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The mission of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is to spread the reign of Christ in all spheres of human life by drawing from the millennial treasury of the Roman Catholic Church, particularly her liturgical tradition, the unbroken line of spiritual thought and practice of her saints, and her cultural patrimony in music, art and architecture.

The Institute accomplishes this primarily through a solid and well-rounded formation of its priests, rooted in Catholic tradition and carried out at its international seminary in the Archdiocese of Florence.

Our priests, conscious of the need for their own sanctification, strive to be instruments of God's grace through their apostolic work discharged in the churches assigned to the Institute, its schools, its missions in Africa, by preaching retreats, teaching catechesis, and providing spiritual guidance.

The Institute of Christ the King operates under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception, to Whom it is consecrated.

our mission

discerning a vocation within the

holy PRIESTHOOD

The obligatory formation for all our candidates to the holy priesthood is comprised of a one-year course of Spirituality, a two-year course of Philosophy, and a four-year course of Theology.

Our seminary building at Gricigliano in Tuscany, Italy includes living quarters for the seminarians, an enormous refectory, large kitchen, classrooms and a conference hall with up-to-date teaching equipment.

Without any doubt, the most important element in seminary life is daily contact with Our Lord through Holy Mass, the Divine Office, the Rosary, and personal meditation. The seminarians come to know not only the history and the rubrics of the Sacred Liturgy, but also its inner meaning and great power for their spiritual lives. Every single gesture of the Classical Liturgy has a profound signification. Every detail matters when it comes to our relationship with the Lord.

The term “oblate” translates to “offer” in Latin or, in the Benedictine tradition, “one who is offered.” St. Benedict, a patron of the Institute of Christ the King, coined the term in the sixth century to refer to permanent members of his monastic community who were not monks but who chose to live according to his rule.

Similarly, oblates within the Institute of Christ the King are not priests but serve as assistants to the priests, not infrequently being referred to as "guardian angels of the priests." Institute oblates are considered full members with all the rights and duties that entails. According to their skills and prparation, they work in a wide variety of positions within the Institute: deacon, art director, office administrator, sacristan, teacher, gardener, organist, accountant, and cook. They take part in all official liturgies and are trained to participate in different functions to enhance the solemnity of liturgical celebrations.

Being a semi-contemplative, semi-active community, the professed Sisters give themselves to apostolic work such as teaching catechism and teaching in schools of the Institute, preparing guest rooms for retreatants, and serving wherever the Canons need their assistance, according to God’s Providence. The goal is not only the material good; rather, the sisters seek to share their life of adoration with the world around them, so that Christ the King reigns in every heart and in every aspect of society.

The Adorers of the Royal Heart have the special vocation to pray for the sanctification of priests, especially those of the Institute of Christ the King, and to support them in their apostolates, through their work but most of all through their life consecrated and offered to God. It is through the practice of little virtues in the here and now that a soul can best prepare herself for responding to whatever vocation God calls her to in the future.

CLERICAL OBLATEs

SISTER ADORERs

Institute of christ the king
sovereign priest

sponsor an oblate

An oblation is an offering to God. Oblates give themselves up like incense, a sweet odor that is edifying to all who are present, and for the purpose of giving adoration and praise to God in the liturgy. This includes preparation in the sacristy, serving on the altar, playing the organ, and singing for the liturgies. The oblatehood within the Institute has truly been a special gift from Christ the King to all of us. Our oblates’ continuous display of service and charity, after the example of the Lord and His Blessed Mother, has been instrumental in inspiring many toward leading a more dedicated Catholic life, conversions to the Catholic faith, and bringing back those who have fallen away. In your charity, please consider making a monthly donation to help support our dear oblates.

watch our oblate video series here

worldwide resources

Are you interested in a religious vocation but not in St. Louis?

This is not a problem! Msgr. Gilles Wach, the founder and prior general of the Institute, has always stressed that the Institute is neither French, German, English, Swedish, Italian, American, nor European, African, nor Asian, but Roman Catholic. The Institute's US headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois, at the Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

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the oratory

We are grateful for the generosity of the many wonderful supporters, volunteers, and donors who believe in our mission here at St. Francis de Sales Oratory.

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