Friends in Christ,
Welcome to our weekly Sunday update. The liturgy for this Second Sunday of Advent looks ahead to the coming of the Messiah, a theme established in the opening line of the Introit: People of Sion, behold the Lord shall come to save the nations: and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard, in the joy of your heart. (Isaiah 30:30)
Monday December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patronal Feast Day of the United States. The doctrine of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception was formally pronounced in the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854. The idea that she alone among all humankind should be free of the taint of original sin had long been held by faithful Catholics. Pope Pius simply converted to doctrine a popular belief founded on the supreme logic that if God Himself had come into the world, the one who bore Him had been of necessity a pure vessel uncorrupted by the sin of Adam and Eve. Use of the long-established title Theotokos (“God-bearer”) with reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary had been forcefully upheld by the Council of Ephesus in 431. Fourteen hundred years later the Church finally got around to declaring that the Mother of God had been immaculately conceived. Three years after the declaration she appeared to a girl named Bernadette, the daughter of an impoverished family in the mountainous border country in southern France. After being asked repeatedly to identify herself, she finally replied, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
Calendar of Special Observances
Celebrations are those listed in the Roman Missal of 1962.
DAY, DATE – FEAST (CLASS)
Sunday, December 7 – Second Sunday of Advent (I)
Monday, December 8 – Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (I)
Tuesday, December 9 – Feria of Advent (III)
Wednesday, December 10 – Feria of Advent (III) – Commemoration of St. Miltiades, Pope & Martyr
Thursday, December 11 – St. Damasus I, Pope & Confessor
Friday, December 12 – (USA) Our Lady of Guadalupe (III)
Saturday, December 13 – St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr (III)
Second Sunday of Advent and Feast of the Immaculate Conception
The links provided below can be used to download printable copies of the Proper Prayers for the Second Sunday of Advent. A link to Dr. Michael P. Foley’s New Liturgical Movement commentary is also provided.
Additionally, we provide Proper Prayers for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary with either English or Spanish translation and commentary by Dr. Foley posted by New Liturgical Movement.
Traditional Latin Mass Schedule
Diocese of Charlotte Sunday Masses
Chapel of the Little Flower (757 Oakridge Farm Road, Mooresville, NC)
Note: Only Sunday Latin Masses and Holy Days will be offered at the Chapel. All other Sunday and daily Traditional Latin Masses at the other diocese of Charlotte parishes have been discontinued. These changes only affect Latin Masses in the diocese of Charlotte.
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, the Little Flower, pray for us!
Diocese of Raleigh Sunday Masses
Diocese of Charleston Sunday Masses
Diocese of Charleston Daily Traditional Latin Masses
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Monday December 8)
The following are announced Traditional Latin Masses for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation and the patronal feast day of the United States. If additional Masses are announced we will share them in our email updates and post them on our website.
Diocese of Charlotte
Diocese of Charleston
Diocese of Raleigh
Travelers are encouraged to consult parish websites or offices for up-to-date information regarding possible changes in the schedule of Mass times.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception Reflection from The Liturgical Year by Dom Prosper Guéranger
At length, on the distant horizon, rises, with a soft and radiant light, the aurora of the Sun which has been so long desired. The happy Mother of the Messias was to be born before the Messias himself; and this is the day of the Conception of Mary. The earth already possesses a first pledge of the divine mercy; the Son of Man is near at hand. Two true Israelites, Joachim and Anne, noble branches of the family of David, find their union, after a long barrenness, made fruitful by the divine omnipotence. Glory be to God, who has been mindful of his promises, and who deigns to announce, from the high heavens, the end of the deluge of iniquity, by sending upon the earth the sweet white Dove that bears the tidings of peace! [Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)]
Christmastide Traditional Latin Masses
The following are announced Traditional Latin Masses for Christmastide. If additional Masses are announced we will share them in our email updates and post them on our website.
Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord (Thursday December 25)
Diocese of Charlotte
Diocese of Charleston
Feast of the Circumcision (Thursday January 1, 2026)
Diocese of Charlotte
Diocese of Charleston
As a reminder, travelers are urged to consult parish websites or offices for up-to-date information regarding possible changes in the schedule of Mass times.
Rorate Traditional Latin Masses
Rorate Mass, a beautiful Traditional Latin Mass offered by candlelight on a Saturday during Advent to honor Our Lady and the coming of the Light of the World at Christmas, will be offered at Prince of Peace Church (Taylors SC) on the following Saturdays.
Chapel of the Little Flower Announcements
Low Mass for December 8
Due to the limited availability of singers, the Mass on Monday December 8 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception will now be a Low Mass.
Organ for the Chapel
Father Jones announced that an organ has been given to the chapel and he hopes it will be in place for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Monday December 8.
Upcoming Holy Day Masses
Father Jones has announced Traditional Masses for the Holy Days of Immaculate Conception (Monday December 8), Christmas (December 25), and the Feast of the Circumcision (January 1). Mass times are listed above.
Mass intentions for the Chapel of the Little Flower
Mass intentions have now been filled through February and new Masses are currently unavailable. The Mass intentions book will be reopened sometime in February for the Spring Masses.
Visiting the Chapel of the Little Flower
If you haven’t attended Mass at the Chapel of the Little Flower yet, you are welcome to join us these last Sundays of Advent. Seating is adequate at both Masses, and there is plenty of parking; a cry room; open space outside for the kids after Mass.
