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!

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the fifth Sunday after Pentecost, or, depending on the parish, the External Solemnity of the Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul. It also is the commemoration of the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which normally falls on July 2nd.  We share a commentary on the Collect for the Mass of the fifth Sunday after Pentecost: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/06/the-loving-collect-of-fifth-sunday.html

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday July 5, 6pm – St. Ann (St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Confessor)
• Thursday July 6, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria, e.g. no feast day)
• Friday July 7, 7am – St. Ann (Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Bishops and Confessors)

First Sunday Latin Mass in Salisbury – Today Sunday July 2, 4pm

Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury will offer its 1^st Sunday Latin Mass today Sunday July 2^nd at 4pm. Mass is offered by Fr. Robert Ferguson, FSSP. Afterwards a potluck will be held in the Brincefield Hall. Please bring a dish or dessert to share. For more information please contact the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at: www.salisburylmc.org

CANCELLED: 1st Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas Aquinas

Due to the holiday weekend, there will not be a potluck after today’s Sunday’s Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas.

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?

Help Support Fr. Ripperger’s New Chapel

Many of you may recall exorcist and theologian, Fr. Chad Ripperger’s visit to St. Thomas Aquinas this past March. Several years ago, he founded an order of exorcists, the Dolorans (who offer the Traditional Mass exclusively) in Colorado, who are now trying to build a chapel for their community. If one would like to support this worthy endeavor or learn more, please view their website and watch their documentary: https://dolorans.org/chapel/

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 or for more details please see this flyer below.

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• A Week of Peacemakers: The Saints from July 4 to 9: Dr. Mike Foley pens an excellent piece on saints that array the liturgical calendar during this week: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/07/a-week-of-peacemakers-saints-from-july.html#more

• Interesting Saints on July 4: To pick up on Dr. Foley’s article, Greg DiPippo has an informative article (from last year) on saints whom the Church commemorates on July 4: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/07/interesting-saints-on-july-4th.html#.YsUZ_oTMKHs

• The Canonization of Maria Goretti: July 6 was traditionally the octave day of Ss. Peter & Paul, but in 1950, Pope Pius XII canonized a famous Italian martyr for purity, St. Maria Goretti, and established her date of death – July 6 – as her feast day. Although it is not celebrated as a universal feast day in the Latin Mass, her feast day is actually in the 1962 Roman Missal as a local feast day in Italy. This article shows a video of that canonization Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/07/the-canonization-of-st-maria-goretti.html

• The Legend of Simon Magus: As noted in our June 28 update, the martyrdom of Ss. Peter & Paul were connected in part by the death of their adversary, the false penitent Simon Magus (Acts 8:9-24). Greg DiPippo wrote an article last year which goes into more of the traditions surrounding Simon’s death and its link to Ss. Peter & Paul’s martyrdom: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/07/the-legend-of-simon-magus.html#.YsUZ84TMKHs

• Perpetual Helper: In another article by Dr. Foley, provides some background on the Marian feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help which was this past Tuesday June 27 (local feast): https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/06/perpetual-helper.html

Martyrdom of St. Paul (June 30)

On Wednesday we shared Dom Prosper Gueranger’s reflection on St. Peter’s martyrdom. Today, on the 4^th day of the ancient octave of Ss. Peter & Paul, we share his brief commentary on St. Paul’s martyrdom, who the Church also commemorates on June 30, the day after the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul. This feast of June 30 is also different from the feast of St. Paul’s conversion on January 25. Here is Gueranger’s entry for June 30 on St. Paul’s martyrdom:

On the twenty-ninth of June, in the year 67, whilst Peter, having crossed the Tiber by the triumphal bridge, was drawing nigh to the cross prepared for him on the Vatican plain, another martyrdom was being consummated on the left bank of the same river. Paul, as he was led along the Ostian Way, was also followed by a group of the faithful who mingled with the escort of the condemned. His sentence was that he should be beheaded at the Salvian waters. A two miles’ march brought the soldiers to a path leading eastwards, by which they led their prisoner to the place fixed upon for his martyrdom. Paul fell on his knees, addressing his last prayer to God; then having bandaged his eyes, he awaited the death-stroke. A soldier brandished his sword, and the apostle’s head, as it was severed from the trunk, made three bounds along the ground; three fountains immediately sprang up on these several spots. Such is the local tradition; and to this day three fountains are to be seen on the site of his martyrdom, over each of which an altar is raised.

