Update from the Oratory

Saint Francis de Sales Oratory

2653 Ohio Avenue

St. Louis, Missouri 63118

http://www.institute-christ-king.org/

314-771-3100

Dear Faithful and Friends of St. Francis de Sales Oratory,

This weekend we will celebrate the feast of our great patron St. Francis de Sales. On Sunday, January 27, we will celebrate the external solemnity of his feast. After the 10:00 a.m. High Mass there will be a luncheon in the oratory hall. Tickets are still available ($10 for adults, $5 for children above the age of 12 years).

On the feast day itself, on Tuesday, January 29, there will be a Solemn High Mass at 6:30 p.m.

As St. Francis de Sales is not only the patron of the Oratory, but also one of the main patrons of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest the Church grants all the faithful who celebrate this feast day with the Institute a plenary indulgence under the ordinary conditions (confession, communion, prayer in the intention of the Holy Father, detachment from any sin).

The relic of St. Francis de Sales will be exposed on both days on the altar of Our Lady and there will be the occasion to venerate this relic after both Masses on Sunday and on Tuesday.

In this year that marks the 100^th anniversary of the dedication of St. Francis de Sales church (Oratory) we should not hesitate to venerate our patron and to implore his intercession for the restoration of his splendid church in St. Louis.

Pope Pius XI. writes in his Encyclical Letter Rerum Omnium Perturbationem in which he declared St. Francis de Sales as Patron of Catholic Writers and Journalists: You can easily see, therefore, how important it is for the Christian people to turn to the example of holiness given by St. Francis, so that they may be edified thereby and may make his teachings the rule of their own lives. It would be impossible to exaggerate the value of his books and pamphlets, of which We have written, to attain this purpose. These books ought to be distributed as widely as possible among Catholics, for his writings are easy to understand and can be read with great pleasure. They cannot but inspire in the souls of the faithful a love of true and solid piety, a love which the clergy can develop with most happy results if they but learn to assimilate thoroughly the teachings of St. Francis and to imitate the kindly qualities which characterized his preaching.

While I wish that the example of St. Francis de Sales may become even more the model of your life, I assure you of my prayers to our great patron for you and your beloved ones.

Yours devotedly in Christ the King

Fr. Karl W. Lenhardt

Episcopal Delegate/Rector/Vice Provincial

P.S.: Please, mark in your calendar already the following events at the Oratory, particularly, the 40 Hours Devotion next weekend.

Friday, February 1, St. Ignatius of Antioch, First Friday

Votive Mass of the Most Sacred Heart

7:30 a.m. Confessions

8:00 a.m. Mass

6:00 p.m. Confessions

6:30 p.m. Solemn High Mass and Benediction

Saturday, February 2, Purification of Our Lady - Candle Mass

8:00 a.m. Blessing of Candles, Procession Solemn High Mass, Blessing of St. Blaise

40 Hours Devotion

Sunday, February 3 – Tuesday, February 5, 2007

All Faithful who adore the Blessed Sacrament at least for half an hour may receive a plenary indulgence under the ordinary conditions: Confession, Communion, Prayer in the intention of the Holy Father, Detachment from any sin. If these conditions are not fulfilled the church grants a partial indulgence

Sunday, February 3, Quinquagesima

7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Confessions

8:00 a.m. Mass with Organ

10:00 a.m. Pontifical High Mass with His Excellency, The Most Rev. Robert Hermann, Auxiliary Bishop in St. Louis; Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist; Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Litany of the Saints and Procession for the Beginning of the 40 Hours Devotion

18:00 p.m. Vespers; Reposition

Monday, February 4, St. Andrew Corsini

7:30 a.m. Confessions

8:00 a.m. Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

11:30 a.m. Confessions

12:10 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph’s Altar

5:00 p.m. Confessions

6:30 p. m. Solemn High Mass: Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist

Tuesday, February 5, St. Agatha

7:30 a.m. Confessions

8:00 a.m. Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

11:30 a.m. Confessions

12:10 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph’s Altar

5:00 p.m. Confessions

6:30 p. m. Solemn High Mass: Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist

Litany of the Saints and Procession for the Closing of the 40 Hours Devotion, Benediction

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, February 6

7:30 a.m. Confessions

8:00 a.m. Mass with Blessing and distribution of the ashes

11:30 p.m. Mass with Blessing and distribution of the ashes

6:30 p.m. Confessions

6:30 p.m. Solemn High Mass, Benediction and distribution of the ashes

Thursday, February 7, Feria, Comm. St. Romuald, First Thursday

7:30 a.m. Confessions

8:00 a.m. Mass Votive Mass of Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest

6:30 p.m. Confessions

6:30 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction

Friday, February 8, Feria, Comm. St. John of Matha

7:30 a.m. Confessions

8:00 a.m. Mass

6:00 p.m. Confessions

6:30 p.m. Mass: Votive Mass of the Crown of Thorns

After Mass: Stations of the Cross

Saturday, February 9, Feria, Comm St. Cyril and St. Apolonia

7:30 a.m. Confessions

8:00 a.m. Mass

Sunday, February 10, First Sunday of Lent

7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Confessions

8:00 a.m. Mass

10:00 a.m. High Mass