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Sixth Sunday After Pentecost

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

Diocesan Latin Masses This Week

  • Wednesday July 20, St. Jerome Emiliani (Confessor), 6pm Latin Mass, St. Ann parish
  • Thursday July 21, St. Lawrence of Brindisi (Doctor), 7pm Latin Mass, St. Thomas Aquinas
  • Friday July 22, St. Mary Magdalene (Penitent), 7am Latin Mass, St. Ann, and 12:30pm St. Mark
  • Saturday July 23, St. Apollinaris (Martyr), 8am Respect Life Latin Mass, St. Ann

Community News

  • Holy Face Devotions: Tired of some Church leaders disparaging the Latin Mass? Why not push back by praying the powerful Holy Face devotion of reparation? As background, in 1843, Sr. Mary of St. Peter, a Carmelite nun in the monastery in Tours, France, received a series of revelations from Jesus telling her that reparation for certain sins were an imperative, and that it was to be done through devotion to the Holy Face.  The primary purpose of this apostolate is to, by praying certain prayers, make reparation for the sins committed against the first three Commandments of the Lord: The denial of God by atheism (communism), blasphemy, and the profanation of Sundays and Holy Days. Devotion to the Holy Face has been referred to as the devotion for Jesus Crucified. The schedule is as follows:
  • St. Mark – Mondays 2-3pm
  • 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 which takes 15-20 minutes)

Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Saturday was the great Marian feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.  As custom, Fisheaters has a good write up on the brown scapular and the Sabbatine Privilege which accompanies those who wear it faithfully: https://www.fisheaters.com/scapulars.html

Additionally, it’s also a great time to support traditional Carmelites who offer and follow the Traditional Carmelite Rite (similar to the Traditional Latin Mass). We share two congregations, one of hermits, the other of the sisters:

Latin Mass & Traditional News

  • How excessive restrictions on the Latin Mass could push away some ordinary Catholics: In the above post, Fr. Z references a surprising article published by America magazine, the official publication of the Jesuits, and hardly the place of fondness for the Latin Mass and tradition. However, they did publish a piece by a conservative Catholic who likes to attend those reverent (and seemingly rare) Novus Ordo Masses which have Latin, chant, and ad orientum worship. The author warns that dioceses – including Chicago – who are being heavy handed with their Latin Mass restrictions, may actually alienate Novus Ordo Catholics who like a little reverence and tradition mingled into the Novus Ordo Mass. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2022/07/15/latin-mass-restrictions-pope-francis-242539

Traditiones Custodes: One Year Later

Saturday also marked the one year anniversary of the infamous Traditiones Custodes, Pope Francis’ decree restricting the Latin Mass in many situations. Greg DiPippo has helpful review on it, here: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/07/one-year-later.html#.YtOX4oTMKHs

The CLMC wishes to re-share what we wrote just days after the Motu Proprio’s release last July and we stand by it today:

July 18, 2021: While many may be anxious over the Pope’s new decree “restricting” the Latin Mass, one should remember that Christ still reigns over His Church, and that Christ loves the Traditional Latin Mass so much that he allowed it to be offered for most of His Church’s history, at least1,600 years and counting. One cannot say that for the Novus Ordo, which is 52 years (and may not make it to 60!). Many of the primary Novus Ordo proponents are aging, dying or dead, and an entirely new generation of priests and laity have discovered the Traditional Latin Mass – born years and decades after Vatican II. The action from Rome last week may be seen perhaps as an act of desperation of a dying regime, whose collapse may occur sooner than expected.  

An excellent secular example of regime collapse actually happened 30 years ago this summer.  In August of 1991 the Cold War was practically over, the Berlin Wall was down, Germany reunified, free elections were being held across Eastern Europe, and former Soviet Union satellite states were angling for independence.  However, for a group of hardline Soviet communists, this turn of events was a disaster and must be reversed. In mid-August 1991, these eight hardliners launched a coup to depose the Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev (also a communist), who they blamed for the implosion. The coup lasted but 3 days, and failed, as pro-independence forces rallied against them. However the end result was an further acceleration of the Soviet Union’s demise. Four months later on Christmas Day 1991 the nation dissolved itself and the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

Although no analogies are perfect, Traditionis Custodes, appears to represent a similar “dying gasp” of the aged Vatican II generation in the Church. While Traditionis Custodes’ imposition may last longer than a 3 day “Soviet coup”, it should be no surprise, as CLMC readers will note over the many months, that the Novus Ordo Mass, and its ambiguous new “doctrine” may be seeing its final days.  The modernists still can’t believe that after 50+ years of propaganda, tyrannical suppression of tradition, and modernist seminary formation, that there could be any Catholics left alive who would still like the Traditional Mass and its perennial teachings. Such modernists apparently have not attended many Latin Masses.

What to do?

  1. Pray for Pope Francis’ conversion: He is only getting older, and like us someday, will soon have to face judgement (which, due to his state in life is much more difficult than any lay person). Pray for his conversion, pray he consecrates Russia to the Immaculate Heart. Archbishop Viganò had a massive conversion after meditating on his own life, and look how much good he has done since then.
  2. Pray for our priests and Bishop Jugis: Pray they will have the strength and fortitude to defend Our Lord Jesus Christ and HIS Traditional Latin Mass.
  3. Pray the Rosary daily and Make/practice the 1st Saturday Devotions: Following Our Lady of Fatima’s request ought to be obligatory for anyone attending the Traditional Latin Mass
  4. Continue to Promote the Traditional Latin Mass: The Latin Mass IS the future.  Continue to invite friends and family to attend the Latin Mass, promote it anyway you can.
  5. Don’t worry: Focus on one’s state in life, receive the sacraments frequently, heed little about what is happening in other dioceses, Rome, or at some faraway place. As we learned with COVID, much of the modernist media rhetoric is designed to cause fear and agitation, not reporting news.

Lastly, we’d like to close with a timely quote by Pope St. John Paul II, who issued an interesting apology to traditionalists in 1980 encyclical for those heavy-handed tactics of the Vatican II proponents (credit: Dr. John Rao at the Roman Forum):

“I would like to ask forgiveness-in my own name and in the name of all of you, venerable and dear brothers in the episcopate-for everything which, for whatever reason, through whatever human weakness, impatience or negligence, and also through the at times partial, one-sided and erroneous application of the directives of the Second Vatican Council, may have caused scandal and disturbance concerning the interpretation of the doctrine and the veneration due to this great sacrament. And I pray the Lord Jesus that in the future we may avoid in our manner of dealing with this sacred mystery anything which could weaken or disorient in any way the sense of reverence and love that exists in our faithful people.” – John Paul II, Dominicae Cenae #12, February 24, 1980

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1980/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_19800224_dominicae-cenae.html

The Latin Mass is the future. Where are you attending Mass today?

