Traditional Catholic "Oratory" Established in Berlin

Inside the Vatican | June/July 2004 | Alberto Carosa

[Pyro7480]

Father Gerald Goesche is a spiritual volcano. But one senses in him, not the sparks and fire of someone angry, bitter, judgmental, but the warmth and fervor of someone on fire with the love of God and his fellow man. To attend one of Goesche’s Masses, and then to spend time with him to discuss the faith and the situation of the Church and world today, is to spend time with a man who seems literally ablaze with the love of Jesus Christ. His face shines with joy as he celebrates Mass and preaches his homily, his arms swing through the air as if seeking to embrace the truths he articulates, and the evident joy within him erupts readily into great rolling roars of laughter.

This is spirituality reminiscent of St. Philip Neri, so much loved by the common people of Rome 400 years ago for his goodness and sense of humor. And it is a spirituality which dreams of lighting a spark in a Germany where the faith has seemingly “grown cold.”

To this end, Goesche is traveling this summer to Berlin to open a unique “oratory.” Starting this summer, in the heart of Berlin, then, the Catholic liturgy will be celebrated according to the Old Rite of the Mass, with the full backing of the Holy See, in a remarkable initiative that has been almost entirely overlooked by the world’s press.

Goesche, like a modern St. Boniface, is returning to his native Germany as a warrior for God, his only weapons those of the Spirit: faith, hope, love, and the joy of knowing Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected.

He deserves the full support of those who have the means to help him. – The Editor

A NEW TRADITIONAL CONGREGATION APPROVED BY ROME

On May 26, 2004, l’Osservatore Romano devoted almost a full page and two long articles to commemorating the liturgical memory and feast of Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595), founder of a congregation known as the “Oratorio.” Its members were called Oratorians because at certain hours each day they would gather the people together for prayer and meditation.

One of the articles, by Archbishop of Lecce Cosmo Francesco Ruppi, was significantly entitled “An Apostle of Joy in the Streets and Squares of Rome,” stressing this fascinating feature of his holy life, so much so that he came to be called Philip the Good – “the good Pippo.” Also his sense of humor became legendary.

His “Oratorio” became almost a new religious order, Archbishop Ruppi points out, though somewhat different in nature from all the others: it is made up of autonomous houses called “congregations,” where clergy and lay people lead a communitarian life without vows, solely bound by charity, aimed at forming them in piety, preaching, and an apostolate among the youth and students

This mode of direction as taught by St. Philip is to be gentle rather than severe, and abused are to be attacked indirectly. “Once let a little love find entrance to their hearts,” St. Philip used to say, “and the rest will follow.”

The Oratorians are headed by a superiore maggiore (major superior) who in turn is responsible to a delegate of the Apostolic See.

Father Gerald Goesche is the first superior of a new St. Philip Neri-style oratory, the “Institute of St. Philip Neri,” founded in Berlin, Germany, in 2003. On May 25, Cardinal Dario Castrillon-Hoyes, the prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, and president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, signed on behalf of John Paul II the decree which granted the newly-established institute the statue of Institute of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right.

If on the one hand this institute could be described as a modern version of St. Philip’s ideal, on the other hand its apostolic life will be based on the pre-Vatican II traditional Latin liturgy.

In the words of Father Goesche as reported in the German news agency online bulletin Kath-net (25 May 2004), the intention is “to combine the preservation of Catholic tradition with a pastoral approach adjusted to the present time,” thus caring for the nowadays rudderless people, a sort of mission “in partibus infidelium” (among unbelievers).

Germany, especially in Berlin, he claims, is, a country where the faith is a pale and weak; there the Institute is determined to usher in a “new springtime” and so contribute to a revival of Catholicism

We briefly met Father Goesche at the end of a solemn thanksgiving Mass he and the other Institute members offered the following day, May 26, which coincided with the feast of St. Philip Neri.

Interview with Father Gerald Goesche, Superior of the Institute of St. Philip Neri of Pontifical Right

Can you briefly recount your personal history, a bit of your background with the discovery of the traditional Latin Mass and the motivations underlying your decision to establish the Institute of St. Philip Neri?

FATHER GOESCHE: I come from the diocese of Aachen in the western part of Germany and was in Rome to study, where I took my doctorate in the Gregorian University. I came to know the old Latin Mass at the French abbey of Le Barroux and suddenly realized that it was what I had always been looking for.