https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/520-sanctoral-cycle/june/3190-june-30-the-commemoration-of-st-paul

I Have Given Blood to You – Feast of the Precious Blood, July 1

Continuing on his series of liturgical feast days and scripture, Fr. William Rock, FSSP, has written an insightful essay on the meaning behind the feast of the Precious Blood, which was celebrated yesterday July 1, in the Traditional Rite. To conclude today’s update, we share a few excerpts from his article:

Corpus Christi celebrates the presence of Our Lord’s Body (Corpus Christi) hidden under the appearance of Bread.  Does the Feast of the Precious Blood, then, celebrate the presence of Our Lord’s Blood under the appearance of Wine?

An examination of the texts of Corpus Christi, however, reveals that this feast, despite its name, celebrates the Eucharistic presences of both of Our Lord’s Body and His Blood.  For example, the Collect, the opening prayer, of Corpus Christi reads: “O God, under a marvelous sacrament you have left us the memorial of thy Passion; grant us, we beseech thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of thy Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within us the fruit of thy Redemption.”

Similarly, by examining the texts for the Feast of the Precious Blood, it becomes clear that the Feast is about celebrating, not Our Lord’s Blood under the appearance of Wine in the Holy Eucharist, but rather the Blood in Our Lord’s veins, the Blood shed in Sacrifice, the Blood hypostatically united to the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, God the Son.  For even when Our Lord’s Blood was separated from His Body on the Cross, His Blood, at least a great deal of It, was still united to Our Lord’s Divinity and worthy of divine worship.  The Feast of the Precious Blood can be paired, then, with the Feast of the Sacred Heart and its devotion rather than with the Feast of Corpus Christi…

…Blood crying out on behalf of the faithful, Blood as a source of divine life, Blood sealing a divine covenant, Blood as protection, Blood for the forgiveness of sins in sacrifice, and Blood as a means of purification.  These are the considerations which the Church invites her children to ponder in their hearts on the Feast of the Precious Blood and, by extension, during this month of July.

I Have Given Blood to You: https://fssp.com/i-have-given-blood-to-you/

Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us!  (From the Litany of the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ)

What Mass are you attending Sunday?

Laudetur Iesus Christus and blessed Vigil of Ss. Peter and Paul! Tomorrow Thursday June 29 is the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, an important feast day commemorating the first Pope and the apostle to the Gentiles. We share an article in the New Liturgical Movement about today’s vigil of Ss. Peter & Paul, which prepares us for tomorrow’s feast day: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/06/the-vigil-of-ss-peter-and-paul.html#.YrvcY4TMKHs

Latin Masses This Week

• Tonight Wednesday June 28, 6pm – St. Ann parish (Vigil of Ss. Peter and Paul)
• Tomorrow Thursday June 29, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul)
• Friday June 30, 7am – St. Ann (Commemoration of St. Paul)

Traditions and Customs of the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) has published an informative article on the traditions and customs of this solemn feast: https://fssp.com/traditions-of-ss-peter-and-paul/

Feast of the Precious Blood – Saturday July 1

We are blessed to have two Saturday morning Latin Masses for this feast day (which is unique to the Traditional Rite), which also falls on first Saturday.

• 9am – St. Ann
• 10am – St. Thomas Aquinas (followed by blessing of religious objects in the traditional rite)

First Sunday Latin Mass in Salisbury – Sunday July 2, 4pm

Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury will offer its 1^st Sunday Latin Mass this Sunday July 2nd at 4pm. Mass is offered by Fr. Robert Ferguson, FSSP. Afterwards a potluck will be held in the Brincefield Hall. Please bring a dish or dessert to share. For more information please contact the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at: www.salisburylmc.org

CANCELLED: 1st Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas Aquinas

Due to the holiday weekend, there will not be a potluck after Sunday’s Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Martyrdom of St. Peter by Dom Prosper Gueranger

We conclude this update with a commentary by Dom Prosper Gueranger, on the martyrdom of the first Pope, St. Peter, and his confrontation with his nemesis, the anti-Pope, Simon the Magician, who first appeared in Acts 8:9-24, and reappears in Rome around 67 AD. St. Peter confronted and defeated this false vicar of Christ, actions which ultimately led to St. Peter’s glorious martyrdom. Gueranger notes this confrontation is reminder that “false brethren” have been present in the Church since its earliest days:

