Laudetur Iesus Christus! Just a reminder, our next Latin Mass class will be Wednesday February 1 at 7pm in the St. Ann’s Allen Center.   Father Jason Barone will explore the importance of Latin, as the church’s official language and its beauty.

The presentation will answer many questions including:

• How did Latin become the Church’s language?
• Why does the Church still use Latin?
• How is Latin uniquely suited for the Mass? 

Class will be preceded by 6pm Latin Mass in the church and a free light dinner will be served by the Charlotte Latin Mass Community.  Class is open to newcomers and regulars alike.

While the event is free, an RSVP is greatly appreciated for headcount purposes by Monday January 30th.  To RSVP, please visit our contact page.

Blessing of Candles after class: Also since February 1^st is the Vigil of the Feast of Candles (Candlemas), Father Barone has kindly agreed to bless all candles (an ancient custom) after the class. If you have candles you would like blessed, please bring them to the class and Father will bless them in the traditional rite. If you haven’t ordered any and would like to, here are a few sites that sell candles including 100% pure beeswax candles. May need to check for expedited shipping:

http://www.luxcandlecompany.com/

http://www.autom.com/category/church-suppies-candles-altar-candles-beeswax-stearine

http://www.saintsmaryandmarthaorthodoxmonastery.org/candles.html

P.S. While we will have Mass on Feb 1^st, regretfully there will not be a special Latin Mass for Candlemas (Feb 2^nd) this year (though St. Michael’s does offer a regular Low Mass Thursday mornings). God willing perhaps we can have Candlemas next year.

In the interim, if you’re not familiar with Candlemas, Below is a great article written a few years ago about it. It’s worth a read: https://liturgyguy.com/2014/01/10/regarding-candles-and-sacrifice/

Just a reminder St. Mark parish in Huntersville is hosting a special Solemn High Orchestral Latin Mass this Sunday January 15 at 7pm. Music will be offered by the wonderful Carolina Catholic Chorale. St. Mark parish is located 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville (off I-77).

Separately, Sacred Heart parish in Salisbury continues to offer Sunday Latin Masses on these following dates:

Sunday January 22, 4pm

Sunday February 19, 4pm

If you are able, please consider attending one of these Salisbury Masses to help support the small faithful group keeping Latin Mass flame burning up there.  Please also consider offering a decade for the restoration of their Sunday 4pm Mass, as having another Sunday Latin Mass would be great assistance to the Latin Mass faithful.

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We are pleased to announce our next Latin Mass class will be Wednesday February 1 at 7pm in the St. Ann’s Allen Center.  Please mark your calendars.

Our very own, Father Jason Barone will explore the importance of Latin, as the church’s official language and its beauty.

The presentation will answer many questions including:

• How did Latin become the Church’s language?
• Why does the Church still use Latin?
• How is Latin uniquely suited for the Mass?

Class will be preceded by 6pm Latin Mass in the church and a free light dinner will be served by the Charlotte Latin Mass Community.  Class is open to newcomers and regulars alike.

While the event is free, an RSVP is greatly appreciated for headcount purposes by Monday January 30th.  To RSVP please view our e-mail sign up page and mention your RSVP.

https://charlottelatinmass.org/e-mail-sign-up/

Dear friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community,

Please see the following update related to the snow and Epiphany wrap-up.

St. Mark Latin Mass rescheduled for next Sunday, Jan 15

Speaking of the snow, it has unfortunately forced the cancelation of the special Solemn High Orchestral Latin Mass at St. Mark parish scheduled for tomorrow Sunday January 8. The Mass has now been rescheduled for Sunday January 15^th at 7pm. That’s the only cancellation we’re aware of.  As always, please check the parish website for the most current Mass information.

