Laudetur Iesus Christus! This Sunday September 4 is first Sunday and there will be a 4pm Latin Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury (45 minutes north of Charlotte), offered by Fr. Carter (Confessions at 3:30pm). A pot luck social will follow Mass in Brincefield Hall. Bring a favorite dish, hors d’oeuvres or dessert to share. For more information please see the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at: www.salisburylmc.org
And of course, we are just two days away from our talk with Dr. Peter Kwasniewski entitled:
The Primacy of Tradition and Obedience to the Truth.
Friday September 2, Aquinas Hall (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish), 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte.
The panel will answer your questions about the future of the Latin Mass. It will be moderated by the CLMC’s own Brian Williams. Please invite your friends and spread the word.
Votive Mass update: We thank those who attended the votive Masses for the Defense of the Church on Friday. In case one hadn’t read the propers, they are particularly powerful in their request: http://www.saintrosequincy.org/propers/votive-mass-defense.pdf
Wednesday August 31 – 6pm, St. Ann: St. Raymond Nonnatus (Confessor), 6pm
Thursday September 1 – 7pm, St. Thomas Aquinas: Feria
Friday September 2 – 7am (St. Ann), 12:30pm (St. Mark): St. Stephen of Hungary (First Friday)
Saturday September 3 – 8:30am*, St. Thomas Aquinas: First Saturday/St. Pius X (see note below)
Schedule Changes
First Saturday Time Change – September 3: The normal 10am first Saturday Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas will bemoved to 8:30am for September 3rd only. This is due to St. Thomas Aquinas hosting Dr Kwasniewski for a talk on the Eucharist at 9:30am (this is separate from the CLMC’s event the night before). All are welcome to attend. To learn more about this Saturday talk and other NC parish stops, please visit: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/08/dr-kwasniewskis-north-carolina-lecture.html#.YwG5SRzMKHs
THIS FRIDAY: Dr. Peter Kwasniewski Returns to Charlotte – September 2nd, 7pm
The CLMC is hosting Dr. Peter Kwasniewski to offer a special lecture for the CLMC, entitled: The Primacy of Tradition and Obedience to the Truth. Friday September 2, Aquinas Hall (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish), 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte.
5:30pm Cocktails/Meet & Greet
7pm Lecture
7:45pm Panel Discussion & Q&A
9pm Book Signing
This free lecture will be a sequel to his talk to us last November, and build upon his new book, True Obedience in the Church. Moreover, the event will also feature a special panel discussion which includes Dr. Kwasniewski and two other noted liturgical writers, Greg DiPippo from the New Liturgical Movement, and Christopher Owens of the Veterum Sapientia Institute (The Latin Institute co-founded by Fr. Barone). The panel will answer your questions about the future of the Latin Mass. It will be moderated by the CLMC’s own Brian Williams. Please invite your friends and spread the word.
Norcia Monks Visit to St. Ann – September 10-11: Fr. Benedict Nivakoff, the prior of the traditional Benedictine Monastery in Norcia, Italy, will be at St. Ann parish Saturday September 10 for a fundraising event to help rebuild their monastery damaged in the 2016 earthquake. The Norcia Monks offer the Traditional Latin Mass exclusively as well as pray the traditional Benedictine breviary. They of course are also known for their famous monastic beer, Birra Nursia (Norcia Beer), which attendees can taste that evening. On Sunday September 11, Fr. Benedict will offer the 12:30pm Latin Mass. According to St. Ann parish, the event schedule will be:
Saturday September 10, 6pm Solemn Vespers in the Church (unclear if it is Novus Ordo or Traditional Vespers)
After Vespers: Beer tasting fundraiser (to attend fundraiser please contact Sr. Mary Lucia at 704-523-4641, ext. 221
Sunday September 11, 12:30pm – Fr. Benedict will offer the Latin Mass at St. Ann
The Holy Face devotion is to make reparation for the sins committed against the first three Commandments of the Lord: The denial of God by atheism (communism), blasphemy, and the profanation of Sundays and Holy Days. Devotion to the Holy Face has been referred to as the devotion for Jesus Crucified. To help counter communists and opponents of the Latin Mass, the CLMC faithful are invited to participate to help combat communism and the enemies of the Latin Mass. The schedule is as follows:
St. Mark – Mondays 2-2:45pm
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 which takes 15-20 minutes)
Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?
