First Sunday Mass in Salisbury and St. Thomas Potluck

Laudetur Iesus Christus! This Sunday April 2nd is first Sunday and we have two events to share:

1st Sunday Latin Mass at Sacred Heart in Salisbury

Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury will offer its 1st Sunday Latin Mass at 4pm this Sunday. Mass is offered by Fr. Joseph Wasswa and Confessions will be offered prior to, and after, Mass. There will not be a social after Mass. For more information please contact the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at www.salisburylmc.org

1st Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas Aquinas

Sunday there will be the monthly potluck after the 11:30am Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. Attendees are asked to bring a dish, desert or drink to share.

Lastly, we also share that St. Thomas Aquinas is offering its first Saturday 10am Latin Mass this Saturday April 1, followed by its monthly traditional blessing of religious objects at 11am in the narthex.

Passion Sunday (5th Sunday of Lent)

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday marks the beginning of the two-week period within Lent called Passiontide, where the faithful focus more specifically on Our Blessed Lord’s Passion. As noted in the below commentary images are veiled, and the Judica Me, and the Gloria Patri, are omitted from the Mass henceforth until Easter, as noted in the commentary on the propers for Sunday’s Latin Mass: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/03/the-secret-for-passion-sunday.html

Latin Masses This Week

  • Wednesday March 29, 6pm – St. Ann parish (Feria of Passiontide, e.g. no feast day)
  • Thursday March 30, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria of Passiontide)
  • Friday March 31, 7am (St. Ann) & 12:30pm (St. Mark), (Feria of Passiontide or Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
  • Saturday April 1, 10am – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria of Passiontide and First Saturday); traditional blessing of religious objects after Mass

St. Mark Latin Mass Ends This Friday March 31: Sadly, as noted from the pulpit and bulletin over the past few weeks, due to the new restrictions from Rome, the St. Mark parish Latin Mass will end this Friday March 31 on the commemoration of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is indeed sorrowful news, but let us offer prayers of thanksgiving for seven years this weekly Latin Mass has been offered by St. Mark priests and the countless souls it has supported and nourished.

Community News

Holy Face Devotions

  • St Mark – Mondays at 5pm
  • St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the main church
  • St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the chapel after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
  • St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, Main Church
  • Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
  • Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?

Latin Mass & Traditional News

  • French bishop moves to end Traditional Latin Mass standoff: In an encouraging sign, a French diocese has now allowed a Latin Mass community to use a chapel for their weekly Sunday Latin Masses. For the past several years, the Latin Mass was offered outside on the steps of a hospital chapel near Paris, in various types of weather. This breakthrough development came after the diocese of Versailles and the Latin Mass community met and discussed the situation recently. https://www.pillarcatholic.com/french-bishop-moves-to-end-traditional-latin-mass-standoff/
  • Our Holy Emperor in Heaven: This coming Saturday April 1, is the 101st anniversary of Blessed Karl von Habsburg of Austria’s death. Newcomers to the Latin Mass may ask, why do Latin Mass attendees and groups have a devotion to a recently beatified Catholic Emperor (2004)? What’s the connection to the Latin Mass and tradition? OnePeterFive answers this question with a helpful article examining the link between Blessed Karl and Latin Mass attendees: https://onepeterfive.com/holy-emperor-heaven/

Passiontide – Dom Prosper Gueranger

To close this update, we share a Passiontide reflection by Dom Prosper Gueranger, OSB, the great 19th century Benedictine liturgist who wrote The Liturgical Year, which we excerpt for brevity:

During the preceding four weeks, we have noticed how the malice of Jesus’ enemies has been gradually increasing. His very presence irritates them; and it is evident that any little circumstance will suffice to bring the deep and long nurtured hatred to a head The kind and gentle manners of Jesus are drawing to him all hearts that are simple and upright; at the same time, the humble life he leads, and the stern purity of his doctrines, are perpetual sources of vexation and anger, both to the proud Jew that looks forward to the Messias being a mighty conqueror, and to the Pharisee, who corrupts the Law of God, that he may make it the instrument of his own base passions. Still, Jesus goes on working miracles; his discourses are more than ever energetic; his prophecies foretell the fall of Jerusalem, and such a destruction of its famous Temple that not a stone is to be left on stone.

Everything around us urges us to mourn. The images of the Saints, the very crucifix on our Altar, are veiled from our sight. The Church is oppressed with grief. During the first four weeks of Lent, she compassionated her Jesus fasting in the desert; his coming Sufferings and Crucifixion and Death are what now fill her with anguish.

This Sunday is called Passion Sunday, because the Church begins on this day to make the Sufferings of our Redeemer her chief thought. It is called also Judica, from the first word of the Introit of the Mass; and again, Neomania, that is, the Sunday of the new (or, the Easter) moon, because it always falls after the new moon which regulates the Feast of Easter Day.

This Sunday is Passion Sunday. What Mass are you attending today?