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Traditional Blessing of Sacramentals this Saturday 12 noon

Laudetur Iesus Christus and blessed feast of St. Bonaventure, the great Seraphic doctor of the Church. To learn more about this great saint please see Dom Prosper Gueranger’s entry for today in The Liturgical Year: https://staging2.sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/july/july-14-saint-bonaventure-cardinal-doctor-of-the-church/ St. Thomas Aquinas parish will offer a 7pm High Mass this evening.

Traditional Blessing of Sacramentals – Saturday July 16, 12 noon (St. Thomas Aquinas)

This Saturday July 16, is the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and although there is no Latin Masses in Charlotte, there will be a blessing of sacramentals (water, oil, salt, candles, and medals) in the traditional rite at 12 noon at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. The blessing is part of a conference entitled hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas parish entitled: Spiritual Warfare: Authority, Vocation, and Spiritual Protection in the Family

It features local author Charles Fraune who wrote Slaying Dragons: What Exorcists See and What We Should Know. The book has received endorsements from Bishops Schneider, Gracida, and Strickland. Mr. Fraune also attends the Traditional Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas. Please note: The Mass mentioned in the flyer is not a Latin Mass, but the blessing will be of the traditional rite.

452nd anniversary of Quo Primum

Lastly today is also the 452nd anniversary of the promulgation of Quo Primum by St. Pius V, which assures that the Tradition Latin Mass is continually permitted and cannot be altered, or revoked – even unto this day. Here is an excerpt:

Furthermore, by these presents [this law], in virtue of Our Apostolic authority, We grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the chanting or reading of the Mass in any church whatsoever, this Missal is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or censure, and may freely and lawfully be used. Nor are superiors, administrators, canons, chaplains, and other secular priests, or religious, of whatever title designated, obliged to celebrate the Mass otherwise than as enjoined by Us. We likewise declare and ordain that no one whosoever is forced or coerced to alter this Missal, and that this present document cannot be revoked or modified, but remain always valid and retain its full force notwithstanding the previous constitutions and decrees of the Holy See, as well as any general or special constitutions or edicts of provincial or synodal councils, and notwithstanding the practice and custom of the aforesaid churches, established by long and immemorial prescription – except, however, if more than two hundred years’ standing.

https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius05/p5quopri.htm

It is noteworthy to mention that the Traditional Latin Mass has been offered for more than 200 years as Trent requires. The same cannot be said for other liturgies offered in the Church, or even in this diocese today.

What Mass is can be more aligned with the Council of Trent?

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Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the fifth Sunday after Pentecost and we share a commentary on the orations (prayers) for Mass today: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/06/the-loving-collect-of-fifth-sunday.html

Upcoming July feasts and Latin Masses

  • Thursday July 14 – St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas, 7pm
  • Friday July 15 – St. Henry II, Emperor, 7am (St. Ann), 12:30pm (St. Mark)
  • Saturday July 16 – Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (no diocesan Latin Masses in Charlotte currently announced)

Community News

  • Holy Face Devotions:Three parishes in Charlotte now offer the Holy Face devotions – a timely and powerful devotion to combat communism (among which abortion is its “anti-sacrament”). As background, in 1843, Sr. Mary of St. Peter, a Carmelite nun in the monastery in Tours, France, received a series of revelations from Jesus telling her that reparation for certain sins were an imperative, and that it was to be done through devotion to the Holy Face.  The primary purpose of this apostolate is to, by praying certain prayers, make reparation for the sins committed against the first three Commandments of the Lord: The denial of God by atheism (communism), blasphemy, and the profanation of Sundays and Holy Days. Devotion to the Holy Face has been referred to as the devotion for Jesus Crucified.  The schedule is as follows:
  • St. Mark – Mondays 2-3pm
  • 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 which takes 15-20 minutes)

Latin Mass & Traditional News

  • The Canonization of Maria Goretti: July 6 was traditionally the octave day of Ss. Peter & Paul, but in 1950, Pope Pius XII canonized the 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, 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
  • Fr. Barone named Pastor of St. Jude in Sapphire: We are pleased to share that Bishop Jugis has upgraded St. Jude Mission in Sapphire (3 hours west of Charlotte) to parish status and upgrade Fr. Barone to be pastor (he was serving as administrator).  Fr. Barone offered the Latin Mass frequently when in Charlotte, and our Latin Triduum for us in 2017 – 2019. Please offer prayers for Fr. Barone as he continues now as pastor. For those vacationing in the mountains, St. Jude Parish offers a Latin Mass at 12 noon each Tuesday (https://stjudeofsapphirevalley.org).  Father also offers a Latin Mass at Our Lady of the Mountains Mission on Wednesdays at 12 noon (https://olmhighlands.com/). Article: https://catholicnewsherald.com/90-news/local/8346-2022-priest-assignments-announced
  • San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone Offers Pontifical Latin Mass: In another case of “Tradition Transcending T.C. (e.g. Traditiones Custodes)”, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco offered a beautiful Pontifical Solemn Latin Mass to honor one of California’s patron saints, St. Junipero Serra (not actually in the 1962 calendar) in one of the beautiful mission churches built by the Franciscans. This comes soon after His Excellency’s recent heroic and pastoral approach in denying Speaker Nancy Pelosi Holy Communion due to her support of child sacrifice. Please pray for Archbishop Cordileone’s courageous stand for Christ, and His Latin Mass. The opening parts of the Pontifical Mass are beautiful, specifically the vesting of the bishop (his sermon about how the Friars helped the natives was inspiring). View video here: https://youtu.be/zoUM-gKBeiQ?t=2478   CLMC note: Which diocese is more friendly to Latin Mass, San Francisco or Charlotte?

“You can understand my astonishment when, on taking note of the final edition of the new Missale Romanum, I found that its contents in many respects did not correspond to the texts of the Council with which I was well acquainted, much was altered, expanded, and even directly contrary to the decrees of the Council.” – Alfonso Maria Cardinal Stickler (Council father and liturgy commission member)

CLMC note: As Bishop Schneider and others noted in the past, there are problematic ambiguities in some of the documents of Vatican II which will need to be corrected by the Church someday. That said, is it not now time to turn the tables on these modernists who falsely accuse traditionalists of being “against Vatican II”, when as Dr. Kwasniewski noted recently, it is these very modernists who themselves have shown to be against the actual conciliar texts?

  • The amorphous “Roman rite” and the authentic Roman Rite: Recently, Archbishop Roche, head of the Vatican’s Divine Worship office, offered some praise about a so-called new “rite of Zaire” Mass, which is apparently an adaptation of the Novus Ordo Mass mingled with some secular cultural celebrations native to the country of Zaire. Normally this strange development would not be worth commenting on except that Michael Charlier at Rorate Caeli notes the hypocrisy of Rome promoting new bizarre Masses like the one in Zaire, while persecuting the Mass of Ages. He closes with a sobering observation:  

“In the future, traditional groups in formation will think twice before seeking official ecclesiastical recognition. More than before, they will rely on having their own property for living and for worship—even where they have been tolerated by “good” bishops, because a bishop who has become disliked in Rome for being too close to tradition can be replaced tomorrow.”

https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-amorphous-roman-rite-and-authentic.html

CLMC Note: If a “good” bishop is removed, what would happen to the Traditional Latin Mass in a given diocese? We can only note that in many cases the Traditional Latin Mass, and parishes continue to thrive in dioceses that are very liberal, conservative, traditional or in between. In short, the Latin Mass is the future and we have options and opportunities, no matter who the bishop is. Traditionalists are not afraid of the future, and neither should our readers.

