Laudetur Iesus Christus! Tomorrow Wednesday January 11 is the sixth day within the ancient octave of Epiphany and St. Ann parish will be offering the Epiphany water blessing after the 6pm Latin Mass.

The blessing will take around 40 minutes and will be in the narthex. We also heard the blessing may be accompanied by chanting by the schola. You are welcome to bring empty water bottles and fill them at the containers in the narthex. If one wishes to bring filled water bottles to be blessed, they must be one gallon or larger in size (smaller ones will not be blessed). One is welcome to bring salt and chalk to be blessed as well.

March for Life Charlotte – Latin Mass This Thursday 7pm

The annual March for Life Charlotte will be on Friday, January 13, 2023. Attendees can gather at the parking lot across from the diocese’s pastoral center (1123 South Church Street) beginning at 11am. The march begins at 12 noon, and a rally will occur at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets. The evening prior, on Thursday January 12, the normal 7pm Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas part will be offered for the unborn, as part of the event. For questions visit: https://www.marchforlifecharlotte.com/

Reflection for the Fourth Day Within the Octave of Epiphany

To close this e-mail we share some excerpts for the fourth day within the octave of Epiphany (yesterday) taken Dom Prosper Gueranger’s book, The Liturgical Year:

The star foretold by Balaam having risen in the East, the three Magi, whose hearts were full of the expectation of the promised Redeemer, are immediately inflamed with the desire of going in search of him. The announcement of the glad coming of the King of the Jews is made to these holy Kings in a mysterious and silent manner; and hereby it differs from that made to the Shepherds of Bethlehem, who were invited to Jesus’s Crib by the voice of an Angel. But the mute language of the star was explained to them by God himself, for he revealed his Son to them; and this made their Vocation superior in dignity to that of the Jewish Shepherds, who, according to the dispensation of the Old Law, could know nothing save by the ministry of Angels…

..The Magi, therefore, would be called Kings if they exercised authority over a considerable number of people; and that they were persons of great importance, we have a strong proof in the consideration and attention showed them by Herod, into whose palace they enter, telling him that they are come to pay their homage to the new-born King of the Jews. The city of Jerusalem is thrown into a state of excitement by their arrival, which would scarce have occurred had not the three strangers, who came for a purpose which few heeded, been attended by a numerous retinue, or had they not attracted attention by their imposing appearance.

These Kings, then, docile to the divine inspiration, suddenly leave their country, their riches, their quiet, in order to follow a star: the power of that God, who had called them, unites them in the same path, as they were already one in faith. The star goes on before them, marking out the route they were to follow: the dangers of such a journey, the fatigues of a pilgrimage which might last for weeks or months, the fear of awakening suspicions in the Roman Empire towards which they were evidently tending—all this was nothing to them; they were told to go, and they went.

Their first stay is at Jerusalem, for the star halts there. They, Gentiles, come into this Holy City, which is soon to have God’s curse upon it, and they come to announce that Jesus Christ is come! With all the simple courage and all the calm conviction of Apostles and Martyrs, they declare their firm resolution of going to him and adoring him. Their earnest inquiries constrain Israel, who was the guardian of the divine prophecies, to confess one of the chief marks of the Messias—his Birth in Bethlehem. The Jewish Priesthood fulfils, though with a sinful ignorance, its sacred ministry, and Herod sits restlessly on his throne, plotting murder. The Magi leave the faithless City, which has turned the presence of the Magi into a mark of its own reprobation. The Star reappears in the heavens, and invites them to resume their journey. Yet a few hours, and they will be at Bethlehem, at the feet of the King of whom they are in search.

https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/447-temporal-cycle/season-of-christmas/epiphanytide/3429-january-9-the-fourth-day-within-the-octave-of-the-epiphany

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the traditional feast of the Holy Family, which occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. As custom, we share an informative article and reflection on why the placement of this feast day after Epiphany is the most fitting time to meditate on the Holy Family:

Both in content and in placement, the Feast of the Holy Family in the 1962 calendar captures all of the aforementioned meanings and purposes of the devotion.

In content, the Mass gives us various glimpses into the life of the Holy Family, including their hidden life of “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles” (Epistle), the Finding in the Temple (Gospel), and the Presentation (Offertory). The Mass’s proper prayers, on the other hand, join with the Office hymns and readings to depict the Holy Family as an exemplum of domestic life and a powerful intercessor for all families.