From this I developed the idea of a sort of safe haven for secular priests leading a normal life and also for lay people wishing to nourish themselves with the spirituality of the old liturgy

After a period of collaboration with the Society of St. Pius X, in 2000 there was the great offer by the Holy Father and Cardinal Castrillon-Hoyos, President of Ecclesia Dei, to regulate the whole situation in order to have, so to say, a sort of “Latin Uniates,” which turned out to be successful with the erection of a personal apostolic administration for the traditional community in Campos in Brazil.

I knew three priests in Campos who invited me to attend the episcopal consecration of Msgr. Rifan. On that occasion I had the chance to have a lengthy conversation with Cardinal Castillion-Hoyos, who at that time wanted all the Society of St. Pius X to be incorporated in a structure for those who had a special devotion for the Old Rite. He was actually prepared to bend over backward, even with further concessions, to favor a settlement.

But the Society is fundamentally divided into two tendencies: those who feel frustrated and fear they would not be welcomed back by Rome, the Holy See, and the others who feel they are the pure, the just, and whose position is bordering on schism.

Following the encouragement received by Cardinal Castrillion-Hoyos, especially during the Brazilian-style supper in Campos after the consecration, I came forward with deacon who had just left the Society seminary prior to his ordination and three other seminarians, and discussed with him our project, whose most suitable model is that of the oratory.

There are various reasons for that. Having studied in Rome, I realized that St. Philip Neri embodies the soul of the Roman apostolate and we badly need this apostolate also in Berlin. People are today so far away no only from the faith, but also from the basic tenets of common sense, which are not matters of faith, up to the point of not even being sure of their own sex! It’s really terrible.

How can one get to the heart of the people? Only with charity and beauty and for this Saint Philip is the ideal apostle, especially his idea of being together with a group of secular priests, leading a communitarian life as brothers, as a family, without vows.

And this is not only an intellectual decision, but a practical one, due to the features of an oratory, with some adaptations for juridical reasons.

In fact, we may not pretend to be already a full-fledged oratory and carry this name. It will still take some time for this to happen. But in the meantime, for us to receive a certain security and also as a sign to others, we have already been erected as an institute of pontifical rite and I have been appointed the major superior of this institute for us to calmly and confidently continue in a clear-cut and juridically stable situation.

You speak of “a sign to others.” Does your recognition on the part of the Holy See bode well for a possible settlement with regard to the Society of St. Pius X?

GOESCHE: As you know, the Berlin Wall fell down, but I do not see myself as one, all alone, could be able to break down an entire wall. In the beginning, when the wall was crumbling, there were birds making holes in the wall and perhaps I could be likened to one of them.

But a distinction ought to be made. I think there are many hopes and possibilities for the future, but now it’s of essence for us to live well our vocation in Berlin. And if this is successful, I think that sooner or later we will produce a certain influence on other developments, which are somewhat hard to predict right now.

But I did receive lots of phone calls from many priests of the Society of St. Pius X who wished to congratulate me and whom I have not been hearing from for over a year and a half. At present we should try to do the best we can with regard to our new responsibilities, and should some good come out of it, so much the better.

Can you comment on the new Vatican document Redemptionis Sacramentum, aimed at doing away with or at least curbing liturgical abuses?

GOESCHE: This is certainly a step in the right direction, for which we are very, very grateful indeed. These are things that we have been saying for years, if not decades. It will be helpful for the faithful.

However, hearts cannot be changed by paper. It is a matter of mentality, it involves a change of hearts and minds, namely “senitre cum ecclesia.” It’s certainly a help to the faithful, but things actually get changed with a changed heart on the part of the pastors and the faithful.

The Vatican document was unreservedly welcomed also by a countless number of friends of mine, both religious and lay. Many of them for example, albeit very close to us, are celebrating the New Rite, but want it to be carried out in a dignified manner, with due respect and without many additions which have become almost the norm in so many parish churches.

A 70-year-old parish priest told one of our members that he wished us to be able “to transmit what we proved unable to transmit.” These old priests are now sensing developments in the Church different from those that were marking the religious milieu only 10 or 20 years ago. The atmosphere is slowly but surely changing; a change is there and one can clearly feel it.

