Christus Resurréxit! Resurréxit Vere! Just a reminder that this weekend Fr. Lawrence Carney will be visiting St. Thomas Aquinas (and other parishes) to give talks on the importance of the Holy Face devotion.
St. Ann 8am Respect Life Latin Mass Tomorrow 8am April 22: Before we share the Holy Face information, we just wanted to also remind our readers that on a separate matter, St. Ann will offer its regular 4th Saturday Respect Life Latin Mass tomorrow Saturday April 22, at 8am at St. Ann parish, followed by prayers at the local abortion facility or a Holy Hour of Reparation in the church (for those who prefer to stay after Mass).
Holy Face Visit
Regarding the Holy Face visit, we list the schedule of events as announced and encourage everyone to attend one of these talks. Practice of this devotion may prove to be an important way in ending the current crisis in the Church and the world.
Saturday April 22, Talk 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas parish (book signing afterwards)
Sunday April 23, 11:30am Latin Mass – St. Thomas Aquinas parish (Fr. Carney will offer the Latin Mass and preach on the Holy Face)
Monday April 24, 5pm Holy Hour of Reparation and Talk – St. Mark parish, Huntersville (book signing to follow – see attached flyer)
Tuesday April 25, 10am Holy Hour of Reparation and Talk – Holy Spirit parish, Denver
To answer the question, we share TAN Books’ summary of Fr. Carney’s book:
From the creation of man to the current ecclesial infiltration and world revolution, the devil and his minions have sought to destroy the human race made in the image of God. No longer attacking from without, they are now secretly laying siege from within the Holy Roman Catholic Church. But why is God allowing this? He loves to see souls heroically battle for the faith.
In the nineteenth century, Venerable Leo Dupont said that Communists would one day enslave the world—that is, “close up their churches, and make them slaves of the state . . . unless reparation is done, unless men come before the Face of their Saviour to ask His forgiveness and His help!”
In this powerful book, Father Carney reveals the essence and history of the Holy Face Devotion, its apostles, and how to save society and the Church from her foes.
“Reparation is destined to save society,” said Blessed Pope Pius IX. Join the ranks of Saint Thérèse and other saints in the Archconfraternity of the Holy Face and contemplate His Face to help restore Christendom from the evils of Communism and Freemasonry. Heaven longs for this devotion. Here is a timely book that provides a counter-revolution of reparation, reverence, and reversion.
Fr. Lawrence Carney
Father Lawrence Carney was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita in 2007. In 2014, he was appointed as chaplain of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles and he walks the streets of US cities in cassock carrying a crucifix and a rosary in each hand in an effort to bring souls to the Catholic Church. In 2017, he began the League of St. Martin, a pious association of the faithful that prays for reverence, reparation, and reversion—the chief goals being enrollment in the Archconfraternity of the Holy Face and the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. In 2022 continuing as chaplain of the Nuns and director of the League, he was appointed Apostolic Priest of Wichita, Kansas. (source: St. Mark parish flyer)
Fr. Carney also offers the Latin Mass regularly and, as noted above, serves as chaplain for the Benedictines of Mary, traditional Benedictine nuns in Gower, Missouri. St. Ann Latin Mass attendees may remember Fr. Buettner offering a homily one Sunday in the summer of 2019 about Fr. Carney’s prior book which discusses evangelizing souls simply by his walking the streets and holding a crucifix: https://onepeterfive.com/review-walking-road-god-father-lawrence-carney/
We hope everyone can attend one of his talks. This is a great blessing for the faithful in Charlotte.
Fr. Carney will also be offering and preaching the 11:30am Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas on Sunday April 23. Please make all efforts to attend this important talk.
Fr. Carney’s Holy Face Talk at St. Mark Parish – Monday April 24 (5-7pm)
St. Mark parish will also have the privilege of hosting Fr. Carney for its Holy Face devotion on Monday April 24 from 5-7pm. Father will offer a talk and lead a Holy Hour. Please see the other attached flyer. He will also be available to sign his Holy Face book afterwards. His book is, Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society, https://tanbooks.com/products/books/tan-books/the-secret-of-the-holy-face/
The Times of Mass: Fr. William Rock, FSSP, has penned another installment on the liturgy, and answers the question, what time of the day can Mass be offered, both in diocesan parishes, as well as abbeys, for different feasts and seasons: https://fssp.com/the-times-of-mass/
Why the Devil Hates (and Fears) Mary with Fr. Chad Ripperger: The Augustine Institute has published its fifth interview with Fr. Chad Ripperger, this time on the role of Mary in deliverance ministry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TtOyknCRko (if you would like to see the other interviews see Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV):
Missae Pro Missa – A worldwide spiritual bouquet for the preservation of the Traditional Latin Mass: There is a new Latin Mass campaign to have 1 million Masses offered by Pentecost in support of the preservation of the Traditional Latin Mass. To participate and learn more visit: https://www.missaepromissa.com
Low Sunday with Dom Prosper Gueranger
In closing, we share Dom Prosper Gueranger’s entry, from The Liturgical Year, for Low Sunday, which recounts St. Thomas the Apostle’s doubting of Our Lord’s appearances to the disciples since Easter:
To return to our Apostle — Thomas had heard Magdalene, and he despised her testimony; he had heard Peter, and he objected to his authority; he had heard the rest of his fellow-Apostles and the two disciples of Emmaus, and no, he would not give up his own opinion. How many there are among us, who are like him in this! We never think of doubting what is told us by a truthful and disinterested witness, unless the subject touch upon the supernatural; and then, we have a hundred difficulties. It is one of the sad consequences left in us by original sin. Like Thomas, we would see the thing ourselves: that alone is enough to keep us from the fullness of the truth. We comfort ourselves with the reflection that, after all, we are Disciples of Christ; as did Thomas, who kept in union with his brother-Apostles, only he shared not their happiness. He saw their happiness, but he considered it to be a weakness of mind, and was glad that he was free from it!