Epiphany wrap-up

We wanted to thank the 50 or so faithful who braved the weather to attend last night’s Epiphany Blessing and Low Mass. We also wanted to especially thank Fr. Barone for offering this special Mass, and blessing the water, salt, chalk, gold jewelry, frankincense, and myrrh. It may have also been the only actual Epiphany Mass offered in a parish yesterday.  Please offer him a few Hail Mary’s today for him in thanksgiving.

The Catholic News & Herald also published a nice article about the Epiphany Vigil Latin Mass at Charlotte Catholic High School on Thursday. You can view it here:

http://catholicnewsherald.com/88-news/fp/1225-celebrating-the-epiphany-with-latin-high-mass

Epiphany Blessing kits

The CLMC hopes to provide Epiphany kits with blessed chalk and holy salt possibly tomorrow or next Sunday (we’re not sure they’ll be ready). Once ready, the kits will also be in the St. Ann’s narthex during the week. The CLMC did arrange for extra supplies of Epiphany holy water to be in the St. Ann’s narthex. It’s in the regular silver holy water font while quantities last.

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We are pleased to report that Father Jason Barone has kindly agreed to offer the Epiphany Holy Water blessing on Thursday (tomorrow) and Friday at these times:

Thursday Jan 5 (Vigil of Epiphany): 6pm Holy Water Blessing, 6:30pm Sung Latin Mass, Charlotte Catholic High School Chapel (7702 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226)

Friday Jan 6 (Epiphany): 5:30 pm Holy Water Blessing, 6pm Low Mass St. Ann (3635 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209)

If you would like to have water blessed:

• Bring your own container filled with water (no smaller than a quart) – large containers are fine
• Arrive 15 minutes before the blessing
• Leave your container open when placing it — Father will need to place a pinch of Holy Salt inside it.

We’re not sure if the blessing will be in the narthex or in the sanctuary – you’ll have to see when you arrive.

Epiphany Holy Water Blessing 2016 – Charlotte Catholic High School Chapel

Laudetur Iesus Christus on this the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus and the 9^th day of the Octave of Christmas.   We have 2 important Masses to report on this week:

Feast of the Epiphany – Friday January 6, 6:00pm Low Mass at St. Ann: The 7am Latin Mass has been transferred to a special 6pm Latin Mass for Epiphany (thus no 7am Mass this Friday morning).  Also please stay tuned, we are awaiting details on whether an Epiphany Holy Water blessing will occur this week at St. Ann’s.

Feast of the Holy Family Orchestral Solemn High Latin Mass, Sunday January 8, at 7:00pm (St. Mark): We joyfully report that St. Mark parish in Huntersville will host their very first public Solemn High Mass, for the Feast of the Holy Family this Sunday evening January 8. The music will feature the Carolina Catholic Chorale who will present “the Mass in A”, by Antonio Caldara.  All CLMC faithful are encouraged to attend to support this Latin Mass at a new location. St. Mark is located at 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville (Off I-77 between exits 23 & 25).

Also, we are delighted to report that St. Mark recently announced that during Lent, they will offer Friday Latin Masses at 12:30pm. We are glad to welcome this growing parish to our Latin Mass “family”.  Please offer prayers for their priests for graciously responding to the requests of the parishioners.

Laudetur Iesus Christus on this the 5^th day within the Octave of Christmas.  Below is our weekend Mass schedule and other news:

Saturday December 31 – Vigil of the Feast of the Circumcision: 11pm High Mass, St. Michael’s in Gastonia; followed by Holy Hour from 12am  – 1am New Years Day.

Sunday: January 1 – Feast of the Circumcision: As custom, there will be a 12:30 PM High Mass at St. Ann’s Sunday Jan 1^st. (No Confessions Jan 1 as in prior years)

Sunday January 1 – Latin Mass Young Adults Lunch: The Latin Mass Young Adults group will go out to lunch after the 12:30pm Latin Mass Sunday. All young adults in their 20s or 30s are invited (even those who don’t attend Latin Mass).