In placement, by falling on the Sunday after Epiphany the Feast has just the right distance from Christmas. It is far enough away to allow the faithful to take in the early life of the Holy Family: Christ’s birth (December 25), the Flight into Egypt (December 28), the Presentation in the Temple (Sunday after Christmas), the Circumcision (January 1), the Holy Nam[ing] (January 2), and the visit of the Magi (January 6). These foundational events of the Holy Family set the stage for, and enable us to enter into imaginatively, their quiet years together in Nazareth.

On the other hand, the feast is not too far away from Christmas. It takes place before the Commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord (January 13) and the liturgical proclamation of the wedding of Cana (Second Sunday after Epiphany), biblical events that take place after the death of Saint Joseph.

• The Feast of the Holy Family: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/01/the-feast-of-holy-family.html

St. Ann Epiphany Blessing To Be Rescheduled: The St. Ann Epiphany blessing originally planned for last Thursday will be rescheduled for Wednesday January 11 after the 6pm Mass, the blessing will take 30-40 minutes.

One is welcome to bring empty water bottles and fill them at the containers in the narthex. If one would like to bring filled water bottles to be blessed, they must be one gallon or larger in size (smaller ones won’t be blessed). One is welcome to bring salt and chalk to be blessed as well. St. Thomas Aquinas will be making Epiphany kits available in the narthex, and Epiphany water is also available (bring your bottle). St. Mark also blessed Epiphany water and is available in the narthex.

Requiem Mass for Pope Benedict XVI: We thank those, and especially Fr. Buettner, for offering a last minute Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Benedict last week. We hope a few more of these Requiems could be offered in the future. Please offer a few prayers for Fr. Buettner, and of course continue to pray for the repose of the soul of Benedict XVI.

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday January 11, 6pm, St. Ann– Feria (no feast day)
• Thursday January 12, 7pm, St. Thomas Aquinas – Feria (no feast day) – Mass intentions for the unborn
• Friday January 13, 7am (St. Ann parish) & 12:30pm (St. Mark) – feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ

March for Life Charlotte – Latin Mass

The annual March for Life Charlotte will be on Friday, January 13, 2023. Attendees can gather at the parking lot across from the diocese’s pastoral center (1123 South Church Street) beginning at 11am. The march begins at 12 noon, and a rally will occur at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets. The evening prior, on Thursday January 12, the normal 7pm Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas part will be offered for the unborn, as part of the event. For questions visit: https://www.marchforlifecharlotte.com/

Importance of Epiphany Water

As noted in prior years, the blessing of Epiphany water is available only in the traditional rite (in the Latin Church) and is a more powerful form of holy water as it contains a prayer of exorcism, and the litany of the saints as part of the blessing. This holy water is blessed only during this time of year, so please take advantage of the blessing – especially as we do not know what 2023 holds, spiritually speaking.  Additionally, Fisheaters has a link to the customs surrounding today’s feast day: https://www.fisheaters.com/customschristmas8.html

Don’t Stop Celebrating Christmas: After Christmas Day, Christmas

As we enter into Epiphanytide, the Christmas season continues until February 2^nd – and we continue to encourage our readers to learn how to keep the embers of the Christmas season burning for the next few weeks by reading this excellent 2019 article by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski: https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/dont-stop-celebrating-after-christmas-day-christmas-continues-2

Holy Face Devotions

• St Mark – Mondays 5-5:45pm (NEW TIME for JANUARY)
• 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 (**NEW TIME & LOCATION**)
• Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
• Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• Las Posada, Piñatas, Ponche, and Prayer – Christmas Traditions in Mexico: The Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), a society of priests that offer the Latin Mass exclusively, runs several missions in central and south America, and they shared some photos of their efforts to restore traditions at their missions in Mexico: https://www.missiontradition.us/fssp-mexico-youth-group-hosts-christmas-party-for-teen-mothers/

• Death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI – FSSP Statement: The FSSP released a statement on Pope Benedict XVI’s passing, and they also shared that after Traditionis Custodes, Benedict wrote a letter of encouragement to the FSSP Superior General. https://fssp.com/death-of-pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi/