How like this is to our modern rationalistic Catholic! He believes, but it is because his reason almost forces him to believe; he believes with his mind, rather than from his heart. His faith is a scientific deduction, and not a generous longing after God and supernatural truth. Hence, how cold and powerless is this faith! how cramped and ashamed! how afraid of believing too much! Unlike the generous unstinted faith of the saints, it is satisfied with fragments of truth, with what the Scripture terms diminished truths. (Psalm 11:2) It seems ashamed of itself. It speaks in a whisper, lest it should be criticised; and when it does venture to make itself heard, it adopts a phraseology, which may take off the sound of the divine…
Now, it was the for the instruction of persons of this class that our Lord spoke those words to Thomas: Blessed are they who have not seen, and have believed. Thomas sinned in not having the readiness of mind to believe. Like him, we also are in danger of sinning, unless our faith have a certain expansiveness, which makes us see everything with the eye of faith, and gives our faith that progress which God recompenses with a superabundance of light and joy.
Christus Resurréxit! Resurréxit Vere! Just a reminder that St. Thomas Aquinas’ Latin Mass today Easter Thursday, will be at 10am, not the normal 7pm. This change only occurs today due to the parish’s modified schedule for Easter week.
Christus Resurréxit! Resurréxit Vere! Blessed Pascaltide greetings on this Easter morning, the first day within the Octave of Easter.
The great Benedictine liturgist, Dom Prosper Gueranger OSB, aptly sums up the joy of Easter Sunday morning as experienced by the Blessed Mother, who, according to tradition, was the first to see her risen Son:
“The night between Saturday and Sunday has well nigh run its course, and the day-dawn is appearing. The Mother of sorrows is waiting, in courageous hope and patience, for the blissful moment of her Jesus’ return. Magdalene and the other holy women have spent the night in watching, and are preparing to start for the sepulcher. In limbo, the Soul of our crucified Lord is about to give the glad word of departure to the myriads of the long-imprisoned holy souls, who cluster round Him in adoring love. Death is still holding his silent sway over the sepulcher, where rests the Body of Jesus. Since the day when he gained his first victim, Abel, he has swept off countless generations; but never has he held in his grasp a prey so noble as this that now lies in the tomb near Calvary Never has the terrible sentence of God, pronounced against our first parents, received such a fulfillment as this; but never has death received such a defeat as the one that is now preparing. It is true, the power of God has, at times brought back the dead to life: the son of the widow of Naim, and Lazarus, were reclaimed from the bondage of this tyrant death; but he regained his sway over them all. But his Victim of Calvary is to conquer him forever, for this is He of whom it is written in the prophecy: “O death! I will be thy death!” Yet a few brief moments and the battle will be begun, and life shall vanquish death.
…Meanwhile, our risen Jesus, seen by no other mortal eye, has sped to His most holy Mother. He is the Son of God; He is the vanquisher of death; but He is, likewise, the Son of Mary. She stood near Him to the last, uniting the sacrifice of her mother’s heart with that He made upon the Cross; it is just, therefore, that she should be the first to partake of the joy of His resurrection. The Gospel does not relate the apparition thus made by Jesus to His Mother, whereas all the others are fully described. It is not difficult to assign the reason. The other apparitions were intended as proofs of the resurrection; this to Mary was dictated by the tender love borne to her by her Son. Both nature and grace required that His first visit should be to such a Mother, and Christian hearts dwell with delight on the meditation of the mystery. There was no need of its being mentioned in the Gospel; the tradition of the holy Fathers, beginning with St. Ambrose, bears sufficient testimony to it; and even had they been silent, our hearts would have told it us. And why was it that our Savior rose fro the tomb so early on the day He had fixed for His resurrection? It was because His filial love was impatient to satisfy the vehement longings of His dearest and most afflicted Mother. Such is the teaching of many pious and learned writers; and who that knows aught of Jesus and Mary could refuse to accept it?