New Book on the Holy Face Devotion: TAN Books has just announced a new book on the Holy Face devotion by Fr. Lawrence Carney, a Latin Mass priest in Missouri who is chaplain to the Benedictines of Mary. The book is entitled The Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society. If you want to learn more about this powerful devotion, please visit: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/tan-books/pre-order/the-secret-of-the-holy-face/
Latin Mass & Traditional News
Liturgical Arts Flourishing at Prince of Peace in Taylors, South Carolina: Last week we noted the return of the daily Latin Masses (7 days a week) at Prince of Peace parish in Taylors, SC (2 hours southwest of Charlotte). It is currently the leading Latin Mass parish inall the Carolinas and offers the Latin Mass, every, single, day. These generous liturgical offerings have not gone unnoticed as the parish was recently featured in Liturgical Arts Journal by local Catholic writer John Paul Sonnen: https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2022/08/liturgical-arts-flourishing-at-prince.html
An Opponent of Vatican II Passes Away: Please pray for the repose of the soul of retired Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland, who was one of the most strident modernists of the post-conciliar Church and was ultimately disgraced by some other activities of his life (which is why he needs extra prayers). However, as Greg DiPippo with the New Liturgical Movement notes, Abp. Weakland was also one of the leading dissenters from Vatican II itself. As DiPippo notes below, it is those modernists who accuse traditionalists of being “against Vatican II”, who themselves are actually the ones who have opposed the Council:
“Remember this when you are falsely accused of “going against Vatican II” because you love the traditional Roman Rite, and the fullness of our Catholic liturgical patrimony. It is not we who love these things who are opposed to Vatican II. Those who opposed Vatican II then were the creators and implementers of the reform; those who oppose it now are the defenders of their legacy.”
Announcing a New Edition of Dom Gaspar Lefebvre’s “Catholic Liturgy”: If you happen to have the St. Andrew Missal of 1945, you are reading the work of Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, one of the great Benedictine liturgists of the early to mid 20th century. To honor him and his work, Romanitas Press is republishing his magnificent book Catholic Liturgy: It’s Fundamental Principles. For those that want to take a deeper dive into the Traditional Latin Mass, and liturgical history and background, this book might be worth a look: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/08/announcing-new-edition-of-dom-gaspar.html#.YwmSUrTMKHs
“Unity Über Alles”: Bishop Burbidge in His Own Words: As primer to this coming Friday’s talk by Dr. Kwasniewski, OnePeterFive publishes an excellent article on the problematic theological reasoning for the cancellation/consolidation of the Latin Masses in dioceses such as Arlington (and others) [emphasis ours]:
“[Bishop Burbidge] forgot to mention that his policy forbids the celebration of the Latin Mass during Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum or even the publication of the times when the usus antiquior is offered. How is this “spiritual nourishment?” What is the message, Excellency? Are you saying that the Tridentine Mass is not liturgically fit for the holiest season of the year? Are you saying that the need for unity in the use of liturgical rites outweighs any spiritual benefit the faithful might receive from attending the Mass of the Ages on Easter Sunday?”
CLMC comment: Between the lines, the above quote and question raises an interesting and important question. If a bishop restricts the Latin Mass, or refuses to allow it offered daily (relegating it to a novelty Mass once or twice a week), is he not partially denying the validity of the Traditional Latin Mass? If the Traditional Latin Mass is a valid Mass, would not restricting it to a few days a week, or even prohibiting the Latin Triduum, be admitting that the Latin Mass is not as fully valid or equal as the Novus Ordo?
The “Latin Novus Ordo” Is Not the Solution: Some folks who are worrisome about the Latin Mass’ future may become desperate and think “Well, if the Traditional Latin Mass is canceled, maybe our priests can just offer a Latin Novus Ordo Mass”. Or worse, some have the stranger long-term idea that in the future the “best aspects” of the Novus Ordo Mass and Traditional Latin Mass will be blended together to create a new unified “Super Mass” and all will be happy. Thankfully this insightful article by Dr. Kwasniewski will quickly pour cold water on such bizarre and perhaps divisive ideas: https://onepeterfive.com/latin-novus-ordo-not-solution/
Latin Mass & Hollywood – Shia LaBoeuf’s Conversion
If one needed evidence that the Traditional Latin Mass continues to thrive during these restrictive times, one need to look no further than the surprising, profound, and significant, conversion of Hollywood actor Shia LaBoeuf, who appeared on Bishop Robert Barron’s network this week (of all places). Mr. LaBoeuf shared his conversion story, and how it was the Traditional Latin Mass (and Padre Pio) which aided in his conversion. Moreover during the 80 minute interview (which is well worth watching), Mr. LaBoeuf kept returning to the topic of tradition and the Traditional Latin Mass. He also shared that he attended the Institute of Christ the King’s parish in Oakland, California (a Latin Mass only parish).
During the interview (which you can watch on the link below), he made the most insightful point about the presentation of the Novus Ordo Mass vs. the Traditional Latin Mass – all in conversation with Bishop Baron. We share Greg DiPippo’s transcript and commentary:
Shia: “Latin mass affects me deeply. Deeply.”
Bishop Barron: “How come?”
Shia: “Because it feels like they’re not selling me a car. … When somebody’s selling me on something, it kills my aptitude for it, and my suspension of disbelief, and my yearnings to root for it. There’s an immediate rebellion in me.
