Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community (CLMC),

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We know it’s a busy week but please read carefully the following schedule updates (Especially #3):

1. Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle – Wednesday December 21^st: St. Ann’s will offer its usual 6pm Low Mass for the church’s great evangelizer. To learn more about St. Thomas’ amazing missionary work we recommend this excellent sermon preached by a good priest in another diocese (I’m sure Fr. Reid or  Fr. B could do an equally good one too!).  You can listen here: http://romans10seventeen.org/audio-files/20051218-Saint-Thomas-the-Apostle-Preaching-the-Gospel-to-the-New-World.mp3

2. Liturgy & Fraternity canceled tomorrow: There will be no Liturgy & Fraternity after Mass on Wednesday evening.

3. Friday December 23^rd Mass? – The 7am Latin Mass this Friday at St. Ann’s is canceled. Father may consider offering a Latin Mass that morning – if so we will try to post an update.
   

4. Christmas & New Year’s schedule:
   Sunday December 25:

St. Ann’s 12 Midnight High Mass
St. Michael in Gastonia, 12 Midnight Solemn High Mass
(N.B. – Midnight means 12 midnight on early Sunday morning December 25 – thus attendees technically arrive late evening on Dec 24.  Some are confused when December 25 begins)

Saturday December 31 & Sunday January 1^st (Feast of the Circumcision):  

Saturday December 31^st: St. Michael’s in Gastonia 11pm vigil Latin Mass (Low) followed by Holy Hour from 12am – 1am
Sunday January 1^st: St. Ann – 12:30pm Latin High Mass as custom on Sundays

5. Christmas Week Masses: Check the St. Ann bulletin on Christmas Day as the weekday Latin Mass schedule may be limited or canceled next week.

6. Christmas Gifts for St. Ann’s: St. Ann’s has been a wonderful home to the Latin Mass but now the parish needs our help as the parish incurred some costly repairs, both in the Allen Center, and in the church. Please read Fr. Reid’s bulletin message this week and prayerfully consider whether you can help offset these costs this Christmas. Bulletin: http://www.stanncharlotte.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/bulletin-December-18.pdf

Thanks for your patience in reading. We close by passing Fr. Barone’s advice in yesterday sermon: Let us spend this extra-long 4^th week of Advent to withdraw a little from the world to focus more on the Incarnation.

St. Ann Parish: Sunday December 25^th, Midnight High Latin Mass, with the blessing and erection of the new Infant of Prague Shrine (if it’s ready).

Please note, Midnight Mass will be the ONLY Latin Mass at St. Ann for Sunday December 25th (the 12:30pm Mass is canceled).

St. Michael parish in Gastonia: Sunday December 25^th, Midnight Solemn High Latin Mass

Feast of Circumcision January 1st:

Saturday December 31st – St. Michael, Gastonia: 11pm Low Latin Mass (Vigil), followed by Holy Hour 12 am – 1am.

Sunday January 1st – St. Ann, 12:30pm High Mass as normal

Laudetur Iesus Christus! We have several updates to share with you in this 3^rd week of Advent.

Ember Week

We have now entered into the 3^rd week of advent, and it is also Ember Week, the quarterly time of year where Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays are penitential days where the Church has traditionally focused on contemplating the glory of God’s creation.  We faithful are also encouraged to pray for the sanctification of our souls for the upcoming natural season.  To learn more about the Ember Days, please visit: http://www.fisheaters.com/emberdays.html. Gratefully, St. Ann’s will offer Ember Day Masses on Wednesday and Friday at normal times (and Saturday – but see below).

Rorate Mass this Saturday (December 17^th)

St. Ann will offer it’s annual Rorate Mass this Saturday December 17^th at 6:30am.  As Father Reid noted yesterday it’s one of the most beautiful liturgies this side of the veil of heaven. Please come. More information on the Rorate Mass can be found in this great article written by our very own Brian Williams who is a contributor at OnePeterFive

Annual blessing of religious items this Sunday (December 18^th)

It’s the last Sunday before Christmas, and the CLMC will again set up a “Blessings table” where you can have any religious items/gifts blessed by Father (thank you!).  After 12:30pm Mass this Sunday December 18th , Father will immediately bless (in the traditional rite) any religious items you have.

