Christus Resurréxit! Resurréxit Vere! Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after Easter, and as custom we share a reflection on Sunday’s Collect: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/04/the-school-of-love-in-collect-for.html

First Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas Aquinas: Today Sunday May 7, there will be a potluck after the 11:30am Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas.

First Sunday Latin Mass at Sacred Heart parish moved to Sunday May 14: Due to a scheduling conflict, the normally scheduled 1^st Sunday Latin Mass at Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury will be moved to Sunday May 14 at 4pm (no 1^st Sunday Latin Mass at Sacred Heart today May 7). Fr. Michael Carlson will offer the Mass. More information will be sent next week.  To learn more about the Salisbury Latin Mass Community visit: www.salisburylmc.org

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday May 10, 6pm – St. Ann (St. Antoninus, Bishop)
• Thursday May 11, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Ss. Philip & James, Apostles – see note below)
• Friday May 12, 7am – St. Ann (Ss. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla, Virgin and St. Pancras, Martyrs)

Ascension Thursday note: Ascension Thursday is May 18. Both St. Ann and St. Thomas Aquinas parishes will offer a 7pm Latin Mass (FYI: Ascension Thursday is not a holy day of obligation).

St. Peter of Verona Palms Available at St. Ann today (12:30pm Mass)

As noted in last Sunday’s update, we have blessed St. Peter of Verona palms available at the CLMC info table at St. Ann parish for those who did not receive them in prior years. These palms were blessed by Father Reid on St. Peter’s feast day of April 29 and this blessing is only available in the Traditional Rite. When buried on one’s property, tradition holds that they protect against natural disasters. We’re grateful for Fr. Reid for blessing these sacramentals – please consider offering a decade of one’s Rosary for him. To learn more visit our update from a prior year: https://charlottelatinmass.org/2021/04/29/feasts-of-ss-peter-of-verona-and-joseph-the-workman/

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?

2023 Women’s Traditional Silent Retreat (July 21-23)

We are pleased to share that the Legion of Mary in Raleigh is sponsoring a traditional silent women’s retreat at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory, northwest of Charlotte from July 21-23. The retreat will feature Fr. Sean Kopczynski of the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist, a Latin Mass order of priests in Kentucky. Masses will be offered each day. Cost is around $280 and the flyer is attached. To register or for more details please contact Tammy Huffman at the flyer below:

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• May 11 – Feast of St. Philip and St. James the Less, Apostles: In the 1962 calendar, this Thursday May 11 is the feast of Ss. Philip and James, apostles of Our Lord. In more ancient times, the feast was actually commemorated on May 1. We share Dom Prosper Gueranger’s entry for these two inspiring  saints and apostles: “Two of the favored witnesses of our beloved Jesus’ Resurrection come before us on this first day of May. Philip and James are here, bearing testimony to us, that their Master is truly risen from the dead, that they have seen him, that they have touched him, that they have conversed with him, during these forty days. And, that we may have no doubt as to the truth of their testimony, they hold in their hands the instruments of the martyrdom they underwent for asserting that Jesus, after having suffered death, came to life again and rose from the grave. Philip is leaning upon the cross to which he was fastened, as Jesus had been; James is holding the club wherewith he was struck dead.” https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/528-sanctoral-cycle/may/3121-may-1-sts-philip-and-james-the-less-apostles

• Remembering Father Terrence Gordon FSSP: The Church, and particularly the Latin Mass community across the Church, lost a great priest last weekend with the unexpected passing of Fr. Terrence Gordon, FSSP. A former marine, he was a priest of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). Although he did not have ties to Charlotte, he was assigned to the FSSP parish in Richmond, VA (St. Joseph parish) five or six years ago, and those within our community who often stopped by St. Joseph’s on their travels north may have attended his Masses (which he offered on occasion wearing his combat boots). He was last assigned to the FSSP parish in Colorado Springs, CO, where his brother serves as pastor, and administered last rites to his dying brother. Please pray for the repose of Fr. Gordon’s soul. We share some tributes posted by LifeSiteNews (https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/remembering-father-terrence-gordon-fssp/) and Rorate Caeli (https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2023/05/father-terrence-gordon-fssp-rip.html#more). Friends have also set up a website featuring some of his excellent sermons and where one can submit spiritual bouquets: https://avemariapurissima.org

• Rooting Out Hidden Faults: The FSSP Bookstore (Fraternity Publications) is promoting a reprint of Father James F. McElhone’s 1952 classic, Rooting Out Hidden Faults, which provides a path for those desiring to obtain spiritual holiness based on a book which uses prayers from the Traditional Latin Mass missal. https://fraternitypublications.com/product/rooting-out-hidden-faults/