Tradition, Patriotism, and Independence Day

As last Monday was the nation’s independence day, the topic of patriotism often comes up as well as the periodic debate about possible Catholic aspects about America’s founding. In May 2019, Cardinal Burke gave an excellent talk on the virtue of patriotism, and how love for one’s own fatherland is an act of charity. This is a good primer on this topic, for while it is important to love one’s own land, there are some conservative American Catholics who, perhaps out of good intentions, ignorance or protestant influence, take this definition too far and attempt to baptize the Protestant or secular principles of America’s founding documents to somehow show America’s government is compatible with Church teaching, and is the ideal form of government. This is usually where traditionalists take a different view point, who, following the words of Pope Leo XIII in his 1895 encyclical letter, Longinqua, to US Bishops, believe this American governmental structure is actually not the most ideal for the Church:

“For the Church amongst you, unopposed by the Constitution and government of your nation, fettered by no hostile legislation, protected against violence by the common laws and the impartiality of the tribunals, is free to live and act without hindrance. Yet, though all this is true, it would be very erroneous to draw the conclusion that in America is to be sought the type of the most desirable status of the Church, or that it would be universally lawful or expedient for State and Church to be, as in America, dissevered and divorced.

Longinqua: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_06011895_longinqua.html

A few years later, Pope Leo XIII wrote another letter expressing concerns about a new heresy he called Americanism, which expanded on Longinqua and addressed other protestant influences creeping into the opinions of American Catholics: https://www.papalencyclicals.net/leo13/l13teste.htm

To help present a more traditional view on the Church’s view of government and address the perhaps well-intentioned but misguided efforts to “Catholicize” America’s founding, we share a few helpful articles, particularly with Dr. Peter Kwasniewski’s article which provides some clarity and how the Church can help influence and God willing, convert this country. Dr. Kwasniewski notes that while it is laudable to love one’s own homeland, adulation for protestant – or even masonic – documents is not appropriate for Catholics:

“As a student of political history I find fascinating the genre of dreamy praise directed to the US government and its founding documents as practically the best the world has ever seen, and this, not on the lips of secularists or Protestants, from whom one might expect the message, but on the lips of important Catholic figures.” – Dr. Peter Kwasniewski

  • Independence Day in the New Missal: Dr. Mike Foley publishes a timely piece examining the difference between how the Novus Ordo celebrates “July 4” Independence Day Mass, versus how the Church under the Traditional Latin Mass would approach national “holidays”. Once can see clearly the difference between the two approaches of conservatives vs. traditionalists: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/07/independence-day-in-new-missal.html

For more coverage on this topic, please see our July 4, 2021 update: https://charlottelatinmass.org/2021/07/04/6th-sunday-after-pentecost-2/

Today there can be no more powerful influence on American protestants, now fatigued by centuries of error, heresy and now cultural decay, than the Traditional Latin Mass, and the Catholic traditions, customs, and culture that accompany it. Inviting Protestants to it, when properly disposed, would be the truest act of charity and patriotism.

What Mass are you going to Sunday?

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High Mass for St. Elizabeth of Portugal (July 8, 12:30pm)

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Tomorrow Friday July 8 is the feast of the great Portuguese Queen, St. Elizabeth (or St. Isabel) who was born in the latter part of the 13th century at the height of Christendom, and was named after her relative, St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

St. Ann will be offering a 7am Low Mass, while St. Mark parish in Huntersville will be offering a special High Mass at 12:30pm.

To learn more about this great saint we share an excerpt from Dom Prosper Gueranger’s The Liturgical Year:

Elizabeth, of the royal race of Aragon, was born in the year of our Lord 1271. As a presage of her future sanctity, her parents, contrary to custom, passing over the mother and grandmother, gave her in Baptism the name of her maternal great-aunt, St. Elizabeth, Duchess of Thuringia. No sooner was she born, than it became evident what a blessed peacemaker she was to be between kings and kingdoms; for the joy of her birth put a happy period to the miserable quarrels of her father and grandfather. 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.

July 8 – St Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal ~ Dom Prosper Gueranger

Her date of death was July 4, but the Church established her feast day on July 8 so not to interfere with the ancient octave of Ss. Peter & Paul which runs from June 29 – July 6. (This is also why St. Thomas More’s feast day is July 9  – and not his date of death on July 6 – one day after St. Elizabeth). Her body is incorrupt, and can be seen at the newer St. Clare Monastery in Coimbra, Portugal (the same city as Sister Lucia’s convent).

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Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, and as custom we provide commentary on the prayers offered at Sunday’s Latin Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/06/rebel-wills-fourth-sunday-after.html#.Yr-76ITMKHs

1st Sunday Latin Mass at Sacred Heart in Salisbury

There will be a Latin Mass today Sunday July 3 at 4pm. Mass will be offered by Fr. Joseph Wasswa, with Confessions prior to Mass. There will not be a social afterwards. To stay updated on the Latin Mass in Salisbury, please visit: www.salisburylmc.org

Upcoming July feasts and Latin Masses

  • Thursday July 7 – Ss. Cyril and Methodius, 7pm (St. Thomas Aquinas)
  • Friday July 8 – Queen Elizabeth of Portugal, 7am (St. Ann), 12:30pm (St. Mark)
  • Saturday July 9 – Ss. St. Thomas More and John Fisher (sadly, no Latin Mass scheduled in Charlotte this day)

Latin Mass & Traditional News

  • The Church on Capital Punishment: We share an excellent article posted on the Church’s traditional teaching on the death penalty. Sadly many Catholics today – including some high ranking church leaders – believe the death penalty is against Church teaching, when in fact the Church has recognized the state’s legitimacy in administering it. This article can help clear up the “misinformation”: https://aquinasphilosophy.com/2022/05/25/the-church-on-capital-punishment/
  • Traditional Catholics in the Synod on Synodality: Dr. Joseph Shaw of the Latin Mass Society of the UK has summarized the final Synod reports coming from a few dioceses there. Of note is the many responses indicating the marginalization of traditionalists and those favoring the Latin Mass, something that was echoed in the CLMC’s own Synod results here in Charlotte:  http://www.lmschairman.org/2022/06/traditional-catholics-in-synod-on.html