Feast of the Annunciation Mass Tomorrow 8am Saturday March 25

Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community (CLMC),

Laudetur Iesus Christus and blessed feast of St. Gabriel! Today March 24, is the traditional feast of St. Gabriel the Archangel, which is appropriately placed to herald tomorrow’s solemn feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, spoken by St. Gabriel to the Blessed Mother.

Tomorrow Saturday March 25, for the feast of the Annunciation, there will be an 8am Latin Mass at St. Ann parish. This will be the normal 4th Saturday Respect Life Latin Mass, followed by prayers for an end to abortion at Planned Parenthood, or a Holy Hour of Reparation in the church.

To learn more about these twin feast days we include excerpts from Dom Prosper Gueranger’s The Liturgical Year

St. Gabriel the Archangel – March 24

Amidst the ineffable joys of Christmas night, we mingled our timid but glad voices with the hymns of these heavenly spirits, who sang around the crib of our Emmanuel. The very recollection brings joy to our hearts, saddened as they now are by penitential feelings and by the near approach of the mournful anniversary of our Jesus’ death. Let us, for a moment, interrupt our sadness, and keep the feast of the Archangel Gabriel. Later on, we shall have Michael, Raphael, and the countless host of the angel guardians; but to-day, the eve of the Annunciation, it is just that we should honour Gabriel. Tomorrow we shall see this heavenly ambassador of the blessed Trinity coming down to the Virgin of Nazareth; let us, therefore, recommend ourselves to him, and beseech him to teach us how to celebrate, in a becoming manner, the grand mystery of which he was the messenger.

Gabriel is one of the first of the angelic kingdom. He tells Zachary that he stands before the face of God.[1] He is the angel of the Incarnation, because it is in this mystery, which apparently is so humble, that the power of God is principally manifested: and Gabriel signifies the strength of God. We find the Archangel preparing for this sublime office, even in the old Testament. First of all, he appeared to Daniel, after this prophet had had the vision of the Persian and Grecian empires; and such was the majesty of his person that Daniel fell on his face trembling.[2] Shortly afterwards, he appeared again to the same prophet, telling him the exact time of the coming of the Messias: ‘Know thou and take notice: that from the going forth of the word to build up Jerusalem again, unto Christ the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks,’[3] that is, sixty-nine weeks of years.

When the fulness of time had come, and heaven was about to send the last of the prophets, who, after preaching to men the approach of the Messias, is to show Him to the people, saying: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world,’ Gabriel descends from heaven to the temple of Jerusalem, and prophesies to Zachary the birth of John the Baptist,[4] which was to be followed by that of Jesus Himself.

Feast of the Annunciation – March 25

This is a great day, not only to man, but even to God Himself; for it is the anniversary of the most solemn event that time has ever witnessed. On this day, the divine Word, by whom the Father created the world, was made flesh in the womb of a virgin, and dwelt among us.[1] We must spend it in joy. Whilst we adore the Son of God who humbled Himself by thus becoming Man, let us give thanks to the Father, who so loved the world, as to give His only-begotten Son;[2] let us give thanks to the Holy Ghost, whose almighty power achieves the great mystery. We are in the very midst of Lent, and yet the ineffable joys of Christmas are upon us: our Emmanuel is conceived on this day, and, nine months hence, will be born in Bethlehem, and the angels will invite us to come and honour the sweet Babe.

The time has come for the fulfilment of this promise. The world has been in expectation for four thousand years; and the hope of its deliverance has been kept up, in spite of all its crimes. During this time, God has made use of miracles, prophecies, and types, as a renewal of the engagement He has entered into with mankind. The blood of the Messias has passed from Adam to Noe; from Sem to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; from David and Solomon to Joachim; and now it flows in the veins of Mary, Joachim’s daughter. Mary is the woman by whom is to be taken from our race the curse that lies upon it. God has decreed that she should be Immaculate; and has thereby set an irreconcilable enmity between her and the serpent. She, a daughter of Eve, is to repair all the injury done by her mother’s fall; she is to raise up her sex from the degradation into which it has been cast; she is to co-operate, directly and really, in the victory which the Son of God is about to gain over His and our enemy.

A tradition, which has come down from the apostolic ages, tells us that the great mystery of the Incarnation was achieved on the twenty-fifth day of March.[3] It was at the hour of midnight, when the most holy Virgin was alone and absorbed in prayer, that the Archangel Gabriel appeared before her, and asked her, in the name of the blessed Trinity, to consent to become the Mother of God. Let us assist, in spirit, at this wonderful interview between the angel and the Virgin: and, at the same time, let us think of that other interview which took place between Eve and the serpent. A holy bishop and marytr of the second century, Saint Irenæus, who had received the tradition from the very disciples of the apostles, shows us that Nazareth is the counterpart of Eden.[4]

Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent)

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent, otherwise known Laetare Sunday, which in Latin means rejoice, and rose vestments are worn instead of violet, all to give the faithful encouragement that the joys of Easter and the resurrection are not far away. This is the midpoint of Lent, and as custom we provide commentary on the prayers for Sunday’s Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/03/the-consoling-collect-of-laetare-sunday.html#.Yj_c6zUpCHs

We also note that at St. Thomas Aquinas at this Sunday’s Latin Mass, Fr. Codd will be wearing the recently made Rose vestments, which some individuals from our community as well as others, helped contribute toward last year.

