Most Holy Family Monastery
Encyclopedia
Most Holy Family Monastery is a non-profit sedevacantist organization run by Michael Dimond. The diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska
, condemns them as anti-Catholic, although it is supported by Roman Catholic laymen. They have been described as a "a dissident organization that challenges the papal authority of Pope John Paul II
."
, by a self-proclaimed Benedictine monk named Joseph Natale (born 1933), originally as a community for handicapped men. Natale entered the Benedictine Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1960 as a lay
postulant
, but left less than a year later to start his own Holy Family Monastery. According to an archivist of the Saint Vincent Archabbey
in Latrobe
, Natale left before taking vows; he never actually became a Benedictine monk.
Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, Natale denounced the Second Vatican Council and the New Mass, and by the mid-1970s the community had become separate from the Catholic Church. By mid-1980s, there were ten monks in it, but by 1994 the number declined to three. Shortly after a conference in 1994, John Vennari left to work for Fr. Nicholas Gruner
.
Natale died in 1995, whereupon Michael Dimond (born Frederick Dimond), who joined in 1992 at the age of 19 after converting to Catholism four years earlier, was elected the Superior. Soon after, he relocated to Granger, New York (close to Fillmore, New York
), where Natale owned more than 90 acres (36.4 ha) of donated land.
Natale himself was never a sedevacantist, although his successor Michael Dimond turned to that belief in 1998 or 1999 after he expelled one of the members of MHFM, Richard Ibranyi, in 1997, for being a sedevacantist. Shortly after, Frederick's biological brother Peter Dimond (born Robert Dimond) joined the monastery.
Dimond supported Gerry Matatics when he held similar beliefs.
Catholic Church that is in communion with Benedict XVI, in Rochester, New York
, in layman's clothes in lieu of their Benedictine habits for this occasion. Peter Dimond wrote: "In receiving the sacraments from certain Byzantine priests for over the last decade – i.e. from priests who are not notorious or imposing about their heresies – I've received what I consider to be tremendous spiritual graces."
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, condemns them as anti-Catholic, although it is supported by Roman Catholic laymen. They have been described as a "a dissident organization that challenges the papal authority of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
."
History
It was founded in 1967, in Berlin, New JerseyBerlin, New Jersey
Berlin is a Borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,588.Berlin was incorporated as a borough on March 29, 1927, from portions of Berlin Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 26,...
, by a self-proclaimed Benedictine monk named Joseph Natale (born 1933), originally as a community for handicapped men. Natale entered the Benedictine Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1960 as a lay
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
postulant
Postulant
A postulant was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a monastery or a convent, both before actual admission and for the length of time preceding their admission into the novitiate...
, but left less than a year later to start his own Holy Family Monastery. According to an archivist of the Saint Vincent Archabbey
Saint Vincent Archabbey
Saint Vincent Archabbey, was founded in 1846 by Father Boniface Wimmer, OSB, and is the oldest Benedictine monastery in the United States.The Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey operate and teach at Saint Vincent College and Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, located ...
in Latrobe
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
, Natale left before taking vows; he never actually became a Benedictine monk.
Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, Natale denounced the Second Vatican Council and the New Mass, and by the mid-1970s the community had become separate from the Catholic Church. By mid-1980s, there were ten monks in it, but by 1994 the number declined to three. Shortly after a conference in 1994, John Vennari left to work for Fr. Nicholas Gruner
Nicholas Gruner
Nicholas Nightingale Gruner is a Roman Catholic priest and promoter of the message of Our Lady of Fatima, a manifestation of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal in 1917, particularly its anti-communist aspects during the Cold War...
.
Natale died in 1995, whereupon Michael Dimond (born Frederick Dimond), who joined in 1992 at the age of 19 after converting to Catholism four years earlier, was elected the Superior. Soon after, he relocated to Granger, New York (close to Fillmore, New York
Fillmore, New York
Fillmore is a hamlet in Allegany County, New York, United States. It is named after President Millard Fillmore.The former Village of Fillmore dissolved its incorporation and became a community in the Town of Hume in the northwest quadrant of the county.Fillmore is home to the Hungarian Scout Camp...
), where Natale owned more than 90 acres (36.4 ha) of donated land.
Natale himself was never a sedevacantist, although his successor Michael Dimond turned to that belief in 1998 or 1999 after he expelled one of the members of MHFM, Richard Ibranyi, in 1997, for being a sedevacantist. Shortly after, Frederick's biological brother Peter Dimond (born Robert Dimond) joined the monastery.
Dimond supported Gerry Matatics when he held similar beliefs.
Religious practices
Because none of them were ever ordained, and they believe that the New Mass is invalid and a false worship, they receive the sacraments from a Byzantine riteByzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
Catholic Church that is in communion with Benedict XVI, in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, in layman's clothes in lieu of their Benedictine habits for this occasion. Peter Dimond wrote: "In receiving the sacraments from certain Byzantine priests for over the last decade – i.e. from priests who are not notorious or imposing about their heresies – I've received what I consider to be tremendous spiritual graces."
Claims of miraculous experience
- According to Michael Cuneo, who researched the various traditional movements in the USA, Natale claimed that he had the gift of prophecyProphecyProphecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
in these words:
- A former member claimed that he heard angels singing when he joined the monastery.
Criticisms
- Ibranyi criticized the MHFM for not holding Extra Ecclesiam Nulla SalusExtra Ecclesiam nulla salusThe Latin phrase Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus means: "Outside the Church there is no salvation". The most recent Catholic Catechism interpreted this to mean that "all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body."...
to its full extent. MHFM holds that people who were raised in Protestantism are Catholics erring in good faith until they are acquainted with Catholic dogmas, contrary to what Orestes BrownsonOrestes BrownsonOrestes Augustus Brownson was a New England intellectual and activist, preacher, labor organizer, and noted Catholic convert and writer...
and Michael MüllerMichael MüllerFr. Michael Müller C.Ss.R. was a prolific Catholic writer of the 19th century in the United States. Father Müller always submitted his works to two Redemptorist theologians and to his religious superiors before publication.-Life:Müller was born on December 18, 1825, in the village Brück in...
taught: that Protestant children become Protestants (and hence are outside of the Church) as soon as they reach the age of reason. - Ruby (a traditionalist) wrote against Peter Dimond regarding baptism of desire: http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue/08Jul/jul7str.htm
- He claims that a prophecy made by Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa is made by St. Nicholas of Flue
- He claims a prophecy purportedly made by Pope Leo XIII