CLMC note: One could understand why traditionalists in the UK, or even certain liberal archdioceses in the U.S. would have to speak out against being treated as second class citizens, but why are these concerns also expressed by traditionalists here in the Charlotte Diocese? One of the curious things about the CLMC’s Synod responses and its concerns of marginalization is why it exists in the first place. Considering that some advocates of the diocese implicitly market it (and its seminary) as “Latin Mass friendly” yet the Latin Mass faithful’s needs remain unmet. That begs the simple question, is this diocese truly friendly to the Latin Mass faithful? Does it care for the salvation of souls, including those attending the Latin Mass? If it does, what can it do to fix this perception? CLMC Synod Response: https://charlottelatinmass.org/about/clmc-synod/

A New Apostolic Letter – Desiderio desideravi

This past week, Pope Francis issued a new apostolic letter, Desiderio desideravi, which addresses the topic of the liturgical formation of the people of God. Like the Traditiones Custodes, the Motu Proprio from last year restricting the Latin Mass, this letter raises more questions than answers as it again levels charges against traditionalists and their desire to attend the Mass of 1962 (e.g. the Traditional Latin Mass).  The papal letter states (among other things):

“ It would be trivial to read the tensions, unfortunately present around the celebration, as a simple divergence between different tastes concerning a particular ritual form. The problematic is primarily ecclesiological. I do not see how it is possible to say that one recognizes the validity of the Council — though it amazes me that a Catholic might presume not to do so — and at the same time not accept the liturgical reform born out of Sacrosanctum Concilium, a document that expresses the reality of the Liturgy intimately joined to the vision of Church so admirably described in Lumen gentium.”

To explore the controversy, we share a few commentaries by traditional writers over the past few days:

“More than perhaps anything else, though, Desiderio desideravi is a stark admission of the failure of the post-Vatican II liturgical reforms. If a rite specifically reformed for “modern man”, one more accessible, clear, didactic and easy to understand, stripped of all unnecessary symbols and repetitions, clothed entirely in vernacular languages and popular songs, has not resulted in the Christian faithful being “thoroughly imbued with the spirit and power of the liturgy” (SC 14), then haven’t the post-conciliar liturgical reforms been a colossal waste of time? The Pope himself even alludes to this failure: “Therefore, the fundamental question is this: how do we recover the capacity to live completely the liturgical action? This was the objective of the Council’s reform” (DD 27). If this objective hasn’t been met by the Novus Ordo more than 50 years later, then will it ever be?”

Another article posted on Rorate Caeli asks one of the most important questions about the Novus Ordo Mass and its “designers” – why did they abolish or “reform” certain aspects of the Mass for which the Vatican II Council Fathers made no such request.

“It would be nice to understand exactly when and where the Council Fathers called for the abolition of the Septuagesima, the Octave of Pentecost, the Rogation Days, the Ember Days (in truth left ad libitum to the decision of the lazy Episcopal Conferences), the remaking from scratch of the Offertory rite. Just as it would not hurt to understand on the basis of what text of the Council in fact the Latin language is no longer to be used and Gregorian chant, from being the “proper chant” of the Roman liturgy (SC 116), has instead become its Cinderella. Even historically, there is no denying the fact that the Missal that most closely embodied the directions of SC is, regardless of how one appraises it, that of 1965 and not that of 1969.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski provides some helpful analysis and then reminds readers of the tactics used by modernists to malign traditionalists:

“As I and others have written concerning the Traditionis Custodes campaign (and, particularly, Archbishop Roche’s contributions to it), the strategy of the enemies of tradition is quite simple—and quite desperate. In the words of canceled priest Fr. Bryan Houghton: “You do not just tell a lie but the exact opposite of the truth; it leaves your opponent speechless. It is the technique used so successfully by progressives when they accuse traditionalists of being divisive.”[10] The great lie here is that the liturgical reform of the late 1960s is “what Vatican II demanded,” and that if anyone refuses to embrace it passionately, he is guilty of “dissenting from the Council.” The difference in 2022 is that, rather than leaving us speechless, this lie provokes today a thunderous response from both “conservative” and “traditionalist” Catholics. Like the lie on which Roe v. Wade was founded, the lie at the heart of Bergoglio v. Tradition will also crumble one day, when the false narrative becomes impossible to sustain any longer.”

CLMC comment: If Dr. Kwasniewski, expanding on Fr. Houghton’s statement about how the modernists accuse people of the very lie they themselves engage in, is correct, could it be that the modernists in Rome are actually the ones who are opposed to Vatican II, and reject its validity? As Phil Lawler pointed out months ago, the biggest deniers of Vatican II’s validity are the 70% Novus Ordo attendees who do not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, nor in the validity of the Novus Ordo Mass.  The best way out of this liturgical catastrophe is simply to return to the Mass offered at Vatican II: The Traditional Latin Mass.

As history seems to be repeating itself, with the heavy-handedness of modernist wing of the church in demanding allegiance to a liturgical “reform” not found in the Council’s documents, we repeat the apology Pope St. John Paul II made in 1980 about these modernists pushing all their post-conciliar changes, which offended the laity:

“As I bring these considerations to an end, I would like to ask forgiveness-in my own name and in the name of all of you, venerable and dear brothers in the episcopate-for everything which, for whatever reason, through whatever human weakness, impatience or negligence, and also through the at times partial, one-sided and erroneous application of the directives of the Second Vatican Council, may have caused scandal and disturbance concerning the interpretation of the doctrine and the veneration due to this great sacrament. And I pray the Lord Jesus that in the future we may avoid in our manner of dealing with this sacred mystery anything which could weaken or disorient in any way the sense of reverence and love that exists in our faithful people.” – Pope John Paul II, February 24, 1980, Dominicae Cenae

This latest criticism and attacks the Latin Mass make clear of the need to pray for the conversion of those church leaders in Rome.

In closing, for those who are new to the Latin Mass, or are asking “what went wrong after Vatican II?”, we encourage you to watch Mass of Ages Part II: A Perfect Storm – https://latinmass.com/watch

What Mass are you attending Sunday?