As Mr. DiPippo closes the article, he encourages prayers for Shia LaBoeuf’s continued growth in the faith (and we would add to pray that Bishop Baron that he will be moved to discover the Latin Mass):
Surprising as Mr. LaBoeuf announcement was, he was not the only Hollywood celebrity to recognize the importance of the Latin Mass. In recent years there have been a few others in the celebrity industry who have either discovered the Latin Mass or, despite their secular liberal beliefs, express lament over the loss of the Traditional Latin Mass:
Bill Murray
“‘I tend to disagree with what they call the new mass. I think we lost something by losing the Latin. Now if you go to a Catholic mass even just in Harlem it can be in Spanish, it can be in Ethiopian, it can be in any number of languages. The shape of it, the pictures, are the same but the words aren’t the same.’
Isn’t it good for people to understand it? ‘I guess,’ he says, shaking his head. ‘But there’s a vibration to those words. If you’ve been in the business long enough you know what they mean anyway. And I really miss the music – the power of it, y’know? Yikes! Sacred music has an affect on your brain.’ Instead, he says, we get “folk songs … top 40 stuff … oh, brother…’”
Michael Matt at The Remnant comments on Bruce Springsteen who, in various public appearances, has referenced the impact the Latin Mass and Catholic schooling (pre-conciliar) had on him (see video below):
“Please understand, this is not an homage to ‘The Boss’, one of the music industry’s premier champions of liberal causes. This is about the impact of the Revolution of Vatican II, not just on Springsteen but on his entire generation, who watched as the Church in her human element auto-destructed before their eyes…
…He remembers the nuns, the Latin Mass, the old days and the old ways and, according to him, it was beautiful to grow up in My (Catholic) Hometown.
As the Catholic towns of Springsteen’s childhood fade into the noxious mists of a ruthless secularism, let’s pray for the lost sheep who grew up in the shadow of the steeples. We’ll never know how it might’ve been different for them had the Mass stayed the same, priests not run off by tens of thousands to get married, and the nuns not taken off their habits and walked away from their little charges.
Think of the horrific impact that must have had on children of that generation whose Catholic world blew up and who were left to face the demons of the Sexual Revolution more or less on their own!
Well played, Vatican II. May God have mercy on all the lost sheep, us included.”
CLMC comment: One can only wonder how many lost sheep (or future Catholics) would return to the fold in Hollywood and elsewhere – including in Charlotte – if the Latin Mass is restored to the Church, and offered daily in its own dedicated chapels. This is why the Latin Mass faithful will continue pray, advocate, and work for the Latin Mass to be restored to its glory.
Laudetur Iesus Christus! First, just a reminder that tomorrow Saturday August 27 at 8am is the monthly St. Ann Respect Life Latin Mass. After Mass will be prayers at the abortion facility (700 S. Torrence, Charlotte) or a Holy Hour of Reparation in the Church.
Looking ahead, we just wanted to share that we are just 1 week away from our talk with Dr. Peter Kwasniewski entitled:
The Primacy of Tradition and Obedience to the Truth.
Friday September 2, Aquinas Hall (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish), 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte.
The panel will answer your questions about the future of the Latin Mass. It will be moderated by the CLMC’s own Brian Williams. Please invite your friends and spread the word.
Laudetur Iesus Christus and blessed feast of St. Louis IX, the great monarch of France, who was one of the holiest civil leaders in the Church’s history. St. Thomas Aquinas has a Latin Mass at 7pm tonight to commemorate St. Louis.
St. Louis was born in 1215, and frequently attended the chanting of the divine offices, which he ordered to be prayed in his palace. According to the St. Andrew Missal, he awoke to attend Matins at midnight, and then started his day by attending the office of Prime. St. Louis also introduced the custom of genuflecting for “Et homo factus est.” in the Credo, and bowing down during the Passion on Good Friday when Christ expires on the cross, both were adopted universally by the Church. Before his death in 1270, he led two crusades to try and reclaim the Holy Land, and Jerusalem, which were overtaken again by the Muslims.
Votive Mass for the Defense of the Church – Tomorrow Friday August 26 (7am St. Ann and 12:30pm St. Mark)
While under St. Louis’ reign, the Church enjoyed much liberty and prosperity, today in many places, the Church’s liberty has suppressed, especially in Communist countries like China, and more recently Nicaragua (among other places). Recently, a bishop and several priests, and a seminarian were arrested by Nicaragua’s communist regime. Here in Charlotte, St. Matthew parish announced that one of those arrested priests is the son of two parishioners, bringing a local angle to this situation.
Tomorrow August 26 is a Feria day in the Latin Mass calendar (e.g. no feast day and where votive Masses are permitted) and to assist the Catholics in Nicaragua and elsewhere, there will be at least two special votive Latin Masses for the Defense of the Church offered. These are special devotional Latin Masses that can be offered on feria days for special occasions such as persecutions (there are also votive Masses for removal of schisms, time of war, plagues, and others). Vestments for tomorrow’s votive Mass are typically violet.
