlisle and Canterbury Cathedrals, and has also directed Catholic Youth Music festivals.

Mr. Robinson, the Choir’s music is beautiful; such amazing young men. What is it like to do this work? Thank you very much for your kind words, which mean so much. I have to say that really this is work which is my favorite thing to do in the world. I have felt that my vocation is to train young singers for as long as I can remember, and everything has come into focus for me so much more since getting the opportunity to work at this unique Choir School.

Regina Magazine | October 2014

Christmas in Harvard Square

“OUR BEST EXPERIENCE TO DATE WAS SINGING IN ROME FOR POPE FRANCIS. Of course, as Catholics, it doesn’t come much better than that, but that whole atmosphere in which the prayers of thousands of people are lifted up is an unforgettable feeling. Tell us about your work today. The work is very enjoyable because the boys are coming to this music for the first time. It takes great care and preparation to sing this kind of music, and we always feel that we should try to do our best because this gift from God should be offered up as well as we are able. I think my biggest thrill is always when things go well with the music at Mass. There is truly no situation that is more important, and so when you think about it, that daily routine of singing at Mass is what keeps us going. Sometimes we see people in tears during a Communion Motet we might be singing, and we are thankful for being given the opportunity to worship with such beautiful music. The Choir School recorded during the time the ‘Black Mass’ was scheduled to be held on Harvard’s campus. What was the emotional atmosphere within the Choir school during that time? Whilst we were certainly shielding the boys as much as possible, it was important they understood the severity of the situation, and that we were called to respond prayerfully and peacefully. As a community we were so utterly horrified by the situation, I still really don’t like talking about it. Of course, God is good and gave us the most moving procession and holy hour I have ever seen. There was literally not a dry eye in the Church, as the Blessed Sacrament was brought over from the MIT Chapel in a show of Catholic solidarity, which was truly impressive to everyone. During the making of the recording I think there was a clear sense of doing something good and beautiful in the face of this evil, which only served to intensify our efforts to show the world how good God is. I was very glad the boys saw the immense strength of the Church that evening. France Volume 9 | Regina Magazine

FATHER MICHAEL DREA

St Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seeks to embrace the great cathedral school and rich music tradition of the Church as well as teaching faith and moral tradition. The Choir school is closely tied to St Paul Parish in Cambridge and both are overseen by Father Michael Drea, who additionally oversees the Harvard Catholic Center.

Regina Magazine | October 2014

Christmas in Harvard Square

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Christmas in Harvard Square

MONICA AND KEVIN FITZGIBBONS, cofounders of AimHigher Entertainment

With several No. 1 Billboard Classical Traditional albums under their belt, this year De Montfort Music teamed up with sister label Aim-Higher Recordings and Decca Records to record the angelic music of the boys of St Paul’s Choir School. Monica and Kevin Fitzgibbons, founders De Montfort Music and AimHigher Recordings, spoke with REGINA Magazine about their hands-on experience with the Choir. What have been your most memorable moments on this project? I remember one evening when the boys were preparing to sing in Harvard Square for the lighting of the Christmas tree. The event had many different moving parts and at one point we learned that battery-operated candles needed extra batteries. I was preparing these, when I suddenly heard the boys in the next room praying the Hail Mary before they warmed up their voices. It was a small moment but a large and a special one. I prayed along with them in thanksgiving for what Our Lady was doing to bring us together in this way. Also, when we started to hear the takes from the recording sessions and we realized how extraordinary and true to life their recording was going to be. We had talked about recording them for quite some time but wanted it to be very spectacular and capture that emotion one experiences at St. Paul’s during the Mass or any situation in which they sing there. Knowing we were going to be able to share with others this special experience we had been so blessed to have in our own lives…hearing it unfold was thrilling!

Regina Magazine | October 2014

CHRISTMAS IN HARVARD SQUARE is a 19-track album featuring both traditional and contemporary arrangements such as O Come, All Ye Faithful, Dominus Dixit and Angels We Have Heard on High.

Ordering from St. Paul’s Choir School’s website will ensure that a portion of the proceeds will go towards St. Paul’s Choir School Click here

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The Story of the Curé of Ars

‘They Were Not Human Voices’ By Donna Sue Berry

No. He had decided that they were not human voices, nor were they of angelic origin. He knew who it was, and he knew why it had stirred up the air with the horror of hell itself. It was the Devil. And he was on the attack.

Regina Magazine | October 2014

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Church of the Curé of Ars France

With the fight at hand, the Cure` of Ars had but one battle plan to repel the attacks, “I turn to God; I make the Sign of the Cross; I address a few contemptuous words to the devil.” Then, in prayer and patience, St. John Marie Vianney would pass uncomfortable nights shaken by the “grappin”-- happily because he knew it was a good sign that the next day some big sinner would come to the Sacrament of Confession. Sometimes there would be a “good haul of fish,” as he called the many sinners who would show up to confess after the Cure had passed such a night. The town of Ars was not known for its holiness or piety. In fact, when the newly-ordained priest was assigned there, Ars was inundated with sin. Particularly, the vices of blasphemy, cursing, profanation of Sundays, and the gatherings and dances at taverns with their immodest songs and conversation. These would be the subjects of his sermons, from which he never held back. “The tavern is the devil’s own shop, the school where hell retails its dogmas; the market where souls are bartered. It is the place where families are broken up, where health is undermined; where quarrels are started and murders committed.” There was no mincing of words for the Curé of Ars. Just how he would turn this entire village back to into a deeply faithful community was for him a labor of love, deep prayer, mortification and harsh penances. And a life lived in hidden 12

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obscurity. He would rise in the middle of the night to begin hearing confessions at one o’clock in the morning, and spend an incredible 14 to 18 hours a day in the confessional. If a penitent withheld certain sins, the Cure would admonish them and proceed, to their astonishment, tell them their sins. He was known to weep while hearing confessions, with the remark, “I weep, my friend, because you do not weep.” He maintained a strict fast of only one meal per day, consisting mostly of one or two boiled potatoes, black bread and water. He often wore a penitential garment next to his skin that caused friction and was stained from the blood it drew. When he did sleep he would do so on a bare mattress or a bundle of wood down in the cellar, and if he read, it was his breviary, the lives of the saints or something of theological value. The villagers, dumbfounded, witnessed their priest practicing what he preached. He set the example for them. Over a period of ten years the entire town was converted. This conversion did not go unnoticed; thousands began to travel to Ars to see the saintly priest and to confess to him. Today over 500,000 people a year visit Ars to see the incorrupt body of Saint John Marie Vianney, the saintly and humble priest responsible for the conversion of thousands of sinners.

