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| Sacred Heart Church in Limmerick |
(Dublin) It would be a euphemism if one were to describe the pontificate of Pope Francis as "favorable" for tradition. Where Pope Francis is not even restricted to brutally attacking against the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, he generates through gestures and multiple statements, a climate in which other leaders in the Church whether rightly or not, are harassed for their connection to Tradition by citing him in many ways. Equality and equal treatment can only be spoken of in rare cases.
This open or latent discrimination in the dioceses and religious communities interferes with the growth of the tradition, but above all it prevents missionary work. In a state of mere toleration, tradition is hedged in on an allotment. There they may be, but no visibility is possible. If they take such on themselves, they must expect reprisals. This results in a heavily damaged Church in Europe itself, deprived of the medicine they need for recovery. A form of self-hatred, the unconscious self-mutilation or blindness?
The Successful Example of Limerick
Sacred Heart Church of Limerick
At the beginning of Advent nevertheless, an example with good results has been reported.
In Ireland, the Jesuits sold in 2006 the most popular Sacred Heart Church, in Limerick City. Limerick is a Viking settlement, which was created with the name Hlymrekr and first occupied in 812. The city now has nearly 100,000 inhabitants and is the third largest city in Ireland.
The buyer of the church was a construction company that wanted to convert the church into a swimming pool and wellness center. The construction company came but in financial difficulties and was unable to realize the conversion of the Sacred Heart Church. Then a "miracle", happened as Messa in Latino reported. In 2012, the church was bought back from its profane, six year long ownership by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICRSS) and resurfaced. Due to the special Old Ritual situation, the Institute was able to purchase the entire complex of a former Jesuit college, church and garden for around 700,000 euros instead of the originally requested four million.
That Old Ritual Communities often have to build or buy new churches, is a testament to the previously mentioned "special treatment". In this specific case, the Jesuits had already made the sale. The successful buyback was overseen by the young canon, who now works at the Sacred Heart Church, with particular satisfaction.
Like a Sardine: Instead of a Seminary Interreligious Welcome Center for Immigrants
As young as the priests are, the canonically erected instituted Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, established in 1990 is also young, based in the Italian Gricigliano. The Institute's own seminary in Tuscany is far too small to accommodate the number of seminarians. In Italy it was not yet possible, however, to find a second seminary. The community wanted to buy a pontifical seminary vacant for decades in Sardinia. When the bishop in charge found out, he prevented the purchase. Instead of a seminary of an Old Ritual Community an inter-religious and inter-cultural "Welcome Center" for immigrants has been established in its place. (see "Interreligious and intercultural center" instead Seminary of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest ).
Oldest Sacred Heart Church of Ireland
Celebration in the traditional rite in Limerick
The Jesuit Order had begun in 1865 with the construction of the church, which was completed and dedicated in 1868. It is the oldest church in Ireland dedicated to the Sacred Heart. The interior has been designed with large mosaics. On the large organ loft is a Telford organ, highly valuedby church musicians from 1924. The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest has been afforded a successful restoration of the Telford organ, by restorer Padraig O'Donovan from Corck.
The Jesuits sold everything with the sale of the church, including all the equipment, liturgical objects, confessionals and pews but also the altar, the Stations of the Cross, and even the tabernacle.
Painfully, the Sacred Heart statue which was especially venerated by the faithful was found to be missing. It was always lit and could be seen immediately from any entrance. The church belonged to the city's most visited. The Sacred Heart Friday on the first Friday of the month was firmly anchored in the population.
The Moral of the Story
Today, the church is again a thriving center of the Catholic Church. Daily Holy Mass is celebrated in the traditional rite.
Messa in Latino writes: "A beautiful story with a happy ending, and with a moral of the story which some do not like to hear: When we trust ourselves in humility and offer obedience to traditional orders and communities, then the church blooms anew".
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: ICRSS / Clerical Whispers
image: ICRSS / Clerical Whispers
Trans: Tancred vekronn99@hotmail.com
AMDG
