For those who were not aware, back in 2010, the traditional blog, Rorate Caeli organized a Purgatorial Society. This is a registry of traditional priests (112 priests at present) who have signed up to offer weekly or monthly traditional requiem Masses for the enrolled souls of the Purgatorial Society.

There is no cost to enroll souls in the Purgatorial Society.

How to enroll souls:  To enroll, send email to: athanasiuscatholic@yahoo.com and submit as follows: “Name, State, Country.” If you want to enroll entire families, simply write in the email: “The Jones family, North Carolina, USA”. Individual names are preferred. Be greedy — send in as many as you wish and forward this posting to friends as well.

Please consider forwarding this Society to your family and friends, announcing from the pulpit during Holy Mass or listing in your church bulletin. We need to spread the word and relieve more suffering souls.

https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2022/04/reminder-rorate-caeli-purgatorial.html#more

Dear friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community,

Laudetur Iesus Christus!  

I am sorry for the omission and late notice, but I learned that there is a 9:00am Mass this morning at St. Anthony’s (SSPX) in Mount Holly for the Vigil of Assumption.

Address:  108 Horseshoe Bend Beach Road, Mount Holly, NC 28120

This vigil day is a penitential day of preparation for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary tomorrow.  As part of this day of preparation, it is also customary to fast.

While no longer binding under pain of sin, today’s fast traditionally would apply to those aged 21 to 59 (inclusive).  Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops conference means partaking of only one full meal. Some food (not equaling another full meal) is permitted at breakfast and around midday or in the evening—depending on when a person chooses to eat the main or full meal.

Attached below is an in depth article on the Vigil of Assumption by Gregory DiPippo at New Liturgical Movement.

https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/08/the-vigil-of-assumption.html

Dear friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community,

Laudetur Iesus Christus!  Today, August 11 is the Feast of Ss. Tiburtius (Martyr) & Susanna (Virgin and Martyr) and St. Philomena (Virgin and Martyr).

Coming up next Tuesday, August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is a Holy Day of Obligation.   Below are the Latin Mass Times in the greater Charlotte area:

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuesday August 15, 2023
(August 15th is a Holy Day of Obligation)

• St. Ann, Charlotte, NC (4 miles from downtown Charlotte)
  • 6:00 pm:  High Mass
• St. Anthony of Padua, Mount Holly, NC (SSPX) (13 miles from downtown Charlotte)
  • 9:00 am:  Low Mass (Confession 30 mins before Mass)
  • 6:30 pm:  Sung Mass (Confession 30 mins before Mass)
• Prince of Peace, Taylors, SC (90 miles southwest of Charlotte)
  • 12:00 Noon:  Mass
• Our Lady of Grace, Greensboro, NC (90 miles north of Charlotte)
  • 6:00 pm:  Low Mass
• St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country, Boone, NC (100 miles northwest of Charlotte)
  • 6:00 pm:  Mass
• Our Lady of the Lake, Chapin, SC (100 miles south of Charlotte)
  • 6:30 pm: Mass

Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community,

Laudetur Iesus Christus and Happy Feast of St. Ignatius!

The Charlotte Latin Mass Community, Inc. (CLMC) is registered with the State of North Carolina as a Non-Profit Corporation (SOSID: #132258).

This morning, the officers of the CLMC informed Mike FitzGerald that we have decided to end Mike’s relationship with the CLMC.  As such Mike will no longer be representing the CLMC in future emails, meetings, or any other way.

Mike has done a lot of work gathering and disseminating information for subscribers to the CLMC email distribution list.  Mike may choose to form a new organization and continue sending out email updates in the future.  We wish him well and if we hear of any new worthy organizations, we will share information on how people can subscribe to those.

God bless,

Charlotte Latin Mass Community, Inc.

SOSID: #1322568 

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the ninth Sunday after Pentecost, in which the Church also subtly marks the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. We share a few reflections for Sunday’s Latin Mass and provide more commentary towards the end of this update:

• Weeping Over Jerusalem: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/07/weeping-over-jerusalem-ninth-sunday.html#.XyYDO357nwc
• O Jerusalem: Sermon on the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (by a Dominican priest): https://voiceofthefamily.com/o-jerusalem-sermon-on-the-ninth-sunday-after-pentecost/

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday August 2, 6pm – St. Ann (feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor)
• Thursday August 3, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria, e.g. no feast day)
• Friday August 4, 7am – St. Ann (feast of St. Dominic, Confessor)
• Saturday August 5, 10am – St. Thomas Aquinas (Our Lady of the Snows & First Saturday) – a blessing of religious objects in the traditional rite will occur after Mass

1^st Sunday Latin Mass in Salisbury, August 6, 4pm: Looking ahead, there will be a Latin Mass at Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury on Sunday August 6^th at 4pm. Mass will be offered by Fr. Joseph Wasswa, with Confession starting at 2:45pm. Seminarians from St. Joseph College Seminary will graciously provide sacred music. A potluck will be held in Brincefield Hall afterwards. Please bring a favorite dish, hors d’oeuvres or dessert to share. For more information contact the Salisbury Latin Mass Community: www.salisburylmc.org

1^st Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas Aquinas, August 6: On Sunday August 6 there will be a potluck after the 11:30am Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas. 