Plenary Indulgences for December 31 and January 1: You may obtain two plenary indulgences this weekend by reciting the Te Deum on December 31 and the Veni Creator on January 1. Per Fr. Reid, conditions to receive indulgence: One must be baptized and in the state of grace, be free from an attachment to sin, go to confession within 20 days, receive Holy Communion on the day of the indulgence, and offer prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (a Creed and an Our Father will suffice) – adapted from his Oct 30^th Bulletin letter.

Recommended reading – Children and the Latin Mass: Lastly, The International Una Voce Federation, a group devoted to the promotion of the traditional liturgy, has released its latest position paper detailing how the Latin Mass is uniquely suited for young children compared to the Novus Ordo Mass. It’s worth a read.

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2016/12/childen-new-position-paper.html

Looking ahead:

Feast of the Epiphany, Friday January 6, 6pm – St. Ann parish. Fr. Barone will offer a Low Mass that evening. The 7am Friday Latin Mass for Jan 6 is canceled due to this evening Mass.

Feast of the Holy Family, Sunday January 8, 7pm – St. Mark parish in Huntersville. Solemn High Orchestral Mass with the Carolina Catholic Chorale.

December 26, 2016

Laudetur Iesus Christus and Merry Christmas! — on this the 2^nd day within the Octave of Christmas (and St. Stephen’s Day).  We wanted to thank the record 390 faithful souls who attended the First Midnight Latin Mass as well as Fr. Reid, the St. Ann’s schola, Cantate Domino Latin Choir and the families who spontaneously provided the hot cocoa and treats – their efforts made for a solemn and festive night of Our Lord’s birth.

This week: All daily Latin Masses are canceled at St. Ann’s this week. There is a typo in the bulletin and Wednesday Latin Mass is also canceled. Other parishes that offer Latin Masses:

Wednesday December 28 – Feast of Holy Innocents: St. Thomas Aquinas parish will offer High Mass at 10 am.
Thursday December 29 – Feast of St. Thomas Beckett: St. Michael parish in Gastonia will offer a Low Mass at 8:15 am.

Monday (Today) December 26 – Latin Mass in Tryon, NC 11am: For those visiting near the mountains, Father Barone will offer an 11 AM Latin Mass at St. John’s parish in Tryon.

Tuesday December 27 – Traditional (1962) Blessing of Wine after 9am English Mass, St. Mark parish:  Tuesday Dec. 27^th is the Feast of St. John, the patron of wine (great story – read here) and with all regular Latin Mass priests on a well deserved break, Fr. Cory Catron at St. Mark has kindly agreed to bless wine for us in the Traditional Rite of 1962. This 2^nd annual CLMC wine blessing will occur Tuesday after the 9am Novus Ordo (English) Mass at St. Mark parish.  Please bring your favorite wine.  St. Mark’s address is 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, NC 28078

Sunday: January 1 – Feast of the Circumcision: As custom, there will be a 12:30 PM High Mass Sunday Jan 1^st at St. Ann.   St. Michael in Gastonia will offer a Vigil Mass on New Years Eve, Saturday December 31 at 11:00 PM with Holy Hour from 12midnight – 1 am New Years Day.

Sunday January 1 – Latin Mass Young Adults Lunch: The Latin Mass Young Adults group will go out to lunch after the 12:30pm Latin Mass Sunday. All young adults in their 20s or 30s are invited (even those who don’t attend Latin Mass).

December 24, 2016

Dear friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community,

Laudetur Iesus Christus and happy Feast of Saints Adam & Eve!  In the ancient Church our first parents were traditionally commemorated on this day of the Vigil of Christmas and some traditions hold that after their original sin, they repented and never sinned again – for 930 years!

Speaking of tradition, we are having our first diocesan Midnight Latin Masses in Charlotte this year and wanted to share with you a little of the symbolism and importance of the Christmas Masses in the Traditional rite. I’m sourcing these from Fisheaters.com and a recent talk given by Fr. Innocent Smith, OP of New York who based it off of St. Thomas Aquinas’ writings.  NOTE: Our summary is just a layman’s effort and not authoritative or exhaustive.