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Little Sisters Discip of the Lamb ‘His Spouses, Small and Well-Loved’

Regina Magazine | October 2014

ples

By Donna Sue Berry

“I understood that every flower created by Him is beautiful, that the brilliance of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not lessen the perfume of the violet or the sweet simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all the lowly flowers wished to be roses, nature would no longer be enameled with lovely hues. And so it is in the world of souls, Our Lord’s living garden.” - Thérèse de Lisieux

ithin this garden there is the small community of Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb. The existence of this Order, according to their Prioress is “to allow those who have the ‘last place’ in the world, to hold in the Church the exceptional place of spouses of Jesus Christ, and to allow those whose life is held in contempt to the extent of being in danger from a culture of death, to witness by their consecration to the Gospel of Life.” France Volume 9 | Regina Magazine

Every day they receive the Eucharist, living in the spirit of silence and prayer, while meditating on the Gospel.

he Little Sisters are made up of women with and without Down’s Syndrome. The Sisters follow the ‘Little Way’ of Saint Therese; their simple life is composed of prayer, work and sacrifice. Together the sisters work to teach their little disabled sisters the manual labor necessary for their development, which includes adoration and praying the rosary adapted to their rhythm and capacities. At the priory, the Little Sisters receive young women touched by the spirit of poverty and dedication, who are ready to offer up their whole existence to the service of Christ in the person of their sisters with Down’s syndrome. The convent stands in a large park in close proximity to the Benedictine Abbey of Fontgombault; a monk of the Abbey is chaplain to the small community. The Order was founded with the encouragement of the late Professor Jerome Lejeune, Servant of God. Professor Lejeune discovered the chromosomal abnormality in humans that causes Down’s syndrome. Mother Prioress Line shared a more in-depth look at the Little Sisters:

Regina Magazine | October 2014

Q. Would tell us about your Sisters? A. The Institute of the Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb is a contemplative order and provides young girls with Down’s syndrome the opportunity to fulfill their religious vocation. This achievement is only possible because it is supported by Sisters without Down’s syndrome who answered a call to love, dedicating themselves to God with their disabled little sisters to form a single community. It is a unique vocation within the Church. John Paul II testified that all life is precious in God’s eyes. (Encyclical Gospel of Life – John Paul II). The Church, in recognizing the Institute specifically recommended that the Community would not be linked to any existing Order or Congregation. She asked the Sisters to seek to make their way by adjusting and adapting to the disability of the Little Sisters. That is why we are not two communities combined into one with Sisters without Down’s on one side and the Sisters with Down’s on the other. We are all one in the same community and the same family where all live at the same

Little Sisters

adapted rhythm. We share the offices and the same tasks of the Community where manual labor is adjusted to each according to her abilities. Q. What we the beginnings of the Order? A. It is almost 30 years since the Community was founded in 1985. We started in a very small way, housed in the village of Buxeuil in the diocese of Tours. To form our charism, we drew from two Saints: The Little Way of St. Therese of the Child Jesus: this is not to seek great things but to do everything out of love for Jesus. From St. Benedict we took the two key words “Ora et Labora” -- prayer and work. This balance is very important to our Sisters with disabilities. We were canonically recognized in 1990 as a Public Association, by the Archbishop of Tours. We are now based in Le Blanc, diocese of Bourges, and became a religious institute of contemplative life through the archbishop in 1999. Our vocation is to dedicate our lives to God as an offering of love for the weakest and most helpless.

Q. Who founded your Order? A. The foundation of the Order began with the meeting of two young girls, Line (now Mother Prioress of the Community) and Veronique, a young girl with Down syndrome, now a religious herself. Mother Line had then seen in the young Veronique a true vocation. She knew that she needed help because all the religious communities in which she presented herself were unwilling to take her. Year after year the Community –recognized by the Church and led by the Holy Spirit – has adapted itself to the Trisomy 21 and the disability religious life. Q. How is the Abbey of Fontgombault connected to your Convent? A. From the beginning of the Foundation, Abbot Antoine Forgeot was a real father and a great support for the Community. He then appointed Father de Feydeau to accompany the Little Sisters in their spiritual development. Father de Feydeau understood very well the charism of the Institute and a good teacher for the Prioress. The Community owes much France Volume 9 | Regina Magazine

It is through this that they can be devoted to Jesus and become His spouses, small and well-loved.

to him, for he knew the Little Sisters and welcomed their child-like spirit. He then left for the founding of the Clear Creek Abbey in the United States, and we remained in touch with him until his death. When he told us by letter of his serious illness, he had these beautiful words to say, “I will be the little brother of the Little Sisters.” After Dom Antoine Forgeot, Dom Pateau succeeded him. Thus were born the links with Fontgombault Abbey that remain today. Q. Would you tell us about Servant of God, Jerome Lejeune’s connection to the Community? A. Yes, Professor Jerome Lejeune has been with the Little Sisters from their birth and followed them as they entered the Community. Even today, we can call the Jerome Lejeune Foundation when needed. Professor Lejeune said that if intelligence is limited, then those with Down syndrome can develop their concepts by heart and are not disabled. For him, an adapted religious life would be possible to 18

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those with Down’s syndrome. Q. We understand that you have both Sisters with and without Down’s syndrome. What should a woman expect when she comes to visit as an aspirant? A. To a girl who would come as an aspirant, we would say to her that she should not look for great things. From Carmel we only took the little way taught by St. Therese` which is appropriate for our love of poverty. We will never make great accomplishment or be great theologians. With our Little Sisters we are one big family. “Prayer is a single look to Heaven” said St. Therese. We have nothing to envy of our dear Sisters of Carmel. For here we have only taken the way. Looking at our Little Sisters throughout the day, we contemplate Jesus hidden in the heart of all, small and humble, Jesus has placed us at the school of love to the end. It is a great joy, a great grace to be able to offer us to God through our Little Sisters.

Q. How long is the Postulancy and Novitiate? A. First of all they have a time of discernment. Then there comes the Postulancy of one year, followed by the Novitiate of three years. After the Novitiate there follows another period of three years of Temporary Vows, before their final Profession. Q. Mother Line, what would you like to add about your Order of Nuns and their special charism? A. Several young women with Down’s syndrome are knocking at our door. To answer their call, our family needs new vocations of women without Down’s syndrome who have a solid calling to Jesus and to serving our Little Sisters! This call can be heard in the heart of many girls. The world today needs evidence of young girls who will give their lives completely to God by dedicating themselves to the religious life for the Defense of Life with our Little Sisters with Down syndrome.

