The Fraternity was formed on the 18th July 1988 at the Abbey of Hauterive in Switzerland by a 12 priests and a score of seminarians. Shortly afterwards, thanks to a request by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the Fraternity was granted a home in Wigratzbad.
Wigratzbad, a Marian shrine, was the FSSP's first seminary established canonically and is the site of its General House. It is situated on the ancient frontier of Bavaria and Swabia, a short distance from Germany’s borders with neighbouring Austria and Switzerland.
In these challenging times, it is reassuring that sound traditional priests are available to help steer our course in the right direction as we navigate this world.