Schedule Change: Easter Thursday April 13, 10am Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas: Due to Easter Week, the Thursday Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas will be at 10am this Thursday. The normal 7pm Latin Mass is canceled for this week only.
Latin Masses This Week & Easter Sunday
Wednesday – 6pm St. Ann (Easter Wednesday)
Thursday – 10am, St. Thomas Aquinas (Easter Thursday – see schedule change above)
Friday – 7am – St. Ann (Easter Friday)
Save the Date: Saturday April 22, 7pm (St. Thomas Aquinas) – Holy Face Presentation with Fr. Lawrence Carney: Fr. Lawrence Carney will be visiting St. Thomas Aquinas parish to give a special talk on Saturday April 22 at 7pm. Father is the head of the League of St. Martin, which promotes the Holy Face Devotion which has been promoted often in these update. Father offers the Latin Mass exclusively, is chaplain to the traditional Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, in Gower, Missouri, and has recently published a book with TAN Books, on the Holy Face devotion: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/tan-books/the-secret-of-the-holy-face/ To learn more about his work please visit: https://www.martinians.org/ (Please see attached flyer for event information)
Fr. Carney will also be offering and preaching the 11:30am Latin Mass on Sunday April 23. Please make all efforts to attend this important talk.
Holy Face Devotions
St Mark – Mondays at 5pm
St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the main church
St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the chapel after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, Main Church
Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?
Easter Evening: The Road to Emmaus – Dom Prosper Gueranger, OSB
To conclude today’s update as it began, we share excerpts from Dom Gueranger’s continued Easter reflection from his book, The Liturgical Year, specifically the fifth and last appearance Our Lord made on Easter Sunday evening, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus:
The Day of Jesus’ Resurrection is fast drawing to its close. It is the day honoured by God with the greatest of all miracles: it is the most important day that has ever dawned upon the world since Light was first created: but the night will soon be upon us, shadowing the brightness of the great day. Four times has our Redeemer appeared. He would now manifest Himself to the whole of His Apostles, and thus enable them to know by their own experience what they have, a few hours since, learned from Peter’s testimony. But, leaving, for a few moments longer, these men, whom He honours with the name of Brethren, and who now believe in His Resurrection, He would first console two hearts that are grieving on His account, though their grief comes from their want of faith.
Two men are traversing the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, slowly and sadly. They are evidently suffering from some cruel disappointment; nay, they give one the idea that a motive of fear impels them to leave the city. They had been Disciples of Jesus; but the ignominious and violent death of this Master, in whom they had had such confidence, has filled their hearts with bitter despondency. They were ashamed of having joined themselves with one who is not what they took Him to be. They had hid themselves after His execution; but the report having been spread of His sepulcher having been broken into, and the Body taken away, they resolve to seek a safer refuge. Jesus’ enemies have great power, and are doubtless busy taking proceedings against those who have dared to break the seal of the sepulcher. Perhaps all that have had any connection with this Jesus will be arraigned before the public tribunal.
Whilst thus conferring with each other on the sad events of the last few days, a stranger overtakes them and walks with them. It is Jesus. So absorbed are they in their own sorrow, that they do not recognize Him. The same happens to us, when we give way to feelings of human grief, we lose sight of that God who comes to cheer us by His presence along the path of our exile…
…At length, Jesus makes himself known to our two incredulous disciples. They have placed him at the head of the table; it is for him to break the bread. He takes it into his divine hands, as he did at the Last Supper; and no sooner has he divided the bread and given them their portion, than their eyes are opened, and they recognize their guest as Jesus, the risen Jesus. They would throw themselves at his feet—but he has disappeared, leaving them mute with surprise, and yet transported with exceeding joy. It is the fifth apparition. It is described by St Luke, and forms the Gospel of tomorrow’s Mass (Easter Monday).
The two disciples cannot wait; though so late in the evening, they must hurry back to Jerusalem, and tell the Apostles that their Master is living, that they have seen him, and talked with him. They therefore leave Emmaus, where they thought to pass the night, and are soon back in the city from which they had tremblingly fled. They are soon with the Apostles; but they find them already aware of the glad tidings, and fervent in their faith of the Resurrection. Before they have time to open their lips, the Apostles exclaim: ‘The Lord hath truly risen, and hath appeared unto Simon!’[41] The two disciples then relate what has just happened to themselves.
Laudetur Iesus Christus! Today is the second Sunday of Passiontide, Palm Sunday. As custom, we share a helpful reflection on today’s Collect, which marks the beginning of the holiest week of the liturgical year: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/03/the-collect-of-palm-sunday.html We also share some customs for the day:
1st Sunday Latin Masses in Salisbury and St. Thomas Aquinas Potluck
Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury will offer its 1st Sunday Latin Mass at 4pm. Mass is offered by Fr. Joseph Wasswa and Confessions will be offered prior to, and after, Mass. There will not be a social after Mass. For more information please contact the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at: www.salisburylmc.org
At St. Thomas Aquinas, there will be the monthly potluck after the 11:30am Latin Mass. Attendees are asked to bring a dish, desert or drink to share.
