Mailing Address for Italy

Dear Friends and Family,

Several of you have asked for my mailing address in Italy.

For the first half of 2020 my mailing address will be:

Via del Palagio in Colognole 15, 
50065 Pontassieve (FI),
Italy

Then that will change to Rome.

Buon Natale!
Fr. Pillari

Hope, Pray, and Forgive

Nativity Scene in Lanherne Chapel.

Close-up.

Dear Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas! I love still being able to say that every day of the Octave. The week has been so blessed for me here. One of my favourite parts of Christmas day is the traditional custom--after both the midnight Mass and after each Masses of Christmas day--is the veneration of the Child Jesus. As soon as each Christmas Mass ends I have the privilege of turning toward the congregation and inviting them to come forward to the altar rail, to kneel there as I bring to them the Newborn King to be kissed and adored.

Then, walking toward where the child Jesus is enthroned, I kneel and incense Him, then stand, adore Him myself, offering Him a kiss as I take Him from His throne, and proceed to present Him to each acolyte, then each one of the Nuns, then to each member of the congregation at the altar rail. And during this whole time, Christmas Carols are sung, beginning with "O Holy Night." It is such a joy to present Him to little children, to parents, to teenagers, and to catch a glimpse of the devotion of each as He is adored. At the midnight Mass, which is entirely by candlelight, this moment marks in a particular way the end of the long wait for our Savior and of Advent's penitential season, and the beginning of the great celebration of the Lord's Birth.

After placing Him back in His crib (held in a make-shift sort of throne), we process to the sacristy, pray prayers of thanksgiving, and then head to the dining room of the presbytery for hot chocolate, sweets, and a time of celebration. This finished around 2:30AM this year. I then had the blessing of some moments back in the chapel alone, with the whole house in silence, to adore the Newborn King.

Then on Christmas Day, after a 6:30AM Mass at the convent and two sick-calls, I had the great joy of singing the Mass at St. Edward's. The veneration of the Child Jesus was particularly touching for me that morning--"Come to the Manger" sounded especially vibrant as all processed to the altar rail to adore the Newborn King. That moment, and these past few days of the Octave, have been full of joy, but have also been bittersweet as I am having to say goodbyes to families as I prepare for my assignment in Rome. But while this has been emotionally draining it has been the occasion of thanking the Lord for so many many blessings that I have had during these past few years of ministry.

To give you a glimpse of one of the recent home visits (note: I am posting this photo as it's the only one I have on hand at the moment. Each of the other family visits was also wonderful!), here is a photo of one:

This particular visit included vigorous games of "Duck, Duck, Goose" "Sly Fox" (a modified version of red light green light, for those of you in the U.S.), and "Pickle in the Middle" (apparently known as "piggie in the middle" here in England). The latter was especially fun and I am grateful that we managed not to break anything in the living room with the ball we were tossing so quickly back and forth.

But rather than just list Christmas blessings, I wanted to share with you all some helpful advice I read this week: advice in how to deal with unjust, painful, situations; advice about how to turn those into occasions of grace, of how to open your soul to God's special plans:

Hope, Pray, and Forgive

Hope: when it seems like your world is crashing in around you, when you can't understand how any good will come out of this and on the contrary when it can seem that "all is lost," then hope. Make acts of supernatural hope: placing your hope in God, not in what you can understand and do. Tell Him that you hope in Him, which means that you believe in Him--you believe that He is all-powerful and that He loves you infinitely, that He is your loving, heavenly Father. You hope in Him, you trust that He has plans to draw a greater good out of this suffering, if you will cooperate with His plans.

Pray: Pray to the Father, to Our Lord, to Our Lady, asking them for their help. But don't merely ask them to solve your problem, ask them to help you embrace God's will. And, even more importantly, take time to pray by contemplating Our Lord in the mysteries of His life. The rosary is such a tremendously helpful tool for doing this. Spend time with Our Lady contemplating the mysteries of Our Lord's life. The more you do this the more you will open your soul to His light and wisdom.

Forgive: a crucial third step. Forgive from your heart the ones who have (or who may have, because sometimes we misjudge people), caused you this suffering. Tell God that you forgive them, that you do not seek revenge, that you do not want to make them suffer like you're suffering, but that you want what is best for them. Then place them in God's hands. If punishment is needed, He will see to that, in His time and way. But for yourself, let go of revenge, hatred, and so many other things that chain our soul to the things of this earth.

Christmas is a truly beautiful and joyful season, but that sometimes brings to the surface painful injustices. If that is the case in your life, apply the above three steps (often many more times than once!) and you will begin to open your soul to the special blessings God has in store for you through those sufferings.