The Little Sister, Sr. Rose Claire “It was a year, May 4th, that our young Sister, without Down’s syndrome, the Little Sister Rose Claire, aged 26, passed away to Heaven. She had deeply understood the charisma of the Institute. The Lord picked her, as she had written in 2012 on the occasion of her final vows, ‘Only one thing makes my heart beat, it is the love that I receive and that I can give.’”

Q. How can young women contact you? A. We have an urgent need for healthy, young women with solid vocations to help and serve the Little Sisters who have Down’s syndrome and in witness to the Gospel of Life. Even from another continent, we will welcome them with open arms! Young women who are interested in contacting the Little Sisters of the Lamb may do so by writing to this address: Petites Soeurs Disciples de l’Agneau 14 rue de la Garenne 36300 Le Blanc FRANCE

The Benedictine Monks of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey in the diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma, have a connection to the Little Sisters as well. Their late Sub-prior, Father Francois de Feydeau, was a spiritual director of the Sisters and received from Little Sister Rose Claire this picture she draw herself. “The elevator must raise me to heaven; these are your arms, O Marie! To do this, I do not need to grow bigger; on the contrary, I must remain small as I become more and more.” France Volume 9 | Regina Magazine

Scottish High Tea By Donna Sue Berry

~ Those dripping crumpets, I can see them now. Tiny crisp wedges of toast, and piping-hot, flaky scones. Sandwiches of unknown nature, mysteriously flavored and quite delectable, and that very special gingerbread. Angel cake that melted in the mouth, and his rather stodgier companion, bursting with peel and raisins. There was enough food there to keep a starving family for a week.” -Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca (1940) The origin of high tea as a meal: Despite its aristocratic name, the truth is that ‘High Tea’ began as another name for a workman’s supper, and was far from an elegant meal. Relegated to the working lower classes in the early days of tea drinking in the 1600s, afternoon or high tea was served on a high table at the end of the work day, around five or six o’clock. For working families returning home exhausted, it was a substantial meal consisting of the most common dishes, such as kidney pie and steak, cheeses, pickles, and breads. By legend, low tea began because the Duchess of Bedford, one of Queen Victoria’s (1819-1901) ladies-in-waiting, suffered from “sinking feelings” 20

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around four o’clock in the afternoon each day, as noon meals. The story has it that she would have her servants sneak pots of tea and breadstuffs to her. Eventually, she began inviting friends to share not only her tea, but also small cakes and butter sandwiches, served on low tables. The practice became so popular with other hostesses that it went down in history as the social event that we still recognize today. Today in Scotland, high or afternoon tea is generously served in most luxury hotels. At the Glasshouse (www.theglasshousehotel.co.uk), a stylish five-star hotel in Edinburgh’s city center, afternoon tea is served most days from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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Â Afternoon Tea at the Glassdoor Hotel Smoked salmon and chive cream cheese in a crisp filo tartlet Coppa de Parma and goatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheese on crisp bread Free-range egg and rocket (arugula) with a warm granary finger. Roast beef and Dijon mayonnaise, English-muffin sandwich ~ Raspberry-and-almond tart Dark-chocolate-and-cherry roulade Brandy snap basket filled with strawberries and cream Rhubarb-and-ginger scones with cinnamon cream Honey-and-oat shortbread Chocolate-and-orange macaroon ~ A selection of bespoke teas will be offered on the day

Regina Magazine | October 2014

Andrew Brown of the Glasshouse recently shared his thoughts about high tea with Regina Magazine. As afternoon tea has come back into fashion, chefs have become more daring and extravagant with the items they include in their tea. Themed afternoon teas are commonplace today. Q. Would you explain to us what afternoon tea or high tea is? Afternoon tea is a tea that was traditionally served later in the afternoon, usually amongst the more affluent members of society. The key difference between afternoon tea and other meals, such as lunch, lies in tea’s being viewed as social experience. It’s rarely enjoyed alone, and is enjoyed at leisure over the course of a couple of hours. Q. Outside the United Kingdom, I’ve often heard that high tea consists of scones or finger sandwiches. Would you tell us what is typically served in Scotland? High or afternoon tea is a loose term. Depending on where you’re from, even within the UK, it can range from something as simple as scones and tea, to the more accepted version, which now consists not only of tea and scones, but also a selection of finger sandwiches, alongside small cakes, pastries, and sweet treats. Q. Is there a particular time when high tea is served? Traditionally, it was consumed in the late afternoon, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Modern afternoon tea, however, can be enjoyed at most establishments between noon and 5 p.m. Q. Do men come to high tea, or is this meal predominantly for women? Men do come; however, more often than not women accompany them. The meal long was considered a gentle afternoon activity for ladies of leisure. Q. Would this be an occasion for which people would dress elegantly? It can be, and certainly was in the 19th and early 20th century. When women entertained close family and friends at home they often wore tea gowns. These elegant gowns were more loosely fitted and designed to be worn without corsets. People still do enjoy getting dressed up for their afternoon tea, and again many Establishments do make tea into a more formal occasion, often with live music or ornate private dining rooms. Q. Is high tea an everyday occasion, or a special a time to get together with friends once a week or once a month? It is a social offering, so it’s not something that people generally would do daily. It is often a special treat, perhaps for a birthday, anniversary, or even a long-awaited catch-up amongst friends and family. As afternoon tea has come back into fashion, chefs have become more daring and extravagant, with the items they include in their tea. Themed afternoon teas are commonplace, with items crafted based on the occasion. For example, during the tennis matches at Wimbledon, it’s possible to enjoy tennis-ball cakes, tennis racquet brownies, or center-court-styled Battenberg cakes, a light sponge cake with the pieces covered in jam. The cake is covered in marzipan. Q. Would you tell us about the menu for the high tea that the Glasshouse Hotel serves? Afternoon tea is a recent addition to the offerings here at the Glasshouse. Our menu consists of the full complement of loose-teas, scones, sandwiches, and other sweet treats, and is priced at £20 per person (about US$34). Customers can consume tea at a variety of locations within the property, such as at The Snug, with its roaring open fire, or (weather-permitting) outside on our two-acre roof garden France Volume 9 | Regina Magazine

How the Light of the Go Returning to Limerick

The Institute of Christ the King So

ospel is

overeign Priest

By Donna Sue Berry Canon Wulfran Lebocq, choirmaster of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP), spoke with Regina Magazine about the ongoing restoration of Sacred Heart, one of the most beautiful churches in Limerick, which was falling into ruins when the Institute bought it in 2012. The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right whose goal is “the honor of God and the sanctification of priests in the service of the Church and souls.” Its specific aim is to spread the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ in all spheres of human life, under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception, to Whom the Institute is consecrated. In 1990, Monsignor Gilles Wach and Father Philippe Mora founded the Institute in Gabon, on the west coast of central Africa, where they still have missions. Today, the motherhouse and international seminary of the Institute is located in Gricigliano, in the Archdiocese of Florence, Italy. History of Sacred Heart Church in Limerick The Jesuit Order began building Sacred Heart Church in Limerick in 1865 and completed in 1868. Sacred Heart is the first church in Ireland to be dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and features exquisite the mosaics and shrines, as well as a large choir loft and a superb organ installed by Telford organ builders of Dublin in 1924. Although the bulk of his organ building was in Ireland, Telford was known and respected in England and abroad. He was a close personal friend of the famous French organ builder, Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. The mechanism of the Telford organ was so well constructed that the Institute was able make the organ playable again, with minor repairs, thanks to the restoration work of Padraig O’Donovan, a young organ builder from Cork.