• Gänswein: “I believe it broke Pope Benedict’s heart to read [Traditionis custodes]”: This past week, Pope Benedict XVI’s his longtime private secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, stated in an interview that Pope Benedict was heartbroken when he read about the Latin Mass restrictions in Traditionis Custodes. Gänswein mentioned this ahead of his soon to be released book on Pope Benedict. https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2023/01/ganswein-i-believe-it-broke-pope.html

• A Storm Is Coming When Benedict Dies: An article in Crisis Magazine raises the question of what will happen to the Church after Benedict’s passing. https://www.crisismagazine.com/opinion/a-storm-is-coming-when-benedict-dies

• Abandoning the Church Has No Appeal for Traditionalists: Its unclear what the future holds, though there continues to be rumors about more restrictions on the Latin Mass. What is a traditionalist to do? Well Dr. Peter Kwasniewski (who visited the CLMC back in September) has some sane advice – stay in the Church (don’t abandon it): https://onepeterfive.com/abandoning-church/

• Problems in the Church – Fr. Chad Ripperger: Speaking of potential restrictions and persecutions in the Church, traditional exorcist and theologian Fr. Chad Ripperger was interviewed last week by Wisconsin priest Fr. Richard Heilman on what the future holds for the Church and what the laity should be doing: https://youtu.be/knzLO1pWq60

• Church Proposes Urban Village Congregation: While Catholics are rightfully worried about future restrictions, St. Joseph’s Shrine in Detroit, a fully Latin Mass parish, is not letting the crisis in the Church prevent it from evangelizing the community. In fact it has recently released an ambitious plan to restore the urban neighborhood surrounding the parish by proposing to build many affordable homes, apartments, and duplexes, so its parishioners (many of which travel from the suburbs) can actually live near the parish and fully participate in parish life. The parish is staffed by priests of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, another traditional order of priests that offer the Latin Mass exclusively. Please read this wonderful article here: https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2023/01/04/church-proposes-urban-village-congregation

CLMC comment: Although this is only a proposal, this plan should give Catholics, particularly Latin Mass faithful, great hope in what true traditional parish life can and should offer once a Latin Mass chapel is granted someday. In living the Catholic life, it is not enough just to drive from a distant neighborhood and attend the parish once a week – or even daily.  Many parishes – including Latin Mass parishes – are forced into this situation, yet the fullness of parish life is truly reached only when one can live within walking distance of the church and fully partake in both the parish and communal life, including in the parish’s neighborhood.

Sadly, since World War II, the Church, especially in North America, has forgotten the sacred art of building new parishes in residential neighborhoods, and has been constrained to follow the modernist ideology of “suburbia”, which often forces non-residential buildings (such as churches) to be built outside neighborhoods, often on a vacant plot of land, typically on the outskirts of town. Often these places are distant from neighborhoods and forces people – including the poor and elderly – to have access to automobiles to obtain the sacraments – thus denying residents, including non-Catholics, the opportunity to encounter Christ and His Church where they live. This is far from the Church’s 2000 years of tradition, where parishes were generally built within walking distance of the faithful or even in the center of the neighborhood – a tradition continued in the New World by the Spanish which built cities such as San Augustine, Florida and Santa Fe, New Mexico.  

This break from tradition is not the Church’s fault per se, as American urban planners built freeways to destroy urban Catholic neighborhoods, and likewise suburban planners created sterilized zoning and parking ordinances that forced the physical separation of land uses (residential, commercial, etc.) and relegated a new parish church to be built outside of neighborhoods. One can easily see the difference in the Charlotte Diocese by examining parishes built before 1960, which were often within walking distance of residents, such as the Cathedral, St. Ann, St. Peter, Our Lady of Grace (Greensboro), St. John the Baptist (Tryon), as well as discontinued parishes such as the old Sacred Heart in Salisbury (Fulton Street), or Our Lady of Assumption in Charlotte (2101 Shenandoah Drive). We welcome St. Joseph’s Shrine for seizing the opportunity to restore the Church’s traditional approach to parish neighborhood life. For a deeper dive on this topic, readers may consider Dr. Philip Bess’ 2007 book, Till We Have Built Jerusalem: Architecture, Urbanism, and the Sacred. 

