Friends in Christ,
Welcome to our weekly Sunday update. This Sunday is the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. The Gospel reading for this Sunday features one of Our Lord’s seemingly enigmatic parables, followed by this somewhat mystifying advice conveyed to his disciples: “And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity; that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings” (Luke 16:9). Dom Guéranger sees in the unjust steward the sinner confronted by God at the end of his misspent time on earth, afforded a last opportunity to make up the deficit in his spiritual accounts: This very Judge, whom he so rightly fears, now most mercifully points out to him how he may escape the punishment due to his past maladministration. Let him imitate the prudence of the unjust steward, and he will have praise for it from his Lord: not only, like him, because of his prudence, but because, by his thus spending over God’s servants the riches that were entrusted to his care, far from thereby robbing his divine Master, he acts in strict accordance with his wishes (Dom Prosper Guéranger, OSB, “Eighth Sunday after Pentecost,” The Liturgical Year).
Calendar of Special Observances
Celebrations are those listed in the Roman Missal of 1962.
DAY, DATE – FEAST (CLASS)
Sunday, July 19 – Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (II)
Monday, July 20 – St. Jerome Emiliani, Confessor (III) – Commemoration of St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr
Tuesday, July 21 – St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor of the Church (III) – Commemoration of St. Praxedes, Virgin
Wednesday, July 22 – St. Mary Magdalene, Penitent (III)
Thursday, July 23 – St. Apollinarius, Bishop & Martyr (III) – Commemoration of St. Liborius, Bishop and Confessor
Friday, July 24 – Feria (IV) – Commemoration of St. Christina, Virgin and Martyr
Saturday, July 25 – St. James the Greater, Apostle (II) – Commemoration of St. Christopher, Martyr
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
The links provided below can be used to download printable copies of the Proper Prayers for the Eighth Sunday Sunday after Pentecost with English or Spanish translation, followed by commentary by Dr. Michael P. Foley.
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 are offered at the Chapel. This is the only Diocese of Charlotte location which offers the Traditional Latin Mass.
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
Note: The summer Mass schedule for Prince of Peace parish is in effect and according to the bulletin there will be no daily Latin Masses at Prince of Peace Monday-Saturday this summer.
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.
Chapel of the Little Flower Announcements
Mass Intentions for Sunday
Sunday July 19, 12:00 p.m. – Intentions of Elizabeth Hadi by Ben Hadi
Donations for the Chapel of the Little Flower
To donate to the Chapel of the Little Flower, please make out a check to “St. Ann Catholic Church” and carefully earmark it for “Latin Mass” or “Chapel of the Little Flower”. It can be mailed to the parish (3635 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209). To donate online, please visit the parish’s “Chapel of the Little Flower” online donation portal at this link.
Lost and Found
If one is missing a missal, book, or other item, please see the Lost and Found table in the cry room.
Father Jones’ Contact Info
If one has questions about the Chapel of the Little Flower, that are not related to one’s parish, please email Father Jones directly at: tlmchapel(at)rcdoc.org
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. Seating is adequate at both Masses, and there is plenty of parking; a cry room; open space outside for the kids after Mass. Bulletins from Saint Ann and Saint Thomas Aquinas parishes are usually available.
General Announcements
Bishop Martin issues Pastoral Letter to the Faithful Associated with the Society of Saint Pius X – Please see the below pastoral letter and announcement published by the Diocese of Charlotte and Catholic News Herald on Friday July 17 at the links below.
Litany of the Most Precious Blood – Father Reid is inviting the faithful to pray the Litany of the Precious Blood in July for the country and protection from evil. To join in this month-long novena please click on this link.
Learning the Latin Mass (TAN Books Year of the Latin Mass Series) – Want to learn more about the Traditional Latin Mass, its symbolism and theology? Local publisher TAN Books has launched a series with Latin Mass priests reviewing and explaning some of the classic books describing this ancient liturgy. We share two videos from Fr. William Rock, FSSP along with a link to the book.
LiveMass.net – Want to watch a Latin Mass online? The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) has a broadcast apostolate which streams its Latin Masses across the world at various times of the day. To view visit: https://www.livemass.net/
Support Saint Ann and Saint Thomas Parishes – Our parishes remain the anchor of our spiritual and community lives and continue to promote the sacred traditions, devotions, speakers and catechesis important for the spiritual growth of ourselves and our families. They also need our continued financial support (and occasional visits!). Both parishes would appreciate our continued generosity.
