Laudetur Iesus Christus! Blessed Michaelmas, also known as the dedication of the basilica of St. Michael the Archangel. St. Thomas Aquinas parish will offer a 7pm Latin Mass this evening.

Below are a few announcements followed by some reflections on today’s feast day.

• First Saturday Latin Mass – Saturday October 1: The 1st Saturday Latin Mass returns this Saturday October 1 at 10am, followed by a traditional blessing of religious objects.
  
• First Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas – Cancelled: Due to the potential for inclement weather and the lack of indoor space, the monthly first Sunday potluck at St. Thomas has been canceled. It will resume first Sunday in November.

• First Sunday Latin Mass 4pm in Salisbury & Traditional Betrothal Ceremony: There will be a first Sunday Latin Mass this Sunday October 2^nd at 4pm offered by Fr. Joseph Wasswa at Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury (45 minutes north of Charlotte). Prior to Mass will be Confessions. After Mass Father will perform a special traditional betrothal ceremony for a newly engaged couple at the St. Joseph’s altar. All are welcome. If you have not seen this, it is a beautiful ceremony. Lastly, as custom, there will be a potluck social in Brincefield Hall afterwards – please bring a dish or dessert to share. To learn more or receive the Salisbury Latin Mass Community e-mail updates please visit: www.salisburylmc.org

• Annual Life Chain after Sunday Latin Mass at St. Ann: Sunday is Respect Life Sunday and St. Ann is scheduled to hold its annual Life Chain after the 12:30pm Latin Mass.

• First Friday Latin Mass Cancellations: Due to the priests retreat there will not be a diocesan Latin Mass at St. Ann or St. Mark on first Friday October 7. There will be a 12 noon Latin Mass at Prince of Peace parish in Taylors, SC (2 hours southwest of Charlotte). This is unfortunate for the faithful that some diocesan-wide events seem to coincide with devotional days. That said, if we hear of any other diocesan Latin Masses being scheduled we will share them.

Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel – September 29

This evening St. Thomas Aquinas will offer a 7pm Latin Mass for the dedication of St. Michael the Archangel. In the Traditional Rite, each archangel (and the Holy Guardian Angels) receives his own feast day. St. Michael’s feast day is today Thursday September 29, the Guardian Angel’s feast day is October 2, St. Raphael is October 24, and St. Gabriel is March 24 (vigil of the Annunciation). The St. Andrew Missal notes that the feast of St. Michael, also known as Michaelmas, was established in 530 AD to dedicate a church in the Roman circus to St. Michael’s honor.

• Customs of Michaelmas: Fisheasters.com has an excellent history of St. Michael the Archangel, as well as some traditions for this feast day: https://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost10.html

• Relics of St. Michael: There are actually relics of St. Michael available for veneration. One may ask – how can there be a relic of an angel? Tradition holds that St. Michael visited a cave in Italy during the 5^th century, and sanctified the cave. Thus, the rocks of the cave, have been considered relics. To learn more visit: http://atxcatholic.com/index.php/2017/09/angels-dragons-iii-st-michael-relic-stone/#.XYrxzn97nwc

Lastly, we share a reflection by Dr. Mike Foley on the orations (prayers) for today’s Latin Mass followed by the St. Michael prayer in Latin.

• The Orations of Michaelmas:https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/09/the-orations-of-michaelmas.html#.YzTO2kzMKHs

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio; contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps ilitia Caelestis, satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen.