Card. Burke Inducts New Members of a Confraternity in Rome

This past Sunday, at the FSSP parish in Rome, Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke presided over the vestition of new members of the Archconfraternity of the Most Holy Trinity of the Pilgrims. Founded in 1548 under the auspices of St Philip Neri, for over three centuries this Archconfraternity was one of the principal entities responsible for the care of poor pilgrims in Rome, especially during Jubilee years. The church was also an important focus for the 40 Hours Devotion, which until the late 1960s was maintained continuously in Rome, starting in one church as it ended in another. Since the fall of the Papal State and the confiscation of all of the confraternity’s property, it has functioned as a pious association of prayer and sanctification of the individual members. Recently, after a period of suspension, it has been formally revived and begun to accept new members, under the leadership of the clergy of the FSSP, with a special focus on Eucharistic devotion. (See below for information about joining the confraternity, which is open to all.)

The new members’ habits prepared for blessing.

At the beginning of the rite, the cardinal and the members of the confraternity kneel and say Psalm 50, the Miserere, followed by a series of versicles, and the following prayer. “Most beloved brethren, let us pray to our Lord, Jesus Christ, for these His servants, who for the love of Him hasten to put aside the vanity of the world; that He may grant them the Holy Spirit, who may enkindle in them continual desire for the observance of God’s commandments, and of the statutes of the venerable Archiconfraternity dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity, and keep their hearts pure from the hindrances of the world, and every vain desire; so that, as they are changed by entering this brotherhood, so the gift of His right hand may confirm in them the virtue of good works, keep their heart from every form of blindness, and grant them the grace of His eternal light. Who liveth and reigneth forever and ever. R. Amen.”

The prayers of blessing of the habits. “Almighty and everlasting God, Who showest to sinners that seek Thee the light of truth, that they may return to the way of justice; ble+ss, we ask, and sanctify these garments, and Thy servants who for their sins are clothed in them. Mercifully enlighten them by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that they may ever merit to weep over their sins, and obtain the bounty of Thy indulgence. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. (For the belts and aprons) Let there descend, we ask, o Lord, upon these belts of the men and aprons of the women the pouring forth of Thy abundant blessing, and grant that, as Thy servants, being girded with them, are afflicted in body, so by the fruit of good works, they may be refreshed in mind. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.”

The new members kneel before the cardinal to receive their habits, with the belt or apron, and a candle, as he says to them, “May the Lord clothe thee with the new man, who according to God was created in justice, and the holiness of truth.”

Congratulations to our favorite Roman pilgrim, Agnese!

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Another Sevillian Cofradía Recuperating the EF

After the images of the usus antiquior Mass of "El Silencio", by way of Una Voce Sevilla now come pictures of another Sevillian cofradía celebrating in the Extraordinary Form: The Royal, Most Ancient, Illustrious and Fervorous Brotherhood and Confraternity of Nazarenes of the Holy Interment of Christ in His Mercy and of Our Lady of Sorrows in Her Crowned Solitude (Real, Muy Antigua, Ilustre y Fervorosa Hermandad y Cofradía de Nazarenos del Santo Entierro de Cristo en su Misericordia y Nuestra Señora de los Dolores en su Soledad Coronada), popularly known as "La Soledad" celebrated Mass according to the Missal of 1962 on the Thursday of Passion week, 2 April 2009, in the context of a septenary of Our Lady of Sorrows; the celebrant was the spiritual director of the cofradía, Fr. Fernando Reyes.



Thanks to Una Voce Málaga for the tip.

Usus Antiquior with a Sevillian Cofradía

The Pontifical and Royal Archconfraternity of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene, the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and of Mary Most Holy of the Conception (Archicofradía Pontificia y Real de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, Santa Cruz en Jerusalén y María Santísima de la Concepción) of Seville, popularly known as "El Silencio", celebrated yesterday the fourth day of a five day celebration in honour of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene with Mass in the usus antiquior. The celebrant was spiritual director of the Confraternity, Fr Parrilla. "El Silencio" was thus the first of the Sevillian penitential confraternities (which have their impressive processions during Holy Week) to recuperate the Extraordinary Form for its solemn acts. Una Voce Sevilla, which helped to organise the celebration has pictures, here are some of them:



Note the presence - traditional in the orbis hispanicus - of ministers in tunicles:




Thanks to Hoc Signo for the tip.