Feast of the Assumption Latin Masses – Tuesday August 15 (as announced)

• 6pm – St. Ann (Solemn High Mass)
• 12pm – Prince of Peace, Taylors, SC
• 6pm – St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country, Boone, NC (2 hours northwest of Charlotte)
• 6:30pm – Our Lady of the Lake, Chapin, SC (2 hours south of Charlotte)

Tuesday August 15 is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Portiuncula Indulgence – Wednesday August 2nd

Each August 2^nd, there is a plenary indulgence related to St. Francis of Assisi called the Portiuncula Indulgence which originally was only available to those who visited a chapel he rebuilt in Italy, but the indulgence now extends to the universal Church.  The indulgence can be made any time after Vespers the evening of August 1st and until sundown on August 2nd.  A plenary indulgence is available under the usual conditions:

1. Receive sacramental confession (8 days before or after)
2. Receive the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass on August 2^nd
3. Enter a parish church and, with a contrite heart, pray the Our Father, Apostles Creed, and a pray of his/her own choosing for the intentions of the Pope

Please see this link for more details: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/27816/on-aug-2-you-can-get-this-st-francis-themed-indulgence

Community News

Learn the Divine Office – Thursday August 3, 5-5:45pm (St. Thomas Aquinas parish) (CORRECTED TIME)

St. Thomas Aquinas parish announced the following event: It’s been said that the Divine Office is an extension of the Mass throughout the day, meant to sanctify the hours of the day by way of the Psalms. On Thursday, August 3 from 5-5:45 in Room D in the parish building, before the evening Latin Mass, Deacon Kevin Martinez and seminarian Emanuel Martinez will give a brief introduction to any families interested in praying either the Divine Office (according to the traditional form) or the Little Office of Baltimore. The event is open to all and no sign up is necessary.

Mary Days at St. Thomas Aquinas – Thursday August 17, 7pm

St. Thomas Aquinas is hosting its annual Mary Days during August which features Masses, and a sermon on the Blessed Mother by a visiting priest. On Thursday August 17, 7pm, during the regularly scheduled Latin Mass, Fr. Aaron Huber will provide a talk on the Marian title, Star of the Sea. See details in the attached image.

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Needs Eucharistic Adorers

This weekend at St. Thomas Aquinas, Father is planning to preach about the importance of Eucharistic Adoration and encouraging families to commit to an hour of prayer in their new Eucharistic Adoration chapel. The parish needs only 52 more people to commit to an hour before they launch their perpetual Adoration chapel. For those St. Thomas Aquinas Latin Mass attendees (who are able to commit), this would be a great opportunity to pray for the preservation of the Latin Mass. To see what hours are needed visit: https://staclt.weadorehim.com/ or visit: https://www.stacharlotte.com/perpetual-adoration

Holy Face Devotions

• St. James, Concord– Mondays 10-10:30am in the cry room in the church
• St Mark – Mondays 5pm in the church
• St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the church
• St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the main church after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
• St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, in the church
• Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
• Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?

Conversion of the Lost Sheep Novena and Mass Intentions

The St. Alphonsus Liguori Shrine in Baltimore, the Latin Mass shrine staffed by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, has started its annual novena to St. Alphonsus ahead of his feast day on August 2^nd and the Shrine invites all to join them. They are also offering prayers and Mass intentions for the conversion of those who have fallen away from the faith. To submit intentions and join them in praying the last few days of the novena, which started last Monday, please visit this website: https://stalphonsusbalt.org/return#saint-alphonsus-prayer  (please see attached novena prayer for the novena or download it at the link).

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• August 1st – The feast of St. Peter in Chains: August 1 is the commemoration of the St. Peter in Chains. To learn more about this commemoration visit: https://fssp.com/the-golden-legend-of-st-peters-chains/

• St. Peter and the First Years of Christianity: As the Church, in the traditional rite, commemorates the feast of St. Peter in Chains on August 1, the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) is promoting a reprint of Abbe Constant Fouard’s 19th century book, St. Peter and the First Years of Christianity, which examines the life of St. Peter, and the time period he began to lead the Church. To learn more visit: https://fraternitypublications.com/product/st-peter-and-the-first-years-of-christianity/

• Funeral Sermon for Charles Anthony Ripperger: In your charity please consider praying for the repose of the soul of Charles Anthony Ripperger, father of Fr. Chad Ripperger, the traditional exorcist who visited St. Thomas Aquinas earlier this year. Father Ripperger offered a beautiful sermon at his father’s Requiem Mass. To watch visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6t2X45w-D0

• Cardinal Burke’s Sermon On Our Lady of She-Shan: Last Tuesday, His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Burke offered a Pontifical Latin Mass at St. John the Evangelist’s Basilica in Stamford, Connecticut in honor of Our Lady of She-Shan, the Marian title of the Blessed Mother in China. The Mass was also to offer prayers for the underground Church in China, which is supported by the Cardinal Kung Foundation, named after Cardinal Ignatius Kung, who spent 30 years in a Chinese communist prison before being exiled to the US in 1988 where he died in Connecticut in 2000 (he also offered the Latin Mass in his later years).  To view the sermon click on this link (the sermon occurs at the 1 hour mark): https://boxcast.tv/channel/ppcsuohvx2la96vu23yv?b=kjodhajii5otatsvm1nx  To support the underground Church in China please visit: http://www.cardinalkungfoundation.org/

• Vatican Grants Plenary Indulgence For St. Thomas Aquinas Jubilee Celebrations: Last week marked the start of the 700^th year of the canonization of St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Church has granted a plenary indulgence until 2025 which will be the 800^th anniversary of his birth. The indulgence can be obtained by visiting any church, chapel, connected with the Dominican Order. Practically speaking, this indulgence can be obtained in cities where the Dominicans have a presence of some kind (if anyone is aware of such locations in our diocese, let us know). To learn more visit: https://www.ncregister.com/cna/vatican-grants-plenary-indulgence-for-st-thomas-aquinas-jubilee-celebrations

• A Superb Article on St Mary Magdalene: A week ago Saturday was the feast of St. Mary Magdalene (with yesterday, the eighth day after her feast, commemorating the feast of her sister, St. Martha). In reflecting upon the great penitent, we share a recommendation by Greg DiPippo about an excellent article on St. Mary Magdalene.  To learn more visit: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/07/a-superb-article-on-st-mary-magdalene.html