The Masses will be regularly scheduled Latin Masses, but using the Votive Mass propers. The Masses thus far will be:
Happy Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is also the octave day (8th day) of the Feast of the Assumption.
As many of you already know, the Carolinas has a Catholic radio station, called Carolina Catholic Media Network, broadcasting over AM1270 as well as podcasts and streaming content. There are a few great original local programs including, The Obligation hosted by Jason Murphy.
We wanted to also draw your attention to a new program called Trad Talk Radio, hosted by one of the founders of the CLMC, Brian Williams, who also is the author of the popular website, Liturgy Guy. The co-host on Trad Talk Radio is former Marine sniper and combat veteran Frank Cona. As a millennial who only discovered the Latin Mass a few years ago, Frank brings a unique perspective to the show.
This show is not quite like other Catholic radio programs. This program skews more towards the humorous and fun and while it is highly informative, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The show might be seen as a cross between Mother Angelica Live and the Joe Rogan Experience.
You can find episodes on podcast courtesy of the Carolina Catholic Media Network, who also broadcasts the show every Tuesday at 5PM EST on Catholic radio (AM 1270 in Charlotte). Episodes are also available on YouTube.
Monday August 22 – feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Octave of the Assumption). Sadly there are no Latin Masses in Charlotte this day but below we share Dom Gueranger’s reflection on this feast.
Wednesday August 24 – 6pm St. Ann: St. Bartholomew (Apostle)
Thursday August 25 – 7pm St. Thomas Aquinas: St. Louis IX (King and Confessor) (see commentary on St. Louis below)
Friday August 26 –7am (St. Ann), 12:30pm (St. Mark): Feria
Saturday August 27 – 8am St Ann (Respect Life Latin Mass): St. Joseph Calasanctius (Confessor)
Scheduling Notes
Respect Life Latin Mass – Saturday August 27: As noted above, St. Ann parish will offer an 8am Latin Mass for an end to abortion, and afterwards there will be prayers at the abortion facility, and a Holy Hour of Reparation in the church (for those unable to travel)
First Saturday Time Change – September 3: The normal 10am first Saturday Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas will be moved to 8:30am for September 3rd only. This is due to St. Thomas Aquinas hosting Dr. Kwasniewski for a talk on the Eucharist at 9:30am followed by Q&A (this is separate from the CLMC’s event the night before): All are welcome to attend. To learn more about this Saturday talk visit: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/08/dr-kwasniewskis-north-carolina-lecture.html#.YwG5SRzMKHs
Daily Latin Masses Return to Prince of Peace Parish: We are pleased to report that Prince of Peace Parish in Taylors, SC (2 hours southwest of Charlotte), after a summer hiatus, has resumed its daily 12 noon Latin Masses (8am Saturdays). Prince of Peace is the only parish in all the Carolinas to offer the Latin Mass everyday. May God reward them!
Suffering Latin Mass Families Needed
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 to highlight the suffering caused by bishops who have implemented Traditiones Custodes (TC) in their diocese. The cancellation/restriction of the Latin Mass and accompanying sacraments causes spiritual pain, loss, distrust, division, and the alienation of the faithful from their bishops. Preserve the Latin Mass needs 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 their 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 cancelation/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.
Questions or to submit a testimonial, contact: info(at)preservethelatinmass.org
TWO WEEKS AWAY: Dr. Peter Kwasniewski Returns to Charlotte – September 2nd, 7pm
The CLMC is hosting Dr. Peter Kwasniewski to offer a special lecture for the CLMC, entitled: The Primacy of Tradition and Obedience to the Truth. Friday September 2, Aquinas Hall (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish), 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte.
5:30pm Cocktails/Meet & Greet
7pm Lecture
7:45pm Panel Discussion & Q&A
9pm Book Signing
This free lecture will be a sequel to his talk to us last November, and build upon his new book, True Obedience in the Church. Moreover, the event will also feature a special panel discussion which includes Dr. Kwasniewski and two other noted liturgical writers, Greg DiPippo from the New Liturgical Movement, and Christopher Owens of the Veterum Sapientia Institute (The Latin Institute co-founded by Fr. Barone). The panel will answer your questions about the future of the Latin Mass. It will be moderated by the CLMC’s own Brian Williams. Please invite your friends and spread the word.