Q. I understand the church was purchased in 2012; how did that purchase come about? To answer this question fully, I must recount to you the details of this beautiful story written by hand of Divine Providence. The Institute of Christ the King has had the joy to serve Ireland since early 2006. At the request of certain faithful, I began coming, monthly, then bi-monthly, to offer the Extraordinary Form of the Mass on the Emerald Isle. The process of acquiring Sacred Heart Church began then when I first learned that the Jesuits were selling it. You can imagine what the sight of the closure of this magnificent church would do to a Catholic priest coming to Ireland for the first time. If Sacred Heart Church is physically in the heart of Limerick, even more so was it in the very heart of the good people of Limerick. The initial step to the process was prayer: We began praying, then our religious sisters began praying, and then even the members of our lay branch, the Society of the Sacred Heart, began praying. We all confided our intention to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Many devout locals who had attended every-Friday devotions to the Sacred Heart were orphaned by the closure, but continued their devotions privately.

Q. In what condition did you find the complex at that time? When the Jesuit Fathers sold the buildings, they sold everything in it: All the furniture and liturgical items, even the altar and tabernacle, the Stations of the Cross, and the pews. Most distressing was the removal of the statue of the Sacred Heart overlooking the main doors of the church. This feature of the church faĂ§ade always had been illuminated at night, and cherished by the people of Limerick for many decades. In 2006, a developer purchased the church, planning to turn the property into a swimming pool and spa. Thanks be to God this project failed because the financial difficulties in Ireland at the time caused the developer to declare bankruptcy. Several years passed, and the property fell more and more into decrepitude, under the assault of Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often-unforgiving climate. Divine Providence, though, is not without irony and had special plans for this once-venerated edifice. Thanks to many local benefactors and important loans from the United States as well as Germany, the Institute of Christ the King was able to purchase the property (a rare feat for our relatively new and small Institute). This

allowed for the first Church in Ireland ever dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to be reopened for His greater glory and honor. The church and the adjoining residence had been totally abandoned since 2006. The condition of the property was appalling. Once a building ceases to be heated, it immediately begins to fall into disrepair. Dampness penetrates every facet of the structure: First, the paint chips, and then the plaster falls. For Sacred Heart Church, the heating system itself became non-functional after six years of neglect and disuse. The roof of the attached residence had major leaks, which affected two stories of the building, and the broken gutters to broken windows. A tree was growing in one of the confessionals. How has the renovation progressed? Our first step was to replace the statue of the Sacred Heart above the entrance. We then had the water turned on again and tried to clean up a bit. Next, we repaired the major leaks of the roofs and the gutters, for stopping any further damage was crucial to our restoration plans. As soon as we began offering Holy Mass in the Church, we obtained temporary pews for the faithful. We also had to procure everything else necessary for Divine Worship. Before the original sacristy could be rendered even marginally suitable, it was necessary

to use one of the rare dry rooms of the residence as a makeshift sacristy. Again, both the church and residence were without a functioning heating system, so during most of the first year we attempted to find a solution to this fundamental problem, but to no practical avail. Finally, by the fall of 2013 the old radiators in the church were reconnected with a new temporary boiler, providing much welcomed warmth for the liturgies and visits to Sacred Heart this past winter. Now we have also completely restored the sacristy, fabricated a laundry room in the residence, replaced several copper gutters, and redone the pointing on the brick exterior. Q. Are there any projects that are currently underway? Currently, our project is to install two marble adoring angels on each side of the high altar as well as a beautiful marble pulpit, saved from another closed church. In the end, we are not here simply to fix windows and boilers, but to integrally restore this church to its former nobility, beginning with the liturgy and ending in contemplation of Our Lord. Click on an image below to see a detailed slideshow of the church prior to the purchase by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

Q. Would you tell us about the response you have received from the local Irish community? The closure of the church was profoundly discouraging to the local community. It seemed to them that the light of the Gospel was being overcome by the darkness of the world. Today, churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resurrection has become a source of great hope and renewal for the faith of the local community, so sorely tried by the increasing antagonism of the modern culture and materialism. After we had opened daily, we solemnly prayed the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament exposed for the month of October. The people were impressed by the reverence and beauty of the ceremonies, even if the condition of the church was dilapidated. Many visitors who step into the church for the first time after several years are moved to tears to see such a young and vibrant community totally dedicated to the service of souls and the Church. For some, it is like a passage to a bygone era from their youth. People often share stories and happy memories with us about their receiving the sacraments or attending Mass as students, singing in choir, or listening to the organ play. To witness some of this again is a true source of inspiration for them, and their subsequent charity has been a grand consolation and motivation for us. Q. Have you taken residence at Sacred Heart? In the winter of 2013, we decided to move perma-

nently into the church residence, despite its condition. On January 29, 2013, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, the community moved into the residence. As the first act in our new home, we sang the vespers of our patron and doctor of charity. The building was without heat and the conditions rough. It would be more accurate to say we camped in the building for several months before it could be considered habitable. Even today, we still live with very basic bathrooms, the entire living quarters lack heat, and what we call a kitchen more nearly resembles a campsite, with a sink and propane gas stove. Q. What is daily life like at the Priory? We work and pray, gently and without haste, transforming the residence and church. Personal sacrifices are necessary in reviving a dead building, and making the church truly suitable for Divine Worship. Despite the ever-present cold and damp of the residence and church, we keep and maintain as much as possible the order of our daily community life. Our days are rooted in the Sacred Liturgy: Lauds, Meditation, Holy Mass, Studies, Sext, work in the church or residence, Vespers, Adoration, and Devotions to the Sacred Heart on Friday. Likewise, we have Mass not only here in Limerick, but also in Galway city every Sunday and occasionally masses elsewhere in Ireland â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sometimes as far as Belfast.