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Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul

Laudetur Iesus Christus and blessed feast of Ss. Peter & Paul! This is an important feast day commemorating the first Pope, and the apostle to the Gentiles. St. Ann will offer a 6pm Latin Mass this evening. Additionally we share an article in the New Liturgical Movement about yesterday’s vigil of Ss. Peter & Paul, which prepares us for today’s feast day: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/06/the-vigil-of-ss-peter-and-paul.html#.YrvcY4TMKHs

Upcoming Latin Masses

  • Wednesday June 29 – Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul, 6pm Latin Mass, St. Ann: Commemorates the day of their of martyrdom by Nero, June 29 67 A.D.
  • Thursday June 30 – Commemoration of St. Paul, 7pm Latin Mass, St. Thomas Aquinas. This is St. Paul own feast day commemorating his martyrdom.
  • Friday July 1 – Feast of the Precious Blood, 7am (St. Ann), 12:30pm (St. Mark): This is a feast that is unique to the Traditional Latin Mass, and was eliminated in the Novus Ordo Mass (or combined with the feast of Corpus Christi). Providentially this year, the Precious Blood feast falls on the ancient octave day of the feast of the Sacred Heart. You can pray the litany to the Precious Blood here: https://www.fisheaters.com/litanypreciousblood.html
  • Saturday July 2 – Feast of the Visitation & first Saturday, 10am (St. Thomas Aquinas): This feast falls on the ancient octave day of St. John the Baptist, finishing off the eight-day celebration of his nativity, the day when he would be circumcised (and given his name John) by focusing on the visitation of the Blessed Mother, and the moment he was cleansed of original sin (Luke 1:41). It is also first Saturday and Father will bless religious items after the 10am Latin Mass.  (Note: There will also be a 9am Latin Mass at Prince of Peace parish in Taylors, SC – 2 hours southwest of Charlotte)
  • Sunday July 3: The Salisbury Latin Mass Community will host its 1st Sunday Latin Mass at 4pm at Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury. For more information visit: http://salisburylmc.org/

Martyrdom of St. Paul (June 30)

We share Dom Prosper Gueranger’s reflection on St. Paul’s feast day for this Thursday June 30 (which is different from his conversation on January 25)

On the Twenty-ninth of June, in the year 67, while 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 the martyrdom of this, the Doctor of the Gentiles. 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.

Martyrdom of St. Peter (June 29)

We conclude this update with a commentary by Dom Prosper Gueranger, on the bigger of the two feasts, and the focus on St. Peter’s 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 soul by his perverse doctrines; he sought even to mimic Peter in the prodigies operated by him. So 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 marvellous sight. If we are to believe Dion Chrysostom, Nero seems even to have entertained at his court this wonderful personage, who pledged himself to soar aloft in mid-air. More than that, the emperor would even with his own presence honor this rare sight. The imperial lodge was reared upon the Via Sacra, where the scene was to be enacted. But cruel for the impostor did this deception prove. “Scarce 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 gravest writers of Christian antiquity are unanimous in attributing to the prayer of Peter this humiliation inflicted on the Samaritan juggler in the very midst of Rome, where he had dared to set himself up as the rival of Christ’s Vicar.

The disgrace, as well as the blood of the heresiarch, had fallen on the emperor himself. Curiosity and ill-will but needed, therefore, to be combined, in order to attract personally upon Peter an attention that might prove disastrous. Moreover, be it remembered, there was yet another danger, and to this Saint Paul alludes, namely, the peril of false brethren. To understand this term and justly to appreciate the situation, we must bear in mind how inevitable are the clashings of certain characters in a society so numerous as was already that of the Christians in Rome; and how discontent is necessarily caused to vulgar minds when existing circumstances sometimes demand higher interests to be exclusively consulted, in the always difficult question of choosing persons to offices of trust, or to special confidence.

The filial devotedness of the Christians of Rome took alarm, and they implored Saint Peter to elude the danger for a while, by instant flight. “Although he would have much preferred to suffer,” says Saint Ambrose, Peter set out along the Appian Way. Just as he reached the Capuan gate, Christ suddenly presented himself, seemingly 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. 

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Third Sunday After Pentecost

Laudetur Iesus Christus! 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

Sunday is also traditionally the 3rd day within the ancient octave of St. John the Baptist (whose feast was also called “Summer Christmas”) which fittingly is placed just days away from the great feasts of Ss. Peter and Paul (Wednesday), 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 apostolic confession comes grafting itself on the testimony rendered by the Precursor to the Word, the Light.

June 28 – The Vigil of the Holy Apostles Sts Peter and Paul ~ Dom Prosper Gueranger

Upcoming Feast Days & Masses

There is much symbolism interwoven in the upcoming feast days, many were placed there in connection to the octaves which occurred on the liturgical calendar prior to 1955 (e.g. octaves of St. John the Baptist and Ss. Peter & Paul)

  • Tuesday June 28 – Vigil of Ss. Peter and Paul: Major feast days in the traditional calendar are often proceeded by a preparatory vigil ahead of the great feast, and often penitential in nature. As such, the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul is commemorated with a vigil on Tuesday. There are no Latin Masses scheduled in Charlotte this day, regrettably.
  • Wednesday June 29 – Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul, 6pm Latin Mass, St. Ann: Commemorates the day of their of martyrdom by Nero, June 29 67 A.D.
  • Thursday June 30 – Commemoration of St. Paul, 7pm Latin Mass, St. Thomas Aquinas: The Church, giving St. Peter, the first pontiff, more emphasis in Wednesday’s feast day, now gives St. Paul his own special “feast day” commemorating his martyrdom.
  • Friday July 1 – Feast of the Precious Blood, 7am (St. Ann), 12:30pm (St. Mark): This is a feast that is unique to the Traditional Latin Mass, and was eliminated in the Novus Ordo Mass (or combined with the feast of Corpus Christi). Providentially this year, the Precious Blood feast falls on the ancient octave day of the feast of the Sacred Heart. You can pray the litany to the Precious Blood here: https://www.fisheaters.com/litanypreciousblood.html
  • Saturday July 2 – Feast of the Visitation & first Saturday, 10am (St. Thomas Aquinas): This feast falls on the ancient octave day of St. John the Baptist, finishing off the eight-day celebration of his nativity, the day when he would be circumcised (and given his name John) by focusing on the visitation of the Blessed Mother, and the moment he was cleansed of original sin (Luke 1:41). The feast of the visitation would probably mark the actual time when the Blessed Virgin Mary would have concluded her 3-month visit with St. Elizabeth and Zachary and return to Nazareth.  

Community News

  • Holy Face Devotions: Three parishes in Charlotte now offer the Holy Face devotions – a timely and powerful devotion to combat communism (among which abortion is its “anti-sacrament”). As background, in 1843, Sr. Mary of St. Peter, a Carmelite nun in the monastery in Tours, France, received a series of revelations from Jesus telling her that reparation for certain sins were an imperative, and that it was to be done through devotion to the Holy Face.  The primary purpose of this apostolate is to, by praying certain prayers, make reparation for the sins committed against the first three Commandments of the Lord: The denial of God by atheism (communism), blasphemy, and the profanation of Sundays and Holy Days. Devotion to the Holy Face has been referred to as the devotion for Jesus Crucified.  The schedule is as follows:
  • St. Mark – Mondays 2-3pm
  • 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 which takes 15-20 minutes)

Latin Mass & Traditional News

  • Traditional Catholicism – Peter Kwasniewski with Raymond Arroyo: Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, (who visited the CLMC last fall), was interviewed by EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo about recent criticism in Rome about Latin Mass attendees, and how they are “against Vatican II”. In his usual scholarly brilliance, Dr. Kwasniewski turns the tables and shows how those very church leaders who accuse traditionalists, are themselves acting against the text of the Vatican II documents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMrWt7hYjVI
  • A Neglected Gem in the Traditional Roman Missal: The Eucharistic Heart of Jesus: Separately, Dr. Kwasniewski also penned a great article on the rediscovery of a beautiful votive Mass which occurs during the Thursday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (this Thursday June 30). This Mass which was in use prior to 1955 is entitled the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and in a sense links the feast of Corpus Christi with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. https://onepeterfive.com/neglected-gem-eucharistic-heart-jesus/

Commemoration of St. Paul (June 30)

We share Dom Prosper Gueranger’s reflection on St. Paul’s feast day for this Thursday June 30 (which is different from his conversation on January 25)

On the Twenty-ninth of June, in the year 67, while 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 the martyrdom of this, the Doctor of the Gentiles. 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.