This includes: pictures, rosaries, statues, candles, salt, water (to be Holy Water), wine, medals, oils, etc. 

We will have the table set up by 12pm before Mass begins. Anyone wanting items to be blessed must place them on or below the table PRIOR TO MASS (no exceptions).

Laudetur Iesus Christus!  Greetings as we approach the end of the first week of Advent.  This season in the traditional calendar is so rich with amazing feast days spanning the glorification of Holy Saints, Martyrs, Apostles, & Marion feasts — bringing such a dazzling flurry of liturgical colors.  Be sure to thank your priests, servers, and all those in the choir loft every time you see them, as this time of year demands so much from them.

We have a fair amount of updates and reminders for the coming week:

1. St. Ann Latin Mass Attendance: I am happy to report that our average weekly attendance at St. Ann’s is growing … albeit slowly.  There has been some variability over the holidays, however, the weekly averages are positive.  Last week, at 256 souls, we had one of our largest attendances of the year.  Please continue to pray for our continued growth.  We have been told that the greater our Sunday Latin Mass attendance, the more of our requests and spiritual needs can be met.

2. Traditional Liturgical Calendars:  For those who attend the Latin Mass … or even those who follow Traditional Catholic spiritually in their devotional life, now is the time to order 2017 wall calendars.  Only a limited number are printed, and once they sell out it is difficult to find them.  I am sure there are a few different publishers who make a wall calendar, but the two sellers that I know the best are made by the Fraternity of St. Peter and the Transalpine Redemptorists of Papa Stronsay.

3. Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation):  Next Thursday (December 8th) is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  This is a Holy Day of Obligation.  The Charlotte area will have two Latin Masses offered on this Feast Day:

— St. Ann will be offering a Latin Mass at 7:00 pm.  This will be a sung Mass that will be further sanctified by the voices of the Cantate Domino Latin Choir.  This choir is amazing.

— St. Michael the Archangel in Gastonia will also offer a 8:15 am Latin Mass as per their normal schedule.

Note: If you can not make one of these two Mass times, the Mass obligation can also be satisfied by attending one of the regularly scheduled Wednesday evening Mass times at either St. Ann at 6pm or at St. Thomas Aquinas at 7pm.

4. Rorate Masses: A RorateMass is a Votive Mass of Our Lady celebrated in Advent traditionally just before dawn and where the church is lit entirely by candlelight.  The RorateMass takes its name from the first word of its Introit: “Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant iustum,” or “Drop down dew, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness.”

   This year there will be three Rorate Latin Masses in the Charlotte area:

— St. Thomas Aquinas in Charlotte at 6:00am on Saturday, December 10th.

— St. Michael in Gastonia will also host a Rorate Low Mass (its first) at 6:30am on Saturday December 10^th.

— St. Ann in Charlotte at 6:30 am on Saturday, December 17th.

More information on the Rorate Mass can be found in this great article written by our very own Brian Williams who is a contributer at OnePeterFive.

5. Hot Coffee & Hot Cocoa after Mass:  As you may have noticed, on a trial basis, we have been offering hot coffee after the 12:30 Latin Mass at St. Ann.  This has been a great hit and we plan to continue doing so on a best effort basis.  We are even planning on adding hot cocoa to the lineup if possible.  Please hang around after Mass if you are able.  We hope to see you there.

Laudetur Iesus Christus and Blessed Advent greetings! We now enter this time of anticipation, and as Fr. Reid noted today, let is also be a time of preparation, to pray more and make sacrifices in order to grow on holiness.  Thankfully December will offer many opportunities for us to grow, and as such, we post our Advent related schedule:

Prayers requested by Father Reid:

1. Join in praying the 54 Day Rosary novena for our nation and new president. Begins today Mon. Nov 28, ends Inauguration Day, Jan 20^th.
2. Parish Novena to the Immaculate Heart. Begins Wed. November 30^th and ends Thursday December 8^th. The novena prayer is attached.