For more on the customs of Laetare Sunday visit: https://www.fisheaters.com/customslent7.html

Latin Mass This Week

  • Monday March 20 – Feast of St. Joseph (see note below)
  • Wednesday March 22, 6pm – St. Ann  (Feria of Lent, e.g. no feast day)
  • Thursday March 23, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria of Lent)
  • Friday March 24, 7am (St. Ann) & 12:30pm (St. Mark), (Feast of St. Gabriel the Archangel)
  • Saturday March 25, 8am – St. Ann, (4th Saturday Respect Life Mass and Feast of the Annunciation)

Feast of St. Joseph – March 20

The feast of St. Joseph normally falls on March 19, but since that is the 4th Sunday of Lent, it is transferred to Monday March 20. There are no Latin Masses in Charlotte this day, but we do share three other diocesan Latin Masses in the region.

  • 12 noon – Prince of Peace, 1209 Brushy Creek Road, Taylors, SC (2 hours southwest of Charlotte)
  • 6:30pm – Our Lady of the Lake, 195 Amicks Ferry Rd Chapin, SC (2 hours south of Charlotte)
  • 7pm – Our Lady of Grace, 2203 West Market Street, Greensboro, NC (1.5 hours north of Charlotte)

Below are a few recommended links about his life and devotion.

Community News

Holy Face Devotions

  • St Mark – Monday at 2pm (special time for Monday March 20 only)
  • St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the main church
  • St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the chapel after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
  • St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, Main Church
  • Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
  • Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?

Latin Mass & Traditional News

  • Forgotten Customs of St. Patrick’s Day: Friday March 17 was the feast of St. Patrick, the patronal feast for the diocese (at least the Cathedral). OnePeterFive has an interesting article on the lost traditions of St. Patrick’s day: https://onepeterfive.com/forgotten-customs-st-patricks-day/

The Glories of St. Joseph by Dom Prosper Gueranger, OSB

As the feast of St. Joseph is tomorrow, we close this update with the writings of the great Benedictine liturgist, Dom Prosper Gueranger, who in his book, The Liturgical Year, described the importance of St. Joseph in salvation history.

“The Son of God, when about to descend upon this earth to assume our human nature, would have a Mother; this Mother could not be other than the purest of Virgins, and her divine maternity was not to impair her incomparable virginity. Until such time as the Son of Mary were recognized as the Son of God, His Mother’s honour had need of a protector: some man, therefore, was to be called to the high dignity of being Mary’s spouse. This privileged mortal was Joseph, the most chaste of men.

Heaven designated him as being the only one worthy of such a treasure: the rod he held in his hand in the temple suddenly produced a flower, as though it were a literal fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaias: ‘There shall come forth a rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root.’[1] The rich pretenders to an alliance with Mary were set aside; and Joseph was espoused to the Virgin of the house of David, by a union which surpassed in love and purity everything the angels themselves had ever witnessed.

But he was not only chosen to the glory of having to protect the Mother of the Incarnate Word; he was also called to exercise an adopted paternity over the very Son of God. So long as the mysterious cloud was over the Saint of saints, men called Jesus the Son of Joseph and the carpenter’s Son. When our blessed Lady found the Child Jesus in the temple, in the midst of the doctors, she thus addressed Him: ‘Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing’;[2] and the holy evangelist adds that Jesus was subject to them, that is, that He was subject to Joseph as He was to Mary…

We ask, what mortal can justly appreciate the glories of St. Joseph? To do so, he would have to understand the whole of that mystery, of which God made him the necessary instrument. What wonder, then, if this foster-father of the Son of God was prefigured in the old Testament, and that by one of the most glorious of the patriarchs? Let us listen to St. Bernard, who thus compares the two Josephs: ‘The first was sold by his brethren, out of envy, and was led into Egypt, thus prefiguring our Saviour’s being sold; the second Joseph, that he might avoid Herod’s envy, led Jesus into Egypt. The first was faithful to his master, and treated his wife with honour; the second, too, was the most chaste guardian of his bride, the Virgin Mother of his Lord. To the first was given the understanding and interpretation of dreams; to the second, the knowledge of, and participation in, the heavenly mysteries. The first laid up stores of corn, not for himself, but for all the people; the second received the living Bread that came down from heaven, and kept It both for himself and for the whole world.’[4]”

What Mass are you attending Sunday?