Do you think that the film The Passion of the Christ of Mel Gibson may have somehow popularized the old Latin Mass and therefore paved the way for an increasing acceptance and opening toward the Old Rite in many places, including the Vatican?

GOESCHE: Yes, certainly, certainly. Perhaps you are not aware that Christianity, many years ago, even much earlier than the Second Vatican Council itself, was seen as something for the highly educated, the learned, as if it would involved only an intellectual or conceptualization exercise of one’s mind. But Christianity also means something else, it is the real life of a person, Jesus, the saints, heaven, much more than mere concepts! I think that Mel Gibson is at once a representative of this change of atmosphere, and also a catalyst for this very change. His film The Passion of the Christ is in the original language and you can understand everything. A parallel with the traditional Latin Mass would not be out of place here, since the Mass too, although in Latin, is much more understandable than one would initially suppose at face value.

I read in the Kath news agency dispatch that the local hierarchy, namely the archbishop of Berlin, is favorable. Can you confirm this? This is not always so with local bishops dealing with traditional congregations…

GOESCHE: Yes, he is favorable now. In the beginning he was hesitant, I think, perhaps finding it a bit strange: the comeback of the old liturgy, wondering what was going on. But after having been encourage by Cardinal Castrillon-Hoyos, he gave his consent for us to settle in Berlin as an institute of pontifical right.

Interestingly, I think that at times the personal contact is of essence for any mistrust to be overcome. In fact, a deliberation of the canon capitular mandated that three of our institute’s conferes live in the bishop’s residence for a month, and this in a way broke the ice.

Again, we tend to think that faith-related approaches involve the loftiest of intellectual and philosophical concepts, but such co-habitation with all its down-to-earth and practical aspects involved, e.g. helping to carry shopping bags from the department store, showed the others that after all we were neither so strange nor dangerous people. This experience may have prompted them to change their view of us and adopt a “wait and see” attitude, which would at least give us a chance.

Any final remark you would like to add?

GOESCHE: We are finding ourselves in a very difficult situation, we have made a leap in the dark, so to say. We are setting up a foundation which will have to stand on its own feet. We are in fact a small institute and won’t be able to rely on the Church tax system whereby the German state funds religious denominations. Putting all our confidence in God and the Holy See, we have done so much in Berlin, where by the grace of God we now have a beautiful church and a house for our members, including two priests and four students. But Berlin is no longer a such a rich city and we would need now is a new “airlift to Berlin,” this time a Catholic “airlift.”

Therefore I would like to call on your readers to support us with prayers and sympathy, but also materially with offerings and donations. They should be sent to: Father Gerald Goesche, Acc. Nr. 600 255 70 19, BLZ 370 602 93 (Pax Bank Berlin).

[Pyro7480]

Fr. Goesche with Institute members

Praepositus Reverend Dr. Gerald Goesche during the celebration of benediction at the end of his Mass of thanksgiving in the Roman Catholic Church of San Trinita dei Pellegrini on May 26, the feast of St. Philipp Neri. (Foto: Paul Badde)

The Institute's website is: http://www.institut-philipp-neri.de

You can read Fr. Goesche's remarks to the International Federation Una Voce here.

This establishment of the Institute of St. Philip Neri adds to the growing number of traditional Catholic religious communities recognized by the Holy See. Of course, there's the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and the Institute of Christ the King. But there are also the Benedictine Monastery of Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek, Oklahoma, the Oblates of Mary (religious sisters), The Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (cloistered religious sisters), and the Servants Minor of St. Francis (religious brothers and priests). Traditional Catholicism is growing steadily and surely!

[Pyro7480]

Orthodox Catholic ping!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

If you are in Germany here is another resource.

[NYer]

A wonderful article! Thank you for posting it! Finally someone who uses clear and level thinking to address the needs of so many who are sick and tired of the abuses that have evolved over the past 40 years. May St. Philip Neri watch over and guide him in this effort.

[Tantumergo]

Do you know what relationship they will have, if any, with the existing Oratorians of St. Philip Neri?

[AskStPhilomena]

"Traditional Catholicism is growing steadily and surely!"

...despite staunch opposition from many aging modernists. Let's pray for our liberal dissident adversaries to realize their grievous errors and make honest attempts at reparation before they get to their death-beds. Even though they gave us hell in this life, we still wish them heaven in the next.