• The Mass for the Feast of the Conversion of St. Augustine of Hippo: Some of the religious orders have their own liturgical calendar and special feast days unique to their community. The Order of St. Augustine happens to be one of them, and on May 5, the day after the feast of St. Monica (St. Augustine’s mother, who prayed for his conversion), is the feast of the conversion of St. Augustine (different than his actual feast day in August). Dr. Mike Foley writes an article on this special Mass and its prayers: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/05/the-mass-for-feast-of-conversion-of-st.html#.ZFcxT87MKHs

• Holy Spirit parish in Denver (NC) to Build New Church Using Traditional Architecture: A few weeks ago, Holy Spirit parish in Denver (just west of Huntersville) unveiled plans for their new church building. What may be of note to CLMC readers, is this building will follow traditional architectural principles, and the parish has hired noted architect William Heyer of Columbus, Ohio, who has helped restore or design several Latin Mass churches and Abbeys including Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma, Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles in Missouri, and continues to work on the restoration of the Institute of Christ the King’s Provincial Shrine in Chicago which was severely damaged in a fire a few years ago. Even more noteworthy is Holy Spirit’s parish representative mentioned that the diocese of Charlotte will no longer be building “mega-churches” anymore; and the new Holy Spirit church will be the “poster child” for new churches in the diocese of Charlotte. The new building will seat a modest 700 people. To see photos and video of the presentation click here (see full version presentation): https://www.holyspiritnc.org/parish-groups/new-church-updates/new-church-update

• New Gothic Revival Church in the Charleston, South Carolina: If one cannot wait for the Holy Spirit church to be built and desires to visit a new traditional gothic church today (and only a few hours from Charlotte), one may wish to visit the new St. Clare of Assisi parish on Daniel Island (Charleston), South Carolina. Local writer and Latin Mass attendee John Sonnen did just that and captures some of the beautiful photos and details after the building was consecrated by the bishop of Charleston last month.  Although this parish does not offer the Latin Mass, the beautiful high altar gives great hope that one will be offered there someday: https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2023/05/new-gothic-revival-church-in-diocese-of.html

Monday May 8 – Ancient Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel

In the ancient Pre-55 missal, tomorrow Monday May 8 is the feast of the apparition of St. Michael the Archangel on Mt. Gargano, Italy, where around 490, St. Michael appeared to a bishop in a cave on the mount, and declared the grounds holy (the rocks of the cave are considered “relics” of St. Michael). Another time, on May 8, St. Michael appeared again to the bishop, and eventually the bishop decided to build a church dedicated to the saint, which still exists today (and one can also request relics from this sanctuary): https://www.santuariosanmichele.it/ Incidentally, the other feast of St. Michael, on September 29, was established to mark the dedication of a different, basilica, that of St. Michael in Rome.

A Catholic World Report article provides additional historical background: https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/05/07/calling-upon-st-michael-the-archangel-on-mount-gargano/

In closing, as the Church is besieged by diabolical attacks from within, and from without, we share Dom Prosper Gueranger’s inspiring commentary on St. Michael who among his many titles is Guardian Angel of the Church:

Guardian Angel of Holy Church! now is the time for thee to exert all the might of thine arm. Satan is furious in his efforts against the noble Spouse of thy Master; brandish thy bright sword, and give battle to this implacable enemy. The Kingdom of Christ is shaken to its very foundations. Rome is in danger of seeing the Vicar of Christ dethroned within her walls. Is it that the reign of the Man of Sin is about to be proclaimed on the earth? Are we near that Last Day, when this guilty world having been destroyed by fire, thou art to exercise, in the name of the Sovereign Judge, the terrible office of separating the goats from the sheep?—If this earth is still to exist; if the mission of the Church is not yet completed; is it not time for thee, O Michael! to show the Dragon of hell that he may not, with impunity, insult on this earth the God who created it, who redeemed it, and whose name is King of kings, and Lord of lord? The torrent of error and crime is unceasingly dragging the world to the brink of the precipice; save it, O glorious Archangel, by confounding the dark plots which are laid for its destruction!

https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/528-sanctoral-cycle/may/3129-may-8-the-apparition-of-st-michael-the-archangel

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio; contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperat illi Deus; supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae coelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen.

St. Michael, Guardian Angel of the Church, pray for us!

What Mass are you attending Sunday?