Feast of St. Joseph Event This Sunday

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Please see the below announcement for the feast of St. Joseph potluck occurring this Sunday March 19 after the 12:30pm Latin Mass at St. Ann parish. It is sponsored by St. Ann Homeschool Ministry. They are also inviting people to bring a food pantry donations as well. Please see attached flyer and see their signup page for the potluck: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0848aba728aafa7-stjoseph#/

=========

Please join us for a St. Joseph Feast Day Celebration! See the attached flyer. This event is sponsored by the homeschool ministry and open to the entire parish. Please invite your friends and bring an Italian dish to share! 

  • WHEN: March 19, 2023 | 1:30pm-3:00pm
  • WHERE: St. Ann Allen Center Cafe
  • WHAT: Italian Themed Family Potluck
    • Litany of St. Joseph
    • St. Joseph Altar
    • Food Pantry Collection
    • Door Prizes
    • Children’s Activities

The St. Joseph altar will be displayed in the cafe on Friday, March 17th at 3:00pm until the conclusion of the potluck on Sunday. Please bring your Food Pantry donations to the altar any time over the weekend. If you are providing bread or desserts for the potluck, those items may also be placed at the altar in advance.

See the signup genius here. Questions?

We hope to see you there!

In Christ,

Stephany Shayeghi & Whitney Hetzel

Charlotte Men’s Conference – Saturday March 18

This Saturday March 18 is the annual Catholic Men’s Conference of the Carolinas at St. Thomas Aquinas parish.  Charles Fraune, Latin Mass devotee, St. Thomas Aquinas parishioner, and author of Slaying Dragons, will be one of the featured speakers. As readers may recall, he also spoke at the Fatima Center talk a few weeks ago. The conference runs from 8:30 – 3:30pm and registration is required. To learn more or purchase a ticket visit: https://www.catholicmenofthecarolinas.org/

Third Sunday of Lent

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the third Sunday of Lent, and as custom, we share a commentary for Sunday’s Collect prayer: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/03/the-taciturn-collect-for-third-sunday.html

Daylight Savings Time: Reminder that today Sunday March 12 begins Daylight Savings Time. Please set your clocks ahead 1 hour.

CLMC Novena: Yesterday concluded our annual novena to our patron, St. Gregory the Great, whose feast day is today. We thank those who joined us in praying for full sacramental life in the Traditional Rite and for more Latin Mass priests.

On a separate but related note about Latin Mass priests, between Fr. Portzer’s Lenten mission and Fr. Ripperger’s visit this past weekend, these two back-to-back events were a source of great consolation for the Latin Mass faithful when the Latin Mass faces an uncertain future. If you haven’t already done so, please pray a decade of one’s Rosary for Fr. Codd (for hosting them), and consider thanking him when you have a chance. If missed the talks please see the below note.

Fr. Ripperger’s Talk/Supporting St. Thomas Aquinas

For the second week in a row, the CLMC is grateful for St. Thomas Aquinas parish for inviting a traditional priest to give a talk to the faithful. Fr. Ripperger’s talks and Q&A this weekend was a wonderful spiritual gift to all. For those unable to attend, the parish recorded both talks, which will be available at this website: https://www.stacharlotte.com/newpagea605b85d (select Fr. Ripperger 2023).  You may need to request a password from the parish to access the talks, if so, please contact them at: https://www.osvhub.com/st-thomas-aquinas-rc-church/forms/audio-pw-contact-us

The talks are also available here:

Supporting St. Thomas Aquinas Parish: With all the great traditional speakers the parish brought in the last weeks, please consider supporting their speakers fund so they can invite more speakers in the future. This is a great almsgiving opportunity: https://www.osvhub.com/st-thomas-aquinas-rc-church/giving/funds/guest-speaker-fees

Latin Masses This Week

  • Wednesday March 15, 6pm – St. Ann parish (Feria day, e.g. no feast day)
  • Thursday March 16, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria)
  • Friday March 17, 7am (St. Ann) and 12:30pm (St. Mark), (feast of St. Patrick)

Community News

Charles Fraune to Speak at Catholic Men’s Conference – Next Saturday March 18

Next Saturday March 18 is the annual Catholic Men’s Conference of the Carolinas.  Charles Fraune, Latin Mass devotee, St. Thomas Aquinas parishioner, and author of Slaying Dragons, will be one of the featured speakers. As readers may recall, he also spoke at the Fatima Center talk a few weeks ago. The conference runs from 8:30 – 3:30pm and registration is required. To learn more or purchase a ticket visit: https://www.catholicmenofthecarolinas.org/

Holy Face Devotions

  • St Mark – Monday at 5:30pm, left transept (special time for Monday March 13 only) (next week it will be March 20, 2pm)
  • St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the main church
  • St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the chapel after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
  • St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, Main Church
  • Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
  • Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?