But before quitting earth, Peter must triumph over Simon the magician, his base antagonist. This heresiarch did not content himself with seducing souls by his perverse doctrines; he sought even to mimic Peter in the prodigies operated by him. He proclaimed that on a certain day he would fly in the air. The report of this novelty quickly spread through Rome, and the people were full of the prospect of such a marvelous sight. If we are to believe Dion Chrysostom, Nero entertained the magician at his court, and moreover decided to honour the spectacle with his presence. Accordingly, the royal lodge was erected upon the via sacra. Here the attempted flight was to take place. The impostor’s pride, however, was doomed to suffer. ‘Scarcely had this Icarus begun to poise his flight,’ says Suetonius, ‘than he fell close to Nero’s lodge, which was bathed in his blood.’ The Samaritan juggler had set himself up, in Rome itself, as the rival of Christ’s Vicar, and writers of Christian antiquity agree in attributing his downfall to the prayers of St Peter.

The failure of the heresiarch was in the eyes of the people a stain upon the emperor’s character, and if ill will were united to curiosity, attention would be attracted towards Peter in a way that might prove disastrous. Also there was the ‘peril of false brethren’ mentioned by St Paul. This is a danger inevitable in a society as large as that of the Christians, where the association of widely differing characters is bound to cause friction, and discontent is aroused in the minds of the less educated on account of the choice of those placed in positions of trust or special confidence. 

The filial devotedness of the Christians of Rome took alarm, and they implored St Peter to elude the danger for a while by instant flight. Although he would have much preferred to suffer, says St Ambrose,[42] Peter set out along the Appian Way. Just as he reached the Capuan gate, Christ suddenly appeared to him as if about to enter the city. ‘Lord, whither goest thou?’ cried out the apostle. ‘To Rome,’ Christ replied, ‘to be there crucified again.’ The disciple understood his Master; he at once retraced his steps, having now no thought but to await his hour of martyrdom.

https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/520-sanctoral-cycle/june/3189-june-29-sts-peter-and-paul-apostles

Ss. Peter and Paul, pray for us!

audetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the fourth Sunday after Pentecost and we share a commentary on the orations for Sunday’s Latin Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/06/rebel-wills-fourth-sunday-after.html

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday June 28, 6pm – St. Ann (Vigil of Ss. Peter & Paul)
• Thursday June 29, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Solemn feast of Ss. Peter & Paul)
• Friday June 30, 7am – St. Ann (Commemoration of Ss. Peter & Paul)
• Saturday July 1, 9am (Low) – St. Ann & 10am (High) St. Thomas Aquinas (Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ/First Saturday)

Vigil and Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul – June 28/29

The feast of Ss. Peter & Paul this Thursday June 29 is an important feast in the Church’s liturgical calendar, and is preceded the day prior by the Vigil of Ss. Peter & Paul on Wednesday June 28. Traditionally, the vigil ahead of a solemn feast is a separate liturgical day of preparation and penance (now voluntary) for the solemn feast the next day. To learn more about the Mass of the Vigil of Ss. Peter & Paul, please see this article by Greg DiPippo at New Liturgical Movement: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/06/the-vigil-of-ss-peter-and-paul.html#.YrvcY4TMKHs

Feast of the Precious Blood Saturday – July 1

As mentioned above, this Saturday July 1 is the feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and St. Ann will be offering a special Low Mass at 9am to honor this feast. Additionally, St. Thomas Aquinas will be offering its regular 1^st Saturday 10am High Mass, followed by a blessing of religious objects in the traditional rite.

The feast of the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ is a feast that is distinct to the Traditional Latin Mass. You can pray the litany to the Precious Blood here: https://www.fisheaters.com/litanypreciousblood.html

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, after the 8am Novus Ordo Mass, in the cry room
• Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
• Don’t see your parish? Why not start one up?

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 or for more details please see the below flyer.

The Octave of St. John the Baptist (June 24 – July 1)

Sunday June 25 is also traditionally the 2nd day within the ancient octave of the Nativity St. John the Baptist (whose feast yesterday was also called “Summer Christmas” – due to its connection to the Incarnation) which fittingly is placed just days away from the great feasts of Ss. Peter and Paul (Thursday June 29), and this symbolism linking these two feasts was not missed by Dom Prosper Gueranger, who notes:

John the Baptist, placed on the confines of the two Testaments, closes the prophetic age, the reign of hope, and opens the era of faith which possesses the long-expected God, though as yet without beholding him in his Divinity. Thus even before the octave is ended wherein we pay our homage to the son of Zachary, the confession of the apostles is added to the Precursor’s testimony to the Word the Light.

https://fsspatl.com/liturgical-year/520-sanctoral-cycle/june/3188-june-28-the-vigil-of-the-holy-apostles-sts-peter-and-paul

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• The Forgotten Forerunner: As we begin the octave of St. John the Baptist, Dr. Mike Foley pens an excellent article on how although St. John the Baptist’s devotion has waned in recent centuries, it’s important to reintroduce his devotion in these latter times: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/06/the-forgotten-forerunner.html

• St. Joseph College Seminary releases album in memory of music director Tom Savoy: It’s hard to believe that it’s been eight months since Tom Savoy’s passing (who directed music and chanted at many Latin Masses, while also teaching at the Seminary), but to honor his memory, St. Joseph College Seminary recently published a sacred music album of his final work, a tribute to Our Lady. Although released in February, this announcement was just published in the Catholic News Herald: https://catholicnewsherald.com/88-news/fp/9367-st-joseph-college-seminary-releases-album-in-memory-of-music-director-tom-savoy

• America’s Oldest Shrine: Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine, Florida: Local writer and St. Thomas Aquinas Latin Mass attendee, John Paul Sonnen, has written about the oldest shrine in the United States, the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, which was the site of one of the earliest Spanish Catholic missions in Florida and the site of the first Thanksgiving in the future United States (1565). This interesting article also goes into the Catholic history of Florida and the cause of sainthood for the La Florida martyrs. If one is looking for a summer vacation destination with a Catholic history, St. Augustine, Florida and the Shrine may be worth a look, considering its only a day’s drive from Charlotte: https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2023/06/americas-oldest-shrine-our-lady-of-la.html

• Relic of St. Thomas More Faces Destruction Unless Anglican Church Opens Vault: While feast of St. Thomas More is celebrated in the Traditional Rite on July 9 (in some local calendars), the Novus Ordo calendar celebrated it last week (June 22), and as such articles about the patron of statesman and politicians appear a few weeks earlier in late June. Despite the different feast dates, we share an article about the status of his relics which is housed, ironically, at an Anglican (formerly Catholic) chapel in Canterbury, England: https://www.ncregister.com/news/relic-of-st-thomas-more-faces-destruction-unless-anglican-church-opens-vault

Ss. Peter & Paul: The New Founders of Rome (Part I)

As we prepare for the great solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul this Thursday, the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP)’s newsletter posted an intriguing article comparing the original founding brothers of Rome, Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C., with the new founders of Rome, Ss. Peter and Paul, two brothers in Christ, who were martyred on June 29 around 68 A.D., and helped establish Christ’s empire (e.g. the Church) at the seat of the Gentile empire, Rome. We share a few excerpts:

According to legend, the city of Rome was founded on April 21st, 753 B.C. by a pair of twins named Romulus and Remus. When Remus made sport of Romulus’s still rudimentary defenses and leapt over them, he was killed for the slight, and so it was Romulus who gave his name to the city, became its first king, and established so many of its civic institutions, including its calendar and its religion.

…In the late stages of an increasingly decadent Roman Empire, the Christian martyrs’ courage stood in stark opposition to the conduct of the age. Even though they served a different deity, the martyrs recalled by their courage a bygone Rome, appealing to those citizens who lamented the dissolution of the old Roman pietas that was in very short supply among their contemporaries.  Thus was the mind of pagan Rome opened to the revelation of Christ. And through her most famous martyrs of all, the Eternal City would inherit a new set of founding fathers to replace the ones they lost.

The Apostles Peter and Paul–a Galilean fisherman and a scholarly Pharisee–might be thought extremely unlikely candidates to replace Romulus and Remus. They were not even brothers in flesh, although they were brothers in Christ. Yet they were very well situated for a Christian recalibration of the founding myth. As Pope St. Leo the Great said in his homily for their feast:

    “The whole world, dearly-beloved, does indeed take part in all holy anniversaries, and loyalty to the one Faith demands that whatever is recorded as done for all men’s salvation should be everywhere celebrated with common rejoicings. But, besides that reverence which today’s festival has gained from all the world, it is to be honoured with special and peculiar exultation in our city, that there may be a predominance of gladness on the day of their martyrdom in the place where the chief of the Apostles met their glorious end.

