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Pentecost Sunday

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is Pentecost, also known as Whitsunday (for the Easter catechumens who would again wear white at Mass). Liturgist Dom Gasper Lefebvre OSB in the St. Andrew Missal, Pentecost is the second most important feast day in the Church’s liturgical year (next to Easter), was also called “Red Easter” and has its own Octave to commemorate the foundation of the Church.  Lefebrve notes that the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles occurred at nine in the morning, and by Divine Providence, occurred on the same day as the Jewish feast of Pentecost, which, established around 1,600 years prior, commemorated the promulgation of the Law on Mount Sinai. In Jerusalem on this day in 33 A.D., many Jewish pilgrims were in the city to mark the feast day, and witnessed the new Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Ghost. 

There is much that can be shared on this solemn feast day, and we include but a few:

Diocesan Pentecost Masses

In addition to St. Ann parish’s 12:30pm Latin Mass for today (where newly ordained Deacon Peter Rusciolelli will preach), St. Thomas Aquinas offers its 11:30am Latin Mass (with a potluck afterwards to mark Fr. Codd’s 10th anniversary as a priest, and Deacon Chinoso’s ordination to the diaconate yesterday – Deacon Chinoso will also preach). Additionally there will be a First Sunday 4pm Latin Mass at Sacred Heart in Salisbury. http://salisburylmc.org/

Plenary Indulgence for Pentecost

There is a plenary indulgence today, Pentecost Sunday, to all who pray the Veni Creator – ‘Come Holy Spirit’ under the usual conditions. This will normally be prayed during the Sunday Latin Mass.

Whit Ember Days (This Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday)

As our readers may recall, the Ember Days are the 3 penitential days in the 1962 calendar, occurring at the beginning of each season, that offer thanksgiving and prayers for holiness in the upcoming season.  This week is the Whit Ember Days for the summer season and occurs on the following dates below.  Though the below fasting/partial abstinence days are now voluntary, with all the sin occurring in the world (and in the Church), it may be worth participating in the traditional fasts if you have not done so before.

•           Whit Ember Wednesday – Wednesday June 8 (fasting, partial abstinence), St. Ann, 6pm Low Mass

•           Whit Ember Friday – Friday June 10 (fasting and since its Friday, complete abstinence from meat), St. Ann, 7am Low Mass; St. Mark 12:30pm Low Mass

•           Whit Ember Saturday – Saturday June 11 (fasting, partial abstinence), no diocesan Latin Masses in Charlotte scheduled

The “Whit Ember” days are named after Whit Sunday (“white”), which was an ancient name for Pentecost Sunday and the robes worn by catechumens that day. To learn more about the Whit Ember days visit: https://www.fisheaters.com/customseastertide8.html

Community News

  • Temporary Latin Mass Changes in Taylors, SC: Due to clergy retreats, sabbaticals, etc., Prince of Peace parish in Taylors, SC (2 hours southwest of Charlotte) will not be offering Latin Mass on weekdays during the summer. It will have 1st Saturdays at 9am and the regular 12 noon Latin Mass each Sunday. The normal schedule should resume by mid-August. Please visit the website before making a visit: https://princeofpeacetaylors.org/

Latin Mass & Traditional News

Mass of Ages Part II – The Perfect Storm: On Ascension Thursday, the latest Mass of Ages documentary premiered.  This exceptional documentary examines the question “What went wrong after Vatican II?” and looks into the role of Archbishop Annibale Bugnini, and the role of the Concilium, which was the committee that dismantled the Traditional Latin Mass and designed the Novus Ordo.  To watch either episode please visit: https://latinmass.com/watch  (The CLMC also has it posted on our webpage: https://charlottelatinmass.org/mass-of-ages-documentary/)

The Springtime That Never Came & Evangelization w/ Bishop Schneider: Steve Cunningham with Sensus Fidelium interviewed Bishop Athanasius Schneider (who visited St. Ann and the CLMC in 2017) about his new book, The Springtime that Never Came, which discusses the false claim that Vatican II and its Mass ushered in a new “Springtime” in the Church. His Excellency examines how modernist church leaders are denying reality in believing that this springtime has arrived: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CEbdZYuOxU

Divine Do-Overs: The Secret of Recapitulation in the Traditional Calendar: In this instructive essay, Dr. Mike Foley examines why the Church repeats certain themes, readings, or saints in the Traditional Latin Mass at various times of year. For instance the Kingship of Christ is emphasized on Palm Sunday and later in the year during the feast of Christ the King, likewise the Holy Eucharist is emphasized on Holy Thursday, but also on the feast of Corpus Christi. There are certain themes that are important and are made more explicit in the Church as the liturgical year progresses: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/06/divine-do-overs-secret-of.html#.YpwYyezMKHs

Pope Francis names Cardinal Cupich a member of Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship: Last week the Holy Father appointed two bishops to the Vatican department which oversees the liturgy. Unsurprisingly he appointed, among others, Cardinal Cupich of Chicago, and Cardinal Kevin Farrell, formerly of Dallas and Washington DC, but now serves as the prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life in Rome. Both are, as one may presume, progressive and modernist in their theological and liturgical outlook. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251425/cardinal-cupich-among-new-members-of-vatican-congregation-for-divine-worship

CLMC Comment: We share this article, however, to highlight a critical distinction that is often overlooked by some faithful Catholics – including some Latin Mass faithful (e.g. traditonalists) – that conservative bishops are the “good guys”, and liberal bishops are the “bad guys”.  This Americanized perspective on ecclesiastical politics is, however, simplistic and misleading. The truth is more nuanced. For the record, it should be noted that while restrictions and cancellations were placed on Latin Mass faithful in “conservative” dioceses such as Arlington, and other places, the Latin Mass faithful in Chicago were able to attend a Latin Triduum this year and has a dedicated Latin Mass parish, which, for years offers the Latin Mass daily, along with other sacraments.