Rosary for the Traditional Latin Mass – A Rosary is 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
Saint James the Greater, Apostle, was one of the three men closest to Our Lord throughout His ministry. The others were his brother, John, and Simon Peter whom Jesus renamed Cephas (Képhas), the Aramaic word for rock, to be the rock upon which His Church was to be founded. (Our English Peter is derived from the Latin cognate Petra). The three were simple Galilean fishermen from the country north of Samaria whose speech would have sounded foreign to the people of Judea. Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, were the first two apostles called by Jesus, as He walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Walking on, Our Lord saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee, mending their nets in their father’s boat; “and He called them. And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed Him” (Matthew 4:21-22).
James is called “the Greater” to distinguish him from another apostle of the same name, James the son of Alpheus (Matthew 10:3). In addition, Jesus had a cousin James, named among his “brethren” in the Gospel of Saint Matthew (Matthew 13:55), who was a prominent figure in the early Church at Jerusalem and is called “the brother of the Lord” by Saint Paul (Galatians 1:19).
The privileged status of James and John and Peter is made evident by the fact that only these three among the apostles were selected to accompany Jesus when he ascended the mountain of the Transfiguration. “But I tell you of a truth:” Jesus had said to all twelve apostles, “There are some standing here that shall not taste death, till they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9-27).
And it came to pass about eight days after these words, that he took Peter and James and John, and went up into a mountain to pray. And whilst he prayed, the shape of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and glittering. And behold two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elias, appearing in majesty. And they spoke of his decease that he should accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:28-31).
What an extraordinary conversation must that have been to overhear! One can easily comprehend how these three fishermen-turned-fishers-of-men failed to understand the import of what was being said in their presence.
Jesus gave names to all three of the apostles who were closest to him. To Simon he gave the name Peter. The brothers, James and John, he called Boanerges, meaning “The sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). It is uncertain whether, in doing so, he meant to say something about their fisherman father, Zebedee, or about the sons of the fisherman themselves.
Again, only James and Peter and John were allowed by Jesus to accompany Him when He went to the home of the ruler of the synagogue because the man’s daughter was said to be dead. “Fear not, only believe,” Jesus told the ruler. “And he admitted not any man to follow him, but Peter, and James, and John the brother of James” (Mark 5:36-37). Mark’s reference to John as “the brother of James” suggests a certain precedence accorded James, probably because he was the elder of the Boanerges. Jesus went into the room where the girl lay, seemingly dead, and told her, “Talitha cumi, which is, being interpreted: Damsel (I say to thee) arise. And immediately the damsel rose up, and walked” (Mark 5:41-42).
James and his brother incurred a mild rebuke from Our Lord when, presuming on the closeness of their association with Him, they approached Jesus to ask that when He came into His kingdom they might “sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory” (Mark 10:37). Hearing of this, the other ten apostles were hardly amused; their displeasure created an opportunity for Jesus to remind all twelve that they were called to serve and not to be served.
James and John were rebuked again by Our Lord when Jesus and his disciples were denied accommodation in a Samaritan town and the sons of thunder asked, “Lord, wilt thou command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them” (Luke 9:54). Turning, Jesus admonished them, “You know not of what spirit you are. The Son of man came not to destroy souls, but to save” (Luke 9:55).
When one of his disciples marveled at the structures of the Temple complex and Jesus responded by foretelling the utter destruction of all, it was the trio of Peter and James and John who approached Him apart to ask, “Tell us, when shall these things be?” (Mark 13:4). Jesus proceeded to present an apocalyptic vision of the things to come, telling the three, “Take you heed therefore; behold I have foretold you all things” (Mark 13:23).
Finally, on the night that He was betrayed, Our Lord led His disciples into the Garden of Gethsemani to pray but took Peter and James and John with him to keep watch while He prayed apart in fear for His own life. Pausing three times in his agony, He found them sleeping, finally rousing them with the news of His imminent arrest: “Rise up, let us go. Behold, he that will betray me is at hand” (Mark 14:42).
When after the resurrection of Our Lord, the growth of the cult of Christ began to cause the king uneasiness, Herod decided to take action: “And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword” (Acts 12:2).
There is much more that could be said of Saint James, but this is all that Scripture tells us. The feast day of Saint James the Greater, Apostle and Martyr, is celebrated on July 25th.
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Another notable feast celebrated this week is that of Saint Mary Magdalene, “Apostle of the Apostles” on July 22. For more information see our Liturgical News section above.
Closing Commentary
In closing, we offer an excerpt from his commentary on the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost from The Liturgical Year of Dom Prosper Guéranger, OSB, followed by a link to the full text. This week focuses on the glory and beauty of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D. shortly before the terrible siege (Luke 21:20-28) that will soon befall the seemingly invincible holy city by the Romans, which the Church observes in next Sunday's liturgy.
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
In the Middle Ages, this Sunday was called, the sixth and last Sunday after the Natalis of the Apostles (that is, the Feast of St. Peter); it was, indeed, the last, for the years when Easter had been kept was late in April as was possible; but, it was only the first after that Feast of St. Peter, when Easter immediately followed the spring equinox.