    For these are the men, through whom the light of Christ’s gospel shone on you, O Rome, and through whom you, who was the teacher of error, was made the disciple of Truth. These are your holy Fathers and true shepherds, who gave you claims to be numbered among the heavenly kingdoms, and built you under much better and happier auspices than they, by whose zeal the first foundations of your walls were laid: and of whom the one that gave you your name defiled you with his brother’s blood.

    These are they who promoted you to such glory, that being made a holy nation, a chosen people, a priestly and royal state, and the head of the world through the blessed Peter’s holy See you attained a wider sway by the worship of God than by earthly government. For although you were increased by many victories, and extended your rule on land and sea, yet what your toils in war subdued is less than what the peace of Christ has conquered.”

To read more visit: https://fssp.com/the-new-founders-of-rome-part-1-the-feast/

Ss. Peter and Paul, pray for us!

What Mass are you attending Sunday?

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Just a reminder that tomorrow Saturday June 24^th at 8am St. Ann parish will offer its 4th Saturday Respect Life Latin Mass.

After Mass 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).

Saturday also happens to be the solemnity of St. John the Baptist, and the 1 year anniversary of the Dobbs decision which overturned Roe vs. Wade, all the more reason to consider attending.

Laudetur Iesus Christus and happy Father’s Day! Sunday is the third Sunday after Pentecost and as custom we share a commentary on Sunday’s Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/06/the-merciful-orations-of-third-sunday.html#.YrfYhezMKHt

The CLMC would like to offer our congratulations to the three new priests ordained yesterday, Fathers Christopher Brock, Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu and Peter Rusciolelli. Please consider offering prayers for them as they begin their ministry to the Church. Separately we also thank Fr. Reid for kindly offering the Litany of the Sacred Heart after Friday’s Mass in reparation for the blasphemy occurring in Los Angeles that day.

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday June 21, 6pm – St. Ann (St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Confessor)
• Thursday June 22, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (St. Paulinus, Bishop)
• Friday June 23, 7am – St. Ann (Vigil of St. John the Baptist)
• Saturday June 24, 8am – St. Ann (Respect Life Latin Mass/Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist)

** After the 8am Mass on Saturday June 24, there will be prayers at the local abortion facility (700 S. Torrence Road) or for those unable to travel, a Holy Hour of Reparation in the Church. The day also marks the 1-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe vs. Wade.

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?

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 or for more details please flyer below.

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• The Heart-Warming Orations of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: This past Friday was the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Dr. Mike Foley has written a helpful commentary on the prayers for Friday’s Latin Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/06/the-heart-warming-orations-of-feast-of.html

• A Retreat Center for the United States: Last week we were blessed to have a priest from the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest offer Latin Mass at St. Ann parish. This pontifical society of priests offers the Latin Mass exclusively in several dioceses across the US and the world. That same week, the Institute announced it has established a retreat center in southern Wisconsin (not too far from Chicago) with the blessing of Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki. Providentially named, the Sacred Heart Retreat Center (announced on Friday), it will offer traditional retreats and youth camps – which will include the Traditional Latin Mass in a chapel that sits 300. No retreats have been announced yet, but to learn more visit: https://www.institute-christ-king.org/1503-a-retreat-center-for-the-united-states

• St. Anthony’s Eucharistic Miracle: This past Tuesday was the feast of St. Anthony of Padua (or Lisbon) as well as the sixth day within the ancient octave of Corpus Christi. To commemorate this saint, Greg DiPippo has a wonderful story of a Eucharistic miracle involving St. Anthony and the conversion of a heretic: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/06/st-anthonys-eucharistic-miracle.html

• St. Ann Parish Bulletin Letter – Sunday June 11: On the topic of the Eucharist, last Sunday Fr. Reid wrote in the weekly bulletin about the importance of receiving Communion on the tongue and kneeling. If you haven’t read the letter, it’s worthwhile to do so and consider sharing it with friends who may not practice this devotion at other parishes/liturgies. The Traditional Latin Mass can be an efficacious way to introduce this devotion to people desiring a deeper devotion to the Eucharist for as readers know, Holy Communion is distributed on the tongue and kneeling in the Traditional Rite. https://www.stanncharlotte.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/June-11.pdf

• Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) Novena to Ss. Peter & Paul (June 20-28): The FSSP is encouraging its supporters to participate in its annual 9-day novena to its patron saint beginning this Tuesday June 20 and ending on the vigil of Ss. Peter and Paul (June 28), the day before the Solemnity. Praying a novena for traditional congregations such as the FSSP or our diocesan Latin Mass priests (current or future), is a great way to help preserve the Traditional Latin Mass during these times. To learn more see attached novena pamphlet or visit here: https://fssp.com/ss-peter-paul-2023

• As Pilgrims Flock to See Sister Wilhelmina, Abbey Becomes ‘Spiritual Haven’ for All: While the Benedictines Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, in Gower, Missouri, wait for the investigation into the case of their late foundress, Sister Wilhelmina (whose body was found incorrupt a few weeks ago), the superior, Mother Abbess Cecilia Snell, recently chatted with the National Catholic Register and gave a window into their daily life, and one of their charisms – praying for priests.  We share this excerpt as a reminder of the importance of praying for priests – including our own here in this diocese:
  
  “We continue a tradition Sister Wilhelmina faithfully practiced, that of placing an ordination card at the foot of the crucifix in our community room each day, asking Our Lady to take our prayers especially for that priest. We seem to feel the effects of this and instinctively know who needs prayers. For example, we will sometimes have days where it seems everything is going wrong. Sisters check the crucifix, and, sure enough, there will be a bishop’s card that day, and we will see it as a sign that extra prayers and sacrifices are needed. We also devote much of our work to the making of vestments, a very privileged work.”

Article: https://www.ncregister.com/features/sister-wilhelmina-s-sisters

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Meditation from Divine Intimacy

With the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus this past Friday, we close with an excerpt from Divine Intimacy, the spiritual classic by Fr Gabriel of St Mary Magdalene OCD:

“Other devotions to Our Lord have for their object the mysteries or special aspects of His life, as for example, the Incarnation, the hidden life, the Passion. Devotion to the Sacred Heart, on the contrary, has a more general object, the love of Jesus, which constitutes the profound, essential reason for all His mysteries, the love that is the first and only cause of all He has done for us. In this sense, devotion to the Sacred Heart touches, as it were, the mainspring of all the mysteries of the Redeemer, the essential raison d’étre of His life, His Person. It is the love which explains the Incarnation of the Word, the life of the Man-God, His Passion, His Eucharist. We cannot possibly understand the mystery by which the Son of God became Man, died on the Cross to save mankind, and then became their Food, if we do not admit this infinite love which compelled God the Creator, the Most High, to find a way to give Himself entirely for the salvation of His creatures.”

To read more visit: https://voiceofthefamily.com/devotion-to-the-most-sacred-heart-of-jesus-meditation-from-divine-intimacy-2/

What Mass are you attending Sunday?

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Tomorrow Friday June 16 is the feast of the Sacred Heart. We share some of the Latin Masses across the diocese for tomorrow:

• 7am – St. Ann, Charlotte
• 8:30am – St. John the Baptist, Tryon (2 hours west of Charlotte)
• 9:30am – St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country, Boone (2 hours northwest of Charlotte)

Prayers of Reparation After St. Ann Latin Mass – Tomorrow Friday June 16

The U.S. Bishops are inviting all the faithful to pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus tomorrow June 16, in reparation for the Los Angeles Dodgers honoring a blasphemous anti-Catholic group. After the 7am Latin Mass, Fr. Reid will be praying the Litany of the Sacred Heart for this intention. All are welcome to stay and join him.

If you are unable to attend Mass, you are welcome to pray the litany privately. The Knights of Columbus have a helpful flyer containing the litany and its purpose: https://www.kofc.org/en/resources/communications/litany-to-the-sacred-heart.pdf

Alternatively, St. Thomas Aquinas parish will be offering all day Adoration from 9am – 7pm on Friday in reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. One is welcome to stop by to pray there as well.

Visiting Priest Last Sunday

The CLMC wishes to express our thanks to Fr. Reid for his generosity in allowing Canon Luke Zignego, a priest with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) to offer Sunday’s Latin Mass as he was visiting the area.  This may have the first time a priest with the Institute has offered Mass in the diocese of Charlotte.