Bishop Jugis Invites Dominican Sisters of Ann Arbor to Greensboro: In a major shift in diocesan policy, His Excellency Bishop Jugis has extended an invitation to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, to serve at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro. This was announced in prior weeks and published in today’s bulletin. Although these Dominican Sisters have no connection to the Latin Mass (as far as we know), this invitation to an outside religious order is a significant change for the diocese. In prior years, when advocating for more Latin Masses to the diocese, the CLMC was truthfully told by several diocesan priests that Bishop Jugis and the diocese will not invite new religious orders into the diocese because the laity’s spiritual needs can be met with diocesan clergy. Today’s announcement clearly indicates that that policy has changed. The CLMC welcomes this new policy and prays that these are yet some of the fruits borne by the Synod – specifically that the diocese appears more open to alternative pastoral solutions (see question #2). Please continue to pray for Bishop Jugis as he charts this new path.
Holy Face Devotions & New Book
The primary purpose of the Holy Face apostolate is to make reparation for the sins committed against the first three Commandments of the Lord: The denial of God by atheism (communism), blasphemy, and the profanation of Sundays and Holy Days. Devotion to the Holy Face has been referred to as the devotion for Jesus Crucified. It should be noted that Communists hate the Latin Mass. To help counter communists and opponents of the Latin Mass, the CLMC faithful is invited to participate. The schedule is as follows:
St. Mark – Mondays 2-3pm
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 which takes 15-20 minutes)
Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?
New Book on the Holy Face Devotion: TAN Books has just announced a new book on the Holy Face devotion by Fr. Lawrence Carney, a Latin Mass priest in Missouri who is chaplain to the Benedictines of Mary. The book is entitled The Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society. If you want to learn more about this powerful devotion, please visit: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/tan-books/pre-order/the-secret-of-the-holy-face/
Latin Mass & Traditional News
50 Years Ago Today: Paul VI’s (Attempted) Abolition of the Subdiaconate and Minor Orders: Dr. Kwasniewski (who will be visiting in less than two weeks), has commemorated the dark anniversary of when Pope St. Paul VI abolished the minor orders for seminarians. These minor orders were porter, exorcist, lector, and acolyte. These were important steps along the way to the major orders which include subdeacon, deacon, and priesthood. Today only the traditional religious communities such as the Fraternity of St. Peter, Institute of Christ the King, etc. receive minor orders. Dr. Kwasniewski’s article explains why this abolishment is a tragic loss for the church and should be reversed: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/08/50-years-ago-today-paul-vis-attempted.html#.YvshLxzMKHs
Liturgical Diversity and My First Ordinariate Mass: OnePeterFive posts an interesting article about the Anglican Ordinariate Mass that was approved by Pope Benedict XVI and in doing so gives a helpful background on the diversity of liturgical rites within the Roman Rite. This is helpful in understanding this when we hear calls from Rome that the Novus Ordo is the “unique expression of the Roman Rite” – even though there are many Rites within the Latin Church (Dominican Rite, Benedictine Rite, Ambrosian Rite of Milan, etc.). Although we don’t agree with every point made in the article, it’s an interesting read: https://onepeterfive.com/liturgical-diversity-and-my-first-ordinariate-mass/
CLMC comment: Let us pray that the Traditional Latin Mass will be declared the expression of the Roman Rite someday, separate from the Novus Ordo, with its own bishops, priests, dioceses, and parishes. The Traditional Diocese of Campos, Brazil, is just one path towards this goal: https://www.friendsofcampos.org/story.html
Finishing Off Traditionalists — Article by Enrico Roccagiachini: This is an inspiring article about the destructive plan the modernists have for the Latin Mass faithful – to eliminate and suppress who attend the Traditional Latin Mass – and why it will eventually fail. The liturgical revolutionaries can’t understand that their 1960s revolution has failed, and how they are growing old and dying off, and in an act of desperation, they will try (and ultimately fail) to suppress the Latin Mass. But there’s more and it is a warning for our conservative Novus Ordo friends: You’re next:
And so, that brings us to the present moment. The first ones in the crosshairs can only be the liturgical traditionalists, because it is easy to find them and hit them. But then it must include also all the others, the “fanatics” of orthodoxy and of perfect continuity, wherever they are nested and however they are camouflaged—even if they are perfectly aligned with the Novus Ordo.
CLMC comment: If the revolutionaries do intend to suppress not only the Latin Mass, but all elements of tradition and orthodoxy found in some Novus Ordo parishes, Charlotte may soon say farewell to altar rails, Latin chants, Benedictine altar arrangements, cassocks, incense, and conservative hymns at these Novus Ordo parishes. Those will all be banished if the revolutionaries succeed in suppressing the Latin Mass in Charlotte. Knowing what is coming, what will the Novus Ordo clergy of the diocese do?
Today, in a world that has grown secularized and hostile to His Law written upon our hearts, the purity of Mary’s Immaculate Heart is our model of faith, hope and charity. She is our model of intimacy with God Who has desired intimate union with us from the beginning when He made us His creatures in His own image and after His own likeness (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 273; Gn 1, 26-27). “For in Mary’s faith, first at the Annunciation and then fully at the foot of the Cross, an interior space was reopened within humanity which the eternal Father can fill ‘with every spiritual blessing.’