Q. As vocations to the priesthood and religious life are flourishing among those orders that celebrate the traditional form of the Mass, has there been interest amongst the faithful who may be discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life? Have you received any pre-seminary candidates? We have received possible vocations that have come to Limerick in discernment. Two of these may go to the United States in September as part of the pre-formation program for our seminary. The Institute is blessed with an Irish religious sister who has been with us for four years. She received the habit from Cardinal Canizares, and now is preparing for her final vows. Considering the much larger spectrum of Irish heritage, the picture is more interesting. The Institute has a number of canons, seminarians, oblates and sisters of Irish ancestry. Ireland, in former times a “model nation” sent out priests and missionaries across the world. Now, many members of the Institute have are thrilled to be able to give back to a country that has given the world so much. Q. As choirmaster for the Institute, what can you tell us about the Sacred Music program at the Irish apostolate? In spite of the many urgent and pressing restoration needs, one of the very first things we did last year was to restore the organ, considered by experts as one of the finest in Ireland. As the choirmaster for the Institute, I understand very personally the importance of music in the

liturgy. For many years now I have had the joy to train our seminarians and priests in the subtle art of Gregorian chant. As much as possible, I have tried to bring this rich treasure to our liturgy here: We sing the Divine Office together, which is open to the public. This is definitely our most important and efficacious apostolate. A Gregorian Schola has been established to train anyone interested in the theory of chant, especially according the beautiful classic method of Solesmes, in which I was trained and that the Institute encourages as much as possible. We also have a choral ensemble, Cor Jesu Singers, who specialize in the polyphony of the Renaissance. A highlight of this was our first Sacred Music Week held last year, each evening a concert of various forms of sacred music: chant, organ, sacred polyphony, and vocal solo music. Thus the treasure as you say of the Church’s heritage is offered to all as a means of reaching God. All our work here is directed to this end: to bring souls to God by means of the Sacred Liturgy, in all its beauty, consolations, and encouragement to keep us moving towards our true home in heaven. (Editor’s Note: To support the restoration of Sacred Heart Church go to their website to make a donation or download the “Trifolium Romanum” their monthly newsletter. You can also follow the Institute in Ireland on Facebook and Twitter!)

Newman College Ireland, ‘Defending the Faith at the Highest Intellectual Levels’ By Donna Sue Berry There is a second Famine in Ireland today. Not a Famine which starves the body, but a spiritual Famine which threatens the foundations of a society whose Christian roots reach back into late Roman times. Kathy Sinnott and Nick Healy have a dream which they are sharing in Ireland and amongst the Irish Diaspora numbered in the tens of millions around the world. Their dream is to build Newman College Ireland to respond to this challenge in today’s Irish society and to defend the Faith at the highest intellectual levels. Outline of a Dream

lived joyfully; and to accompany students on their journey to mature Catholic adulthood. The course of studies will be rigorous, and intended to introduce students to the life of the mind. The goal is for Newman College graduates to become leaders; to be salt and light in a society that is rapidly de-Christianizing and in which the Catholic Church is on the defensive. At a Time of Bitter Sadness The idea for the Catholic college came at a time of bitter sadness for former Member of European Parliament, Kathy Sinnott. Her son, who had been attending a liberal arts college in America, drowned in a tragic accident in 2009.

Newman College Ireland will be based on EX CORDE ECCLESIAE, the Apostolic Constitution promulgated in 1990 by Saint Pope John Paul II — that no institution of higher learning is to call itself “Catholic” unless the norms of Ex Corde Ecclesiae are met.

“At his funeral I was thinking how happy in his faith my son was over the last couple of years and how some of his friends in Ireland didn’t have the same opportunity, and I just thought people in Ireland should have this,” Mrs. Sinnott has said. She believes “the time is right” for such an institution.

This four year Catholic college will have Liberal Arts as its primary curriculum and will offer courses in theology, history, philosophy, literature, as well as math, economics and natural science. The campus at Newman College Ireland will be a residential one with faculty, staff, and students living, working and learning together. The faculty and staff are expected to provide a witness that Catholic moral teaching can be

Working alongside her for the establishment and success of the college is American Nicholas J. Healy. He is the President Emeritus of Ave Maria University in Florida, and today is the President and CEO of Friends of Catholic Education in Ireland, a nonprofit entity intended to support Catholic higher education in Ireland that meets the requirements of Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I came back from that trip convinced that a Catholic college faithful to the Church was desperately needed, and that I should do what I could to help bring it about.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Q. President Healy, what was the genesis of this idea for you? How did you get involved? A. About two years ago I was contacted by Kathy Sinnott about helping to start a new Catholic university or college in Ireland. She had heard that I had some experience in the start-up of new Catholic institutions of higher learning, and that I had just retired as President of Ave Maria University. I agreed to give her general guidance. Q. Did anything happen to kick this project into high gear? A. In October of 2012 my wife and I made a visit to Ireland. We decided to make it a pilgrimage in gratitude for our Irish ancestors handing on the faith to us. We traveled all over Ireland, meeting with priests, lay Catholics and the Apostolic Nuncio. Q. Wow, what did you do next? A. I dropped all other consulting work to focus on Ireland. I wrote up what I called a â&#x20AC;&#x153;case statementâ&#x20AC;? to outline the kind of institution that I thought would work. The purpose was to make sure that the group in Ireland accepted the general principles of what I believed were essential to success and also to begin the process of generating financial support. Q. A private university is a novel idea in much of Europe. What sort of response are you getting from the Irish? A. A private, lay-initiated institution is really the only practical solution. To get government support would be very difficult and time-consuming, and government support inevitably brings a measure of control. The Church there has largely been on the defensive against a media that is extremely hostile, and a government that seems determined to minimize the role of the Church in Irish society. Q. Are your supporters mainly Irish Americans? How/where would you like to broaden your base? A. From the outset I have believed that the main support for NCI would have to be provided by the Irish diaspora. I formed Friends of Catholic Education in Ireland as a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity to facilitate

“Lay-initiated institutions are uncommon in Ireland (and in Europe in general) but of course not in America,” said Nick Healy. “Indeed, most of the finest colleges and universities here are private. The response in Ireland is very encouraging.” fundraising. Just in the United States there are some 40 million Americans who identify themselves as of Irish descent. I am convinced that many of these are grateful for the faith that was preserved and handed on through great sacrifices. Then there are the thousands of Irish priests, missionaries and religious educators who created the infrastructure of the Church in new lands, especially the US, Canada and Australia. This too should engender gratitude. Almost all our support has come from Americans, but in time we would hope to extend our efforts to the Irish diaspora in Canada, Australia and England; and eventually Ireland itself. Q. Defending the Faith at the highest intellectual levels in the current climate in Ireland is an enormous challenge. How do you see a way forward against this enormous challenge? A. The intellectual climate in Ireland is indeed hostile to the Christian vision, and especially to the institutional Church. Yet Ireland still has a deeply Catholic culture. Based in the United States, this organization has received approval from the IRS as a tax exempt 501(c) (3) and tax deductible contributions can be made to: Friends of Catholic Education in Ireland, Inc. 999 Vanderbilt Beach Rd Suite 200 Naples, FL 34108 Inquiries may be made to President Healy at nickhealy@comcast.net and newmancollegeireland@gmail.com