The ICKSP is a traditional religious order of priests founded in a diocese in Gabon (Africa) in 1990 and elevated by Rome to a pontifical rite (order) in 2008. Its priests offer the Traditional Latin Mass exclusively across oratories and chapels across the world, and particularly in the upper Midwest here in the US.  The nearest Institute oratories to Charlotte are quite far away, in Columbus (OH) and Pittsburgh (PA).  ICKSP enjoys a longstanding friendship with Cardinal Burke who spent much of his 2021 COVID-19 recovery at one of the ICKSP oratories he established in Wisconsin many years ago. Moreover, the ICKSP is not only an order of priests, but also established a group of religious sisters in 2004 called the Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest (https://adoratrices.icrss.org/EN). 

To learn more about the ICKSP visit: https://www.institute-christ-king.org/

Prayers for the Three Men to be Ordained Saturday

Lastly, please offer prayers for the three transitional deacons of our diocese who will be ordained to the priesthood this Saturday, deacons Christopher Brock, Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu and Peter Rusciolelli. Please also keep Bishop Jugis in your prayers as he addresses some health concerns and will be unable to participate in this ordination. https://catholicnewsherald.com/90-news/local/9323-three-men-to-be-ordained-to-priesthood-june-17

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the second Sunday after Pentecost and depending on parish, it may also be the external solemnity of Corpus Christi. As custom we provide a commentary on the propers for this Sunday’s Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/06/heavenly-life-on-earth-secret-of-second.html#.Yq6VoezMKHt

Latin Masses This Week

• Wednesday June 14, 6pm – St. Ann (St. Basil the Great, Bishop & Doctor)
• Thursday June 15, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria, e.g. no feast day)
• Friday June 16, 7am – St. Ann (Solemnity of the feast of the Sacred Heart);

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?

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 or for more details please see the below flyer.

Scholarship Help for FSSP Seminarians to Attend Latin Workshop in Charlotte

This summer, the Veterum Sapientia Institute, founded and operated by Fr. Barone and several others in our diocese, will be hosting its annual Latin Summer Workshop. Priests, seminarians and religious from around the country travel to Charlotte to attend this now renowned seminar.

The Institute informed us that two Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP) seminarians are attending and in need of scholarships. One of the seminarians, Rev. Mr. Brendan d’Amato, is from Charlotte and attended St. Ann parish before seminary (in fact he was in choir for Wednesday’s Latin Mass at St. Ann). The other seminarian accompanying him is Rev. Dr. Brian Hill. As our readers may recall, the FSSP priests offer the Latin Mass exclusively at parishes and chapels around the world.  

Cost: The amount needed to cover the cost of each seminarian is $750 per seminarian, or $1,500 total (for both seminarians).

The CLMC would like to invite our readers to kindly consider helping these Latin Mass seminarians with a scholarship contribution. In your charity, would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to cover some of their scholarship cost? If yes, please see donation details below.

Online: Donations can be made electronically* via this page on their website: https://veterumsapientia.org/giving/

*If you make an online donation can you e-mail Gregory DiPippo with the Institute (gdipippo(at)veterumsapientia.org), indicating your contribution amount so they can keep track of the scholarship donations?

By Mail: Donations by check for the seminarians can be sent to:

Veterum Sapientia Institute (please note FSSP scholarship in memo)

5088 Abbington Way

Belmont, NC 28012

We are sure the seminarians will be grateful and keep their benefactors in their prayers.

Latin Mass & Traditional News

• Fr. Richard Heilman interviews Fr. Chad Ripperger: A new interview with traditional theologian and exorcist Fr. Chad Ripperger was released this past week covering the crisis in the Church. To view the video visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVE-hWhrqkg

• Pope Francis elevates Las Vegas to a metropolitan archdiocese: On May 30, the Vatican upgraded diocese of Las Vegas to an archdiocese. The bishop, His Excellency George Leo Thomas (who was appointed by Pope Francis in 2018 as the Las Vegas bishop), was appointed the new archbishop: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254445/pope-francis-elevates-las-vegas-to-a-metropolitan-archdiocese
  
  CLMC note: This is an interesting development as just a few weeks earlier, then Bishop Thomas in responding to Rome’s recent restrictions on the Latin Mass, issued a letter saying how much he valued the Traditional Latin Mass in his diocese, and while he had to move the Latin Mass community from its existing parish setting, he found them a new home at the Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer. He has also given his approval for expanded liturgical schedule in the future which includes the possibility of daily Latin Masses and even a Latin Triduum. This is welcome news and is an example of a creative solution to help preserve (and even expand) the Latin Mass. To see Archbishop Thomas’ May 2023 announcement we share a copy here: https://charlottelatinmass.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/las-vegas-latin-mass-announcement.pdf

