SSC stands for Societas Sanctae Crucis - the
Society of the Holy Cross. The Society was founded in London in 1855 by
a small group of Anglo-Catholic priests
led by Father Charles Lowder. At a time when the Catholic Revival in
the Church of England was threatened by persecution and
misunderstanding, these priests came together for support, mutual
prayer
and encouragement. Fr Lowder spelled out the objects of SSC: 'To
defend and strengthen the spiritual life of the clergy, to defend the
faith of the Church, and to carry on and aid Mission work
both at home and abroad. The members of this society, meeting together
as they did in prayer and conference, were deeply impressed with the
evils existing in the Church, and saw also, in the
remedies adopted by St Vincent de Paul, the hope of lessening them.'
The Society has now spread throughout the world and is organised
in autonomous Provinces under Provincial Masters elected by their
Brethren. Within each Province are various Regions headed by
Regional Vicars, and the work of the Society at local level is carried
forward in Chapters led by their Local Vicars. Priests of the Society
live under a common Rule and meet together in their
local SSC Chapters every month or two for prayer, Mass and some kind of
study or conversation. Presiding over the Society worldwide is a
Master-General who has a special responsibility to
ensure an on-going fidelity among the Brethren to the spirit of the
Society.
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The Society Prayer We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation our life and our resurrection, through him we are saved and made free. FATHER, your Son showed the depth of his love when, for our sake, he opened his arms on the cross; and he has commanded us to love one another. Keep the brothers of the Society of the Holy Cross united in love and in faith. Through the saving power of the Cross impressed inwardly upon their lives and revealed outwardly in their work, may other come to know your love and your truth; through Christ our Lord. Amen
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