The Fall of Jerusalem – Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

The ninth Sunday after Pentecost, through the Gospel reading, marks the fall of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70, occuring around this time of the year. This fateful event, prophesized by Our Lord (Luke 19:41-48) and commemorated this Sunday, was one of the more horrific sieges in history and it occurred around this time of the year.  Dom Prosper Gueranger noted that the Temple of Jerusalem flowed with blood, most of its inhabitants killed, not just by Roman soldiers from without, but by the lawless, unspeakable violence of Jewish Zealots (upon their own people) from within the city walls. Further north, the sea of Galilee turned red as bodies piled up along the shoreline after that Jewish revolt was crushed by the Romans. Jewish historian Josephus had reported that years prior to the siege, residents of Jerusalem would see signs in the sky including a flaming meteorite/sword and chariots foretelling the pending doom (Luke 21:11). The Catholics of that day, seeing the signs, were spared the terror as they remembered Christ’s prophecy (Luke 21:21, Matthew 11:21-24), and escaped to safe harbor. We share just one excerpt from Gueranger but one should read his entire description at the link below.

The lamentation over Jerusalem’s woes, the subject of today’s Gospel, has given its name to this ninth Sunday after Pentecost, at least among the Latins. We have already observed that it is easy to find, even in the liturgy as it now stands, traces of how the early Church was all attention to the approaching fulfilment of the prophecies against Jerusalem—that ungrateful city upon which our Jesus heaped His earliest favours. The last limit put by mercy upon justice has, at length, been passed. Our Lord, speaking of the ruin of Sion and its temple, had foretold that the generation that was listening to His words should not pass until what He had announced should be fulfilled. The almost forty years accorded to Juda, that he might avert the divine wrath, have had no other effect than to harden the people of deicides in their determination not to accept Christ as the Messiah. As a torrent, which, having been long pent back, rushes along all the fiercer when the embankment breaks, vengeance at length burst on the ancient Israel; it was in the year 70 that was executed the sentence he himself had passed when, delivering up his King and God to the Gentiles, he had cried out: ‘His blood be upon us and upon our children!’

• Dom Prosper Gueranger – Ninth Sunday After Pentecost: https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/479-temporal-cycle/time-after-pentecost/the-ninth-week-after-pentecost/3591-the-ninth-sunday-after-pentecost

Feast of the Holy Maccabees – August 1^st

Looking ahead a few days to August 1st, the Church has two commemorations set for this day. As noted earlier in this update, the first commemoration of August 1^st is that of St. Peter in Chains. However, the second commemoration of August 1st is an often overlooked commemoration, that of the Holy Maccabees – the only Old Testament saints listed in the universal 1962 calendar (parenthetically, the Carmelites do commemorate another Old Testament saint, the Prophet Elijah, on July 20).  These seven holy Maccabee brothers were martyred defending the rights of God and for His public worship in a pagan culture. Their relics are actually buried in the same church that houses the chains of St. Peter, drawing a connection between the two commemorations which share the same day. For more on the liturgical aspects of this feast day visit: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2018/08/the-feast-of-holy-maccabees.html#.XyOweX57nwc

To close this update, we share the words of Dom Prosper Gueranger who writes about the Maccabean martyrs in his entry for August 1 in his book, The Liturgical Year:

The sacred cause of which they were the champions, their strength of soul under the tortures, their sublime answers to the executioners, were so evidently the type reproduced by the later Martyrs, that the Fathers of the first centuries with one accord claimed for the Christian Church these heroes of the synagogue, who could have gained such courage from no other source than their faith in the Christ to come. For this reason they alone of all the holy persons of the ancient covenant have found a place on the Christian cycle; all the Martyrologies and Calendars of East and West attest the universality of their cultus, while its antiquity is such as to rival that of St. Peter’s chains in that same basilica of Eudoxia where their precious relics lie.

• The Seven Brothers Maccabees, Martyrs – August 1: https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/522-sanctoral-cycle/august/3275-august-1-the-seven-brothers-machabees-martyrs

St. Peter and the Holy Maccabees, pray for us!

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Today Wednesday July 26 is the feast of St. Anne, mother of Our Lady, and also patronal feast day for St. Ann parishioners. St. Ann will offer a 6pm Latin Mass this evening.

According to tradition, the relics of St. Anne were taken by Ss. Lazarus, Mary Magdalene and Martha when they were exiled from the Holy Land. By Divine Providence, their small raft landed in Marseille, France, where St. Lazarus became its first bishop.

Interestingly (and perhaps providentially), St. Anne’s feast day, July 26, falls between the feasts of Ss. Mary Magdalene (July 22) and Martha (this Saturday July 29), perhaps as a connection to those two saints (and their brother) who the transported her relics to France. The feast of St. Anne’s husband, St. Joachim, is celebrated on the day after the Our Lady’s Assumption on August 16 (the 2^nd day within the ancient Octave of the Assumption).

To learn more about St. Anne and her devotions visit: https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/521-sanctoral-cycle/july/3220-st-anne-mother-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary

The Church of St. Anne in Jerusalem:

In Jerusalem, not far from the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and St. Stephen’s Gate (where St. Stephen was martyred) is the Church of St. Anne, which is the place where St. Anne and her husband St. Joachim lived, and where, in the church’s crypt, the Blessed Mother was reported to be born (there are some other traditions placing it elsewhere but she at least lived there). The current Church was built by Crusaders in the 12^th Century and was spared destruction by the Muslims who retook Jerusalem shortly thereafter.  The acoustics in the church are beyond description and ideal for Gregorian Chant. The Church is also a stone’s throw away from the Pool of Bethsaida (Probotica) where Christ healed the paralytic man (John Chapter 5:2-9). Incidentally, tradition also holds that it was St. Raphael the Archangel who was the angel that would stir the water in the pool at different times of the year. How interesting that this small little neighborhood witnessed so many saints during Our Lord’s time on Earth (or shortly after).  We link to a brief description.