May Jesus and Mary guide you during this beautiful season.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

Gaudete in Domino Semper

Sunrise over St. Mawgan village.

Dear Friends and Family,

The Lord is near! Now just a little over 48 hours away... Saint Paul writes these beautiful words, which the Church gives us every Gaudete Sunday, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:4).

We might be tempted to think, "Those words are unrealistic. Perhaps for someone who has an easy life, it would be possible to 'rejoice in the Lord always,' but not for me with all the things I have to deal with." But St. Paul did not have an easy life. Nor was he used to dealing with people who had easy lives. He writes the Philippians from prison, after having been unjustly accused and condemned, and many of the Christians he had been ministering to were in very difficult situations of suffering or persecution. So St. Paul's advice is meant for ordinary people like us, living lives in the midst of challenges and suffering.

How then can we rejoice in the Lord always? One key is, at each moment of our day, to make a choice that I will seek my joy in Jesus Christ. He is my true joy, the source of my hope, the source of all good things. So when we're tempted to feel a bit sad, or discouraged, or weighed down, we can make an interior act of the will: "I choose you, Jesus, as my only treasure, as the One from whom I await all that is good, the only One who can give me a true joy in the midst of this world's storms." Each time we make that choice, even when it is a difficult choice made in the obscurity of faith, because we cannot feel any sensible joy at that moment, we open our soul a bit more to the true joy and peace that only He can give.

As we approach the most Holy Night on which Our Savior was born, and prepare to gather at midnight around His crib, to adore Him and to sing carols to greet the Newborn King, may the Virgin Mary, the queen of that Holy Night, be your comfort and guide, and may She draw your heart into the true adoration of the King of Kings, and to the joy He wishes to grant you.

You all will be in my heart and prayers as the clock strikes midnight and the Holy Mass begins.

And on a more down-to-earth note, this morning families at Lanherne engaged in a beautiful little exchange of gifts and cards. I tried to take a photo of a member of the congregation proudly carrying home his gift, but the photo did not come out too well. Nonetheless, I post it here below.

May the Lord dawn in your hearts, in a dawn much more beautiful than the dawn pictured above.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion

Dear Friends and Family,

The past two days were full of blessings. Today was so full that it began at 4:45 and I only returned from Plymouth to Lanherene about 30 minutes ago (9:30PM), so I will need to be brief. But they were a wonderful two days!

Hopefully, I will receive some photos tomorrow that I can add to this post...

Saturday afternoon I had the great joy of baptising and confirming a young mother, and then of giving her First Holy Communion this morning. It was a tremendous joy to see her join her husband as a Catholic, and the to distribute Holy Communion this morning not only to her but also to her two oldest children.

And the First Holy Communion was such a joy! Four little children kneeling on custom-made small kneelers in the sanctuary--custom-made by the Nuns and decorated by them with flowers--following attentively the Holy Mass, receiving devoutly Jesus Christ for the very first time in Holy Communion. Then, after Mass, kneeling with them in quiet thanksgiving. Then, after photos, seeing them laugh and celebrate during a very joyous Gaudete Sunday breakfast put on by the congregation. Hopefully, I will have tomorrow some photos to share. But for the moment, I had best pray compline and get some sleep.

May Jesus and Mary watch over you and guide you in this last full week of Advent.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

Our Lady of Walsingham Pilgrimage

Toulouse Airport right now

Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing to you from Toulouse Airport, France, which is largely empty due to a national strike. Though my flight to London was cancelled, I was able to get on a flight to Rome and then a flight from Rome to London. So, God-willing, I will arrive in London a little before midnight tonight, and then be on my way to Walsingham in the morning.

Unless you see an update to this post tonight, I will be in Walsingham tomorrow and Sunday as the chaplain for a pilgrimage co-sponsored by the Latin Mass Society and by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. I will be confiding in a particular way to Our Lady of Walsingham's care all those entrusted to me here in England, and my own upcoming assignment.

Because I will not arrive back at Lanherne until late Sunday night, I will plan to write you about the pilgrimage either during the week or next Sunday.

May Our Lady of Walsingham intercede powerfully for all of us in Great Britain, especially for the hearts and souls of innocent children.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

Assignment to Rome

Dear Friends and Family,

Please find below the text of today's sermon and announcement of my upcoming assignment. For those of you reading this in Texas, you know the challenges of when a priest receives a new assignment. Please pray for all those here in England who will be affected, including me. God's will be done!