Thursday December 8^th – Feast of the Immaculate Conception: 7pm High Mass. A Holy Day of Obligation and the United States’ patronal feast day. After Mass Fr. Reid will consecrate the parish to the Immaculate Heart. Immediately after the consecration will be Eucharistic Adoration until midnight for an end to abortion. Please make plans to stay and pray.

Saturday December 17: Annual Rorate Mass, 6:30am High Latin Mass by Candlelight; St. Ann’s – it’s a beautiful Mass at dawn which words can’t describe. Please come if you haven’t attended before.

Sunday December 18^th: Annual blessing of religious gifts after 12:30pm Latin Mass. Please bring any religious items you need blessed prior to Mass and leave them on the table in the narthex. Father will bless them immediately after Mass (no exceptions or delays).

Christmas Midnight Mass: Deo Gratis & Gaudete! We are pleased to announce that out of his generosity Father Reid granted the CLMC’s request to offer CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT LATIN MASS for the faithful at St. Ann’s!

This replaces the Christmas Eve Latin Mass (which becomes Novus Ordo) and Midnight Mass will be the ONLY LATIN MASS ON SUNDAY DEC 25^th (no 12:30pm).  We are grateful to Father for meeting the desires of the Latin Mass faithful.

Please offer a few Hail Mary’s in thanksgiving for Fr. Reid who attends to the needs of all his parishioners (a tough job!).

Laudetur Iesus Christus and Happy Thanksgiving.   As you may have seen in the bulletin, due to the Thanksgiving holiday there will be no Latin Mass this Friday November 25^th at 7am. There is a Novus Ordo at 8:30am as usual.

Separately, if you’re looking for some quick & good reading over the holiday weekend, the UK’s Catholic Herald has a nice article about Pope Francis’ meeting with Blessed Karl Habsburg’s family.

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/issues/november-18th-2016/the-21st-century-habsburg-mission/#.WC5pTD5CYgZ.email

Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community,

Laudetur Iesus Christus!  Greetings to you all.  The month of November is traditionally dedicated by the Church for the Holy Souls.  On all the days from November 1st through November 8th inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed.  The proper prayer for the poor souls in purgatory is the Requiem Æternam Prayer:

Latin:
℣. Requiem æternam dona ei (eis), Domine
℟. Et lux perpetua luceat ei (eis):
℣. Requiescat (-ant) in pace.
℟. Amen.

English:
℣. Eternal rest, grant unto him/her (them), O LORD,
℟. And let perpetual light shine upon him/her (them).
℣. May he/she (they) rest in peace.

℟. Amen.

For more information on indulgences and the conditions, see this excellent article.

Announcements:

1. REMEMBER!!!, Tonight is the Daylight Saving (Fall Back).  Remember to set your clocks back tonight.

2. Happy Epiphany (Resumed)!:  As you may have noticed, in the Traditional Roman Missal, tomorrow is the 5th Sunday After Epiphany.  This is confusing to many, and it is due to the fact that we had a earlier than usual Easter Cycle this year, and the Season of Septuagesima cut off the last two Sundays after Epiphany.  Rather than just discard these feast days, the Church transfers these feast days to the end of the Liturgical year after the Feast of Christ the King.

If you want to read a good article about the Resumption of Epiphany, here is a great one from Father Zuhlsdorf.

Dear friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community (CLMC),

Laudetur Iesus Christus!  Blessed Feast of All Saints!

Today Nov 1. begins the important all Souls Novena to the Poor Souls in Purgatory (Nov 1-8)-see below.

Secondly, please review the Latin Mass schedule for Tuesday Nov 1 and Wednesday Nov 2nd. We also proudly note, that the black cope for Requiem Masses that many of you generously donated for will be used by Father at St. Ann’s All Souls Mass (thank you again!).