Martyrdom of St. Peter (June 29)

After reflecting upon St. Paul above, we conclude this update with a commentary by Dom Prosper Gueranger, on the bigger of the two feasts and saints (e.g. St. Peter), and the focus on St. Peter’s 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 a 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 soul by his perverse doctrines; he sought even to mimic Peter in the prodigies operated by him. So 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 marvellous sight. If we are to believe Dion Chrysostom, Nero seems even to have entertained at his court this wonderful personage, who pledged himself to soar aloft in mid-air. More than that, the emperor would even with his own presence honor this rare sight. The imperial lodge was reared upon the Via Sacra, where the scene was to be enacted. But cruel for the impostor did this deception prove. “Scarce 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 gravest writers of Christian antiquity are unanimous in attributing to the prayer of Peter this humiliation inflicted on the Samaritan juggler in the very midst of Rome, where he had dared to set himself up as the rival of Christ’s Vicar.

The disgrace, as well as the blood of the heresiarch, had fallen on the emperor himself. Curiosity and ill-will but needed, therefore, to be combined, in order to attract personally upon Peter an attention that might prove disastrous. Moreover, be it remembered, there was yet another danger, and to this Saint Paul alludes, namely, the peril of false brethren. To understand this term and justly to appreciate the situation, we must bear in mind how inevitable are the clashings of certain characters in a society so numerous as was already that of the Christians in Rome; and how discontent is necessarily caused to vulgar minds when existing circumstances sometimes demand higher interests to be exclusively consulted, in the always difficult question of choosing persons to offices of trust, or to special confidence.

The filial devotedness of the Christians of Rome took alarm, and they implored Saint Peter to elude the danger for a while, by instant flight. “Although he would have much preferred to suffer,” says Saint Ambrose, Peter set out along the Appian Way. Just as he reached the Capuan gate, Christ suddenly presented himself, seemingly 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.

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Feast of the Sacred Heart Today (St. John the Baptist Saturday)

Laudetur Iesus Christus and blessed feast of the Sacred Heart, which occurs the day after the ancient octave of Corpus Christi (yesterday). Tomorrow June 25 will be the feast of the St. John the Baptist (see below).

Feast of the Sacred Heart – Friday June 24

**Today is a solemnity and as such the normal Friday abstinence from meat is lifted – hence you can eat meat today.**

As Dom Gaspar Levebvre OSB writes in the St. Andrew Missal, St. Gertrude, a 13th century Benedictine nun near Eisleben, Germany, received an apparition from St. John the Evangelist who said “the meaning of the blessed beating of the heart of Jesus which he had heard while his rested on His breast was reserved for the latter times when the world grown old and cold in divine love, would require to have its fervor renewed by means of this mystery of burning love”. 

Dom Prosper Gueranger, in The Liturgical Year, notes the providential nature of the appearance to St. Gertrude near her monastery in Eisleben, as if to offer an antidote to the awful heretic that would be born in the same area just 200 years later and whose heresies continue to ravage the world in these “latter times”:

By thus revealing to Gertrude the admirable mysteries of divine love, included in the doctrine which attaches to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was, so to say, forestalling the workings of hell, which, two centuries later on, were to find their prime mover in that same spot. Luther was born at Eisleben, in the year 1483. He was the apostle, after being the inventor, of theories the very opposite of what the Sacred Heart reveals. Instead of the merciful God, as known and loved in the previous ages, Luther would have the world believe him to be the direct author of sin and damnation, who creates the sinner for crime and eternal torments, and for the mere purpose of showing that he could do anything, even injustice! Calvin followed; he took up the blasphemous doctrines of the German apostate, and rivetted the protestant principles by his own gloomy and merciless logic. By these two men, the tail of the dragon dragged the third part of the stars of heaven [Apocalypse 12:4].

FRIDAY AFTER THE OCTAVE OF CORPUS CHRISTI – The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ Dom Prosper Gueranger

Back in the St. Andrew Missal, Levebvre further notes that 400 years later, Divine Providence chose St. Margaret Mary Alacoque as His instrument to request that the feast of the Sacred Heart be instituted on the Friday following the octave of Corpus Christi. It was finally instituted in 1765 by Pope Clement XIII, and then Blessed Pius IX extended it to the entire Church in 1856.  Another aspect of this apparition was Our Lord’s request to St. Margaret Mary that the King of France consecrate his nation to the Sacred Heart, something he and his successors failed to do, and 100 years to the date, the French Revolution began, a rebellion against God which still continues today in various forms.  

Cardinal Burke has just issued a reflection on this feast day which we share here: https://www.cardinalburke.com/presentations/pure-heart-sacred-heart

Nativity of St. John the Baptist – Saturday June 25*

Saturday is the feast of St. John the Baptist, and normally this feast  falls on June 24; however due to the feast of the Sacred Heart occurring on that day this year, the feast of St. John is transferred to June 25. This is confirmed via the FSSP liturgical calendar.

  • 8am – Respect Life Latin Mass, St Ann (followed by prayers at the Planned Parenthood abortion facility, or a Holy of Reparation inside the church)
  • 8:30am: St. John the Baptist, Tryon (2 hours west of Charlotte)

Summer Solstice and St. John the Baptist: This great feast also falls around the summer solstice as the daylight hours begins its decrease until Christmas, symbolizing the gospel of St. John (3:30), as Fisheaters.com notes:

This Feast, then, follows the Feast of the Annunciation by 3 months and precedes the birth of Christ by six months. It is providential that the Feast of “the Forerunner,” the greatest of all Prophets, should fall at Midsummer, around the Summer Solstice when the days become shorter, because of his words in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” It is the longest day of the year, and from here on out, the days grow shorter and shorter. Conversely, Our Lord, the “Radiant Dawn,” was born at the Winter Solstice, when the days were becoming longer!

https://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost3.html

We close this update with an excellent summary on Saturday’s feast day from the weekly update of our friends with the Latin Mass community in Greensboro:

Midsummer is the traditional mid-point of the agricultural season between planting and harvest. Some of us are a little behind that schedule but no matter. It also coincides with the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (this year transferred to Thursday or Saturday, depending on your calendar, bumped by the Feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday), six months prior to the Nativity of Our Lord. Saint John’s nativity was considered of particular note because it was the firm belief in the ancient Church that John was freed from original sin at the Visitation; and as he was “filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15) he was born without original sin. The Council of Agde in 506 A.D. listed the Nativity of Saint John among the highest feasts of the year, a day on which all the faithful had to attend Mass and abstain from servile work. In European tradition “Saint John’s fires” are lit on the eve of his feast from mountaintops and hilltops, and even from the top of the mainsail yard of fishing vessels; or smaller fires (fogatas in Spain) over which children leap. People gather around the fire, sing their ancient songs, pray to St John for his intercession and that the summer may be blessed in homes, fields, and country, followed by folk dances. These and other traddy tidbits may be found in the Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs by Fr Franz Weiser, reprinted in three volumes by St Augustine Academy Press.