As Americans watch the “great experiment”, known as its representative republic go into meltdown through corruption, immorality, and all sorts of nefarious deeds and poor leadership, the Church this week presents the faithful with an refreshing example of what a virtuous leader and truly Catholic government can look like. Such a government can truly benefit all people and create the most ideal civic and temporal conditions to help facilitate the salvation of many souls. This example is St. Louis IX, the great 13th century king of France, a king of justice, peace, and sanctity – mirroring the True Monarch, Christ the King. He was a devout man who reigned over a just government that helped all peoples, promoted and lived the virtues of the faith, and honorably served in two crusades against the Saracens (Muslims) who seized the Holy Land and near east from the Church and her flock. His coronation, like Blessed Karl (the last Catholic monarch of Europe) was done according to the official Coronation Mass, where the king is wedded to his land and people in a special Mass.
While Catholic monarchies are often seen today as backwards and antiquated, only foolish moderns would look at today’s “advanced” world of democracy and its embodied masonic “values” of abortion, sodomy, usury, poverty, godlessness, religious freedom for erroneous sects, free speech for heresy and the profane, and endless revolutionary wars on terror (or viruses), as examples of “progress” for God and mankind. As Pope Pius XI wrote in Quas Primas, the 1925 encyclical which established the feast of Christ the King:
“With God and Jesus Christ,” we said, “excluded from political life, with authority derived not from God but from man, the very basis of that authority has been taken away, because the chief reason of the distinction between ruler and subject has been eliminated. The result is that human society is tottering to its fall, because it has no longer a secure and solid foundation.”
As Fr. Christian noted in his 2016 Christ the King talk, quoting historian Charles Coulombe, more people died for wars of “democracies” since the bloody French Revolution, than all who died in wars between Catholic monarchs:
Additionally, we should keep in mind that this age of republics and democracies, like life itself, is merely fleeting, and will eventually pass away – perhaps sooner than we think. In fact, many venerable, blessed and saints – including St. John Vianney and St. Louis de Montfort, have predicted that during the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, there would be a restoration of the Catholic monarchy, especially in France, with a Holy King who would restore Christendom and work with a Holy Pope, who would refute all the errors of these modern times. Taylor Marshall explains further in this informative video:
How fitting that a city in the cradle of America is named not after a democratic free-thinker, but one of the greatest Catholic monarch in history.
To commemorate this feast, St. Thomas Aquinas will be offering its regular 7pm Latin Mass on August 25. St. Louis IX and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for America and her conversion to the Church!
Laudetur Iesus Christus! Today is the fourth day within the ancient Octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To commemorate this Marian week, St. Thomas Aquinas parish has been organizing a series of talks each evening on the Blessed Virgin Mary by priests in the diocese. Tonight, Fr. Matthew Kauth will speak the topic “Cause of Our Salvation”. The reflection will be given as part of the sermon and it begins with the 7pm Latin Mass.
Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is vigil of the Assumption (suppressed when it falls on a Sunday) and the 10th Sunday after Pentecost. The Church now moves on from last Sunday’s meditation on the destruction of the Temple to now unveiling herself to all the nations with the new sacrifice offered by Christ, as Dom Prosper Gueranger writes in The Liturgical Year:
The considerateness wherewith the Church had, so far, treated the Synagogue, would henceforward be unmeaning. As the beautiful queen and bride, she is now at full liberty to show herself to all the nations, subdue their wild instincts by the power of the Spirit, unify them in Christ Jesus, and put them by faith into the substantial, though not visible, possession of those eternal realities which had been foreshadowed by the Law of types and figures.
6:30pm (followed by a Marian procession), Our Lady of the Lake, Chapin, SC, 195 Amicks Ferry Rd, Chapin, SC (2 hours south of Charlotte)
7pm, Solemn High Mass, Prince of Peace, Taylors, SC 1209 Brushy Creek Road, Taylors, SC (2 hours southwest of Charlotte)
The feast of the Assumption is not a holy day of obligation this year in the US due to it falling on a Monday (per the USCCB), but why not make it a personal holy day of obligation and attend Latin Mass and honor Our Lady?
Latin Masses this Week
Wednesday August 17, 6pm – St. Ann: Feast of St. Hyacinth
Thursday August 18, 7pm – St Thomas Aquinas: Feria
Friday August 19, 7am St. Ann or 12:30pm St. Mark: Feast of St. John Eudes
Dr. Peter Kwasniewski Returns to Charlotte – September 2nd, 7pm
The CLMC is hosting Dr. Peter Kwasniewski to offer a special lecture for the CLMC, entitled: The Primacy of Tradition and Obedience to the Truth. Friday September 2, Aquinas Hall (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish), 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte.