Ferdinand Stuflesser 1875 By Donna Sue Berry

fter 140 years and five generations later, the Ferdinand Stuflesser family continues to execute and create the most exquisite church restorations, altars, and 100% hand-carved statues in wood, bronze or marble. They are known for their impeccable professionalism and impressive work for the Vatican as well as cathedrals and churches around the world. Their woodcarvings are exclusively created in their workshops in Ortisei, Italy where they use raw materials of the highest quality. Why do they do what they do? It is because they believe in dignified art which inspires praying. Brothers Filip and DDr. Robert Stuflesser, the current and 5th generation Ferdinand Stuflesser 1875, are committed in guaranteeing their valued customers throughout the world a state of the art craftsmanship meeting their expectations, the assurance of superior quality, and the continuous improvement of professional assistance. In this recent interview with DDr. Robert Stuflesser, Regina Magazine introduces its readers to the beauty of precision sculpting and wood carving which is Ferdinand Stuflesser 1875.

Q: Robert, have you noticed a growth and more interest in statues from people who are looking for a more traditional decoration in their churches? Can you tell me what they are wanting? Yes, during these last years I have noticed that people are coming back to more traditional statues and interiors. Naturally some like a more modern style, but the trend is going clearly towards a more traditional style. Some also like combining a modern architecture with traditional carvings. Please see attached a highly traditional design of an Altar we have to realise for Holland. We designed it, and now we are going to construct it. Q: Have you built any traditional altars lately? Yes, we had the opportunity to realize different altars during these last years. None of them were modern; they were all constructed in a traditional style. One of the high altars we realized was a copy of an altar destroyed during war. Its height was 27 feet and was created for Vukovar, Croatia. Another altar was for Scotland and it was actually a reconstruction of an altar we received from the Vatican. We also constructed one for in Burleson, Texas. Our long experience and knowledge passed on from generation to generation for approximately 140 years allows us to form our creations with all the ancient techniques used already a century ago. Naturally these techniques are refined with modern instruments. All projects are custom made which allows us to adapt each realization to the rest of the interior perfectly. Q. What is the most popular statue that people want from you? This is difficult to tell, we realize traditional and â&#x20AC;&#x153;newâ&#x20AC;? statues but maybe the most requested statues are the Christ figure, St. Joseph, Our Lady in different representations, as well as Padre Pio, Mother Theresa, St. Francis, and St. Antony.

Ferdinand Stuflesser

Q. Your Family history is so interesting! Does your family have a favourite church that you go to? Have you carved the statuary there? Since we all are living in Ortisei where our workshops are located, our preferred church is our local parish church. We are not far away from this very beautiful church which is full of carved art. Yes, there are some “Ferdinand Stuflesser 1875” statues and also a High Altar which was constructed and donated from our workshops. Is there a ‘special’ project that you are working on or that you would like to do in the future? At the moment we are working on an interesting project. We are restoring a gothic High Altar which we bought some time ago. We are adapting it to the specific needs of a Church in Holland: the existing parts will be completed by new parts so to fill the space harmonically. My dream for the future? A lot of custom carvings of each sort which will make a lot of people happy... and maybe one for POPE FRANCIS! In the picture below you will find the central part is existing and the rest will be constructed. Do you have a most precious treasure from the earlier generations such as Ferdinand Stuflesser I or II or from Johann Stuflesser which they carved? Yes, there are some beautiful pieces which we all particularly love: a Pieta statue (pictured) a St. Ann figure and a Christ figure. These are my favourites. Robert, if there is ANYTHING that you would like to add to these questions, please tell us. To add: I thank all the people who love our carvings and pray to them. I also want to say thank you to our precious Facebook followers who see so many of our new statues. To tell: I love to communicate with so many people all around the world and there is one thing that bounds us --- our Catholic faith! Ferdinand Stuflesser Ferdinand Stuflesser Facebook

Dr. Robert Stuflesser and Filip Stuflesser

First generation Ferdinand Stuflesser

Ferdinand Stuflesser I

Ferdinand Stuflesser

Johann Stuflesser, 2nd Generation

Ferdinand Stuflesser, 3rd and 4th Generations,

Filip Stuflesser 5th Generation

Pilgrimage By Donna Sue Berry

t was a sunny spring morning in 2004 when Donna Sue Berry stepped out of the safety of Notre Dame Cathedral. She joined 10,000 hardy Catholics to walk many miles up and down roads, across ravines, and through forests to pray where Saints had prayed. Little did she know that before the day was through she would run screaming through a French forest wondering just what in the hell she was doing there.

Reliquary of St. Therese` in Lisieux

“Come with me to Chartres, Mom!” my daughter Crystal begged. Her aim was that I should accompany her on this historically Catholic 72-mile pilgrimage from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to Chartres. This incredible 12th century Romanesque and Gothic cathedral had seen saints, kings, queens and such over the centuries. It had been built and completed by 1220 -- and I figured I had about a 1220-to-1 chance of not being able to go. I was an Oklahoma girl, after all, age 49, who had never crossed an ocean and had barely been out of state. I was suffering from all the baggage that comes along with being divorced less than a year, after 28 years of marriage to my high school boyfriend. I was extremely hurt, lonely, angry, and tired of things going wrong. I was also a regular non-parishioner at about five different Catholic churches in the area. I was not allowing myself to get too close to any one person or place. But the promise of time with my daughter and first grandson was too enticing, and I agreed to go. And in the hours we spent walking around Paris, I began my own private journey. At the Convent of the Sisters of Charity I prayed in front of the Blessed Sacrament, next to the incor-

rupt body of St. Catherine Laboure. I asked her help in moving forward from my painful past. I wanted to live in the fullness of Christ’s mercy. I couldn’t believe I was in the very spot where that saintly nun had placed her hands upon the lap of the Blessed Mother and received from her the Miraculous Medal. The next day we wandered through Lisieux and knelt in awe at the the reliquary of the saint of my childhood, Saint Therese. I asked her for prayers and intercession. All through France, I was living in a dream filled with many graces from God. What consolation and joy! The next day we mingled with the pilgrimage crowds filing into Notre Dame Paris. The excitement and warmth washed over us as we knelt in that awesome Cathedral. I was overwhelmed, full of glorious expectations and riding on a high of enthusiastic prayer and love for our Lord. Everywhere I saw the smiling faces of men and women, ready to set out. We were with Americans, behind a huge banner of our Lady of Guadalupe. Someone started to lead the first of many, many rosaries as we walked up streets and down Parisian lanes, praying and talking. The pilgrims looked right out of a picture book, in hiking clothes with rosaries dangling from their hands.