Conversion of the Lost Sheep Novena and Mass Intentions

Lastly, the St. Alphonsus Liguori Shrine in Baltimore, the Latin Mass shrine staffed by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, has started their annual novena to St. Alphonsus ahead of his feast day on August 2^nd and the Shrine invites all to join them. They are also offering prayers and Mass intentions for the conversion of those who have fallen away from the faith. To submit intentions and join them in praying the novena please visit this website: https://stalphonsusbalt.org/return#saint-alphonsus-prayer  (please see attached prayer for the novena or download it at the link).

Ss. Anne and Aphonsus, pray for us!

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the eighth Sunday after Pentecost, and the readings, and particularly the Divine Office this week focuses on Solomon’s building of the Temple (whose destruction will be told next Sunday).  As custom we provide commentary on the Collect for Sunday’s Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/07/what-the-eighth-sunday-after-pentecost.html

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday July 26, 6pm – St. Ann (Feast of St. Ann, patronal feast for St. Ann parish)
• Thursday July 27, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria, e.g. no feast day)
• Friday July 28, 7am – St. Ann (Feast of Ss. Nazarius & Celsus, Martyrs; Victor I, Pope and Martyr; and St. Innocent I, Pope and Confessor)

Day of Prayer for Bishop Jugis – Sunday July 23

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin, (the site of the only Marian apparition in the U.S.), is organizing The Shepherd Project, where all faithful Catholics in America are invited to pray for a bishop each day. This coming Sunday July 23 is assigned to Bishop Jugis. Please consider saying an extra prayer this day (or your Mass intention) for His Excellency. [For those readers nearby in the Raleigh diocese, Bishop Zarama’s day of prayer is the day after, July 24] To learn more visit: https://championshrine.org/shepherd-project/

Scholarship Help for FSSP Seminarians

Last month we sent out a call to our readers for scholarship help for two FSSP seminarians (one who used to attend St. Ann parish) who wanted to attend the Veterum Sapientia Institute’s summer Latin workshop this month here in Charlotte. We are pleased to share that thanks to the generosity of CLMC readers, the necessary funds have been raised. We thank everyone who generously contributed, allowing them to attend. As our readers may recall, the Institute was founded and is operated by Fr. Barone and several others in our diocese.

1^st Sunday Latin Mass in Salisbury, August 6, 4pm

Looking ahead, there will be a Latin Mass at Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury on Sunday August 6^th at 4pm. Mass will be offered by Fr. Joseph Wasswa, with Confession starting at 2:45pm. Seminarians from St. Joseph College Seminary will graciously provide sacred music. A potluck will be held in Brincefield Hall afterwards Please bring a favorite dish, hors d’oeuvres or dessert to share. For more information contact the Salisbury Latin Mass Community: www.salisburylmc.org

Community News

‘Sacred and Great‘: booklet introducing the TLM by Joseph Shaw

Thanks to some generous benefactors, the CLMC will be distributing copies of Dr. Joseph Shaw’s book, Sacred and Great, which serves as a great introduction to the Traditional Latin Mass. This should be at our tables at St. Ann and St. Thomas Aquinas either this weekend or next (while supplies last). Dr. Shaw is president of the Latin Mass Society of the U.K. To learn more visit: http://www.lmschairman.org/2023/07/sacred-and-great-booklet-introducing.html

Learn the Divine Office – Thursday August 3, 5-6:30pm (St. Thomas Aquinas parish)

St. Thomas Aquinas parish made the following announcement, which we pass along: It’s been said that the Divine Office is an extension of the Mass throughout the day, meant to sanctify the hours of the day by way of the Psalms. On Thursday, August 3 from 5-6:30 in Room D in the parish building, before the evening Latin Mass, Deacon Kevin Martinez and seminarian Emanuel Martinez will give a brief introduction to any families interested in praying either the Divine Office (according to the traditional form) or the Little Office of Baltimore. The event is open to all and no sign up is necessary.

Holy Face Devotions

• St. James, Concord– Mondays 10-10:30am in the cry room in the church
• St Mark – Mondays 5pm in the church
• St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the church
• St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the main church after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
• St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, in the church
• Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
• Don’t see your parish listed? Why not organize one?

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• The French Revolution and the Carmelites of Compiègne: This past week was the 229^th anniversary of the beatified Carmelite martyrs of Compiègne, France, who offered their lives as a sacrifice to end the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror in 1794.  National Catholic Register published a fascinating article of the martyrdom of these 16 Carmelites (mostly nuns and a few lay), and how they met some English Benedictines (exiled to France in the 16^th century), which had ties to St. Thomas More’s decedents. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-french-revolution-and-the-carmelites-of-compiegne

• In Defense of Latin in the Mass: The Case for the Church’s Timeless Liturgical Language: Local publisher TAN Books has just released a defense of the use of Latin in the liturgy by Pope Benedict XIV who reigned in the 18^th century. We share a description of this brief book here: In these pages, Pope Benedict XIV (1675–1758) offers a convincing defense for the use of Latin as the normative liturgical language in the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. Although the attacks over the use of Latin in Pope Benedict XIV’s time stemmed primarily from the Protestant schism, the objections today are very similar. With charity and reason, the Holy Father seeks to bring clarity to this most important topic by relying on tradition and Church history. https://tanbooks.com/products/books/in-defense-of-latin-in-the-mass-the-case-for-the-churchs-timeless-liturgical-language/

• St. Thomas on the Doctrine of Music: This past week was the 700^th anniversary of the canonization of St. Thomas Aquinas in 1323 A.D. and OnePeterFive posted a column examining his writings on sacred music: https://onepeterfive.com/thomas-doctrine-music/

• The Feast of the Thunderous Heel-Grabber: Tuesday July 25 is the feast of St. James the Apostle who first evangelized Spain before returning to Jerusalem for his martyrdom, and Dr. Mike Foley penned an excellent article last year on the connection of St. James and the famous traditions associated with him, including the famous Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage that many over the centuries have undertaken: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/07/the-feast-of-thunderous-heel-grabber.html#.YtuP2ITMKHs