Remembering Pope Benedict XVI: Ten Years of the Motu Proprio “Ecclesia Dei”

As we close this update, and continue to pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Benedict XVI, we wanted to share an important, but often overlooked address he gave in 1998, before he became Pope and while serving as head of the Congregation for Doctrine of Faith.  Often times when discussing the Latin Mass and papal acts, we may recall his 2007 Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, but it was the 1988 encyclical, Ecclesia Dei, by Pope St. John Paul II, which first helped to secure the Latin Mass by giving papal authorization to establish priestly orders and societies that offer the Latin Mass exclusively, now often called “Ecclesia Dei” societies (Fraternity of St. Peter, and Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest), which today operate hundreds Latin Mass parishes or chapels across the earth.

Howeer, it was at this ten-year anniversary address, in October 1998, in which Cardinal Ratzinger gave one of his most spirited remarks in defense of the Traditional Latin Mass, and the traditional orders which came from the ten-year old encyclical and related legislation. His comments are a beautiful reminder that the Latin Mass is the future, and his perhaps prophetic words to have hope, even now in the era of Traditionis Custodes (emphasis ours):

The divers communities that were born thanks to [Ecclesia Dei] have given the Church a great number of priestly and religious vocations who, zealously, joyfully and deeply united with the Pope, have given their service to the Gospel in our present era of history. Through them, many of the faithful have been confirmed in the joy of being able to live the liturgy, and confirmed in their love for the Church, or perhaps they have rediscovered both. In many dioceses – and their number is not so small! – they serve the Church in collaboration with the Bishops and in fraternal union with those faithful who do feel at home with the renewed form of the new liturgy. All this cannot but move us to gratitude today!

It is good to recall here what Cardinal Newman observed, that the Church, throughout her history, has never abolished nor forbidden orthodox liturgical forms, which would be quite alien to the Spirit of the Church. An orthodox liturgy, that is to say, one which express the true faith, is never a compilation made according to the pragmatic criteria of different ceremonies, handled in a positivist and arbitrary way, one way today and another way tomorrow. The orthodox forms of a rite are living realities, born out of the dialogue of love between the Church and her Lord.

Such anxieties and fears really must end! If the unity of faith and the oneness  of the mystery appear clearly within the two forms of celebration, that can only be a reason for everybody to rejoice and to thank the good Lord. Inasmuch as we all believe, live and act with these intentions, we shall also be able to persuade the Bishops that the presence of the old liturgy does not disturb or break the unity of their diocese, but is rather a gift destined to build-up the Body of Christ, of which we are all the servants.

So, my dear friends, I would like to encourage you not to lose patience, to maintain your confidence, and to draw from the liturgy the strength needed to bear witness to the Lord in our own day.

• Cardinal Ratzinger’s 1998 Address: https://unavoce.org/resources/card-ratzingers-1998-address-at-anniv/

What Mass are you attending to draw strength from this Sunday?

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Unfortunately, St. Ann parish has canceled tonight’s Epiphany blessing (as well as confessions), and canceled tomorrow’s 7am Latin Mass. The reason is both priests are out of town and unable able to return (one is under the weather). Other priests are unavailable. The parish is looking into rescheduling the blessing.

To repeat the following are canceled:

• St. Ann Confessions tonight
• St. Ann Epiphany Blessing tonight
• St. Ann 7am Latin Mass tomorrow

Alternatively, beginning tomorrow (January 6), St. Thomas Aquinas parish will have Epiphany water containers in the narthex and one can bring their own bottle to be filled with Epiphany water. The parish will also provide blessed Epiphany chalk and salt beginning tomorrow in the narthex.  Tonight, St. Thomas will be offering its normal 7pm Mass (but no blessing).

The only diocesan Latin Mass tomorrow in Charlotte is at St. Mark parish at 12:30pm.

St. Ann parish thanks everyone for their patience and understanding.

To see the rest of our Epiphany update from this morning please visit: https://charlottelatinmass.org/2023/01/05/the-great-feast-of-epiphany/

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Today January 5 is the vigil of the Epiphany, and tomorrow January 6 is the great feast of Epiphany.  As liturgist Dom Prosper Gueranger notes, Epiphany is one of the cardinal feasts of the Church; it retains its own season, and like Easter and Pentecost, it has several Sundays named after it and its own octave. Gueranger also notes there are 3 mysteries of Christ celebrated on this day:

The mystery of the Epiphany brings upon us three magnificent rays of the Sun of Justice, our Saviour. In the calendar of pagan Rome, this Sixth day of January was devoted to the celebration of a triple triumph of Augustus, the founder of the Roman Empire: but when Jesus, our Prince of peace, whose empire knows no limits, had secured victory to his Church by the blood of the Martyrs, then did this his Church decree that a triple triumph of the Immortal King should be substituted, in the Christian Calendar, for those other three triumphs which had been won by the adopted son of Cæsar.