Latin Masses This Week & Easter Sunday
Wednesday – 6pm St. Ann parish (Feria of Holy Week, also known as Spy Wednesday)
Holy Week (Holy Thursday – Saturday): There will not be a Latin Easter Triduum at St. Ann or at St. Thomas Aquinas this year.
Easter Sunday: Normal Sunday Latin Mass schedule as announced. 11:30am (St. Thomas Aquinas) & 12:30pm (St. Ann)
Save the Date: Saturday April 22, 7pm (St. Thomas Aquinas) – Holy Face Presentation with Fr. Lawrence Carney: We are pleased to share that Fr. Lawrence Carney will be visiting St. Thomas Aquinas parish on Saturday April 22 at 7pm. Father is the head of the League of St. Martin, which promotes the Holy Face Devotion which we have shared much about. He offers the Latin Mass exclusively, is chaplain to the traditional Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, in Gower, Missouri, and has recently published a book with TAN Books on the Holy Face devotion: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/tan-books/the-secret-of-the-holy-face/ To learn more about his work please visit: https://www.martinians.org/
Community News
Holy Face Devotions
St Mark – Mondays at 5pm
St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the main church
St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the chapel after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, Main Church
Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?
Latin Mass & Traditional News
New Shrine Dedicated to Blessed Karl of Austria: Yesterday, Saturday April 1, was the 101st anniversary of Blessed Karl’s passing into eternal life. He was the last reigning Catholic monarch in Europe and exiled to the Portuguese island of Madeira where he died. His body was found incorrupt and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004. The CLMC has hosted many talks on him over the years, including one by Bishop Athanasius Schneider. We are pleased to share that a parish in Minnesota has just dedicated a new Shrine to Blessed Karl. The article was written by John Sonnen, who attends Latin Mass here locally: https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2023/03/new-shrine-dedicated-to-blessed-karl-by.html (To learn more about Blessed Karl visit: https://www.emperorcharles.org/)
Book Recommendation: Frequent Confession by Fr. Benedict Bauer, OSB: The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter’s bookstore is recommending a reprint of a book by the early 20th century spiritual writer, Dom Benedict Bauer, OSB, on Confession and how to derive more fruit out of this sacrament. To learn more visit: https://fraternitypublications.com/product/frequent-confession/
Solemn High Mass offered at Our Lady of Birnbaum in Germany: Priests and seminarians from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter’s (FSSP) seminary in Germany took a trip to the beautiful sanctuary of Our Lady of Birnbaum near Munich to celebrate a Solemn High Mass for the feast of St. Joseph this past Monday. While the article is in French, the pictures of the sublime liturgy are universal in conveying the beauty of the Mass: https://fsspwigratzbad.blogspot.com/2023/03/2023-messe-solennelle-maria-birnbaum.html
The Chapters of Passiontide: Last year, Fr. William Rock, FSSP, wrote an article on the little “chapter” readings contained in the Divine Office for this Passiontide season and which helps to call everyone to reparation for their sins: https://fssp.com/the-chapters-of-passiontide/:
Palm Sunday Reflection – Dom Prosper Gueranger, OSB
To close this update, we share the great 19th century liturgist, Dom Prosper Gueranger’s reflection for Palm Sunday, in his book, The Liturgical Year:
“Early in the morning of this day, Jesus sets out for Jerusalem, leaving Mary, his Mother, and the two sisters Martha and Mary Magdalene, and Lazarus, at Bethania. The Mother of Sorrows trembles at seeing her Son thus expose himself to danger, for his enemies are bent upon his destruction; but it is not Death, it is Triumph, that Jesus is to receive today in Jerusalem The Messias, before being nailed to the Cross, is to be proclaimed King by the people of the great City; the little children are to make her streets echo with their Hosannas to the Son of David; and this in presence of the soldiers of Rome’s Emperor, and of the High Priests and Pharisees—the first, standing under the banner of their Eagles; the second, dumb with rage.
The Prophet Zachary had foretold this Triumph which the Son of Man was to receive a few days before his Passion, and which had been prepared for him from all eternity. Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Sion! Shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold thy King will come to thee; the Just and the Savior. He is poor, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass. Jesus, knowing That the hour was come for the fulfillment of this prophecy, singles out two from the rest of his Disciples, and bids them lead him to an ass and her colt, which they would find not far off. He had got to Bethphage, on Mount Olivet. The two Disciples lose no time in executing the order given them by their divine Master; and the ass and the colt are soon brought to the place where he stands.