• Feast of St. Christopher: July 25 also happens to be the feast St. Christopher, the Christ-Bearer, as the St. Andrew Missal notes: He was a native of Chanaan, a generous soul, was martyred around 250 AD, and is one of the 14 Holy Helpers (saints who have had been noted for the “efficacy of their intercession”), who is invoked in storms, plagues, and avoiding of accidents in travel. Although removed from the new calendar, he remains as a commemoration on the traditional 1962 liturgical calendar. The CLMC commemorates St. Christopher by sharing Dom Prosper Gueranger’s entry for this saint in his book The Liturgical Year: https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/521-sanctoral-cycle/july/3229-july-25-the-same-day-st-christopher-martyr and Dr. Mike Foley’s article about the traditions and customs surrounding the Christ-Bearer: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/07/the-giant-christ-carrier.html

• St. Martha Kills a Dragon: This coming Saturday July 29 is the feast of St. Martha (held eight days after July 22, feast day of her sister, St. Mary Magdalen). Greg DiPippo posts some legends and traditions associated with St. Martha – including killing a dragon: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/07/st-martha-kills-dragon.html#.YuTI1hzMKHs

• Cardinal Burke to offer a Pontifical Latin Mass on July 25 in Connecticut for the Church in China: His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Burke will offer a Solemn High Pontifical Mass in Stamford, Connecticut, in honor of Our Lady of SheShan (a Marian apparition in China), all for the intentions of the persecuted Catholics in China. This is being done in conjunction with the Cardinal Kung Foundation, which supports the underground Church in China, and is named after the white martyr and longtime Bishop of Shanghai, Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pinmei, who spent 30 years in prison for the faith and died in exile in the U.S. in 2000 (and who offered the Traditional Latin Mass several times during his exile).  The Mass will be Tuesday July 25 at 6pm St John’s Basilica in Stamford, Connecticut, and can be live streamed here: https://stjohnbasilica.org/livestream To see the flyer for the event visit: http://www.cardinalkungfoundation.org/fd/pdf/Solemn-TLM-Masses-2023.pdf

• Andrew Mahon named new music director of St. Joseph College Seminary: The diocese just announced the seminary’s new music director who will be teaching Gregorian chant and sacred music to the seminarians. Please consider offering a prayer for him as he assumes this important position in forming the next generation of priests: https://catholicnewsherald.com/88-news/fp/9457-andrew-mahon-named-new-music-director-of-st-joseph-college-seminary

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost: Reflections on the Building of Solomon’s Temple

As noted at the beginning of this update, next Sunday marks the Church’s “commemoration”, in the Traditional Rite, of Our Lord’s prophecy of the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by the Roman legions. This Sunday, as Dom Prosper Gueranger notes, the Church focuses on the period immediately preceding that dreadful day, when the city looked invincible, indestructible, and replete with glory and splendor. Gueranger picks up the description in his entry for the Eight Sunday after Pentecost in his book, The Liturgical Year:

The Church is now going through that month which immediately preceded the events so momentous to Jerusalem; she would do honour to-day to the glorious and divine past which prepared her own present. Let us, like her, enter into the feelings of the first Christians, who were Juda’s own children; they had been told of the impending destruction foretold by the prophets, and an order from God bade them depart from Jerusalem. What a solemn moment that was, when the little flock of the elect,—the only ones in whom was kept up the faith of Abraham and the knowledge of the destinies of the Hebrew people—had just begun their emigration, and looked back on the city of their fathers, to take a last farewell! They took the road to the east; it led towards the Jordan, beyond which God had provided a refuge for the remnant of Israel.[1] They halted on the incline of Mount Olivet, whence they had a full view of Jerusalem; in a few moments that hill would be between them and the city. Not quite forty years before the Man-God had sat down on that same spot,[2] taking His own last look at the city and her temple. Jerusalem was seen in all her magnificence from this portion of the mount, which afterwards would be visited and venerated by our Christian pilgrims. The city had long since recovered from its ruins, and had, at the time we are speaking of, been enlarged by the princes of the Herodian family, so favourably looked on by the Romans.

Never in any previous period of her history had Jerusalem been so perfect and so beautiful as she then was, when our fugitives were gazing upon her. There was not, as yet, the slightest outward indication that she was the city accursed of God. There, as a queen in her strength and power, she was throned amidst the mountains of which the psalmist had sung;[3] her towers[4] and palaces seemed as though they were her crown. Within the triple enclosure of the walls built by her latest kings, she embraced those three hills, the grandest, not only of Judea, but of the whole world: first, there was Sion, with its unparalleled memories; then, Golgotha, which had not yet been honoured on account of the holy sepulchre, and which, nevertheless, was even then attracting to itself the Roman legions, who were to wreak vengeance on this guilty land; and, lastly, Moriah, the sacred mount of the old world, on whose summit was raised that unrivalled temple, which gave Jerusalem to be the queen of all the cities of the east, for as such even the Gentiles acknowledged her.[5]

There was something even beyond all this: it was that their dear Jerusalem had been the scene of the grandest mysteries of the law of grace. Was it not in yonder temple that, as the prophets expressed it, God had manifested the Angel of the Testament,[18]and given peace? The honour of that temple is no longer the exclusive right of an isolated people; for the Desired of all nations, by His going into it, has brought it a grander glory than all the ages of expectation and prophecy have imparted.[19]

Gueranger then concludes his description of the Temple of its symbolic relevance for each follower of Christ:

O Christian soul! thou that, by the grace of God, art become a temple[30] more magnificent, more beloved in His eyes, than that of Jerusalem, take a lesson from these divine chastisements; and reflect on the words of the Most High, as recorded by Ezechiel: ‘The justice of the just shall not deliver him, in what day soever he shall sin…. Yea, if I shall say to the just, that he shall surely live, and he, trusting in his justice, commit iniquity —all his justices shall be forgotten, and, in his iniquity, which he hath committed, in the same shall he die.'[31]

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/478-temporal-cycle/time-after-pentecost/the-eighth-week-after-pentecost/3590-the-eighth-sunday-after-pentecost

What Mass are you attending Sunday?

