Laudetur Iesus Christus!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. We have some updates to pass along regarding Mass cancellations and other resources to help us get through this difficult time. Before getting into any of that, if you are materially secure, please reach out to your friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners who may be more vulnerable than you.
- The Power of Sacramentals in Times of Pestilence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_UcJf2qJq0 - Subjects For Daily Meditation:
Remember, Christian soul, that thou hast this day, and every day of thy life: God to glorify, Jesus to imitate, The Angels and Saints to invoke, A soul to save, A body to mortify, Sins to expiate, Virtues to acquire, Hell to avoid, Heaven to gain, Eternity to prepare for, Time to profit by, Neighbors to edify, The world to despise, Devils to combat, Passions to subdue, Death perhaps to suffer, And Judgment to undergo.
- Mass Update (Email from Father Reid, Pastor of St. Ann’s in Charlotte):
As the CDC is now recommending that public gatherings exceed no more than 10 people, all public Masses at St. Ann’s are suspended for the time being. Mass will still continue to be offered privately for the spiritual welfare of us all. It saddens me terribly to take this measure, but we must do so out of concern and protection for the larger community.
St. Ann’s is committed to providing for the spiritual and pastoral needs of the faithful. Therefore, please contact the office if you are need of confession or the Sacrament of the Sick: 704-523-4641, ext. 221.
More information will be forthcoming. But for now, all parish meetings and events are cancelled until further notice. The church remains open for prayer, provided that no more than 10 people are present in the church at any given time.
In union with our suffering Lord,
Fr. Reid
- Easter Triduum Update: As you recall from previous years at St. Ann’s Father Reid has arranged to have a Traditional Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil) at the Charlotte Catholic High School chapel. We are sad to report that the Mass cancellation order mentioned above also applies to the Easter Triduum Masses that were being planned. Father Reid will be offering a private Easter Triduum at St. Ann’s but without laity present.
5. Additional Confession Updates: In addition to confession at St. Ann’s, another great place for confession is St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church a few miles south of St. Ann on Park Road. St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church will be offering Confession each weekday from 6pm to 7pm (Mon-Friday). As with all news, this is subject to change. Consult parish websites for updated information.
6. Spiritual Communion: As stated previously, there is a great amount of concern among all of us over the limitations being placed on Masses in the Diocese of Charlotte. For those who are not able to attend Mass physically, you are still able to do so spiritually, and it is not without merit. As a great Lenten retreat, I highly recommend you reading, Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis DeSales. Here is a great excerpt regarding Spiritual Communion:
Excerpt from Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis DeSales
Part II; Chapter XIV: Of the Holy Mass, and how we ought to take part in it:
If any imperative hindrance prevents your presence at this sovereign sacrifice of Christ’s most true Presence, at least be sure to take part in it spiritually. If you cannot go to Church, choose some morning hour in which to unite your intention to that of the whole Christian world, and make the same interior acts of devotion wherever you are that you would make if you were really present at the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist in Church.
In order to join in this rightly, whether actually or mentally, you must give heed to several things:
(1) In the beginning, and before the priest goes up to the Altar, make your preparation with his—placing yourself in God’s Presence, confessing your unworthiness, and asking forgiveness.
(2) Until the Gospel, dwell simply and generally upon the Coming and the Life of our Lord in this world.
(3) From the Gospel to the end of the Creed, dwell upon our Dear Lord’s teaching, and renew your resolution to live and die in the faith of the Holy Catholic Church.
(4) From thence, fix your heart on the mysteries of the Word, and unite yourself to the Death and Passion of our Redeemer, now actually and essentially set forth in this holy Sacrifice, which, together with the priest and all the congregation, you offer to God the Father, to His Glory and your own salvation.
(5) Up to the moment of communicating, offer all the longings and desires of your heart, above all desiring most earnestly to be united for ever to our Savior by His Eternal Love.
(6) From the time of Communion to the end, thank His Gracious Majesty for His Incarnation, His Life, Death, Passion, and the Love which He sets forth in this holy Sacrifice, entreating through it His favor for yourself, your relations and friends, and the whole Church; and humbling yourself sincerely, devoutly receive 101 the blessing which our Dear Lord gives you through the channel of His minister. If, however, you wish to follow your daily course of meditation on special mysteries during the Sacrifice, it is not necessary that you should interrupt yourself by making these several acts but it will suffice that at the beginning you dispose your intention to worship and to offer the holy Sacrifice in your meditation and prayer; since every meditation includes all the above named acts either explicitly or implicitly.
Prayer of St. Bonaventure:
Dearest Lord Jesus, pierce the inmost depths of my being with the sweet and wholesome pang of Thy love, with true and tranquil and most holy apostolic charity, so that from sheer melting love and desire of Thee my soul may ever faint with longing, yearning for Thee and for Thy dwelling-place, asking only to be released from the flesh and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul my hunger for Thee, Who art the Bread of Angels, the food of holy souls, our daily, supernatural bread, all sweetness and delight to the taste. Let my heart ever hunger for Thee and feed upon Thee, Whom the Angels yearn to look upon, and let the depths of my being be filled with Thy sweet savor; let me ever thirst for Thee, Who art the source of life, source of wisdom and knowledge, source of eternal light, flood-tide of pleasure, God’s own treasure-house. Let me ever desire Thee; seek Thee and find Thee; have Thee for my goal and my achievement; think and speak of Thee only, doing all that I do for the honor and glory of Thy Name, humbly and prudently, with love and delight, with ready goodwill, and with perseverance to the end.
Be Thou ever, Thou only, my hope and all my trust, my treasure and pleasure, my joy and delight, my rest, peace, and quiet, my sweet and delicious fragrance, my food and support, my refuge and help, my wisdom, my heritage of wealth, my very own. Let my heart and soul be set on Thee, firmly and immovably rooted in Thee henceforth and forever. Amen.
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
- Traditional Mass Propers: For those wanting to print out Mass Propers, here is a link:
https://tridentine-mass.blogspot.com
Charlotte Latin Mass Community 