The Sixth of January, therefore, restored the celebration of our Lord’s Birth to the Twenty-Fifth of December; but in return, there were united in the one same Epiphany three manifestations of Jesus’ glory: the mystery of the Magi coming from the East, under the guidance of a star, and adoring the Infant of Bethlehem as the divine King; the mystery of the Baptism of Christ, who, whilst standing in the waters of the Jordan, was proclaimed by the Eternal Father as Son of God; and thirdly, the mystery of the divine power of this same Jesus, when he changed the water into wine at the marriage-feast of Cana.

• https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/447-temporal-cycle/season-of-christmas/epiphanytide/3425-january-6-the-epiphany-of-our-lord

Epiphany Mass & Blessing Schedule

Each Charlotte TLM parish has its own Epiphany blessing protocols for today/this weekend. Please read carefully today:

• St. Ann: BLESSING CANCELLED PER PARISH.
  
  
• St. Thomas Aquinas: 7pm Latin Mass tonight. There will not be a public Epiphany blessing. Rather Father will bless water, chalk, and salt privately, and the parish will distribute Epiphany “kits” with these three items over the weekend in the narthex.

Thursday January 5 – Vigil of the Epiphany

• St. Ann parish has cancelled their blessing due to unforseen circumstances
• 7pm Latin Mass, St. Thomas Aquinas parish, (No Epiphany blessing – Epiphany water, chalk and salt to be handed out at parish from January 6-8 while quantities last, see parish website for details)
• 7pm, (Blessing only – No Mass), Prince of Peace, Taylors, SC – Epiphany Lessons and Carols, followed by blessing of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and Epiphany holy water

Friday January 6 – Feast of the Epiphany

• 12:30pm Latin Mass – St. Mark (St. Ann has cancelled their 7am Latin Mass for Friday January 6)
• 3:30pm, Our Lady of the Lake, Chapin, SC (2 hours south of Charlotte) – blessing of Epiphany water, chalk, and salt after Mass
• 6:00pm, Church of the Epiphany*, 163 Galax Lane, Blowing Rock, NC (operated by St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country in Boone, 2 hours northwest of Charlotte)
• 6:30pm, St. John the Baptist, Tryon, (2 hours west of Charlotte)
• 7pm – Our Lady of Grace, Greensboro (1.5 hours north of Charlotte)
• 7pm – Prince of Peace, Taylors, SC (2 hours southwest of Charlotte)

Saturday January 7, 10am – St. Thomas Aquinas, Feria or First Saturday (blessing of religious objects after Mass in the narthex)

Importance of Epiphany Water

As noted in prior years, the blessing of Epiphany water is available only in the traditional rite (in the Latin Church) and is a more powerful form of holy water as it contains a prayer of exorcism, and the litany of the saints as part of the blessing. This holy water, blessed only during this time of year, so please take advantage of the blessing – especially as we do not know what 2023 holds, spiritually speaking.  Additionally, Fisheaters has a link to the customs surrounding today’s feast day: https://www.fisheaters.com/customschristmas8.html

Don’t Stop Celebrating Christmas: After Christmas Day, Christmas

Lastly, the Christmas season continues until February 2^nd – and we encourage our readers to learn how to keep the embers of the Christmas season burning for the next few weeks by reading this excellent 2019 article by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski: https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/dont-stop-celebrating-after-christmas-day-christmas-continues-2

Laudetur Iesus Christus and blessed Octave Day of Christmas. Sunday is the Octave of Christmas, and in years where this date falls outside of Sunday, it would be the feast of the Circumcision, the 8th day when Christ first shed his blood. As custom, we share a reflection on the orations for Sunday’s Latin Mass, as well as commentary by Dom Prosper Gueranger:

• The Mostly Marion Orations of the Christmas Octave: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/12/the-mostly-marian-orations-of-christmas.html#.Yc-JillOmHs
• The Circumcision of Our Lord and Octave Day: https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/446-temporal-cycle/season-of-christmas/octave-of-christmas/3419-january-1-the-circumcision-of-our-lord-and-the-octave-day-of-christmas

Please note: There will not be a potluck after the St. Thomas Aquinas Latin Mass today. It will resume in February.