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Just a reminder that St. Ann parish will be offering its 4^th Saturday Respect Life Latin Mass tomorrow morning 8am Saturday July 22 (feast of St. Mary Magdalene), for an end to abortion.

After Mass, there will be prayers at Planned Parenthood (700 S. Torrence Street, Charlotte), or for those who are unable to travel there, a Holy Hour of Reparation will be held immediately after Mass.

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the seventh Sunday after Pentecost and the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. We provide the commentary for the Sunday propers: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/07/fruit-free-will-and-providence-seventh.html#.XxPG3xJ7nwc

TODAY at 12:10PM: Scapular enrollments at St. Ann parish for the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel: Father will be enrolling people in the scapular at 12:10pm (prior to the Latin Mass) at St. Ann parish on Sunday July 16, the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. If one does not wear the scapular or practice the devotions, we highly encourage one to be enrolled – one’s salvation may depend on it. Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock in England, in 1251 A.D., and made this promise: “Take this Scapular, it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge of peace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.” https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-powerful-brown-scapular-and-its-perennial-promises

(If you are already enrolled in the scapular you do not need to be enrolled again)

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday July 19, 6pm – St. Ann (St. Vincent de Paul, Confessor)
• Thursday July 20, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (St. Jerome Emiliani, Confessor)
• Friday July 21, 7am – St. Ann (St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor)
• Saturday July 22, 8am Respect Life Latin Mass* – St. Ann (St. Mary Magdalene, Penitent)

* 4^th Saturday July 22^nd: After St. Ann Latin Mass this Saturday July 22, there will be prayers at Planned Parenthood and a Holy Hour of Reparation in the church (for those unable to travel to the abortion facility).

1^st Sunday Latin Mass in Salisbury – August 6, 4pm: Looking ahead, there will be a Latin Mass at Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury on Sunday August 6^th at 4pm. Mass will be offered by Fr. Joseph Wasswa, with Confession starting at 2:45pm. Seminarians from St. Joseph College Seminary will graciously provide sacred music. A potluck will be held in Brincefield Hall afterwards Please bring a favorite dish, hors d’oeuvres or dessert to share. For more information contact the Salisbury Latin Mass Community: www.salisburylmc.org

Community News

Pray for the Repose of the Soul of Rebecca Toner

Sadly, Rebecca Toner, the wife of retired Deacon James Toner at Our Lady of Grace parish in Greensboro, passed away last week. A funeral will be held at 9:30am on Monday at Our Lady of Grace parish followed by a reception. Please considering offer prayers for the repose of her soul and consolation of Deacon Toner and the family. Some of our long time readers may recall, Deacon Toner has been one of the stalwart supporters of the Traditional Latin Mass in our diocese. We share one excellent article on the Latin Mass which he published in the Catholic News Herald a few years ago: https://catholicnewsherald.com/viewpoints/104-news/viewpoints/2239-deacon-james-h-toner-why-we-should-not-attend-the-traditional-latin-mass

Holy Face Devotions

• St. James, Concord– Mondays 10-10:30am in the cry room in the church
• St Mark – Monday July 17 at 3:30pm in the church (one time schedule change. Most other Mondays it is at 5pm)
• St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the church
• St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the main church after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
• St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, in the church
• Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
• Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel: Dr. Mike Foley republishes an article on the history of today’s feast day (technically suppressed due it falling on a Sunday): https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/07/our-lady-of-mount-carmel.html

• New Founders of Rome Part II: A few weeks ago we shared an article from the Fraternity of St. Peter’s newsletter on the secular founders of the city of Rome, and comparing them with the new spiritual founders of Rome, Ss. Peter and Paul. This week we share the second installment of the article that looks at the monuments to these new founders (e.g. mainly St. Peter’s Basilica): https://fssp.com/new-founders-of-rome-part-2-the-monuments/

• Anniversary of the Restoration at Solesmes: Speaking of founders of great buildings of the Catholic faith, this week was the 190^th anniversary of the re-founding of the Benedictine Abbey in Solesmes, France on July 11, 1833, by the great priest and liturgist, Dom Prosper Gueranger (whom we quote often). The Abbey was shuttered and abandoned during the French Revolution, and when the lands were to be sold off by 1833, Gueranger put together money to save it and restore monastic life to that part of France. Since that time Solesmes has given back to the Church by educating priests and laity alike on the importance and meaning of the liturgy, as well as reviving Gregorian Chant in the 19^th and 20^th centuries (that’s probably why we quote him so often).  To learn more please see this brief article and history: https://onepeterfive.com/anniversary-restoration-solesmes/ To visit the Solesmes Abbey webpage visit: https://www.solesmes.com/

• Children at Mass: Practical Considerations: Dr. Joseph Shaw, head of the Latin Mass Society of the U.K., has written about the importance of having small children attend the Traditional Latin Mass and how to help them focus on the liturgy even at an early age: https://onepeterfive.com/children-mass-practical-considerations/

• Elizabeth Scalia: Reading signs and times: What does the state of Sister Wilhelmina’s body mean?: Our Catholic News Herald recently published a syndicated column by Elizabeth Scalia on the ongoing interest in the discovery of the apparently incorrupt remains of Sister Wilhelmina, foundress of the traditional Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles in Gower, Missouri. Of interest is that Scalia briefly focuses on the link between Sister Wilhelmina and the Traditional Latin Mass, and what the recent discovery may mean about the Latin Mass, traditional practices such as a full habit, and other topics. https://catholicnewsherald.com/viewpoints/104-news/viewpoints/9402-elizabeth-scalia-reading-signs-and-times-what-does-the-state-of-sister-wilhelmina-s-body-mean