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

Srm December 1^st Announcement 2019

Sermon Notes

Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans

Rom 13:11-14
Brethren: Understand, for it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we came to believe. The night is far advanced; the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk becomingly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in debauchery and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 21:25-33
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations bewildered by the roaring of sea and waves; men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the son of Man coming upon a cloud with great power and majesty. but when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a parable. Behold the fig tree, and all the trees. When they now put forth their buds, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things coming to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near. Amen I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all things have been accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

“But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.”This is how we should react as Catholics to whatever suffering or trials God sends our way. Because it is through the Cross that Jesus Christ triumphs over sin and death and that the greatest graces are obtained. So whatever suffering you may have in your life right now, as Advent begins, or whatever suffering and trials you fear might be about to happen, “look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.” Face those trials courageously, with faith and hope in God, and trusting in the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints.

On this First Sunday of Advent, I need to ask for your help with an important matter. I need to confide to your care something very dear to me. At sacred ordination, every priest promises reverence and obedience to the bishop and to his successors, knowing that God will guide him through that obedience. Bishop O’Toole, as of January 9^th, is assigning me to a post that will require me being away from St. Edward’s and also from Lanherne, at least for several years. A good priest will be coming to take my place, but as he transitions into his new role, I very much wish to ask to your help in caring for a treasure dear to my heart: the work of God in each of your souls, in your families, and in you as a congregation—which is meant to be a bit like an extended family that supports each other on the journey to Heaven. 

A priest of the Institute of the Good Shepherd, Fr. Xavier Champagne, will be arriving in January to serve both Lanherne and St. Edward’s. Then, in the summer of 2020, Bishop O’Toole will be making longer-term assignments for Lanherne and St. Edward’s, to begin in September. By that time, the Bishop will have at his disposal several options: Fr. Champagne is one. Father Champagne’s institute is exclusively dedicated to the traditional Mass and Sacraments in the same way that the Fraternity of St. Peter is, but as a more recent foundation they are not yet as well known. The Institute of Christ the King will also be arriving in the Diocese at that time, with multiple priests. Then there are other options involving priests who would be dedicated full-time to the traditional Mass and Sacraments. Such assignments will not be made until next summer, but I am hopeful that separate chaplains will be assigned for both Lanherne and St. Edward’s, to better provide for you than I have been able to do.

As for my own assignment, you are all aware of the terrible crisis that the Church is going through right now, above all a crisis of faith but also of morals, with sad lapses among the clergy and much that needs to be straightened out and better governed in that area. The Bishop has therefore decided to assign me, for several years, to Rome, to try to become expert in this domain and in other domains, by obtaining doctorates in canon law and theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Though it is not the custom, and is normally not prudent, to describe the details of how such a decision was made, I think it only fair to share the main points with you.

This decision came as quite a surprise to me, at a time when I had in fact proposed to cut down on studies in order to sink down roots long-term in my assignments. Some months ago, I wrote to the Bishop, presenting the option of dropping permanently half of my studies so that I could gain those hours for ministry. Before I wrote to him, my spiritual director had asked me something which he has never before asked. He told me to be extremely attentive to any indications from the Bishop, and that if he indicated his preference by so much as a smile at one possibility or another, I should be very responsive and receive that as the will of God. (This is not at all the sort of thing my spiritual director is accustomed to say, and he said it quite earnestly). Furthermore, he indicated that if the Bishop asked me to accept to complete a doctorate in canon law, I should accept. I had actually been hoping to not study canon law further. In fact, in spite of what my spiritual director had said, when I wrote the Bishop, I didn’t say anything about further canonical studies. Instead, I only asked about continuing one of my current programs of studies, in either theology or civil law, and dropping the other. 

The Bishop wrote back, thanking me for the options but instead asking me to pursue a doctorate in… canon law (just as my spiritual director had predicted). When you are asked to accept an assignment by the bishop to whom you owe obedience in virtue of the solemn vow at your ordination, and when your spiritual director asked you to give a prompt yes if this specific assignment were asked of you, the will of God is clear: you say yes and trust that God will provide for the flock you have to leave. 

As of January 9^th, I will head to Italy for six months of Italian study, followed by several years of canon law and theology studies in Rome. To speak frankly, Rome is not a place I would have chosen to live right now. I would very much ask for your prayers, that I might carry out faithfully whatever work God will be asking of me there, not only in terms of studies but also in terms of apostolate—whether that apostolate be with seminarians, fellow priests, or others. 