The holy Fathers have explained to us the mystery of these two animals. The ass represents the Jewish people, which had been long under the yoke of the Law; the colt, upon which, as the Evangelist says, no man yet hath sat, is a figure of the Gentile world, which no one had ever yet brought into subjection. The future of these two people is to be decided in a few days hence: the Jews will be rejected for having refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messias; the Gentiles will take their place, be adopted as God’s people, and become docile and faithful.
The Disciples spread their garments upon the colt; and our Savior, that the prophetic figure might be fulfilled, sat upon him, and advances towards Jerusalem. As soon as it was known that Jesus was near the City, the Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of those Jews who had come, from all parts, to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. They go out to meet our Lord, holding palm branches in their hands, and loudly proclaiming him to be King. They that had accompanied Jesus from Bethania join the enthusiastic crowd. While some spread their garments on the way, others cut down boughs from the Palm trees, and strewed them along the road. Hosanna is the triumphant cry, proclaiming to the whole city that Jesus, the Son of David, has made his entrance as her King.
Thus did God, in his power over men’s hearts, procure a triumph for his Son, and in the very City which, a few days after, was to clamor for his Blood. This day was one of glory to our Jesus, and the holy Church would have us renew, each year, the memory of this triumph of the Man-God. Shortly after the Birth of our Emmanuel, we saw the Magi coming from the extreme East, and looking in Jerusalem for the King of the Jews, to whom they intended offering their gifts and their adoration: but it is Jerusalem herself that now goes forth to meet this King. Each of these events is an acknowledgement of the Kingship of Jesus: the first, from the Gentiles; the second, from the Jews. Both were to pay him this regal homage before he suffered his Passion…
…Jesus begins his reign upon the earth this very day; and though the first Israel is soon to disclaim his rule, a new Israel, formed from the faithful few of the old, shall rise up in every nation of the earth, and become the Kingdom of Christ, a kingdom such as no mere earthly monarch ever coveted in his wildest fancies of ambition.”
Laudetur Iesus Christus! This Sunday April 2nd is first Sunday and we have two events to share:
1st Sunday Latin Mass at Sacred Heart in Salisbury
Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury will offer its 1st Sunday Latin Mass at 4pm this Sunday. Mass is offered by Fr. Joseph Wasswa and Confessions will be offered prior to, and after, Mass. There will not be a social after Mass. For more information please contact the Salisbury Latin Mass Community at www.salisburylmc.org
1st Sunday Potluck at St. Thomas Aquinas
Sunday there will be the monthly potluck after the 11:30am Latin Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. Attendees are asked to bring a dish, desert or drink to share.
Lastly, we also share that St. Thomas Aquinas is offering its first Saturday 10am Latin Mass this Saturday April 1, followed by its monthly traditional blessing of religious objects at 11am in the narthex.
Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday marks the beginning of the two-week period within Lent called Passiontide, where the faithful focus more specifically on Our Blessed Lord’s Passion. As noted in the below commentary images are veiled, and the Judica Me, and the Gloria Patri, are omitted from the Mass henceforth until Easter, as noted in the commentary on the propers for Sunday’s Latin Mass: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/03/the-secret-for-passion-sunday.html
Latin Masses This Week
Wednesday March 29, 6pm – St. Ann parish (Feria of Passiontide, e.g. no feast day)
Thursday March 30, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria of Passiontide)
Friday March 31, 7am (St. Ann) & 12:30pm (St. Mark), (Feria of Passiontide or Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Saturday April 1, 10am – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria of Passiontide and First Saturday); traditional blessing of religious objects after Mass
St. Mark Latin Mass Ends This Friday March 31: Sadly, as noted from the pulpit and bulletin over the past few weeks, due to the new restrictions from Rome, the St. Mark parish Latin Mass will end this Friday March 31 on the commemoration of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is indeed sorrowful news, but let us offer prayers of thanksgiving for seven years this weekly Latin Mass has been offered by St. Mark priests and the countless souls it has supported and nourished.