[Convert from ECUSA]

"Even though they gave us hell in this life, we still wish them heaven in the next."

I know praying for them and wishing them Heaven in the next life is a good thing. But I admit there are times (lots of them), when I'd prefer them to have the application of a hickory switch on their back bumpers first.

[Unam Sanctam]

Excellent -- a true mission field!

[BlackElk]

Note that each and every congregation mentioned by Pyro7480 is Catholic (i.e. in communion with the Holy See) and therefore able to be actually traditional and authentically Roman Catholic.

[Pyro7480]

I forgot to include a new religious congregation in the Diocese of La Crosse called the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem. I was reminded of them due to another FReeper's comments on another thread. They had the active support of Bishop Burke before he left for St. Louis. You can read about them here

[ArrogantBustard]

The Society of St. John Cantius

[ArrogantBustard]

See #11. I think these guys are in your back yard.

[Pyro7480]

I wasn't aware that they were going to be training men to be priests too! This is awesome news! From their website:

The purpose of the Society of St. John Cantius is the formation of a Roman Catholic men's diocesan institute, which shall form and train men to be priests and brothers. On December 23, 1999, the memorial of St. John of Kenty (Cantius), Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, issued a "Decree approving the statutes and erecting the Society of St. John Cantius as a public diocesan association of the Christian faithful with juridic personality." On January 31, 2002, he gave his approval to the recently completed Spiritual Directory and Book of Customs as the local provisionary rule for the Society of St. John Cantius—the next step toward approval of constitutions for the Society as a diocesan institute. At that time, clerical members of the Society of St. John Cantius will become the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius and will have full faculties to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass according to the Missal of Paul VI (Novus Ordo) in both Latin and English, as well as the Missal of 1962 (Tridentine).

It looks like they're on their way. I know some of the trads on here aren't going to like the fact that they will celebrate the Novus Ordo, but I think these traditional-oriented congregations popping up in a bunch of places are good signs!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

What's the point of celebrating both Masses? Either they are going traditional or not. There is no in between.

[Pyro7480]

Well, I don't know. It may be a similar situation to the FSSP. They have the faculties as priests to say both rites. I know their home parish offers both, as do many indult parishes.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

The FSSP were not created to say the New Mass. They were created to preserve Tradition. If they are propagating the conciliar mess I will be withdrawing my monthly donation.

[Pyro7480]

As you probably know, this is a contentious issue within the FSSP. Normally, FSSP priests do not offer the New Mass. However, bishops invite all of the priests in their dioceses to concelebrate on Holy Thursday. Some in the FSSP didn't want to participate in that. I don't know how this was settled, but I remember reading a bunch of articles that argued over this issue.

[ArrogantBustard]

I quote from the Parish History webpage:

In July of 1988, His Holiness, Pope John Paul 11 issued the Motu Proprio, Ecclesia Dei, calling for a wide and generous application of the indult of 1984, which renewed the celebration of Mass according to the Missal of 1962 (widely known as the Tridentine Mass). The purpose of this Apostolic letter was to fulfill the rightful need of those attached to this Liturgical tradition and to bring those members of the laity, who were involved with the new schismatic Society of Pius X back into the true fold. Late in 1988, arrangements were made between Fr. Phillips and the Fr. Robert Kealy, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Chicago, to have the Indult Tridentine Mass celebrated on a weekly basis at St. John Cantius. The first of these Masses was said on February 4, 1989, and continues to this day. For many years, a group of Archdiocesan priests celebrated this Mass on a rotational basis. Then on December 8, 1992, a large group of faithful who had formerly worshiped with the schismatic Society of Pius X at their Oak Park mission, began attending the Indult Mass at St. John's.

Either they are going traditional or not. There is no in between.

That is your opinion. They do not agree. Francis Cardinal George does not agree. Hmmmm ...

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Your quote has nothing to do with anything I stated. I'm learning to expect that from a few of you.

[ArrogantBustard]

" Either they are going traditional or not. There is no in between."

is your opinion. It is your definition of "traditional". Neither the Society of Saint John Cantius nor Francis Cardinal George are bound to your definition of "traditional".

I suggest that if you want to understand where they're coming from, what is their purpose, that you should visit their website. Read what they have to say about themselves. If your questions are not answered, you might even try contacting them by post or email. I know it takes effort, but I feel certain that you are up to the challenge.