General Announcements
Centenary Anniversaries This Week – This Wednesday December 10, marks 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima’s appearance (along with the Infant Jesus) to Venerable Servant of God Sister Lucia dos Santos, to request the faithful practice the First Saturday Devotions of Reparation to her Immaculate Heart. Cardinal Raymond Burke is encouraging the faithful to pray this prayer leading up to the anniversary.
The next day, Thursday December 11, is the 100th
anniversary of the publishing of Pope Pius XI’s encyclical, Quas Primas,
which established the Feast of Christ the King. To learn more about
this important teaching we reshare a link to the Institute of Christ the
King Sovereign Priest’s four-part podcast series on this encyclical. To
view the talks click here.
Novena to the Immaculate Conception (November 30 - December 8) – Fr. Reid is inviting St. Ann parishioners to continue praying this novena to the Immaculate Conception, and to fast from something one enjoys, from Sunday November 30 - December 8. (Note: One possible intention for this novena could be the preservation of the Traditional Latin Mass.)
O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today, especially that our parish may be consecrated to your Immaculate Heart and each member may grow in true holiness. We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your gentle care and intercession those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever, and keep and guard St. Ann’s Parish as your own property and possession. Amen.
Support Our Parishes – Father Reid noted that Saint Ann parish will bear much of the financial costs of keeping the Chapel of the Little Flower open and encourages our continued generosity (and our occasional visits!). Parishioners from other parishes should continue to support their own parish.
Rosary for the Traditional Latin Mass – A Rosary will be offered for the restoration of the Traditional Latin Mass in the church on Sundays after the 11:30 a.m. Novus Ordo Mass at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church.
Daily Holy Face Chaplet for Sacred Liturgy (perpetual novena) – For the preservation of the Traditional Latin Mass, it has been recommended to all friends of the sacred liturgy in the diocese to consider continually praying the powerful Holy Face chaplet, under the banner of Our Lady of the Holy Name. To pray the chaplet, please see this link.
Cardinal Burke’s Prayer for Pope Leo XIV – His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Burke has released a prayer for Pope Leo XIV. Please see the prayer at the links below and consider praying this daily for the Holy Father as he leads the Church. PDF copies can be accessed at these links: [English] [Español] [Latin]
Holy Face Devotions
Prayers of Reparation to the Holy Face of Jesus are offered each week at the following churches on the indicated days:
Note: Days and times may be subject to change due to holidays.
“Jesus, Your ineffable image is the star which guides my steps. Ah, You know, Your sweet Face is for me Heaven on earth” (from Canticle to the Holy Face by Saint Thérèse de Lisieux, the 19th century Discalced Carmelite nun who took the name in religion, Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face).
Traditional Latin Mass and Liturgical News
Saints and Special Observances
Our Lady of Guadalupe first appeared to Juan Diego on December 9, 1531, according to the Julian Calendar (Old Style) since displaced by the Gregorian Calendar (New Style). The latter skipped nine days to restore the proper alignment of the calendar with the natural seasons of the year. Our Lady’s last apparition at Tepeyac occurred on December 12, 1531 (OS). First declared the patroness of New Spain by Pope Benedict XIV in 1754, the celebration of her feast on December 12th was authorized by Pope Leo XIII on October 12, 1895.
In his first pastoral letter, dated May 28, 1792, Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore – the first and, at that time, the only see in the newly established United States – placed the new nation under the protection of the Mother of God. She has since that time been recognized as the patroness of our country. Our Lady of Guadalupe was granted the title, “Patroness of the Americas,” by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as told by Francesca Merlo for Vatican News, may be read by making use of the following link: The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe - Vatican News.
Closing Commentary
As the present season of expectation continues, looking ahead to the coming of the Messiah, we offer an excerpt from Dom Prosper Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year focusing on the “hope and joy” of the liturgy for the Second Sunday of Advent:
Second Sunday of Advent
The Office of this Sunday is filled, from beginning to end, with the sentiments of hope and joy, with which the soul should be animated at the glad tidings of the speedy coming of Him who is her Savior and Spouse. The interior coming, that which is effected in the soul, is the almost exclusive object of the Church’s prayers for this day: let us therefore open our hearts, let us prepare our lamps, and wait in gladness that cry which will be heard in the midnight: Glory be to God! Peace unto men!
The Roman Church makes the Station today in the Basilica of Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem. It was in this venerable church that Constantine deposited a large piece of the True Cross, together with the Title which was fastened to it by Pilate’s order, and which proclaimed the Kingly character of the Savior of the world. These precious relics are still kept there; and, thus enriched with such a treasure, the Basilica of Holy Cross in Jerusalem is looked upon, in the Roman Liturgy, as Jerusalem itself, as is evident from the allusions made in the several Masses of the Stations held in that Basilica. In the language of the sacred Scriptures and of the Church, Jerusalem is the image of the faithful soul; and the Office and Mass of this Sunday have been drawn up on this idea, as the one of the day. We regret not to be able here to develop the sublime beauty of this figure; and must proceed at once to the passage which the Church has selected from the Prophet Isaias. There she tells her children how well-founded are her hopes in the merciful and peaceful reign of the Messias. The Office of this Sunday is filled, from beginning to end, with the sentiments of hope and joy, with which the soul should be animated at the glad tidings of the speedy coming of Him who is her Savior and Spouse. The interior coming, that which is effected in the soul, is the almost exclusive object of the Church’s prayers for this day: let us therefore open our hearts, let us prepare our lamps, and wait in gladness that cry which will be heard in the midnight: Glory be to God! Peace unto men!
But first let us adore this divine Messias: Come, let us adore the King, Our Lord, who is to come. [Second Sunday of Advent]