In Dallas, it was Cardinal Farrell, who as bishop in 2010, established a dedicated Latin Mass parish, which now offers the Latin Mass twice daily, and FIVE times on Sunday. Accounts like these are not isolated instances. That said, the CLMC is under no illusion that members of the Congregation of Divine Worship are Latin Mass supporters, or would agree with traditionalists on any number of topics. We simply advise: Do not place your trust in conservative clergy or bishops. Our Friend (and hope) is simply with Our Lord Jesus Christ, along with His Blessed Mother, and the saints.

Suffering Latin Mass Families Needed: On the topic of dioceses and bishops, Preserve the Latin Mass, founded to help defend the Latin Mass – and promoted from the pulpit and bulletins at St. Ann parish – is putting out a new video series entitled Suffering Faithful Video Series, which according to a recent statement, “will shine a light on all of the suffering being caused by bishops who implement Traditionis Custodes [TC] in their Diocese.  The series will show that the cost of implementing Traditionis Custodes is too great.  The cancelation/restriction of the Latin Mass and accompanying Sacraments causes spiritual pain, loss, distrust, division, and the alienation of the faithful from their bishops. We need the faithful who are suffering under TC to create and send video testimonials  The video testimonials will be professionally edited and prepared for distribution by our video production team.”

The goal is to encourage bishops to reverse their TC implementations. The Suffering Faithful video testimonial submissions should include the following:

  • Please provide 3-10 minutes of clear (video and audio) testimonial from an individual or family
  • Please share how you discovered the Latin Mass and how the Latin Mass has affected your life.
  • Please share the circumstances around the implementation of Traditionis Custodes in your Diocese.  Please name your bishop.
  • Please share how the cancellation/restriction of the Latin Mass and accompanying Sacraments has caused you, your family, and your community to experience suffering.
  • Please consider including a heartful plea for your bishop to restore the Latin Mass and accompanying sacraments.
  • To upload a video visit this website: https://app.videopeel.com/c/xqdbbpgm
  • Questions or to submit a testimonial, contact: info(at)preservethelatinmass.org

CLMC comment: Roll camera?

The Great Vigil of Pentecost (Pre-1955)

While Pentecost is a solemn feast day, the day preceding it also worthy to note – the Vigil of Pentecost. Before 1955, this vigil day featured one of the most beautiful liturgies in the Church. It served as a “bookend” to the Eastertide season and this Mass was much a mirror of the Easter Vigil Mass in many ways. The nearly three-hour Mass began with folded chasubles, penitential vestments, a reading of six Old Testament prophecies (instead of 12 at the Easter Vigil), blessing of the Holy Water font, and baptisms (if there were catechumens). To learn more see our entry from Pentecost 2020: https://charlottelatinmass.org/2020/05/30/vigil-of-pentecost-update-2/

Sadly one of the practical challenges of having Traditional Latin Masses in Novus Ordo parishes (the current framework in the Charlotte diocese) is that certain vigils such as the Vigil of Pentecost, or even the hauntingly sublime Mass of All Hallows Eve (October 31) often cannot be offered in the afternoons or evenings due to the Novus Ordo “anticipatory Mass” that occurs the evening before holydays or Sundays. Another challenge is the limited familiarity and public recitation of the traditional 1962 breviary (Matins, Lauds, Vespers, etc.) that accompanies the Traditional Latin Mass and is different than the Novus Ordo’s Liturgy of the Hours. That is perhaps a topic to cover another time. However, we close this section with Dom Prosper Gueranger’s comments on the Vigil of Pentecost:

The dazzling splendor of tomorrow’s Solemnity forecasts its beauty on this day of its Vigil. The Faithful are preparing themselves by Fasting to celebrate the glorious mystery. But the Mass of the Neophytes, which, formerly, was said during the Night, is now anticipated, as on Easter Eve; so that by today’s Noon, we shall have already begun the praises of the Holy Ghost. The Office of Vespers, in the afternoon, will solemnly open the grand Festival.

Formerly, this vigil was kept like that of Easter. The faithful repaired to the church in the evening, that they might assist at the solemn administration of Baptism. During the night, the Sacrament of regeneration was conferred upon such catechumens as sickness or absence from home had prevented from receiving it on Easter night. Those, also, who had then been thought insufficiently tried or instructed, and had, during the interval, satisfied the conditions required by the Church, now formed part of the group of aspirants to the new birth of the sacred font. Instead of the twelve prophecies, which were read on Easter night while the priests were performing over the catechumens the rites preparatory to Baptism, six only were now read; at least, such was the usual custom, and it would lead us to suppose that the number of those baptized at Pentecost was less than at Easter.

The Paschal Candle was again brought forward during this night of grace, in order to impress the newly baptized with respect and love for the Son of God, who became Man that He might be the light of the world.[14] The rites already described and explained for Holy Saturday were repeated on this occasion, and the Sacrifice of the Mass, at which the neophytes assisted, began before the break of day.

Dom Prosper Gueranger – Vigil of Pentecost: https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/easter/saturday-the-vigil-of-pentecost/

Only the Traditional Latin Mass prepares for the solemn feast of Pentecost with a special vigil day. What Mass are you attending Pentecost Sunday?