Christmas Thanks: We wanted to express our thanks to our Latin Mass priests for their devotion in all the Christmas liturgies, and a special thanks to Fr. Reid for the blessing of religious objects before Christmas. Please consider offering a decade of one’s Rosary for our Latin Mass priests.

Pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who passed away Saturday morning December 31 – the feast of St. Sylvester I, the Pope of Peace. Locally, if there is one Pope in recent years who has touched the daily lives of many faithful in Charlotte, it was Pope Benedict. His July 2007 motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, gave the laity and clergy greater access to the Traditional Latin Mass. One might say Benedict XVI “saved” the Latin Mass. His policy began to reach our diocese in late 2007 when a Latin Mass training seminar was arranged for several priests.

Moreover, it was the provisions of Summorum Pontificum, and its 2011 instructions Universae Ecclesiae, that allowed the CLMC to successfully petition for the Sunday Latin Mass at St. Ann in Charlotte in 2012-2013. When St. Ann parish council said “No” to our request and when Bishop Jugis said “No” to our appeal – the CLMC, using the canonical provisions available, petitioned Rome, and just mere hours or days before Pope Benedict’s resignation in February 2013, Rome instructed the Diocese of Charlotte to implement a Sunday Latin Mass, and the rest is history. If you are attending a Latin Mass in the diocese of Charlotte today, it was certainly the result of Pope Benedict and Summorum Pontificum. You can read Fr. Reid’s 2013 announcement here: https://charlottelatinmass.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2013-2-17-saint-ann-bulletin_pastors-letter.pdf

This Sunday, let all Latin Mass faithful pray for Benedict XVI’s happy repose and despite its limitations, give thanks to God for Summorum Pontificum. CLMC would hope that if any public commemorations are conducted in the diocese, that it would recognize this most important contribution of Pope Benedict XVI to the faithful of Charlotte: The greater access of the Traditional Latin Mass, which continues to this day in several parishes throughout the diocese. 

We close this reflection with the CLMC’s Brian Williams, who writing in 2017, aptly summed up Benedict’s legacy: https://liturgyguy.com/2017/09/12/what-benedict-accomplished-with-summorum-pontificum/

First Sunday Latin Mass – Salisbury

There will be a 4pm Latin Mass on Sunday January 1 at Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury. Fr. Joseph Wasswa will offer the Mass, and Confessions will be offered prior to Mass. A potluck will occur in Brincefield Hall after Mass – please bring a favorite Christmas dish, hors d’oeuvres or dessert to share. For more information please contact Mark Hartley with the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at: www.salisburylmc.org

Plenary Indulgence for January 1

There is a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions offered on the last day and first day of the year when one takes part in the recitation of the Te Deum hymn (December 31) and the Veni Creator (January 1) in a church or oratory. The former is recited in thanksgiving for the blessings the past year, and the latter is to ask for divine assistance for the coming new year. Learn more here: https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2012/12/plenary-indulgence-reminders-te-deum-on.html (prayers are attached)

Epiphany Week Latin Mass Schedule

Wednesday January 4, 6pm – St. Ann parish, Feria (Commemoration of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)

Thursday January 5 – Vigil of the Epiphany

• 6:30pm (Blessing only – No Mass), St. Ann parish, Epiphany water, chalk, and salt blessing (no Latin Mass scheduled, only a blessing)
• 7pm Latin Mass, St. Thomas Aquinas parish, (No Epiphany blessing – Epiphany water, chalk and salt to be handed out at parish from January 6-8 while quantities last, see parish website for details)
• 7pm, (Blessing only – No Mass), Prince of Peace, Taylors, SC – Epiphany Lessons and Carols, followed by blessing of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and Epiphany holy water

** Please note the blessing of Epiphany water can take up to 45 minutes as it contains exorcism prayers and litany of the saints

Friday January 6 – Feast of the Epiphany

• Normal schedule unless otherwise announced (7am Latin Mass – St. Ann & 12:30pm Latin Mass – St. Mark)
• 3:30pm, Our Lady of the Lake, Chapin, SC (2 hours south of Charlotte)
• 6:00pm, Church of the Epiphany*, 163 Galax Lane, Blowing Rock, NC (operated by St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country in Boone, 2 hours northwest of Charlotte)
• 6:30pm, St. John the Baptist, Tryon, (2 hours west of Charlotte)
• 7pm – Our Lady of Grace, Greensboro (1.5 hours north of Charlotte)
• 7pm – Prince of Peace, Taylors, SC (2 hours southwest of Charlotte)

Saturday January 7, 10am – St. Thomas Aquinas, Feria or First Saturday (Blessing of religious objects after Mass in the narthex)

Holy Face Devotions

• 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/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
• St. Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, Main Church (**NEW TIME & LOCATION**)
• Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
• Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?