Pilgrimage

It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long however before I had fallen back a little, engrossed in a fascinating conversation with two ladies in their early 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from Washington State. With their skirts, hiking boots and walking sticks, they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the least bit out of breath, yet I was starting to tire. How could that even be? I was so much younger, but I was breathing heavily. The beautiful, sunny day was making me hot and sweaty. Had we even made it ten miles yet? Eventually the ladies were slowing their pace so as not to leave me behind. I waved them ahead, and kept falling further back.

It wasn’t long however before I had fallen back a little, engrossed in a fascinating conversation with two ladies in their early 70’s from Washington State. With their skirts, hiking boots and walking sticks, they weren’t the least bit out of breath, yet I was starting to tire. How could that even be? I was so much younger, but I was breathing heavily. The beautiful, sunny day was making me hot and sweaty. Had we even made it ten miles yet? Eventually the ladies were slowing their pace so as not to leave me behind. I waved them ahead, and kept falling further back. There were hundreds of people from around the world -- so many nationalities and languages, and before long I was surrounded by non-English speakers. As I dropped back even further I began to panic, but just then we were led into a huge park. There were water bottles everywhere and I slumped down onto the grass in relief. As I began to push myself to stand, I realized that I couldn’t; defeated, I fell back onto the ground. Clearly, I was in trouble. All the sight-seeing, walking up and down cathedral stairs and in and out of tourist sites had already stretched me physically. But the first fifteen miles of the Pilgrimage had done me in. Now I really panicked! The a few people left looked more wrecked than I did. I noticed blood on one pilgrim’s ankle, and not a few bandages, too. Some looked absolutely worn out and just sat or lay back on the ground. The walking wounded were silently praying. We were alone in the park and could no longer hear the singing or the prayers.

We didn’t have long to wait, however, before someone looking very much in charge, with both French and broken English showed up. We were told we would be picked up by cars and taken to the Mass. As we all began to limp, I came to a clear conclusion. I scoured the sidewalks for a phone booth. I had a credit card. Had there been a taxi, I would have driven to Chartres. I needed a hotel. I needed a bath. I needed out of this pilgrimage. But what I really needed was to continue the pilgrimage. So I obediently climbed into a car and moments later, we were delivered to a beautiful wooded clearing where the pilgrimage came to a halt. Preparations were being made for an outdoor Mass. I found a rock to sit down on, realized that the quiet ride had helped to relieve my sore muscles some, and I began to look around for my daughter. It wasn’t long before we actually caught sight of one another across the sea of pilgrims and I waved an “ok” that I was fine. But I wasn’t. It was getting hotter; I was stifling in that airless green forest. The body heat from all of us pilgrims could have heated an arena in mid winter. What was wrong with me? I was not normally such a wimp nor a complainer. I had been so excited about this trip and had felt physically up to the challenge. But as I sat there in my tee shirt, jeans and white Reeboks, looking totally American and out of place, I felt completely and utterly lost. I thought I had picked up the pieces of my life. I believed I had put myself back together after the divorce the summer before. But gazing down at the

Pilgrimage

“Dear God, I prayed fervently. Get me out of here!!” ground in front of me and feeling the crowd press in as the Mass was about to begin, I was still buried in so much pain. I fought back the tears that had been threatening to fall the last few miles by looking around for the Americans. Then, I suddenly realized: I was doing what I normally did when pain or problems arose -- I started looking for something to do or to fill my thoughts with. I glanced over at my daughter, who looked ever so cool, calm and relaxed as she smiled and joked with the pilgrims. I loved that girl. But why in the world did I ever say I’d go on this pilgrimage? Suddenly, the pilgrims quieted, and the chanting started. The Mass began and we hit our knees -some of us more slowly than others. “In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spriritus Sancti.” Dear God, I prayed fervently. Get me out of here!! The Mass in the forest was incredible. Afterwards, despairing of the miracle I had prayed for but which didn’t happen, I slowly, painfully headed into the woods in search of the medical bus. Then my daughter appeared, merrily skipping along with the rest of our fellow pilgrims. And it wasn’t just her. All of these crazy-with-sweat, aching backs and legs pilgrims with their rosaries flying through their fingers seemed to be the most amazingly joyful people I had seen in years. They just kept praying and singing while they walked. Why couldn’t I find that kind of joy? I had been to Confession and Mass, too.

But there I was, hurting and panting as I trudged alone into the hot, steamy, airless forest. I just knew I was going to die from the heat, exhaustion, and the emotions welling up inside. The bag over my shoulder felt heavier and heavier. Perspiration trickled down my back. My clothes were sticking to me. “What am I doing here?” With each step the words screamed in my head, louder than they had all day. I was going to explode! This was insane. This was supposed to have the trip of a lifetime; a chance to see France and the places where my favorite Catholic Saints had lived. “And died,” I scoffed, and tripped over a fallen tree limb. Mascara ran down my cheeks as I began to cry. I was a mess, inside and out. I could barely catch my breath but I began to sputter “Why, God? Why am I here?! This was supposed to be a fun, educational, illuminating trip!” But this wasn’t fun. I needed comforting. I needed love and I needed to quit hurting. With each step the tears poured out more. I brushed the sticky hair away from my face. Finally I stopped. Alone in that forest, I screamed aloud. “God, why? I didn’t ask for this! What in the hell am I doing here?” I slid down onto my knees as the dam broke. I had never cried like that in my entire life. It seemed to come from deep down in my gut, and I’m not sure even to this day that any sound was coming out of my mouth.

Pilgrimage

I don’t really know how long I was like that, but as I started to calm down I seemed to hear an inaudible voice say, “Because I love you.” I looked down at the rosary that I had been crushing in my palm. Gazing at the crucifix, I spoke the words out loud, “Because You love me.” At that moment, I realized how quiet and peaceful it was. I knelt, feeling the cool, light breeze caressing my face. All the fight went out of me -- all the anger, pain, and humilation of the last few years – simply disappeared. God had used the Pilgrimage to Chartres to grind the bitterness out of me, to free me from what was holding me back from moving forward in grace. Hadn’t that been my prayer at the altar of St Catherine Laboure` and to St. Therese’ just the day before? For a few moments I knelt in that peaceful quiet, when suddenly I heard a horn honking. The medical bus was just through the trees! To board the bus, drink clear water and lean my weary head against the window was another gift from God! As the bus filled up with pilgrims, I saw that only a couple of us were not bleeding from the journey. One person was pretty sure her ankle was more broken than sprained. It wasn’t long before there were three buses full of the walking wounded.

