The Oratory, a non-territorial parish of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, under the patronage of Pope St. Gregory the Great and St. Augustine of Canterbury, was canonically established at the Abbey of St. Mary and St. Louis on 2 December, 2008. Archbishop Raymond L. Burke wished to establish it to serve the needs of the faithful attached to the traditional Latin Mass in West County St. Louis, St. Charles County and further west. In light of Pope Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum , there has been a greater interest expressed by the faithful of the Archdiocese in the ancient form of the Mass and Sacraments, and so Archbishop Burke has established a second oratory to help the work being done at the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales, so that all the faithful in the Archdiocese can have access to the spiritual riches of the traditional Latin Mass which, as the Holy Father has written “has been a spur to the spiritual life of many saints, has reinforced many peoples in the virtue of religion and made fertile their piety” Letter to the Bishops accompanying Summorum Pontificum.

Archbishop Burke asked Abbot Thomas and the monastic community if they would be willing to undertake the pastoral care of the Oratory, and the monks have responded obediently and enthusiastically to the voice of our shepherds. Father Bede has been appointed parish priest with the title of Rector and will be assisted by other monks once they have been suitably trained in the ceremonies of the extraordinary form. In his Apostolic Letter, Pope Benedict specifically mentions St. Gregory the Great as well as makes reference to the missionary accomplishment of St. Augustine of Canterbury and the Benedictine Order:

“Among the pontiffs who showed that requisite concern, particularly outstanding is the name of St. Gregory the Great, who made every effort to ensure that the new peoples of Europe received both the Catholic faith and the treasures of worship and culture that had been accumulated by the Romans in preceding centuries. He commanded that the form of the sacred liturgy as celebrated in Rome (concerning both the Sacrifice of Mass and the Divine Office) be conserved. He took great concern to ensure the dissemination of monks and nuns who, following the Rule of St. Benedict, together with the announcement of the Gospel illustrated with their lives the wise provision of their Rule that 'nothing should be placed before the work of God.'” Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio of Benedict XVI, Summorum Pontificum.

Knowing the reputation of the Benedictine’s for the care they take over the celebration of the sacred liturgy and aware of their role in the great Liturgical Movement of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Archbishop Burke has remarked on how appropriate it is to have the monks of St. Louis Abbey undertake this new work in addition to the service they give in the Archdiocese in their other educational and pastoral apostolates.

We are so grateful to Our Holy Father and to Archbishop Burke for their pastoral concern and wise care for us. The renovations to the basement chapel are still underway as funds become available.