March for Life Charlotte – Latin Mass

The annual March for Life Charlotte will be on Friday, January 13, 2023. Attendees can gather at the parking lot across from the diocese’s pastoral center (1123 South Church Street) beginning at 11am. The march begins at 12 noon, and a rally will occur at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets. The evening prior, on Thursday January 12, the normal 7pm Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas part will be offered for the unborn, as part of the event. For questions visit: https://www.marchforlifecharlotte.com/

Christmas on a Sunday – Dom Prosper Gueranger

As we close out the Christmas Octave, we wanted to share something unique to this year’s Advent and Christmas. Advent this year was one of the longest in recent years as occurred for a full four weeks (symbolizing the 4,000 years between Adam and Christ). Christmas Day 2022 itself fell on a Sunday, which according to the Benedictine liturgist Dom Prosper Gueranger, has a special meaning:

[T]here is the venerable tradition which tells us that the Incarnation of the Son of God having been accomplished on a Friday (March 25), the Birth of Jesus, the Light of the world, must have taken place on December 25, a Sunday. This gives a peculiar sacredness to Christmas Day when it falls on a Sunday, as it was on that day of the week that God began the Creation, and said: Let there be Light! and on the same, also, did our Lord rise from the tomb.

• https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/505-sanctoral-cycle/december/3408-december-24-afternoon-of-the-eve

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• Prayers and Support Needed for a Growing Order of Benedictine Nuns: An inspiring video about the growth of the traditional Benedictine Nuns in Missouri (who attend the Latin Mass exclusively) and their need for help in building a new, second Abbey under the patronage of St. Joseph and will also feature a St. Joseph shrine to fathers: https://vimeo.com/766262621

• Six Thousand Years of Human History Before the Antichrist: The Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation (whom the CLMC co-sponsored their 2019 visit) posted an interesting article before Christmas exploring the traditional Catholic view held by those such as St. Irenaeus that the world would last for six thousand years before the rise of the Antichrist, and how modern genealogy is confirming this possibility as the human race’s genetics continue to deteriorate: https://www.kolbecenter.org/kolbe-report-12-17-22/

• The Beloved Disciple: Last Tuesday was the feast of St. John the Evangelist and Dr. Mike Foley pens another fine article examining the traditions and customs of this feast day: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/12/the-beloved-disciple.html#.Y6_FvBXMKHt

• The Feast of Childermas: Last Wednesday was the feast of the Holy Innocents, who died at the hands of King Herod who sought the Infant Jesus, and Dr. Foley writes another helpful feast day article for the Mass of Children or Childermas (Holy Innocents Mass): https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/12/the-feast-of-childermas.html#.Y60ydBXMKHs

• Why 1962 Must Eventually Perish: The Case of St. John: Dr. Peter Kwasniewski (whom the CLMC hosted last September) writes a brief but compelling thesis that the Missal of 1962 must eventually perish. Why? Because although it is the current missal for the Traditional Latin Mass offered at most parishes, the 1962 missal was already compromised by the progressive revolutionary “reforms” that the Church would later see in its competition after Vatican II. Case in point is that prior to 1962, the feasts immediately following Christmas (St. Stephen, St. John, Holy Innocents) would not be suppressed if they fell on a Sunday – recognizing how important these feasts are to the Christmas season. Sadly these feasts are now suppressed if they fall on a Sunday. Kwasniewski argues that the “gold standard” for a Traditional Latin Mass missal would be to return to the 1920 missal. https://www.newliturgicalmovementorg/2022/12/why-1962-must-eventually-perish-case-of.html#.Y6np3BXMKHs