5:30pm Cocktails/Meet & Greet
7pm Lecture
7:45pm Panel Discussion & Q&A
9pm Book Signing
This free lecture will be a sequel to his talk to us last November, and build upon his new book, True Obedience in the Church. Moreover, the event will also feature a special panel discussion which includes Dr. Kwasniewski and two other noted liturgical writers, Greg DiPippo from the New Liturgical Movement, and Christopher Owens of the Veterum Sapientia Institute (The Latin Institute co-founded by Fr. Barone). The panel will answer your questions about the future of the Latin Mass. It will be moderated by the CLMC’s own Brian Williams. Please invite your friends and spread the word.
Holy Face Devotions & New Book
The primary purpose of this apostolate is to, by praying certain prayers, make reparation for the sins committed against the first three Commandments of the Lord: The denial of God by atheism (communism), blasphemy, and the profanation of Sundays and Holy Days. Devotion to the Holy Face has been referred to as the devotion for Jesus Crucified. It should be noted that Communists hate the Latin Mass. The schedule is as follows:
St. Mark – Mondays 2-3pm
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 which takes 15-20 minutes)
Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?
New Book on the Holy Face Devotion: TAN Books has just announced a new book on the Holy Face devotion by Fr. Lawrence Carney, a Latin Mass priest in Missouri who is chaplain to the Benedictines of Mary. The book is entitled The Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society. If you want to learn more about this powerful devotion, please visit: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/tan-books/pre-order/the-secret-of-the-holy-face/
What They Requested, What They Expected, and What Happened: Council Fathers on the Latin Roman Canon: The evidence continues to mount, and be documented, that the Novus Ordo Mass, and other changes, were not what the Vatican II Council fathers asked for or even wanted. As Dr. Peter Kwasniewski shows, even bishops who wanted the Mass in the vernacular language still wanted the Roman Canon of the Mass to remain in Latin. This is documented in the response these bishops gave the Council ahead of the votes. Did the committee that designed the Novus Ordo Mass actually listen to the Vatican II Council fathers? You be the judge: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/08/what-they-requested-what-they-expected.html#.YvHYvhzMKHs
What does pastoral care look like?: Dr. Joseph Shaw, president of the Latin Mass Society of the U.K., examines the recent directives by the Dicastery for Divine Worship, the Vatican agency which is supposedly charged with authorizing newly ordained priests to offer the Latin Mass. Shaw notes that they are denying the permission requests by bishops and how these denials undermine a bishop’s authority. http://www.lmschairman.org/2022/08/what-does-pastoral-care-look-like.html
CLMC comment: What can a priest or bishop do about this? See next article below.
If a law isn’t accepted, it is essentially no law at all: Fr. John Zuhlsdorf (e.g. Fr. Z) has a helpful article which reminds us that a law is not a law if the group ignores it. He interestingly notes how most bishops and the Church have never fully received the Novus Ordo Mass, instead embracing liturgical abuses of the Mass, while others are gravitating towards the Traditional Mass – something the Church has recognized through various decrees and official decisions over the last 50 years. What does this mean for the current restrictions on the Latin Mass (e.g. Traditiones Custodes)? If more clergy ignore Traditiones Custodes, it perhaps won’t be enforceable as a law. This seems to be happening as we note below. https://wdtprs.com/2022/08/if-a-law-isnt-accepted-it-is-essentially-no-law-at-all-traditionis-time-will-tell-novus-ordo-time-has-told/
Bishops and the Traditional Latin Mass – Cutting Through the Fear (Part II)
Last week we began to document the quiet but growing support occurring in the episcopacy for the Traditional Latin Mass and how more bishops are standing up for the Mass of Ages and cutting through the rigidity of the Traditiones Custodes fear-machine. We are pleased to provide more examples, showing that dioceses like Arlington and Washington, which severely restricted the Latin Mass, are actually outliers:
Providence (RI): This past week, Rhode Island bishop, Thomas Tobin, tweeted support for traditional Latin Mass attendees and traditional liturgies: “I am convinced that if the Church is to prosper in the present age, it cannot hesitate to embrace and support traditional Catholics, traditional liturgies and traditional moral values.” https://twitter.com/ThomasJTobin1/status/1558098786798522370
H.E. Raymond Cardinal Burke: Last, but certainly not least, His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Burke, who just a year ago was on death’s doorstep with COVID, not only showed his support once for the Latin Mass, but in the course of a few days earlier this month, actually offered two Pontifical Latin Masses. The first was on Friday August 5, for the feast of Our Lady of Snows (St. Mary Major), where he offered a Pontifical Latin Mass at his shrine, Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_2R-HE6f90
These examples serve as an excellent reminder to continue praying for the bishops – a growing number of them continue to support – and even offer – the Latin Mass.
Yet some may still wonder if it’s time to head for the hills, lay low, or run for cover. Yet if these bishops and Cardinals aren’t running away, why should we?
Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 8:26)
Laudetur Iesus Christus! Blessed feast of St. Philomena, the Wonderworker (August 11), a 3rd century martyr (possibly earlier) whose relics were rediscovered in the Roman catacombs in the early 1800s. Her feast is not currently on the calendar and in fact when it was, it was only a local feast day, not universal. Still, she remains a popular saint today, and was a powerful intercessor for St. John Vianney (whose feast day was eight days prior to today). Many others had devotion to her including Pope St. Pius X, and many miracles occurred with the translation of her relics from Rome to Mugnano (Italy) in 1803. What the Church knows about her comes from her appearance to a Dominican Nun in 1833:
For general information please visit the Mugnano Shrine’s website: http://philomena.us/
To order special blessed oil from a lamp next to her relics, a relic of St. Philomena, or the cord of St. Philomena, please visit the Shrine’s shop at: http://www.shophilomena.com/
Local St. Philomena Devotions
St. Mark Parish in Huntersville features a stained glass window on the west transept of St. John Vianney who is holding an image of St. Philomena
St. Elizabeth in Boone has just installed a custom made statue of the saint in the side chapel
The CLMC features a small statue of St. Philomena on our welcome table in the St. Ann narthex on Sundays
There is also a Latin Mass this evening at 7pm at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. Although not offered for her feast day, one could offer intentions that she be restored to the liturgical calendar (and universally!)
Laudetur Iesus Christus! Today Tuesday August 9 is the vigil of St. Laurence (or Lawrence) the Martyr, a day of penance and preparation for tomorrow’s feast day honoring the deacon who was martyred on the gridiron. St. Laurence’s martyrdom was also preceded six days prior by the martyrdom of Pope Sixtus II, making St. Laurence the highest ranking clergy in Rome at that time. Incidentally, this vigil day also commemorates St. Romanus, a soldier that St. Laurence converted shortly before his martyrdom.
Tomorrow’s feast day retains its importance in the Church as it is one of the few feast days that still retains its own vigil the day prior, similar to the vigil of the Assumption (August 14), Vigil of the Nativity (December 24), etc. This is not to be confused in the Novus Ordo with the concept of anticipatory Masses, which are offered the evening before a feast or Sunday. As Greg DiPippo in the New Liturgical Movement notes, a vigil retains its own liturgical day with its own set of reading and prospers, and has violet vestments:
Tomorrow Wednesday August 10 there will be the regular 6pm Latin Mass at St. Ann parish, which has a statue of the deacon-martyr in the main church.
Importance of the Feast of St. Laurence
Some may ask – why is the Church giving extra attention to one of the many important martyrs who died in Rome? As Dom Prosper Gueranger explains, it was St. Laurence’s heroic martyrdom which brought about the end of paganism in Rome, allowing its eventually conversion to the Catholic faith:
Just as Peter and Paul are the riches, not of Rome alone, but of the whole world, so Laurence is called the honor of the world, for he, as it were, personified the courage of martyrdom. At the beginning of this month, we saw Stephen himself come to blend his dignity of Protomartyr with the glory of Sixtus II’s deacon, by sharing his tomb. In Laurence, it seemed that both the struggle and the victory of martyrdom reached their highest point; persecution, it is true, was renewed during the next half century, and made many victims, yet his triumph was considered as the death-blow to paganism.
“The devil,” says Prudentius, “struggled fiercely with God’s witness, but he was himself wounded and prostrated forever. The death of Christ’s martyr gave the death-blow to the worship of idols, and from that day Vesta was powerless to prevent her temple from being deserted. All these Roman citizens, brought up in the superstitions taught by Numa, hasten, O Christ, to thy courts, singing hymns to thy martyr. Illustrious senators, flamens and priests of Lupercus venerate the tombs of Apostles and Saints. We see patricians and matrons of the noblest families vowing to God the children in whom their hopes are centered. The Pontiff of the idols, whose brow but yesterday was bound with sacred fillet, now signs himself with the cross, and the Vestal Virgin Claudia visits thy sanctuary, O Laurence.”
The Tears of St Lawrence Meteor Shower: St. Lawrence’s feast day is an important feast day and there is a special meteor shower that occurs around his feast day and bears his name. To learn more and how to view it visit: https://www.fisheaters.com/stlawrence.html
In closing, we share the words of the poet Prudentius, who is quoted by Dom Gueranger in The Liturgical Year, for August 10:
“Once the mother of false gods, but now the bride of Christ, O Rome, it is through Laurence thou art victorious! Thou hadst conquered haughty monarchs and subjected nations to thine empire; but though thou hadst overcome barbarism, thy glory was incomplete till thou hadst vanquished the unclean idols. This was Laurence’s victory, a combat bloody yet not tumultuous like those of Camillus or of Cesar; it was the contest of faith, wherein self is immolated, and death is overcome by death. What words, what praises suffice to celebrate such a death? How can I worthily sing so great a martyrdom.”
Charlotte Latin Mass Community 