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Synod Meeting Follow-Up

Laudetur Iesus Christus!  I hope you all have enjoyed the pleasant weather this weekend with your families along with the proximate celebrations of the Feast of Corpus Christi, ordinations, and the secular observance of Father’s Day, honoring our fathers, most especially our priests who are our spiritual fathers. 

We have received a few inquiries wanting feedback about the Diocesan Synod meeting last week.  Attached is our full synod response (see below).  In addition, I will do my best to represent the day as fair as I can, but in short, the synod meeting was not good.  While we did not have much hope in the synod process at the Vatican level, our hope was that we would finally get to voice our spiritual needs to Bishop Jugis and some real fruit would emerge.  Unfortunately, this did not happen.

Our Bishop was present at the entire meeting, and he was subjected to a barrage of neo-Marxist and anti-Catholic masonic voices.  Some of the speakers at the event were so unhinged, it seemed as though they were reading from the Unabomber Manifesto.  As an example, our Bishop was accused of somehow being complicit in racism, which obligated him to support reparation payments for slavery and universal healthcare.  Additionally, that Bishop Jugis should allow those engaging in homosexual and transgendered lifestyles to be ordained to the priesthood and to have full decision-making roles in the Church.  It was shameful that the chancery allowed him to be subjected to such abuse.

The format of the Synod meeting was highly managed, giving organizers the ability to amplify certain voices and to suppress others.  It seemed that His Excellency came away from that meeting with a sharply skewed anti-Catholic perspective of the “spiritual needs” of his flock.  The inclusive and affirming language was laid down pretty thick.  I lost count of all the times I heard the words “accompany” and “equity” that we needed to “let ourselves be touched” (eww).  The term “unity” was used in regard to the coexistence of error alongside truth.  It was head spinning.  The language presented to Bishop Jugis that day reminded me of the Annibale Bugnini quote featured in the Second Episode of the Mass of Ages documentary, “… we must tread carefully and discretely.  Proposals must be formulated in such a way that much is said without seeming to say anything.   Let many things be said in embryo, and in this way, let the door remain open to post-conciliar deductions and applications.”

When organizers shared the format of the meeting, the potential for deceptive manipulation was immediately apparent.  At the Synod meeting there were roughly 10 tables, each with about 6 to 8 people.  Each of the people at the tables represented a different group (lay associations, diocesan ministries, and select parishes).  The table seating was strictly assigned, and reminders were given that switching tables was not allowed.  Also, at each table there was one person pre-designated to be a table moderator.  With this format, and these controls in place, organizers had full control of the discussion.

The daylong meeting would address the three synod questions in turn at each table with each representative taking turns to give an answer to each question with the table moderator taking notes.  Once everyone at the table was finished discussing the first question, the table moderators at each table would in turn stand up and “share the fruits of the discussion” with Bishop Jugis who was seated at a table at the front of the room.  After all the table moderators had shared their comments regarding the first question, the discussions would then proceed to the same format for questions two and three, respectively.

The deceptive manipulation of the overall synodal message was subtle but distinct.  Several of the table moderators when they rose to speak, they didn’t speak as if they were relaying varied opinions from the table in a dispassionate way, but rather they stood and gave what seemed to be a prepared speech advocating modernist ideology.  One moderator started by saying that her table had “several differences of opinion”, but then proceeded to give a one-sided hardcore modernist speech without any signs of division at all.  

There were some table moderators that tried to articulate a neo-conservative Catholic point of view, but these moderators felt a false duty to represent all sides, an ethic not shared by their modernist counterparts.  The resulting tug-of-war between modernism and the neo-conservative Catholic viewpoints was void of any discussion of traditional Church teaching.  They had no understanding that error does not have any right in the Church.  If a group feels a spiritual need towards sinful behavior or abandonment of the traditional doctrines of the Church, these are not spiritual needs.  Maybe they are demonic influences, but whatever they are, they do not have any right to be presented alongside the unchangeable doctrines of the Church.  Those poisonous voices should have been expelled from the meeting.

Let us call to mind the prophetic words of Pope Saint Pius X in his Encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis:  

“We allude, Venerable Brethren, to many who belong to the Catholic laity, nay, and this is far more lamentable, to the ranks of the priesthood itself, who, feigning a love for the Church, lacking the firm protection of philosophy and theology, nay more, thoroughly imbued with the poisonous doctrines taught by the enemies of the Church, and lost to all sense of modesty, vaunt themselves as reformers of the Church; and, forming more boldly into line of attack, assail all that is most sacred in the work of Christ, not sparing even the person of the Divine Redeemer, whom, with sacrilegious daring, they reduce to a simple, mere man.”

When the moderator at our table stood to summarize our table’s responses, our CLMC answers were watered down to the point of being meaningless.  For example, during one session, I shared directly from our CLMC synod respondents, frustration that we have written roughly a dozen letters to Bishop Jugis without any replies and that during chance meetings with the Bishop it appeared that he hadn’t seen our letters, leaving us with the feeling that someone at the Diocesan level is blocking our communications.   During our table moderator’s presentation to Bishop Jugis, the moderator reduced our frustration to a more benign, “lack of communication” in the diocesan office.

One additional frustration, within our table discussion, our well-meaning table moderator replied to me directly, saying that personal relationships really do matter when communicating with the diocese.  To which I replied that this is exactly the problem.  The feeling is that some in the chancery play favorites.  When it comes to a Community of more than 1,000 families writing to express legitimate spiritual needs, personal relationships should not matter at all.  These families have a duty to express their spiritual needs to their Bishop, and these families have a right to a clear response.

While it was difficult to sit through the entire meeting, there was one glimmer of hope.  During a break, I was able to have a brief conversation with Bishop Jugis.  I shared with His Excellency that while our full CLMC synod response was making its way through the process, there was one synod response that received overwhelming support — and further that it was time sensitive relating to the upcoming Eucharistic Congress.  He asked me to explain further.  I explained that our Community has a significant number of people who follow the First Saturday Devotion and this year the Eucharistic Congress falls on a First Saturday (August 6th).  This will cause our First Saturday Latin Mass to be cancelled at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Charlotte.  He was genuinely concerned and to my surprise he added that it would also disrupt the First Saturday Latin Masses at St. Elizabeth in Boone and St. John the Baptist in Tryon (it is amazing that he knew that off the top of his head).  