But I would above all ask for your help in protecting and promoting the great treasure of the traditional Mass and Sacraments here in the heart of Plymouth/Cornwall. It has been a real privilege and blessing to serve you and to see God’s grace work in your lives, in your families. I can assure you that God will not stop offering His graces and guidance to you. One privilege of being a priest is that you have a front-row-seat to the poverty of your limited human gifts, along with many shortcomings and failings, and at the same time a front row seat to God’s action, to how generous God is in pouring out His graces through the hands of a priest, because of the grace of sacred ordination. God will continue to offer those graces through the next chaplain. But your cooperation, or lack thereof, with grace will make a great difference in what God is able to do here in Plymouth/Cornwall.

So many, many souls are in need of this Mass, which in this coming year each of you will have an even more important role of fostering. Every year on Dec. 27^th the traditional breviary gives a reading describing the end of the life of St. John the Evangelist. In this manner, the church has ever priest throughout the world—at least those who use the traditional breviary—look to the great apostle and bishop as a model for how we should guide our own flock. 

At the end of his life, St. John would tell his congregation each Sunday, “Little children, love one another.” After some time of this, his disciples asked him why he kept repeating the same message. He replied, “Because it is the commandment of the Lord. And if it alone were done, it would suffice.” When our Lord promulgated this new commandment that we love one another as He has loved us (no longer simply as we love ourselves), He asserted that it was the great sign by which “all men will know that you are my disciples.” “A house divided cannot stand” (Mt. 12:25). The more that genuine charity flourishes among you, God will use that not only to pour out many graces upon you and the congregation, but also to draw other souls to the great treasure of the Mass.

And God can do this even when everything around you is not perfect. For example, when I visited the monastery in France, as a 21-year-old discerning entry, I was with three brothers talking after lunch during the dishes. Two of them were talking in a rather rude or uncharitable fashion, but I was so impressed by the charity and patience of the other brother that I said, “If this sort of charity exists in this monastery, it is a good sign that I should enter.” May each of you strive to be that sign of charity for each other and for all who will come here seeking God.

And may God reward you for the wonderful blessing you have been in my life these past 3 ½ years. Thank you for allowing me to serve you and your families. You have been the source of so many blessings in my life and will always be in my prayers.

As we enter now into the heart of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, let us confide to Our Lady the infinite treasure of the celebration of this Holy Mass here at St. Edward’s/Lanherne, and let us confide to her that precious treasures that are each of your souls. May God’s will be done and may we be docile to His guidance.

Consider the Lilies of the Field

Dear Friends and Family,

We are now just a week away from one of the most beautiful and spiritually fruitful--if lived well--times of the year: Advent and Christmastide. As the saying goes, "A good Advent makes for a joyful Christmas." Though most Catholics have forgotten, Advent is one of the two great penitential seasons of the year, along with Lent. Traditionally, Catholics would fast throughout Advent: having each day, except for Sunday, just one full meal and two smaller meals that together did not equal a full meal, forgoing sweets, etc. If you've never tried this, I would encourage you to give it a shot. It will help your soul open to the graces that God wishes to give in these coming weeks.

Speaking of coming graces... please keep in your prayers the 5 members of the congregation at Lanherne preparing for their First Holy Communion on Gaudete Sunday. And please keep me in your prayers as I serve as chaplain for a pilgrimage to Walsingham, of the Latin Mass Society and England and Wales and of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. The pilgrimage will take place Sunday, Dec. 8th, and the intention is the protection of the innocence of children in the face of some awful educational laws coming into force in 2020 in the UK. Providentially, I will be able to thank Our Lady for the past 13 years of priesthood as that Sunday will correspond with the anniversary of my ordination.

Today I wish to share with you a blessed part of my week that is often hidden: the prayerful meditation of Scripture. This morning I was meditating on chapter 6 of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, especially the section on not being anxious about our life or clothing, nor anxious about tomorrow, but seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. They are simple words that I have heard many times, but it was a real joy to meditate on them, to spend some time in the Lord's presence realizing how foolishly I have been worried on so many occasions and contemplating His amazing love and providential care for us.

How good it is to make acts of faith and trust in our Heavenly Father! The above photo of lilies in a field is a beautiful image of how He wishes to care for us. As is the beautiful images of birds having food provided for them. Really the images are so beautiful and rich that I don't think I'll comment on them further. And then the very practical advice: "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day."

It was great throughout the day to be more conscious, when some worry about tomorrow arose, that God was calling me to place that in His hands and not worry about it, but to instead live of the graces offered in the present moment. I have found that some time daily spent meditating on a passage from the Gospels pays rich rewards. May God grant you also to make good use of the tremendous nourishment for our souls that is the Word of God.

May Jesus and Mary watch over you and guide you.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari