December 1980 Print

Donald Fantz

Monday, June 23rd - Tuesday, June 24TH

The long awaited day arrived at last! ANGELUS readers from Alaska, Washington, Texas, Missouri, Canada, Mexico and California gathered at New York's JFK Airport to be greeted by Father Hector Bolduc. We boarded TWA's 747 for departure at 7:30 p.m., arriving the next day at Paris's ultra-modern Charles de Gaulle Airport. We cleared customs and were met by our guide, to be escorted to the Hotel Club Méditerranée, located in Paris's residential Neuilly district.

This afternoon we enjoyed a panoramic tour of Paris. Elizabeth, our guide, made us feel at home in the French capital. In spite of the rainy, blustery weather, we saw the magnificent landmarks we had heard of—the Arch of Triumph, with its depictions of the Napoleonic Wars, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the elegant streets of Paris. The Champs Elysée, with its broad vistas leading through the center of Paris, the outdoor cafes, the expensive shops, Maxime's, the beautiful parks and fountains—all were there to impress upon us that we really were in Europe.

Later in the evening the majority of us dined in a quaint little restaurant located close to our hotel. The proprietress served us a delicious meal. Father Bolduc and Father Edward De Busschere, who accompanied us on this tour, led us in singing O Sanctissima and the Salve Regina as a thank you to our Blessed Mother for bringing us all together on this pilgrimage.

Wednesday, June 25th

We found breakfast in our rooms early this morning. Later our motorcoach called for us to take us across town to the Church of St. Nicholas du Chardonnet, the stronghold for those still faithful to the traditions of the Faith. Msgr. Ducaud-Bourget, a fiery yet kindly octogenarian, is the pastor. He bears a striking resemblance to the Curé d'Ars. Fathers Bolduc and De Busschere offered their Masses at St. Nicholas. After a leisurely visit in this beautiful church we were free for the afternoon. Some of our group shopped for Parisian specialties, while others accepted Father Bolduc's offer of a guided tour through the Louvre.

This evening we all chipped in on a local meal—bread, meats, cheeses, pickles, wine—which we ate in a tour member's room.

Thursday, June 26th

The sun shone brightly this morning as we left Paris. Our train takes us speedily through the heart of France to Martigny, Switzerland. The scenery en route was beautiful and the company outstanding. Father Bolduc led us in some of the "old time" folk songs we all knew as youngsters. Soon we were singing in three- and four-part harmony. On arrival into Martigny we were transferred to the small hotel which we would call home for the next four nights. After a brief check-in, we took a motor coach from the village to Ecône. The Seminary of St. Pius X is in a breathtaking setting, a valley surrounded by gigantic snow-capped Alpines. Our priests offered their Masses for us. We then met the priests and seminarians who were beginning to assemble from all over Europe and the Americas for the ordinations. Msgr. Lefebvre welcomed us to the seminary and gave a special greeting to Father De Busschere, who had recently celebrated his golden jubilee. Father Bolduc then escorted us on a tour through the seminary. The original buildings of the Monastery of the Canons of St. Bernard are joined to the modern extension, which includes the chapel, refectory, classrooms, and living quarters. The seminary buildings enclose a small patio, where a life-size statue of Pope St. Pius X stands in silent benediction.

After a pleasant visit with the faculty, seminarians, and local friends of the Society, we returned to our hotel for supper and the night.

Friday, June 27th

The day for which we came began beautifully with a brilliant sunrise. Our bus arrived at the seminary approximately two hours before the ordination ceremony, which gave our priests time to offer their Masses. We then took our places in the field in front of the seminary, bordered by the vineyards of Ecône. The peal of the organ moved the procession of 500 priests, seminarians and ordinands down the sloping hill to the sanctuary, which was protected from the weather by a massive tent.

Each year the Angelus Press in association with Tara Travel
sponsors a Pilgrimage to the Ordinations at Ecône, Switzerland.
Other sites of religious interest are covered—Paris, Rome,
Assisi, Lourdes. Another Pilgrimage is planned for June, 1981.
Please watch for announcement and itinerary in a future issue.

The age-old ceremonies began as Archbishop Lefebvre arrived at the altar. Eleven priests and eight subdeacons were ordained that day. It was a privilege to see among the priestly ordinands our own Father Joseph Collins and among those raised to the subdiaconate, Messrs. Eugene Berry and John Emerson. The Schola Cantorum intoned the ancient chants of the Mass and one realized that he really was "at home," even though six thousand miles away!

Archbishop Lefebvre delivered an uplifting homily to the approximately 5,000 visitors. In his sermon he mentioned that the forces of Modernism have made tremendous inroads against the Church, but he emphasized that in the final analysis, the balance swings to the side of the true Faith. He reminded us that in the past ten years the priestly Society of St. Pius X has been blessed in its priests and friends, so that many foundations of the Society in many parts of the world are centers for the restoration of the Faith. He spoke of the new seminaries in the United States, Germany, Italy and Argentina. He announced the latest addition to the Society's teaching mission a four-year university to be opened in Paris. We should not be pessimistic, he said, rather we should be thankful to God for the graces He has showered on the Society these past ten years. He told us that where the true Mass, the true Sacraments, and the true Faith are, there is the Church.

The ceremonies continued as clouds gathered overhead and rain fell. No one moved. Umbrellas opened here and there and the Mass and Ordinations continued. As each ordinand had his hands anointed and bound, received the power to consecrate and to forgive sins, it was impossible not to think of the changes that have rendered the new ordination rite so different from what we were witnessing today. The least one can say is that the two ceremonies produce opposing effects on the observer!

After Mass ended the priests processed up the hill to the patio, where a grand reception was held. Blessings were given by the new priests to families and friends. Our tour leader brought box lunches for us to eat and the seminarians graciously provided us with glasses of wine made at Ecône. We spent a pleasant afternoon visiting with people who had come from far and near. The afternoon closed with Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and we returned to our hotel for supper.

 

Saturday, June 28th

This morning we drove to Ecône. We were fortunate enough to assist at Father Collins's first Solemn Mass and to meet his family. It was a special treat to hear Father Barrielle, the Spiritual Director of Ecône, preach a simple yet eloquent sermon on the beauty of the Mass and its triumph over the forces of Modernism.

Later many of our group took optional tours to Geneva.

 

Sunday, June 29th

Our last day at Ecône was warm and sunny. After Mass some of our tour members took the train to nearby Sion and St. Maurice. Others had left earlier for an extension by train to Lourdes. Those who remained at Ecône enjoyed a quiet, peaceful retreat, which closed with Solemn Vespers.

 

Monday, June 30th

Today we bade farewell to Father Bolduc and welcomed Father Regis Babinet as our director. We continued our tour through the Swiss mountains into Italy, with a lunch stop on the outskirts of Milan. We arrived in Florence in the early evening and were treated to the sights and sounds of the "Queen of the Arts." Our hotel was nicely situated on the banks of the Arno River.

 

Tuesday, July 1st

A full day to see the Baptistry, the great works of Michelangelo and the Masters, and the beautiful Florentine churches. The summer weather was most pleasant and helped make our pilgrimage more enjoyable. Father Babinet prayed the Rosary with us daily and gave little talks along the way on the history of the sites we were visiting. A group of us treated ourselves to a superb Italian dinner at a local restaurant known as "Mama Gina's."

 

Wednesday, July 2nd

We left this morning by motor coach for Assisi. Our priests offered their Masses here, then we enjoyed a hearty lunch in a restaurant which overlooks the village and the valley below. After lunch we toured the Basilica, then visited the actual church which St. Francis built, located inside the Basilica of Santa Maria del Angeli (the Portiuncula), from which the city of Los Angeles received its name. Our journey continued through the hill towns toward Rome. A special memory of this day for those who wandered into the cloister of the Basilica is the statue of St. Francis, hands outstretched in cup form, holding two pure-white live doves.

 

Thursday, July 3rd

After Mass and breakfast we had a delightful tour of the Eternal City. We visited Trevi Fountain, St. Paul's Cathedral Outside the Walls, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican underground where the tombs of the popes are preserved, and the Coliseum. To say that Rome is fascinating is an understatement. It is easy to see that one can spend years here and always have something new to explore.

 

Friday, July 4th

Many of our group returned to the Vatican to assist at Mass at the tomb of St. Pius X and to see the catacombs and Vatican excavations. The special guide for this tour was Father Didier Bonneterre, Rector of the Society's seminary at Albano. Others took advantage of the free day to visit or revisit places of special interest. This evening at supper we celebrated Independence Day by recounting tales of our excursions to see cathedrals, the relics of the True Cross and of early martyrs, homes of saints, some of which have been converted into churches. Some took a full-day tour to Sorrento and the Isle of Capri. Everyone agreed that the trip was a memorable one.

 

Saturday, July 5th

This morning after Mass, we visited the Church of St. Mary Major and the Church of St. Alphonsus where the original picture of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is enthroned over the High Altar. Our motor-coach called for us around noon. We found a slight delay in our return flight to America because of weather problems in New York. Those who could, made connections to their home cities while others stayed an additional night in New York, courtesy of TWA.

We were all grateful to the ANGELUS and to our tour directors for this opportunity to return to the roots of our Faith.