Update on Sarah Grant: Thank you for the prayers for Ryan Grant’s wife, Sarah Grant last week. Very sadly, according to his social media account, she is scheduled to receive Last Rites. The prayer that Fr. Chad Ripperger encouraged everyone to pray a few weeks ago for Sarah can be found here: https://charlottelatinmass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/prayer-to-father-aloysius.pdf

Latin Mass & Traditional News

  • Purim and Lent – Esther and Cecilia: Last September we shared a wonderful article by Fr. William Rock, FSSP, on the connections between the Traditional Latin Mass and Old Testament feast days, particularly the connection between Autumn Ember Saturday and the Jewish feast days of Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). This week, Fr. Rock has released an excellent follow up article,in which he discusses the Jewish feast of Purim, which occurs this time of year to honor the intercession of Queen Esther to save the Jewish people threatened by the Persian King’s officials.  The Traditional Latin Mass readings from this past week (Wednesday of the Second  Lent) honors that ancient feast by including a reading from the Book of Esther: https://fssp.com/purim-and-lent-esther-and-cecilia/
  • Pray for the canonization of Ignatius Cardinal Kung – March 12: During the Cold War, there were two high ranking prelates imprisoned by communists on opposite ends of the earth for practicing their Catholic faith. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen remarked, in the west it was Servant of God, Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty of Hungary (who later escaped to the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, and then was later exiled to Austria until his death in 1975).  In the east, it was Cardinal Ignatius Kung, the first bishop of Shanghai who stood strong for papal authority, and for it, spent the better part of 30 years in prison (1955-1985). His Eminence was exiled to Connecticut in the 1980s where he offered the Traditional Latin Mass occasionally until his death on March 12, 2000.  Today marks the 23rd anniversary of his death, please consider offering prayers for his canonization as he could be a powerful intercessor against Chinese Communism The Cardinal Kung Foundation is also a worthy group to give alms to and allow people to request Masses be offered by underground priests in China: http://www.cardinalkungfoundation.org/

  • The Second Semi-Annual DC Latin Mass Pilgrimage on Saturday March 25: On the feast of the Annunciation, Saturday March 25, the second DC Latin Mass pilgrimage will occur in our nation’s capital. The goal is to march from the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, Virginia to the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington, DC – all to pray and generate support for the Traditional Latin Mass. If you wish to travel please see the website for specific details: https://www.tlmpilgrimage.com/ To learn more about the purpose of the pilgrimage please visit this website: https://onepeterfive.com/the-second-semi-annual-dc-pilgrimage-on-march-25/ or view an informative interview with the organizer: https://savethelatinmass.org/2023/03/03/onepeterfive-the-national-summorum-pontificum-pilgrimage/
  • Fairfield Carmelite Nuns Complete Their Refectory: If one is looking for more signs of hope for the future of the Traditional Latin Mass and the Church, look no further than the Fairfield Traditional Carmelite Nuns, who follow the traditional Carmelite Rite (like the nearby Carmelite Hermits). They are building a monastery according to the traditional principles outlined by St. Theresa of Avila, the great Carmelite reformer. In another installment, the Nuns have just posted a video about the completion of their refectory which was blessed by their local bishop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROoMlHZ8Jj4

    The nuns, who rely solely on donations (donate here), are also in need of some items for their daily needs, which one can purchase for them here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3FBH6PNCDVJTB?ref=cm_go_nav_hz

    CLMC note: As Dr. John Senior noted in his book Restoration of Christian Culture, monasteries are the building blocks of Catholic civilization and culture. Our country is quite blessed to have such an modest edifice rising to heaven. Despite these uncertain times, this gives us great hope for the future.

The Apostle of the Liturgy: St. Gregory the Great – March 12 by Dom Prosper Gueranger

The patron saint of the CLMC is St. Gregory the Great, whose feast day is today Sunday March 12. It is fitting to close with some of Dom Prosper Gueranger’s reflections from his book, The Liturgical Year:

Among all the Pastors whom our Lord Jesus Christ has placed as his Vice-regents over the universal Church, there is not one whose merits and renown have surpassed those of the holy Pope whose feast we keep today. His name is Gregory, which signifies watchfulness; his surname is the Great, and he was in possession of that title when God sent the Seventh Gregory, the glorious Hildebrand, to govern his Church.

In recounting the glorious of this illustrious Pontiff, it is but natural we should begin with his zeal for the Services of the Church. The Roman Liturgy, which owes to him some of its finest Hymns, may be considered as his work, at least in this sense, that it was he who collected together and classified the prayers and rites drawn up by his predecessors, and reduced to the form in which we now have them. He collected also the ancient chants of the Church and arranged them in accordance with the rules and requirements of the Divine Service. Hence it is that our sacred music is called the Gregorian Chant, which gives such solemnity to the Liturgy and inspires the soul with respect and devotion during the celebration of the great Mysteries of our Faith.

He is, then, the Apostle of the Liturgy, and this alone would have immortalized his name; but we must look for far greater things from such a Pontiff as Gregory. His name was added to the three who had hitherto been honored as the great Doctors of the Latin Church. These three were Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome; who else could be the fourth but Gregory? The Church found in his Writings such evidence of his having been guided by the Holy Ghost—such a knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures, such a clear appreciation of the Mysteries of Faith, and such unction and authority in his teachings that she gladly welcomed him as a new guide for her children.