• Games People Play with the Holy Spirit: Is the Vatican II Council Relevant? What about the Council of Vienne? What was the spirit of Lateran IV? These are but a few of the questions Dr. Kwasniewski answers in his reply to an individual who has been told by his conservative Catholic friends that the solution to the crisis in the Church is to just offer the Novus Ordo properly as intended by the Vatican II documents (Latin, with chant, ad orientum), and thus there is no need for the Traditional Latin Mass. Of course, Dr. Kwasniewski counters with an excellent reply which examines the problematic or failed councils of the past and their legacies: https://onepeterfive.com/games-holy-spirit/

• IT’S THE MASS THAT MATTERS: A Study in Faithful Resistance: Imagine if three priests in the Diocese of Charlotte went to Bishop Jugis years ago and said they were called to only offer the Traditional Latin Mass, and to this day they still offer the Latin Mass exclusively to this very day. Would that not be an interesting and inspiring story? Well it didn’t happen in Charlotte, but it did occur in the diocese of Novara, in northern Italy, in 2008, and these priests have survived and still offer the Latin Mass exclusively in their diocese, even after Traditionis Custodes. As author Hilary White explains:  

Some years ago, I heard an extraordinary story from a friend who lived for a time in the extreme northern end of the country, in a remote and beautiful valley of the Alps, the Val d’Ossola. In brief, three priests one day told their bishop that they would no longer celebrate the Mass in the new rite, and adopted the traditional Mass when Summorum Pontificum was published. And despite immense pressure and months of struggle, they never did again.

The story has thus far had a happy ending; the priests continue celebrating the traditional Mass exclusively, and preaching and teaching the holy and ancient Faith while remaining in good standing in their diocese, even well into the Bergoglian period.

They simply announced that, within their rights as priests, they would celebrate only the Mass of the Ages, and that was that.

You can read the rest of the article here: https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/6312-it-s-the-mass-that-matters-a-study-in-faithful-resistance

Don’t Stop Celebrating: After Christmas Day, Christmas continues

“Catholics ought to have a totally different conception of Christmas (from what the secular world offers).” – Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, December 24, 2019

In what is becoming an annual CLMC tradition and a rallying cry for the full restoration of the Traditional Latin Mass in Charlotte, we repost Dr. Peter Kwasniewski’s brilliant December 2019 article which reminds Latin Mass attendees of the treasure and precious gold they have in the traditional liturgical calendar, especially the traditional Christmas Season according to the 1962 Missal (and prior). If one hasn’t read this article, we can only encourage everyone to read it again, and again. While the world enters into their “post-Christmas fast”, traditional Catholics begin 40 days of festivals and feasts of the Christmas season, which runs in stages from December 25 – February 2^nd (Candlemas/Feast of the Purification)  We should be clear, this Christmas season can only be fully celebrated in the Traditional Latin Mass calendar, as sadly the Novus Ordo calendar eliminated much the Christmas season – particularly the Epiphany season. Here is an excerpt:

It is very important for us not to surrender to the secular approach that, in a way, celebrates Christmas before Christmas and not afterward. We should really make an effort — in the way our homes are decorated, the way we observe Sundays and holy days, the stories we read and the other activities we do in the house — to keep the spirit of Christmas alive, even if at a “low burn,” throughout this period from December 26 to February 2. Yes, the great feast is that big of a deal! Such observance also becomes a countercultural catechesis in one of the central mysteries of the Christian faith: the Incarnation of the Son of God. This is the pivot point of all human history and of the story of each man, woman, and child.

• Don’t Stop celebrating: After Christmas Day, Christmas continues by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski: https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/dont-stop-celebrating-after-christmas-day-christmas-continues-2

A few newcomers to the Latin Mass might ask – what exactly is the difference in the Christmas season between the Traditional Latin Mass and Novus Ordo Mass? The CLMC’s Brian Williams teamed up with Dr. Kwasniewski a few years ago to briefly explain how the two calendars differ (and why the Traditional calendar is preferred):

• Just How Different are the Old and New Liturgical Calendars at Christmas and New Years?: https://liturgyguy.com/2019/12/30/just-how-different-are-the-old-and-new-liturgical-calendars-at-christmas-and-new-years/

Christmas has just begun and so continues 32 more days of celebrating the Incarnation and all its mysteries.

As we bring this update to a close, we share Pope Benedict XVI’s famous quote from Summorum Pontificum:

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful.”

What Mass are you attending on Sunday?

Blessed New Year and God Bless,

~ Charlotte Latin Mass Community