• The Feast of St Elijah the Prophet: This Thursday July 20, is the ancient feast of St. Elijah the Prophet. It is not celebrated in the Traditional Latin Mass, only in the Byzantine Rite, and in the Carmelite Rite (which is similar to the Traditional Latin Mass). Greg DiPippo, with the New Liturgical Movement, explains in this 2022 article about the feast day along with some history of the Carmelite order: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/07/the-feast-of-st-elijah-prophet.html#.YtzbNYTMKHt

• St John XXIII on St Lawrence of Brindisi: Friday July 21 is the feast of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, a doctor of the Church from the 17th century. Greg DiPippo shares Pope St. John XXIII’s commentary on this saint: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/07/st-john-xxiii-on-st-lawrence-of-brindisi.html#.Ytzdh4TMKHt

• Cardinal Burke to offer a Pontifical Latin Mass on July 25 in Connecticut the Church in China: His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Burke will offer a Solemn High Pontifical Mass in Stamford, Connecticut, in honor of Our Lady of SheShan (a Marian apparition in China), all for the intentions of the persecuted Catholics in China. This is being done in conjunction with the Cardinal Kung Foundation, which supports the underground Church in China, and is named after the white martyr and longtime Bishop of Shanghai, Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pinmei, who spent 30 years in prison for the faith and died in exile in the U.S. in 2000 (and who offered the Traditional Latin Mass several times during his exile).  The Mass will be Tuesday July 25 at 6pm St John’s Basilica in Stamford, Connecticut, and can be live streamed here: https://stjohnbasilica.org/livestream To see the flyer for the event visit: http://www.cardinalkungfoundation.org/fd/pdf/Solemn-TLM-Masses-2023.pdf

Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – July 16

Each July 16, the Church commemorates the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.  As Dr. Mike Foley explained in the article above, it was commemorated to thank the Blessed Mother for her protection of the Carmelite order, and for her appearance to St. Simon Stock to promote the wearing of the brown scapular. The appearance to St. Simon took place during a time when the Carmelites, originally from Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land, had to flee to Europe due to the Muslims retaking the Holy Land from the Crusader Kingdom in the late 13^th century.  We share an excerpt from Dom Prosper Gueranger’s entry from his book, The Liturgical Year about Our Lady’s appearance to St. Simon and how she made the scapular and its promises, a church-wide devotion:

In the night between the 15th and 16th of July of the year 1251, the gracious Queen of Carmel confirmed to her sons by a mysterious sign the right of citizenship she had obtained for them in their newly adopted countries; as mistress and mother of the entire religious state she conferred upon them with her queenly hands the scapular, hitherto the distinctive garb of the greatest and most ancient religious family of the West. On giving St. Simon Stock this badge, ennobled by contact with her sacred fingers, the Mother of God said to him: ‘Whosoever shall die in this habit shall not suffer eternal flames.’ But not against hell fire alone was the all-powerful intercession of the Blessed Mother to be felt by those who should wear her scapular. In 1316, when every holy soul was imploring heaven to put a period to that long and disastrous widowhood of the Church which followed on the death of Clement V, the Queen of Saints appeared to James d’Euse, whom the world was soon to hail as John XXII; she foretold to him his approaching elevation to the Sovereign Pontificate, and at the same time recommended him to publish the privilege she had obtained from her Divine Son for her children of Carmel—viz., a speedy deliverance from purgatory. ‘I, their Mother, will graciously go down to them on the Saturday after their death, and all whom I find in purgatory I will deliver and will bring to the mountain of life eternal.’ These are the words of our Lady herself, quoted by John XXII in the Bull which he published for the purpose of making known the privilege, and which was called the Sabbatine Bull on account of the day chosen by the glorious benefactress for the exercise of her mercy.

The entire entry is worth a read as it provides both the spiritual, ecclesial and political background around the time of Our Lady’s appearance: https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/521-sanctoral-cycle/july/3208-july-16-our-lady-of-mount-carmel

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us!

What Mass are you attending Sunday?

Laudetur Iesus Christus!Sunday is the sixth Sunday after Pentecost and we share commentary on the orations (prayers) for Sunday’s Latin Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/07/the-palpably-agricultural-and-mildly.html

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday July 12, 6pm – St. Ann (feast of St. John Gualbert, Abbot)
• Thursday July 13, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria, e.g. no feast day), Fatima Procession after Mass
• Friday July 14, 7am – St. Ann (feast of St. Bonaventure)

Next Sunday July 16 – Scapular Enrollments for the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel: Father will be enrolling people in the scapular at 12:10pm (prior to the Latin Mass) at St. Ann parish on Sunday July 16, the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. If one does not wear the scapular or practice the devotions, we highly encourage one to be enrolled – one’s salvation may depend on it. Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock in England, in 1251 A.D., and made this promise: “Take this Scapular, it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge of peace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.” https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-powerful-brown-scapular-and-its-perennial-promises

Holy Face Devotions

• St. James, Concord– Mondays 10-10:30am in the cry room in the church
• St Mark – Mondays 5pm in the church (NOTE: For Monday July 17 only, the time will be 3:30pm)
• St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the church
• St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the main church after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
• St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, in the 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)

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 see the flyer below.