Community News
Holy Face Devotions
St Mark – Mondays at 5pm
St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the main church
St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the chapel after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, Main Church
Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
French bishop moves to end Traditional Latin Mass standoff: In an encouraging sign, a French diocese has now allowed a Latin Mass community to use a chapel for their weekly Sunday Latin Masses. For the past several years, the Latin Mass was offered outside on the steps of a hospital chapel near Paris, in various types of weather. This breakthrough development came after the diocese of Versailles and the Latin Mass community met and discussed the situation recently. https://www.pillarcatholic.com/french-bishop-moves-to-end-traditional-latin-mass-standoff/
Lady Day (March 25): Dr. Mike Foley has penned another informative feast day article. This time it is for yesterday’s feast of the Annunciation (Lady Day), and discusses the history and customs surrounding this important feast day of the Incarnation and Our Lady’s “Fiat”: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/03/lady-day.html#.ZB51PvbMKHt
Our Holy Emperor in Heaven: This coming Saturday April 1, is the 101st anniversary of Blessed Karl von Habsburg of Austria’s death. Newcomers to the Latin Mass may ask, why do Latin Mass attendees and groups have a devotion to a recently beatified Catholic Emperor (2004)? What’s the connection to the Latin Mass and tradition? OnePeterFive answers this question with a helpful article examining the link between Blessed Karl and Latin Mass attendees: https://onepeterfive.com/holy-emperor-heaven/
Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage: Yesterday March 25, was the second semi-annual Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage in Washington DC – all to defend and support the Latin Mass and Pope Benedict’s 2007 Latin Mass Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum– which liberated the Latin Mass for the faithful. The prayerful and penitential event began in front of St. Thomas More Cathedral in the diocese of Arlington, VA and pilgrims processed the five mile route across the Key Bridge into the Archdiocese of Washington, DC to St. Matthew Cathedral. Rorate Caeli posted a picture here: https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2023/03/2023-national-summorum-pontificum.html and OnePeterFive provided some video which one can skim through (it covered all 3 hours), including a speech at the end in Washington: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq0aXIBSkOQ
Passiontide – Dom Prosper Gueranger
To close this update, we share a Passiontide reflection by Dom Prosper Gueranger, OSB, the great 19th century Benedictine liturgist who wrote The Liturgical Year, which we excerpt for brevity:
During the preceding four weeks, we have noticed how the malice of Jesus’ enemies has been gradually increasing. His very presence irritates them; and it is evident that any little circumstance will suffice to bring the deep and long nurtured hatred to a head The kind and gentle manners of Jesus are drawing to him all hearts that are simple and upright; at the same time, the humble life he leads, and the stern purity of his doctrines, are perpetual sources of vexation and anger, both to the proud Jew that looks forward to the Messias being a mighty conqueror, and to the Pharisee, who corrupts the Law of God, that he may make it the instrument of his own base passions. Still, Jesus goes on working miracles; his discourses are more than ever energetic; his prophecies foretell the fall of Jerusalem, and such a destruction of its famous Temple that not a stone is to be left on stone.
Everything around us urges us to mourn. The images of the Saints, the very crucifix on our Altar, are veiled from our sight. The Church is oppressed with grief. During the first four weeks of Lent, she compassionated her Jesus fasting in the desert; his coming Sufferings and Crucifixion and Death are what now fill her with anguish.
This Sunday is called Passion Sunday, because the Church begins on this day to make the Sufferings of our Redeemer her chief thought. It is called also Judica, from the first word of the Introit of the Mass; and again, Neomania, that is, the Sunday of the new (or, the Easter) moon, because it always falls after the new moon which regulates the Feast of Easter Day.
Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community (CLMC),
Laudetur Iesus Christus and blessed feast of St. Gabriel! Today March 24, is the traditional feast of St. Gabriel the Archangel, which is appropriately placed to herald tomorrow’s solemn feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, spoken by St. Gabriel to the Blessed Mother.
Tomorrow Saturday March 25, for the feast of the Annunciation, there will be an 8am Latin Mass at St. Ann parish. This will be the normal 4th Saturday Respect Life Latin Mass, followed by prayers for an end to abortion at Planned Parenthood, or a Holy Hour of Reparation in the church.
To learn more about these twin feast days we include excerpts from Dom Prosper Gueranger’s The Liturgical Year:
St. Gabriel the Archangel – March 24
Amidst the ineffable joys of Christmas night, we mingled our timid but glad voices with the hymns of these heavenly spirits, who sang around the crib of our Emmanuel. The very recollection brings joy to our hearts, saddened as they now are by penitential feelings and by the near approach of the mournful anniversary of our Jesus’ death. Let us, for a moment, interrupt our sadness, and keep the feast of the Archangel Gabriel. Later on, we shall have Michael, Raphael, and the countless host of the angel guardians; but to-day, the eve of the Annunciation, it is just that we should honour Gabriel. Tomorrow we shall see this heavenly ambassador of the blessed Trinity coming down to the Virgin of Nazareth; let us, therefore, recommend ourselves to him, and beseech him to teach us how to celebrate, in a becoming manner, the grand mystery of which he was the messenger.
Gabriel is one of the first of the angelic kingdom. He tells Zachary that he stands before the face of God.[1] He is the angel of the Incarnation, because it is in this mystery, which apparently is so humble, that the power of God is principally manifested: and Gabriel signifies the strength of God. We find the Archangel preparing for this sublime office, even in the old Testament. First of all, he appeared to Daniel, after this prophet had had the vision of the Persian and Grecian empires; and such was the majesty of his person that Daniel fell on his face trembling.[2] Shortly afterwards, he appeared again to the same prophet, telling him the exact time of the coming of the Messias: ‘Know thou and take notice: that from the going forth of the word to build up Jerusalem again, unto Christ the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks,’[3] that is, sixty-nine weeks of years.
