Abbey-Roads2

Photo: Fr. Andrew Cozzens, one of the six original founders.  (If I remember correctly, Bishop Carlson was associated with the founding of the group.)

A priestly fraternity. 

There is a Diocesan Priestly Fraternity of men in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis known as the Companions of Christ.  It is a small group, made up of extraordinary young men; priests and seminarians.  I have never met one of them I did not like.  They are solid priests, faithful to the Magisterium, well educated, while extremely approachable and friendly.

I thought of them this morning at Mass, on this the feast of St. Aloysius.  One day, as I walked through the Church Goods Dept. (where I once worked), one of the young seminarians (in his 20’s) was trying on a cassock and surplice.  I never can remember his name.  Anyway, he was so strikingly handsome, I couldn’t help saying, “My gosh!  You look just like St. Aloysius!”  I think I embarrassed him.  (I do stuff like that, once I was speaking with a Frenchwoman, who was a vendor for a vestment company, as she was talking, I interrupted with, “You are so beautiful!”  Actually, I think she liked it.  Tourettes, I guess.)

What impresses me about this group is their devotion to the priesthood, their enthusiasm for ministry, and obedience to the Archbishop.  Each of them have a particular kindness and openess to others - and they appear so happy in their vocation.  I have never, ever heard a negative criticism from any of them, as regards the Church, the hierarchy, or the liturgy.  Each of them are faithful to the proper rubrics associated with Mass and the Sacraments, without ostentation.

If you don’t know who they are, I hope you get to meet them, or have the good fortune to have them staff your parish.  Fr. Baer, the Rector of the seminary, is also a member of the fraternity.

Here is the description of the community from their website:

The Companions of Christ is a fraternity of diocesan priests and seminarians of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.  While serving as priests of the Archdiocese the Companions of Christ live in community, where they are able to pray together, share meals, and support each other. In their life and ministry as priests, the Companions of Christ offer three emphases:

Don Marco has a sublime post on St. Aloysius Gonzaga, one of my favorite saints, and his.  Therese was pretty fond of him as well.

Father refers to him as the patron saint of schoolboys - which he is - but it shouldn’t put off young, virile males - or old guys either.  And of course young women would do well to befriend St. Aloyisius too.  Don Marco also lists other aspects of his patronage:

“Luigi may well be the most loved Jesuit in history. He has hundreds of thousands of friends the world over. Some, following the initiative of several Popes, honour him as the patron saint of youth. More recently, he has become the protector of children at risk of sexual abuse, something that, as a page at court, he was obliged to confront and flee. Having cared for victims of the plague that devastated Rome in 1591, he is also the friend and patron of people with AIDS and of those who care for them.” - Vultus Christi

Having been raised at court, the young aristocrat was surrounded by corruption.  Which is why his purity and piety is so outstanding.  Therefore, I think he should also be a model for young men and women who live surrounded by the influence of decadent popular culture.  St. Luigi was a strong, virile, contemporary young man of his times, and is an excellent model for all of us who live in such a sexualized society.

Photo: Carmelite preparing the body of a nun.

If you love Carmelites, Ken at Hallowed Ground has wonderful photos.  The ones showing the nuns with the enclosure veils are great.  I last saw nuns wearing enclosure veils in the 1970’s in Europe.  The Poor Clares at Assisi still wore them then, as well as the Carmelites in Portugal.  When I was very little, I saw two Visitation nuns crossing the street with enclosure veils.  I also visited the Carmel in St. Paul, when the nuns first set up house, and I’m sure the sister at the turn wore a veil over her face.  I think enclosure veils are cool.