I implored that our Community is requesting that His Excellency assign one of the many priests at the Congress to provide our Community a Latin Mass on the Saturday of the Eucharistic Congress in one of the empty rooms of the Convention Center at a time of his choosing.  I offered that our Community would be happy to cover any added costs or manage any needed logistics.  I prepared a printed letter which outlined this request and with His Excellency’s permission, I presented this letter to him.  He accepted it and committed that he would forward the matter to Father Arnsparger who manages the Eucharistic Congress.  He did not commit to an answer, however, I do believe he will come to our aid in this matter.  Stay tuned.

Please pray for our Bishop that he will be strengthened in fortitude against the poisonous doctrines taught by the enemies of the Church.

Blessed be His Holy Name,

Chris Lauer
Charlotte Latin Mass Community

clmc-synodal-responses-june-2022Download
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Second Sunday After Pentecost

Laudetur Iesus Christus and happy Father’s Day! 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

June Festal Latin Masses

Feast of the Sacred Heart – Friday June 24

Nativity of St. John the Baptist – Saturday June 25*

  • 8am – Respect Life Latin Mass, St Ann
  • 8:30am: St. John the Baptist, Tryon (2 hours west of Charlotte)

* The feast of St. John the Baptist normally falls on June 24; however due to the feast of the Sacred Heart occurring on that day this year, the feast of St. John is transferred to June 25. This is confirmed via the FSSP liturgical calendar.

To learn why the feast of St. John the Baptist is transferred to June 25, please see Greg DiPippo’s article on New Liturgical Movement: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/06/some-rubrical-notes-for-coming-days.html#.YqwTIOzMKHs

Feast of SS. Peter and Paul – Wednesday June 29

  • 6pm: St. Ann

Latin Mass Community News

  • Holy Face Devotions: Three parishes in Charlotte now offer the Holy Face devotions – a timely and powerful devotion to combat communism (among which abortion is its “anti-sacrament”). As background, in 1843, Sr. Mary of St. Peter, a Carmelite nun in the monastery in Tours, France, received a series of revelations from Jesus telling her that reparation for certain sins were an imperative, and that it was to be done through devotion to the Holy Face.  The primary purpose of this apostolate is to, by praying certain prayers, make reparation for the sins committed against the first three Commandments of the Lord: The denial of God by atheism (communism), blasphemy, and the profanation of Sundays and Holy Days. Devotion to the Holy Face has been referred to as the devotion for Jesus Crucified.  The schedule is as follows:
  • St. Mark – Mondays 2-3pm
  • 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 which takes 15-20 minutes)

Latin Mass & Traditional News

The Problem of ‘Restorationists’

Last week was a busy week in the Vatican regarding the liturgy. On Wednesday, the Holy See published a decree prohibiting a bishop from establishing new religious orders without Rome’s permission – a decision clearly targeting dioceses which may try to establish new Latin Mass religious orders (FYI – inviting in already existing religious orders is still allowed).  This was followed on Thursday by the Holy See’s new head of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, Archbishop Roche, who in a published interview justified the regulation of the Traditional Latin Mass under Traditiones Custodes, because the Vatican II Council was “putting forward a new liturgy”.

However, the most interesting news item from Rome last week was an interview between Pope Francis and editors with several Jesuit journals in Europe. In this exchange, His Holiness expressed the following concerns about “restorationists”:

“It is very difficult to see spiritual renewal using old-fashioned criteria. We need to renew our way of seeing reality, of evaluating it. In the European Church I see more renewal in the spontaneous things that are emerging: movements, groups, new bishops who remember that there is a Council behind them. Because the Council that some pastors remember best is that of Trent. What I’m saying is not nonsense.

Restorationism has come to gag the Council. The number of groups of “restorers” – for example, in the United States there are many – is significant. An Argentine bishop told me that he had been asked to administer a diocese that had fallen into the hands of these “restorers.” They had never accepted the Council. There are ideas, behaviors that arise from a restorationism that basically did not accept the Council. The problem is precisely this: in some contexts the Council has not yet been accepted. It is also true that it takes a century for a Council to take root. We still have forty years to make it take root, then!”

CLMC Comment:

We welcome His Holiness’ comments on a distinct point. Indeed there are many problematic “restorers” in the U.S., who seem to be wedded to the “old fashioned criteria” for “spiritual renewal”.

These groups are called the “1960s restorationists” who cling to the halcyon days of guitars, tambourines, felt banners, polyester vestments, watered down doctrine, dissent, and folk songs in the liturgy – and just can’t let it go. (Moreover, the spiritual children of these “restorers” – some who populate the pews of many Novus Ordo Masses – are actually the ones who deny the validity of the Vatican II Mass – particularly when they deny belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist offered at Mass, as Phil Lawler noted in an article last December.) These so-called “1960s restorationists” and their often heavy handed behaviors are often a source of strife and division (as seen at the Charlotte Synod last week!). This may in part be why, as early as 1980, Pope John Paul II had to issue an apology for the actions of these “bitter clingers” who even then didn’t realize their retro-party was already ending:

“I would like to ask forgiveness-in my own name and in the name of all of you, venerable and dear brothers in the episcopate-for everything which, for whatever reason, through whatever human weakness, impatience or negligence, and also through the at times partial, one-sided and erroneous application of the directives of the Second Vatican Council, may have caused scandal and disturbance concerning the interpretation of the doctrine and the veneration due to this great sacrament. And I pray the Lord Jesus that in the future we may avoid in our manner of dealing with this sacred mystery anything which could weaken or disorient in any way the sense of reverence and love that exists in our faithful people.” – John Paul II, Dominicae Cenae #12, February 24, 1980

If those in Rome are truly concerned about overcoming opposition to the actual truths (aligned with tradition) contained in the Vatican II Council texts, then the words of Deacon Nick Donnelly (of the U.K.), may be a wakeup call:

“Traditional Catholics uphold the importance Latin and Gregorian Chant to the worship of God (Sacrosanctum Concilium 36 & 116); we teach the truth that there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church (Lumen Gentium 14); we warn that atheism is an evil that must be rejected ‘root and branch’ (Gaudeum et spes 21), we defend the sacrament of marriage from the plague of divorce and cohabitation (Gaudeum et spes 47).”

If Church leaders truly wish to overcome these problematic “1960s restorationists”, they should consider embracing not the Mass of Vatican II, but the Mass at Vatican II – The Traditional Latin Mass, the Mass of Ages. From this Mass are where the emerging movements, groups, and even new bishops are sprouting up all over the Church in tiny but growing pockets.

In closing we share Pope St. Pius X’s comment in Notre Charge Apostolique (1910): Indeed, the true friends of the people are neither revolutionaries, nor innovators: they are traditionalists.

What Mass are you attending Sunday?