When the fulness of time had come, and heaven was about to send the last of the prophets, who, after preaching to men the approach of the Messias, is to show Him to the people, saying: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world,’ Gabriel descends from heaven to the temple of Jerusalem, and prophesies to Zachary the birth of John the Baptist,[4] which was to be followed by that of Jesus Himself.
This is a great day, not only to man, but even to God Himself; for it is the anniversary of the most solemn event that time has ever witnessed. On this day, the divine Word, by whom the Father created the world, was made flesh in the womb of a virgin, and dwelt among us.[1] We must spend it in joy. Whilst we adore the Son of God who humbled Himself by thus becoming Man, let us give thanks to the Father, who so loved the world, as to give His only-begotten Son;[2] let us give thanks to the Holy Ghost, whose almighty power achieves the great mystery. We are in the very midst of Lent, and yet the ineffable joys of Christmas are upon us: our Emmanuel is conceived on this day, and, nine months hence, will be born in Bethlehem, and the angels will invite us to come and honour the sweet Babe.
The time has come for the fulfilment of this promise. The world has been in expectation for four thousand years; and the hope of its deliverance has been kept up, in spite of all its crimes. During this time, God has made use of miracles, prophecies, and types, as a renewal of the engagement He has entered into with mankind. The blood of the Messias has passed from Adam to Noe; from Sem to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; from David and Solomon to Joachim; and now it flows in the veins of Mary, Joachim’s daughter. Mary is the woman by whom is to be taken from our race the curse that lies upon it. God has decreed that she should be Immaculate; and has thereby set an irreconcilable enmity between her and the serpent. She, a daughter of Eve, is to repair all the injury done by her mother’s fall; she is to raise up her sex from the degradation into which it has been cast; she is to co-operate, directly and really, in the victory which the Son of God is about to gain over His and our enemy.
A tradition, which has come down from the apostolic ages, tells us that the great mystery of the Incarnation was achieved on the twenty-fifth day of March.[3] It was at the hour of midnight, when the most holy Virgin was alone and absorbed in prayer, that the Archangel Gabriel appeared before her, and asked her, in the name of the blessed Trinity, to consent to become the Mother of God. Let us assist, in spirit, at this wonderful interview between the angel and the Virgin: and, at the same time, let us think of that other interview which took place between Eve and the serpent. A holy bishop and marytr of the second century, Saint Irenæus, who had received the tradition from the very disciples of the apostles, shows us that Nazareth is the counterpart of Eden.[4]
Laudetur Iesus Christus! Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent, otherwise known Laetare Sunday, which in Latin means rejoice, and rose vestments are worn instead of violet, all to give the faithful encouragement that the joys of Easter and the resurrection are not far away. This is the midpoint of Lent, and as custom we provide commentary on the prayers for Sunday’s Mass: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/03/the-consoling-collect-of-laetare-sunday.html#.Yj_c6zUpCHs
We also note that at St. Thomas Aquinas at this Sunday’s Latin Mass, Fr. Codd will be wearing the recently made Rose vestments, which some individuals from our community as well as others, helped contribute toward last year.
Monday March 20 – Feast of St. Joseph (see note below)
Wednesday March 22, 6pm – St. Ann (Feria of Lent, e.g. no feast day)
Thursday March 23, 7pm – St. Thomas Aquinas (Feria of Lent)
Friday March 24, 7am (St. Ann) & 12:30pm (St. Mark), (Feast of St. Gabriel the Archangel)
Saturday March 25, 8am – St. Ann, (4th Saturday Respect Life Mass and Feast of the Annunciation)
Feast of St. Joseph – March 20
The feast of St. Joseph normally falls on March 19, but since that is the 4th Sunday of Lent, it is transferred to Monday March 20. There are no Latin Masses in Charlotte this day, but we do share three other diocesan Latin Masses in the region.
12 noon – Prince of Peace, 1209 Brushy Creek Road, Taylors, SC (2 hours southwest of Charlotte)
6:30pm – Our Lady of the Lake, 195 Amicks Ferry Rd Chapin, SC (2 hours south of Charlotte)
7pm – Our Lady of Grace, 2203 West Market Street, Greensboro, NC (1.5 hours north of Charlotte)
Below are a few recommended links about his life and devotion.
St Mark – Monday at 2pm (special time for Monday March 20 only)
St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesdays 6am in the main church
St. Ann – Tuesdays 7:30am in the chapel after the Novus Ordo Mass (uses the booklet/chaplet which takes 15-20 minutes)
St Michael the Archangel, Gastonia – Tuesdays, 9am, Main Church
Holy Spirit, Denver – Tuesdays 10-11am after the Novus Ordo Mass
Don’t see your parish? Why not organize one?