The Traditional Latin Mass and the Gregorian Chant that accompanies it was safeguarded and codified by St. Gregory the Great, and despite these uncertain times, it will be offered until the end of time, and thus gives us great hope. What Mass are you attending Sunday?

St. Gregory the Great, pray for us!

Second Sunday of Lent

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the second Sunday of Lent, and we share a commentary on the Collect prayer for Sunday’s Latin Mass: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/02/the-transformative-collect-of-second.html

Latin Masses This Week

  • Wednesday March 8, 6pm – St. Ann parish (Feria, e.g. no feast day)
  • Thursday March 9, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas parish (Feria)
  • Friday March 10, 7am (St. Ann) & 12:30pm (St. Mark – preceded at 12 noon by Stations of the Cross), (Feria)

1st Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas Aquinas

Today there will be the monthly potluck after the 11:30am Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. Attendees are asked to bring a dish, desert or drink to share.

1st Sunday Latin Mass at Sacred Heart in Salisbury

Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury will offer its 1st Sunday Latin Mass at 4pm today. Mass is offered by Fr. Carlson and Confessions will be offered 30 minutes prior to and after Mass. Afterwards a potluck will be held in the Brincefield Hall. Please bring a Lenten dish or dessert to share. For more information please contact Mark Hartley with the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at: www.salisburylmc.org

FSSP Lenten Mission Talks

Thank you to everyone who made the sacrifice to attend the Lenten Mission with Fr. Portzer at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. This was a spiritual fruitful event. If you missed out or want to hear the talks, the parish has recorded them but its only available upon request. To obtain a link to watch the videos contact the parish here: https://www.osvhub.com/st-thomas-aquinas-rc-church/forms/contact-us

Support St. Thomas Aquinas parish: St. Thomas Aquinas has brought in many engaging speakers that appeal to all Catholics, but especially Latin Mass attendees, including Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, David Rodriguez from the Fatima Center, Fr. Portzer, and next week, Fr. Chad Ripperger (and more events scheduled!). These informative and educational talks aren’t easy to organize, and they do cost money.  Please consider making a donation to the parish’s speaker fund so they can continue hosting events: https://www.osvhub.com/st-thomas-aquinas-rc-church/giving/funds/guest-speaker-fees

Please also be sure to thank Fr. Codd for his support of these lectures, and offering up a decade of your Rosary for him. 

  • CLMC note: Between Fr. Portzer’s talk, and Fr. Ripperger’s visit this coming weekend, these two back-to-back events may end up being a source of great consolation at an uncertain time for Latin Mass attendees.

Community News

Holy Face Devotions

  • St Mark – Monday at 7pm (special time for Monday March 6 only) (Other dates/times for March: March 13, 5pm; and March 20, 2pm)
  • St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the main church
  • St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the chapel after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
  • St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, Main Church
  • Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
  • Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?

Update on Sarah Grant: Thank you for the prayers for Ryan Grant’s wife, Sarah Grant last week. Very sadly, according to his social media account, this week the cancer has aggressively spread and she may only have a few weeks to live. The prayer for a miracle that Fr. Chad Ripperger recommended a few weeks ago for Sarah can be found here: https://charlottelatinmass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/prayer-to-father-aloysius.pdf

Annual CLMC Novena to St. Gregory the Great (March 3 – 11)

Our annual novena is underway to pray for a full sacramental life in the Traditional Rite. Please join us if you haven’t begun to pray (see link below). With the future of Latin Masses uncertain, it’s a great opportunity to pray for its protection. Here’s how it works:

  1. Pray a Rosary each day beginning tomorrow Friday March 3 and ending Saturday March 11 (the day before St. Gregory’s feast day).
  2. At the end of each Rosary, add this novena prayer:

St. Gregory, you are known for your zeal for the Catholic faith, love of liturgy, and compassion and mercy toward those in need.  Please help and guide us so that we may share in these virtues and thereby bring Jesus into the hearts of our families and all we encounter.  We especially ask for blessings on our parish family, our priests and our deacons. We also ask that you graciously intercede for us before God so that we might be granted the special assistance and graces that we seek (full sacramental and parochial life in the Extraordinary Form for the Charlotte faithful and that Our Lord will send more Latin Mass priests to our diocese).  Help us to live as a faithful child of God and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.  St. Gregory the Great pray for us.   Amen

Intention: Full sacramental and parochial life in the Extraordinary Form for the Charlotte faithful and that Our Lord will send more Latin Mass priests to our diocese. 

10-Year Anniversary of the St. Ann Sunday Latin Mass: This past Friday March 3rd marked the ten-year anniversary of the first Sunday Latin Mass at St. Ann parish. We attach an image of that first Mass on Sunday March 3, 2013 (and a much younger Fr. Reid!). Please keep him in your Mass intentions this week as he has dutifully ensured a Sunday Latin Mass each week these past 10 years (no easy feat).