Lastly, we also draw your attention to the special orchestral Mass scheduled Wednesday at St Thomas Aquinas parish.

All Saints Day (Tues. Nov 1):

• St. Ann, 7am Latin Mass (Low) **Holy Day of Obligation**

All Souls Day (Wed. Nov 2):

• St. Ann, 6pm Latin Mass (High)
• St. Thomas Aquinas, 7pm Latin (Solemn High Orchestral Mass with the Carolina Catholic Chorale)
• St. Michael the Archangel, Gastonia, 6:00pm (High) (this is a time change from 7pm previously advertised).

TWO Plenary Indulgences available for All Souls:  

All Souls Indulgences
Grant #29.1.1
For the Souls in Purgatory – Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted each and every day from Nov. 1 to Nov. 8, who devoutly visit a cemetery and there pray, if only mentally, for the departed.

Grant #29.1.2
All Souls’ Day – Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence is granted the faithful who, on All Souls’ Day (or according to the judgment of the bishop, on the Sunday preceding or following it, or on the solemnity of All Saints), devoutly visits a church or an oratory and recites an Our Father and the Apostles Creed.

Please keep in mind that an indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the dead (even if the prayer is only mental) during the first 8 days of November. A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted to the faithful, who piously visit a church or a public oratory on All Souls Day. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.

Both of these indulgences are granted under the normal conditions, i.e., 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 you visit the cemetery or church, and offer prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (a Creed and an Our Father will suffice).

Dear Friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community (CLMC),

Blessed Feast of Our Lord’s Kingship! On behalf of the CLMC, we wanted to thank everyone for their participation in our two Christ the King events Thursday and today.  Our special thanks to Frs. Reid, Barone and Christian; as well as the staff at St. Ann’s for helping to support this blessed festivities (and to the flag bearers today).

A record crowd of 340 people attended Mass and the Procession today and it was this weekend’s highest attended Mass. We also had visitors from as far two hours away – a remarkable sign of faith of how many and how far people will come to honor Christ’s Kingship.

Speaking of Christ’s Kingship, we wanted to thank everyone who helped organize and supported Father Christian’s excellent talk on the Social Kingship of Christ this past Thursday.  If you missed the talk we highly recommend you listen. You can view the talk and resources here:

https://charlottelatinmass.org/resources/latin-mass-classes/christtheking/

Lastly, for a full review of today’s festivities, please see the photos kindly taken by photographer John Cosmos (please credit if you re-publish):

https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AhpOTbExkEtYqD8&id=55B2FABFA353D871%218094&cid=55B2FABFA353D871

Vivo Cristo Rey!

Dear friends of the Charlotte Latin Mass Community,

Please note the upcoming All Saints & All Soul Latin Mass schedule and  related plenary indulgences:

All Saints Day:

• Saint Ann, 7am Latin Mass (Low) **Holy Day of Obligation**

All Souls Day:

• Saint Ann, 6pm Latin Mass (High)
• Saint Thomas Aquinas, 7pm Latin (Solemn High Mass)
• Saint Michael the Archangel, Gastonia, 6:00pm (High) (this is a time change from 7pm previously advertised).

TWO Plenary Indulgences available for All Souls:  

All Souls Indulgences
Grant #29.1.1
For the Souls in Purgatory – Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted each and every day from Nov. 1 to Nov. 8, who devoutly visit a cemetery and there pray, if only mentally, for the departed.

Grant #29.1.2
All Souls’ Day – Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence is granted the faithful who, on All Souls’ Day (or according to the judgment of the bishop, on the Sunday preceding or following it, or on the solemnity of All Saints), devoutly visits a church or an oratory and recites an Our Father and the Apostles Creed.

Please keep in mind that an indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the dead (even if the prayer is only mental) during the first 8 days of November. A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted to the faithful, who piously visit a church or a public oratory on All Souls Day. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.

Both of these indulgences are granted under the normal conditions, i.e., 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 you visit the cemetery or church, and offer prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (a Creed and an Our Father will suffice).