Latin Mass & Traditional News
Forgotten Customs of St. Patrick’s Day: Friday March 17 was the feast of St. Patrick, the patronal feast for the diocese (at least the Cathedral). OnePeterFive has an interesting article on the lost traditions of St. Patrick’s day: https://onepeterfive.com/forgotten-customs-st-patricks-day/
The Feast of St. Longinus: According to Roman Martyrology, March 15 was the feast of St. Longinus, the soldier who pierced Our Lord’s heart with the lance (and was converted), and Greg DiPippo has written an article on this feast and the Roman chapel which houses his relics: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/03/the-feast-of-st-longinus.html#.ZBI5MPbMKHs
Growing prayer apostolate seeks Christ’s Face in prayer: The Catholic Herald has an excellent article on the growth of the Holy Face devotion, which a growing following among the faithful, including Latin Mass attendees (and is featured in Sunday’s CLMC update). The article describes the background of this devotion and why it is spreading. To read the article visit: https://catholicnewsherald.com/88-news/fp/9071-growing-prayer-apostolate-seeks-christ-s-face-in-prayer
The Glories of St. Joseph by Dom Prosper Gueranger, OSB
As the feast of St. Joseph is tomorrow, we close this update with the writings of the great Benedictine liturgist, Dom Prosper Gueranger, who in his book, The Liturgical Year, described the importance of St. Joseph in salvation history.
“The Son of God, when about to descend upon this earth to assume our human nature, would have a Mother; this Mother could not be other than the purest of Virgins, and her divine maternity was not to impair her incomparable virginity. Until such time as the Son of Mary were recognized as the Son of God, His Mother’s honour had need of a protector: some man, therefore, was to be called to the high dignity of being Mary’s spouse. This privileged mortal was Joseph, the most chaste of men.
Heaven designated him as being the only one worthy of such a treasure: the rod he held in his hand in the temple suddenly produced a flower, as though it were a literal fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaias: ‘There shall come forth a rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root.’[1] The rich pretenders to an alliance with Mary were set aside; and Joseph was espoused to the Virgin of the house of David, by a union which surpassed in love and purity everything the angels themselves had ever witnessed.
But he was not only chosen to the glory of having to protect the Mother of the Incarnate Word; he was also called to exercise an adopted paternity over the very Son of God. So long as the mysterious cloud was over the Saint of saints, men called Jesus the Son of Joseph and the carpenter’s Son. When our blessed Lady found the Child Jesus in the temple, in the midst of the doctors, she thus addressed Him: ‘Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing’;[2] and the holy evangelist adds that Jesus was subject to them, that is, that He was subject to Joseph as He was to Mary…
…We ask, what mortal can justly appreciate the glories of St. Joseph? To do so, he would have to understand the whole of that mystery, of which God made him the necessary instrument. What wonder, then, if this foster-father of the Son of God was prefigured in the old Testament, and that by one of the most glorious of the patriarchs? Let us listen to St. Bernard, who thus compares the two Josephs: ‘The first was sold by his brethren, out of envy, and was led into Egypt, thus prefiguring our Saviour’s being sold; the second Joseph, that he might avoid Herod’s envy, led Jesus into Egypt. The first was faithful to his master, and treated his wife with honour; the second, too, was the most chaste guardian of his bride, the Virgin Mother of his Lord. To the first was given the understanding and interpretation of dreams; to the second, the knowledge of, and participation in, the heavenly mysteries. The first laid up stores of corn, not for himself, but for all the people; the second received the living Bread that came down from heaven, and kept It both for himself and for the whole world.’[4]”
Laudetur Iesus Christus! Please see the below announcement for the feast of St. Joseph potluck occurring this Sunday March 19 after the 12:30pm Latin Mass at St. Ann parish. It is sponsored by St. Ann Homeschool Ministry. They are also inviting people to bring a food pantry donations as well. Please see attached flyer and see their signup page for the potluck: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0848aba728aafa7-stjoseph#/
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Please join us for a St. Joseph Feast Day Celebration! See the attached flyer. This event is sponsored by the homeschool ministry and open to the entire parish. Please invite your friends and bring an Italian dish to share!
WHEN: March 19, 2023 | 1:30pm-3:00pm
WHERE: St. Ann Allen Center Cafe
WHAT: Italian Themed Family Potluck
Litany of St. Joseph
St. Joseph Altar
Food Pantry Collection
Door Prizes
Children’s Activities
The St. Joseph altar will be displayed in the cafe on Friday, March 17th at 3:00pm until the conclusion of the potluck on Sunday. Please bring your Food Pantry donations to the altar any time over the weekend. If you are providing bread or desserts for the potluck, those items may also be placed at the altar in advance.
This Saturday March 18 is the annual Catholic Men’s Conference of the Carolinas at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. Charles Fraune, Latin Mass devotee, St. Thomas Aquinas parishioner, and author of Slaying Dragons, will be one of the featured speakers. As readers may recall, he also spoke at the Fatima Center talk a few weeks ago. The conference runs from 8:30 – 3:30pm and registration is required. To learn more or purchase a ticket visit: https://www.catholicmenofthecarolinas.org/
Charlotte Latin Mass Community 