A woman with a bull horn appeared and began to tell us to remember that we were here for a reason. That this was the same pilgrimage that saints had walked. We were to offer our aches, pains and prayers up for the conversion of sinners and our own souls. She began the rosary and we prayed the rest of the afternoon as we journeyed on toward the spot where we would sleep for the night. I was still hurting, and felt like I’d never be able to walk again, but my soul was singing. I believe that was one of the most devout rosaries I have ever said. Evening brought us to a huge field where we would unpack our luggage and eat our evening meal. There was broth and bread. Later, in our sleeping bags, we could pop a couple of Tylenol PM to help us get through the night with our aches and blistered feet. Morning came and Crystal and I could both hardly move. Tents had to be repacked and Mass said before we headed out again. Again Crys and I said goodbye. I joined the walking wounded again; our group had grown and there were now many of us limping and dragging ourselves down the dirt lane. Then, it began to rain. We were a thoroughly bedraggled group of pilgrims who climbed wearily aboard the medical bus when it finaly arrived. I took the last seat next to a young woman who looked like she had been through a war.

She was overweight, dressed in punk regalia, with massive head of wild black hair. She had a gash over one eyebrow, covered by a bloody bandage, and her ankle was wrapped. She looked up at me, smiled cautiously and in a very French accent said, “Hullo.” I asked if she would like one of my bottles of water. Was she okay? She shook her head and began to cry. She’d sprained her ankle and fell, gashing her forehead, the day before, she said. The medics had bandaged her up and sent her to the bus for the rest of the trip. With French courtesy, nonetheless, she inquired after me. Why was I on the pilgrimage? Why was I was on the bus? Satisfied, she finally opened up. She said her name was Marie. She’d made a promise to come on this particular pilgrimage, she said. This was not her choice. But her sister had been fatally ill the year before, and she had had to promise her that she would make the Chartres pilgrimage. She was a radio DJ , alientated from the Faith for years. And at the moment, injured and suffering from the heat, pain, and inconveniences, she confessed that she would gladly go home -- if she could. However, with tears in her eyes, she maintained that she had resolved to stick it out. There had been the promise to her sister. We rode in silence until the lady with the bull horn told us to grab our rosaries, and so we began to pray. Or rather, I did. Marie sat in gloomy silence, broken by an occasional muffled sob. I watched the the French country side slide by, drenched in falling rain. The Hail Mary was intoned in soft rhythm all around us. I prayed for Marie hunched next to me. I prayed for everyone I could think of. I offered up the miserable day and all my aches and pains for Marie’s conversion. I asked the Blessed Mother to wrap her up in her protective mantle and give her peace. Soon the rain slowed to a trickle, and the buses slowed as well. We turned onto a small lane that led to an ancient church with a graveyard. The stone

markers were so old that most appeared to have toppled onto their sides. Everyone began milling around into the church or through the graveyard. A few found various jackets or rain gear to spread out onto the ground so they could sit without getting wet. Marie found a big piece of plastic and claimed a spot herself, but I wandered into the church. It was fabulous. The altar, the statues, and the stations of the cross were so old and beautifully made. The church pews had small swinging doors on them and the names of parishioners dead these many years. I pulled one open and stepped into the pew. I knelt there, feeling completely overcome with the holiness of the place. I must have prayed for half an hour, immersed in the peace of my surroundings before another pilgrim made their way into the church. Back out to the open field, I saw pilgrims scattered on the ground, and a Priest with a bullhorn, leading the rosary. Then I noticed several priests on chairs, with a pilgrim kneeling beside each one. They were hearing confessions! As one pilgrim would receive absolution and leave a priest, another pilgrim would take their place. I was moved to see the emotion on pilgrim faces as they confessed and then rose absolved from their sins. Next to me, I was astonished to see Marie actually praying her rosary aloud in French. It was beautiful to see. I began to move my fingers over my beads. She grinned at me shyly and held her rosary up as if to say “I thought I’d try it.” Just as we finished the rosary, a priest touched my shoulder and asked if I was ‘the American.’ Would I lead the next rosary in English? He handed me the bull horn with a smile. So, I began the rosary and Marie said it along with me. It was quite a beautiful experience to hear the pilgrims as they followed in their various accents. At the last decade of the rosary the sun came out from behind the clouds promising a beautiful afternoon. I told Marie that I’d be right back and I wandered over to a priest hearing confessions. My conscience had been bothering me since I ‘blew up’ in the wood

the day before. It was time to confess the things that had been weighing heavy on my heart. Afterwards my soul seemed to sing and I felt intensely happy. I knelt and said my penance and then looked at Marie. “Why?!” she asked, flabbergasted. “Why what?” I responded, confused. “But you are so holy! Why do you go to confession again!?” “Oh Marie, I’m not holy. I’m just a sinner and I had to!” I explained a little about the Sacrament. Marie was very quiet when the next rosary began. And a few moments later, she touched my shoulder and said she would be right back. I watched in surprise and thanksgiving as she knelt beside a priest and bowed her head. She had not been to confession in years! What a grace. What incredible graces I had received and witnessed on this pilgrimage to Chartres. I bowed my own head and thanked God. That chilly night passed, but I could hardly contain my joy. The day had been filled with so many blessings. The next morning I walked the last few miles into Chartres. I will never forget the first sight of the spires of the cathedral rising just above the trees, nor the walk through the city as thousands of pilgrims converged through the open doors with their ban-

ners and rosaries. We were there. We were inside the huge cathedral I had learned about at university. This is where saints and sinners had travelled for centuries and knelt to receive their King in Holy Communion. We pilgrims knelt -- wet, hungry, and sore -- but there was only one thing that mattered as we bowed our heads at the Consecration of the Body and Bood of Jesus. We were about to receive Christ in Holy Communion. All else just faded away after I received the Host. But as I looked up at that north rose window of the Chartres Cathedral in all its grandeur I realized that I was now a part of it. I had knelt where saints and sinner had knelt. My hands had touched its cool stones and my voice rang out in song just like theirs had done. I had been given the grace to finish the pilgrmage and I would leave that cathedral changed. As we said goodbye to old and new friends, I overheard a man shout to a fellow pilgrim, “See you here next year!” Next year? Would I ever want to go back to walk this Pilgrimage again? Probably not. But I would never have traded this for anything. I will always be grateful to God that my daughter helped me take the first steps on the Pilgrimage that helped me reclaim my life.