There are 3 Latin Masses for Christmas, Midnight, Dawn, and Day: Each represent the three-fold Nativity of Christ and the Masses are all connected to each other, becoming a sort of a triduum (like Easter) or a trilogy.  The 3 Masses are:

Midnight Mass: “The Angels’” Mass, symbolizing Christ’s eternal birth, which takes place before creation, hidden from Men. Thus Mass is offered in the hidden darkness at Midnight.  According to tradition, Christ was born at Midnight.

Mass at Dawn: “The Shepherds’” Mass, symbolizing the spiritual birth of Christ into our hearts, where He, the Sun, is like “the morning star that rise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). Thus typically Mass is offered at dawn or early morning when daylight is breaking. The text of Mass focuses on the coming light of Christ that will shine on mankind.

Mass at Day: “The Kings’” Mass, symbolizing the temporal and bodily nativity of Christ, which He processes to us in a visible and bodily form, having put on the flesh. Thus Mass is offered in full daylight as He is now fully visible to men.  The text of Mass (at least the Introit) focuses on Christ’s humanity.  (N.B. Others like liturgist Dom Gueranger have a different order of the 3 Masses than St. Thomas)

With this rich symbolism, some traditional Catholics have even started to redevelop a devotion to the Incarnation by attending all 3 Masses (where available). God willing, in the future and with more Latin Mass priests, may we in Charlotte be blessed to have that option.  Please offer some prayers up for our Latin Mass priests at Mass Sunday, who often do so much for us and Tradition, on such limited time.

On behalf of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community, Merry Christmas!

P.S. When was Christ Born?  Lastly, this question occasionally arises this time of year – when exactly was Christ born? Some argue we don’t know the date or that its inaccurate. We will close with this question:  Does not a mother always remember when her child was born – especially if the child was the Messiah?   The Blessed Mother never forgot:  It was always December 25, 1 B.C. Source: The dates of the birth and death of Jesus Christ,  by General Hugues de Nanteuil.

Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community,

Laudetur Iesus Christus!

We have two bits of wonderful news to share!

1. Friday December 23rd:  Father Reid has just informed us that this Friday December 23rd, there will be a Latin Mass at 8:30 am (instead of the usual time of 7:00 am).

This new announcement is a change from the earlier announcement that the 7:00 am Latin Mass was to be cancelled this week.  … So the Latin Mass has been reinstated, but for this week only it has been moved to 8:30 am time slot.

Remember that the daily Latin Masses are typically cancelled on holidays and on days when the parish office is closed.  … but this week since the St. Ann’s Elementary School is on Christmas vacation, it made sense to Father to substitute the regular novus ordo school Mass for the Latin Mass.

Of note, for those who follow traditional Catholic devotions, there is a traditional abstinence and fasting devotion for Christmas Eve that was transferred to December 23rd and extended to “all the faithful of the Catholic world” by a decree of Pope (St.) John XXIII.

This is a great and unsolicited gift to our parish by Father Reid.  Since this year December 23rd also falls on a Friday it will be further sanctified with the regular Friday abstinence.  Starting this day with a Traditional Latin Mass will be a nice holy trifecta… a great way to begin this special day and to prepare our hearts for the coming Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Christmas Midnight Mass update from Choir Director Teresa Rowe:  A reminder that the Christmas Midnight Mass this year will be a High Latin Mass (Missa Cantata).  The Mass will be preceded by a one half hour choral program, beginning at 11:30 pm, offered by the excellent Cantate Domino Latin Choir & the St. Ann Latin Schola.

The Mass Ordinary will have organ accompaniment on the Missa deAngelis.  There will also be two Christmas Hymns, Adeste fideles (processional) & Silent Night (recessional).  The Mass Propers will be chanted.