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• The Votive Mass of St. Thomas More: Today July 9, the Traditional Rite commemorates the martyrdom of Ss. Thomas More and Fisher, and Dr. Mike Foley has an informative write up (from last year) on the special votive Mass (suppressed this year due to it falling on a Sunday): https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/07/the-votive-mass-of-st-thomas-more.html#.YtOU84TMKHs

• The Book Latin Massgoers Have Been Waiting For: TAN Books has released a new children’s illustrated book on the Traditional Latin Mass entitled, Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus: An Introductory Latin Missal for Children. To learn more see this article in the National Catholic Register: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-book-latin-massgoers-have-been-waiting-for The book can be purchased here: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/sanctus-sanctus-sanctus-an-introductory-latin-missal-for-children

• The Life of Sr. Mary Wilhelmina: Speaking of TAN Books, the local publisher just announced the publication of a book on the life Sister Mary Wilhelmina, the late foundress of the traditional Benedictine Abbey, Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles in Gower Missouri whose exhumed remains generated much attention earlier this spring. Setting that aside for the moment, TAN is accepting pre-orders on the book which comes out in September: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/sister-mary-wilhelmina/

• “Catholic” with a Capital C: the interesting history of the word “Catholic” to describe the Church: Fr. John Rickert, FSSP, has penned a brief history of the usage of the word “Catholic” and when it was first used to describe the followers of Christ: https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2023/07/catholic-with-capital-c-interesting.html

• Soak up the wisdom of our diocese’s priests – with one click: Fr. Reid has released a podcast series in conjunction with TAN Books on the spirituality of St. Theresa of Avila and her classic book, The Interior Castle, which forms one of the pillars of the traditional spirituality of the Catholic faith. To learn more please see this article from the Catholic News Herald: https://catholicnewsherald.com/90-news/local/9405-soak-up-the-wisdom-of-our-diocese-s-priests-with-one-click

• A Treasury of Liturgical Art at St. Mary’s in Wausau, Wisconsin: The Liturgical Arts Journal just published a piece on the beautiful traditional architecture and sacred art of the famous St. Mary’s Oratory in Wausau, Wisconsin, which is staffed by the priests of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, a congregation of priests that offer the Latin Mass exclusively. https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2023/07/a-treasury-of-liturgical-art-at-st.html

Feasts of July 8^th and 9^th

This weekend the Church, in the traditional rite, celebrated three great saints. On Saturday July 8, it was St. Elizabeth of Portugal, the great 13^th century queen who was of Spanish royal blood, and a grandniece of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Today July 9, the Church commemorates (as a votive Mass, when not on a Sunday) the martyrdom of Ss. John Fisher and Thomas More. Both of these feasts do not occur on the actual dates of death as these historically fell during the ancient octave of Ss. Peter and Paul (June 29 – July 6), and were thus placed on the calendar immediately following. We share a few excerpts (from various sources) about these saints.

St. Elizabeth (Isabel) of Portugal

As she grew up, her father, admiring the natural abilities of his daughter, was wont to assert that Elizabeth would far outstrip in virtue all the women descended of the royal blood of Aragon; and so great was his veneration for her heavenly manner of life, her contempt of worldly ornaments, her abhorrence of pleasure, her assiduity in fasting, prayer, and works of charity, that he attributed to her merits alone the prosperity of his kingdom and estate. On account of her widespread reputation, her hand was sought by many princes; at length she was, with all the ceremonies of Holy Church, united in matrimony with Dionysius, king of Portugal.

In the married state she gave herself up to the exercise of virtue and the education of her children, striving, indeed, to please her husband, but still more to please God. For nearly half the year she lived on bread and water alone; and on one occasion when in an illness she had refused to take the wine prescribed by the physician, her water was miraculously changed into wine. She instantaneously cured a poor woman of a loathsome ulcer by kissing it. In the depth of winter she changed the money she was going to distribute to the poor into roses, in order to conceal it from the king. She gave sight to a virgin born blind, healed many other persons of grievous distempers by the mere sign of the Cross, and performed a great number of other miracles of a like nature. She built and amply endowed monasteries, hospitals, and churches. She was admirable for her zeal in composing the differences of kings, and unwearied in her efforts to alleviate the public and private miseries of mankind.

St. Elizabeth Queen of Portugal: https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/521-sanctoral-cycle/july/3201-july-8-st-elizabeth-queen-of-portugal

Ss. John Fisher and Thomas More

The following is a “loose” translation of Pope Pius XI’s sermon on the canonization of Ss. John Fisher and Thomas More in May 1935 (if we had time we would have invited the Latinists within our Community for an exact translation as it is an excellent sermon):

Peter’s boat, fiercely tossed by the waves, in which the Church is represented, cannot be shaken by any fear, nor broken by any storm; for Christ the Lord Himself, through His Vicar on earth, governs it and brings it safely to port, even if sometimes He seems to be sleeping to disciples of little faith. Indeed, in no age has there perhaps arisen so great a storm against the Catholic Church of Christ, as raged furiously against it in the sixteenth century, at which time England also, until then most faithful to the Apostolic See, which by right is the gift of Mary and Saint Peter ‘s patrimony it was called, disturbed that magnificent unity of Christian doctrine and the government of the Church, which is, of course, visible, the greatest proof of the holy faith. However, not even in that crisis did our Lord Jesus Christ suffer the tearing of his seamless garment, without giving the immaculate Bride the sure hope of a glorious restoration.

And indeed, how many strong men and women for the Catholic faith and the more powerful headship of the Roman Church , for which reason, as St. Irenaeus asserts, it is necessary to assemble the whole church, to be boldly asserted, they did not hesitate to meet death with shed blood; among whom stand out among the most illustrious the two most beloved sons of the English nation, one of whom is a sacred minister, the other an adornment and ornament to lay men, John Fisher (and Thomas More), continually recounting the true ancestral glory of the country, they now pray to God most earnestly for the most auspicious return to the unity of the faith and to the house of the Father. Indeed, to these most blessed Martyrs today, the most gracious God has granted us the supreme honors of Heaven, for whom we act in the supreme apostolic office, and to set forth to the faithful an example of piety, courage, and love especially towards the Apostolic See.

Informal translation (link here)

Latin Text: https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/la/apost_letters/documents/hf_p-xi_apl_19350519_saevis-agitata.html

Ss. John Fisher, Thomas More, and Isabel of Portugal, pray for us!