Latin Mass & Traditional News

  • “Everywhere You Turn, There’s Incredible Need” How Mission Tradition Is Carrying the Cross in Nigeria: As we’ve noted in prior updates, the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), a society of Latin Mass priests which staff Latin Mass parishes and chapels across the world, also operates a mission in Nigeria where it serves the poor while introducing them to Traditional Latin Mass. Recently, one of the FSSP priests in Nigeria gave an interview about their work and the suffering the people are enduring due to lack of money, water, and resources. This community (and its priest) would literally starve without support from the faithful: https://www.missiontradition.us/carrying-the-cross-in-nigeria-2023/  

CLMC note: For those looking for places to send alms this Lent, the FSSP’s Nigerian mission is a worthy candidate. https://www.missiontradition.us/donate/

  • Sub tuum praesidium – a polyphonic video recording: Mr. Nicholas Lemme, professor of Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony at the FSSP Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska (where two members of our community/St. Ann parishioners attend), pens a brief explanation of the origins of the Marian chant, Sub tuum praesidium (Under your patronage) and includes a video of FSSP seminarians chanting at St. Cecilia’s Cathedral in Omaha, NE: https://fssp.com/sub-tuum-praesidium-a-polyphonic-video-recording/

Lent – The Badge of Christian Warfare: Pope Benedict XIV

The first full week of Lent is finished, and as the second one is about to begin, it can seem difficult to continue the Lenten practices for the next five weeks. However, Dom Prosper Gueranger, in his history of Lent, taken from his book, The Liturgical Year, quotes Pope Benedict XIV from 1741 on how important these Lenten fasts are not just for ourselves, but for the stability of society. Gueranger shares this quote to encourage the faithful to continue on in the Lenten practices:

The same Pope [Benedict XIV], whose spirit of moderation has never been called in question, had no sooner ascended the papal throne, than he addressed an encyclical letter to the bishops of the Catholic world, expressing his heartfelt grief at seeing the great relaxation that was introduced among the faithful by indiscreet and unnecessary dispensations. The letter is dated May 30, 1741. We extract from it the following passage: ‘The observance of Lent is the very badge of the Christian warfare. By it we prove ourselves not to be enemies of the cross of Christ. By it we avert the scourges of divine justice. By it we gain strength against the princes of darkness, for it shields us with heavenly help. Should mankind grow remiss in their observance of Lent, it would be a detriment to God’s glory, a disgrace to the Catholic religion, and a danger to Christian souls. Neither can it be doubted that such negligence would become the source of misery to the world, of public calamity, and of private woe.’[21]

  • Encyclical by Pope Benedict XIV, Non ambigimus, May 30, 1741

https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/501-commentary-on-the-seasons/lent/3636-chapter-1-the-history-of-lent

What Mass are you attending Sunday?

CLMC Latin Mass Novena Begins Today Friday March 3

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Today Friday March 3 begins our annual novena to St. Gregory the Great, the CLMC’s patron – asking him for full sacramental and parish life in the Traditional Rite. Please join us in praying this novena (see attached).

Annual CLMC Novena to St. Gregory the Great (March 3 – 11)

Over the years, but especially in the past year, many of you have asked us when would we be able to have full sacramental life, a Latin Mass chapel, chaplaincy, or one of the Ecclesia Dei orders come to Charlotte (e.g. Institute of Christ the King, FSSP, etc.). Our annual novena is your opportunity to place those requests to prayer. Here’s how it works:

  1. Pray a Rosary each day beginning tomorrow Friday March 3 and ending Saturday March 11 (the day before St. Gregory’s feast day).
  2. At the end of each Rosary, add this novena prayer:

St. Gregory, you are known for your zeal for the Catholic faith, love of liturgy, and compassion and mercy toward those in need.  Please help and guide us so that we may share in these virtues and thereby bring Jesus into the hearts of our families and all we encounter.  We especially ask for blessings on our parish family, our priests and our deacons. We also ask that you graciously intercede for us before God so that we might be granted the special assistance and graces that we seek (full sacramental and parochial life in the Extraordinary Form for the Charlotte faithful and that Our Lord will send more Latin Mass priests to our diocese).  Help us to live as a faithful child of God and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.  St. Gregory the Great pray for us.   Amen

Intention: Full sacramental and parochial life in the Extraordinary Form for the Charlotte faithful and that Our Lord will send more Latin Mass priests to our diocese. 

1st Saturday Latin Mass

St. Thomas Aquinas is offering its 10am Latin Mass followed by its monthly traditional blessing of religious objects at 11am in the narthex.

1st Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas Aquinas

Sunday there will be the monthly potluck after the 11:30am Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. Attendees are asked to bring a dish, desert or drink to share.