• The Translation of St Peter Martyr: Each April 29, the CLMC commemorates the feast of St. Peter Martyr (or St. Peter of Verona), the great 13^th century Dominican inquisitor and as custom has palms blessed (by the St. Ann priests) in the traditional rite in his honor; distributing the palms to the faithful to safeguard property against natural disasters. Last Sunday, June 4, also happened to be another important day in the devotion of St. Peter Martyr, the translation of his relics to the new tomb. Greg DiPippo of the New Liturgical Movement provides an excellent history of this “second feast day” for St. Peter Martyr: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/06/the-translation-of-st-peter-martyr.html

• Three men to be ordained to priesthood June 17: Please keep in your prayers the three transitional deacons (Christopher Brock, Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu and Peter Rusciolelli) in our diocese who will be ordained to the priesthood by Atlanta Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer this coming Saturday June 17. Please also continue to offer prayers for Bishop Jugis who due to his ongoing health condition, will be unable to officiate (per the Catholic News Herald).  https://catholicnewsherald.com/90-news/local/9323-three-men-to-be-ordained-to-priesthood-june-17
  
  CLMC note: Please also offer prayers for Archbishop Hartmayer who has been generous to the Latin Mass parish in Atlanta (staffed by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter/FSSP), as he recently allowed the growing community to begin plans to build a new church; and has granted his auxiliary bishop to offer Confirmations in the Traditional Rite at the parish.

• Historical Images of Corpus Christi Processions, from Sharon Kabel (Part I & II): New Liturgical Movement website has posted photos by researcher (and former St. Ann parishioner) Sharon Kabel of Corpus Christi processions from the early to mid-twentieth century from around the world. They can be viewed here: Part I – https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/06/historical-images-of-corpus-christ.html and Part II – https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/06/historical-images-of-corpus-christi.html

Joy that One is Born into the World

As we celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi last Thursday, and prepare for the feast of the Sacred Heart this Friday we wanted close this update with another excellent installment written by Fr. William Rock, FSSP. In this new article Father Rock beautifully highlights the connection the between the two feasts the Church celebrates in mid-June (Corpus Christi and Sacred Heart) with that of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. We share some excerpts below:

It seems that after the two-and-a-half-weeks of Septuagesima, the 40 fasting days of Lent, the 50 days of Easter, and then the Octave of Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, Our Holy Mother, the Church, is not yet ready to leave behind the mysteries she has been meditating upon during those times.  She, as it were, turns her gaze backwards and renews, recapitulates, some of the most profound moments of the Easter Cycle, but this time, not with Our Lord’s impending Passion and Death before her, but rather with His glorious Resurrection and Ascension behind her.

She begins this backwards gaze on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday.  A Thursday because here she recapitulates Holy Thursday.  Holy Thursday itself commemorates so many things – the Last Supper with the Washing of the Feet, the Institution of the Sacrifice and the Priesthood of the New Law, the betrayal of Judas, Our Lord’s Agony and Capture in the Garden.  It was God Himself, in a vision to St. Juliana, Who established which of the aspects of Holy Thursday was to be recapitulated.  On the Thursday of Corpus Christi, then, the Church, through the lens of the Resurrection and Ascension, places her focus on the Holy Eucharist, one of the themes of Holy Thursday, and all that It means to her… As such, when the feast of Corpus Christi was instituted in 1264, it was instituted with an octave.

This Octave having run from a Thursday to a Thursday, the Church finds herself on Friday.  How could this not bring to her mind that Friday which followed Holy Thursday, Good Friday?  But this Friday is not shrouded in sorrow as Good Friday was, but rather, now that He is Risen, it is vested in joy and celebration.  Just as with the celebration of Corpus Christi, it was God Himself Who directed what would be the focus of the devotion of this recapitulated Good Friday.  According to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Our Lord asked that a Feast of the Sacred Heart, the Heart which was pierced on Good Friday, be celebrated on the Friday following the Octave of Corpus Christi.

• Joy that One is Born into the World: https://fssp.com/joy-that-one-is-born-into-the-world/

What Mass are you attending Sunday?