We have already noticed the variable character of this last portion of the liturgical cycle, which was the result of Easter’s being kept on a different day each year; and that, in consequence of this variation, this week might be either the second of the reading from the Sapiential Books, or, what was of more frequent occurrence, the Books of Kings were still providing the Lessons for the divine Office. In this latter case, it is the ancient Temple raised by Solomon, the King of Peace, to the glory of Jehovah, that engages the Church’s attention today. We shall find that the portions of the Mass, which are chanted on this Sunday, are closely connected with the Lessons read in last night’s Office.
Let us, then, turn our reverential thoughts once more to this splendid monument of the ancient Covenant. The Church is now going through that month, which immediately preceded the events so momentous to Jerusalem; she would do honor, today, to the glorious and divine past which prepared her own present. Let us, like her, enter into the feelings of the first Christians, who were Juda’s own children; they had been told of the impending destruction foretold by the Prophets; and an order from God bade them depart from Jerusalem. What a solemn moment that was, when the little flock of the elect,—the only ones in whom was kept up the faith of Abraham and the knowledge of the destinies of the Hebrew people,—had just begun their emigration, and looked back on the city of their fathers, to take a last farewell!
They took the road to the east; it led towards the Jordan, beyond which, God had provided a refuge for the remnant of Israel. They halted on the incline of Mount Olivet, whence they had a full view of Jerusalem; in a few moments, that hill would be between them and the City. Not quite forty years before, the Man-God had sat himself down on that same spot, taking his own last look at the City and her Temple. Jerusalem was seen, in all her magnificence, from this portion of the Mount, which afterwards would be visited and venerated by our Christian pilgrims. The City had long since recovered from its ruins; and had, at the time we are speaking of, been enlarged by the princes of the Herodian family, so favorably looked on by the Romans. Never, in any previous period of her history, had Jerusalem been so perfect and so beautiful, as she then was, when our fugitives were gazing upon her. There was not, as yet, the slightest outward indication that she was the City accursed of God. There, as a queen in her strength and power, she was throned amidst the mountains of which the Psalmist had sung, her towers and palaces seemed as though they were her crown. Within the triple inclosure of the walls built by her latest kings, she enchased those three hills, the grandest, not only of Judea, but of the whole world: first, there was Sion, with her unparalleled memories; then, Golgotha, that had not yet been honored with the Holy Sepulcher, and which, nevertheless, was even then attracting to herself the Roman legions, who were to wreak vengeance on this guilty land; and lastly, Moriah, the sacred mount of the old world, on whose summit was raised that unrivalled Temple, which gave Jerusalem to be the queen of all the Cities of the East, for, as such, even the Gentiles acknowledged her.
“At sun-rise, when, in the distance, there appeared the sanctuary, towering upwards of a hundred cubits above the two rows of porticos which formed its double enclosure; when the sun cast his morning rays on that façade of gold and white marble; when there glittered the thousand gilded spires which mounted from its roof;—it seemed,” says Josephus, “that it was a hill capped with snow, which gradually shone, and reddened, with the morning beams. The eye was dazzled, the soul was amazed, religion was roused within the beholder, and even the pagans fell down prostrate.”
Yes, when the Pagan came hither, either for conquest or for curiosity,—if he ever returned, it was as a pilgrim. Full of holy sentiments, he ascended the hill; and, having reached the summit, he entered, by the golden gate, into the gorgeous galleries, which formed the outward enclosure of the Temple. In the Court of the Gentiles, he met with men from every country; his soul was struck by the holiness of a place, where he felt that there were preserved, in all purity, the ancient religious traditions of the human race; and, he being profane, stood afar off, assisting at the celebrations of the Hebrew worship, such as God had commanded it to be, that is, with all the magnificence of a divine ritual. The white column of smoke from the burning victims rose up before him as earth’s homage to God, its creator and savior; from the inner courts, there fell on his ear the harmony of the sacred chants, carrying as they did to heaven, both the ardent prayer of those ages of expectation, and the inspired expression of the world’s hope; and when, from the midst of the levite choirs and the countless priests who were busy in their ministry of sacrifice and praise, the High Priest, with his golden crown on his head, came forth holding the censer in his hand, and entering, himself alone, within the mysterious veil which curtained off the Holy of Holies,—the stranger, though he had but a glimpse of all those splendid symbols of religion, yet confessed himself overpowered, and acknowledged the incomparable greatness of that invisible Deity, whose majesty made all the vain idols of the Gentiles seem to him paltry and foolish pretenses. The princes of Asia, and the greatest kings considered it an honor to be permitted to contribute, both by personal gifts of their own making, and by sums taken from the national treasuries, towards defraying the expenses of the holy place. [Eighth Sunday after Pentecost]