1st Sunday Latin Mass at Sacred Heart in Salisbury

Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury will offer its 1st Sunday Latin Mass at 4pm. Mass is offered by Fr. Carlson and Confessions will be offered 30 minutes prior to Mass. Afterwards a potluck will be held in the Brincefield Hall. Please bring a Lenten dish or dessert to share. For more information please contact Mark Hartley with the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at: www.salisburylmc.org

CLMC Novena Begins Tomorrow Friday & 1st Sunday Events

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Tonight at 7pm (St. Thomas Aquinas) is Fr. Portzer’s final Mass and sermon before he departs home after his Lenten Mission.

Annual CLMC Novena to St. Gregory the Great (March 3 – 11)

Tomorrow Friday March 3 begins our annual novena to St. Gregory the Great, the CLMC’s patron – asking him for full sacramental and parish life in the Traditional Rite.

Over the years, but especially in the past year, many of you have asked us when would our community be able to have full sacramental life in the Traditional Rite, a Latin Mass chapel, or one of the Ecclesia Dei orders come to Charlotte (e.g. Institute of Christ the King, FSSP, etc.). Our annual novena is your opportunity to place those requests to prayer. Here’s how it works:

  1. Pray a Rosary each day beginning tomorrow Friday March 3 and ending Saturday March 11 (the day before his feast day).
  2. At the end of each Rosary, add this novena prayer:

St. Gregory, you are known for your zeal for the Catholic faith, love of liturgy, and compassion and mercy toward those in need.  Please help and guide us so that we may share in these virtues and thereby bring Jesus into the hearts of our families and all we encounter.  We especially ask for blessings on our parish family, our priests and our deacons. We also ask that you graciously intercede for us before God so that we might be granted the special assistance and graces that we seek (full sacramental and parochial life in the Extraordinary Form for the Charlotte faithful and that Our Lord will send more Latin Mass priests to our diocese).  Help us to live as a faithful child of God and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.  St. Gregory the Great pray for us.   Amen

Intention: Full sacramental and parochial life in the Extraordinary Form for the Charlotte faithful and that Our Lord will send more Latin Mass priests to our diocese.  

Looking ahead, here are the Latin Mass events occurring this weekend.

1st Saturday Latin Mass

St. Thomas Aquinas is offering its 10am Latin Mass followed by its monthly traditional blessing of religious objects at 11am in the narthex.

1st Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas Aquinas

Sunday there will be the monthly potluck after the 11:30am Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. Attendees are asked to bring a dish, desert or drink to share.

1st Sunday Latin Mass at Sacred Heart in Salisbury

Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury will offer its 1st Sunday Latin Mass at 4pm. Mass is offered by Fr. Carlson and Confessions will be offered 30 minutes prior to Mass. Afterwards a potluck will be held in the Brincefield Hall. Please bring a dish or dessert to share. For more information please contact the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at: www.salisburylmc.org

Lenten Mission Tonight 7pm

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Tonight Wednesday March 1 at 7pm is the last night of the Lenten Mission with Fr. Joseph Portzer, FSSP, a Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) priest. According to several attendees, the talks have been brilliant and edifying – if you haven’t made it out yet, we’d encourage all to attend the final evening tonight at 7pm (6pm Confessions). Father will also offer the Thursday evening Mass at 7pm (tomorrow March 2).

Support St. Thomas Aquinas’ Lectures

This week’s mission was not the first lecture event St. Thomas Aquinas has hosted. Over the past few months, the parish has brought in many engaging speakers that appeal to all Catholics, but especially Latin Mass attendees, including Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, David Rodriguez from the Fatima Center, Fr. Portzer, and next week, Fr. Chad Ripperger (and more events scheduled!).

These informative and educational talks aren’t easy to organize, and they do cost money. If you attend tonight, please consider making a donation to the parish’s speaker fund so they can continue hosting events. A donation kiosk will be in the entrance to the church. Or you could make one online at the parish’s online contribution portal: https://www.osvhub.com/st-thomas-aquinas-rc-church/giving/funds/guest-speaker-fees

Please be sure to thank Fr. Codd for his support of these lectures, and offering up a decade of your Rosary for him.  

Embertide Latin Masses this Week

Today, Friday and Saturday are the Lenten Ember Days – when the traditional Church sets aside 3 days each season for prayer, fasting and partial abstinence (the later now voluntary) to thank God for his gifts of creation and to use them in moderation. It’s a good time to also pray for sanctity for the upcoming season. The Mass times are as follows:

  • Wednesday March 1, 6pm – St. Ann (Ember Wednesday – after Mass hurry over to St. Thomas afterwards for the final mission talk!)
  • Thursday March 2, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria – no feast day)
  • Friday March 3, 7am (St. Ann) and 12:30pm (St. Mark)  (Ember Friday, preceded by Stations of the Cross at 12 noon)
  • Saturday March 4, 10am – St. Thomas Aquinas (Ember Saturday/First Saturday) followed by a blessing of religious objects; and 10am Latin Mass at St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country in Boone (2 hours northwest of Charlotte) followed by first Saturday Rosary and devotions.