Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost


Dear Friends in Christ,

Welcome to our weekly Sunday update. This Sunday (August 4, 2024) is the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. On Tuesday, August 6th, the Church will celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel reading for that day comes from the 17th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel in which we are told that “after six days” Jesus took Peter and James and John “up into a high mountain apart: And he was transfigured before them” (Matthew 17:1-2). What happened six days earlier? We are told in the previous chapter that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples to be the Christ and said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). His destination is Jerusalem. On the mountain the three apostles saw Him revealed in all His glory conversing with Moses and Elias. We have to go to Luke’s Gospel to find out, “[T]hey spoke of his decease that he should accomplish in Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31). The Son of God came into the world to accomplish His own death. He did it for each of us and for all men, even those who mock Him and belittle His sacrifice.


Calendar of Saints and Special Observances

Celebrations are those listed in the Roman Missal of 1962 and the Liturgical Calendar of Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary.

DAY, DATE – FEAST (CLASS)

Sunday, August 4 – Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (II)

Monday, August 5 – Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Our Lady of Snows) (III)

Tuesday, August 6 – The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ (II) [Commemoration of Ss. Sixtus II, Pope, Felicissimus and Agapitus, Martyrs]

Wednesday, August 7 – St. Cajetan, Confessor, Founder of the Theatines (III) [Commemoration of St. Donatus, Bishop and Martyr]

Thursday, August 8 – St. John Vianney, Confessor (III) [Commemoration of Ss. Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus, Martyrs]

Friday, August 9 – Vigil of St. Laurence (III) [Commemoration of St. Romanus, Martyr]

Saturday, August 10 – St. Laurence, Martyr (II)

Note: The liturgical celebration of St. Dominic, Confessor and Founder of the Order of Preachers Friars (Dominicans) (III) which usually takes place on August 4th, in accordance with the traditional Roman Calendar, is displaced this year by the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost.


Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

The links provided below can be used to download printable copies of the Proper Prayers for Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost with either English or Spanish translation. The English version includes a commentary on the Gospel taken from Dom Prosper Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year. We also offer a link to a New Liturgical Movement article by Dr. Michael P. Foley entitled “God Has Piety?: The Collect for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost.”


Latin Mass Schedule: Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (August 4, 2024)

Charlotte Area Latin Masses

  • 11:30 a.m., Saint Thomas Aquinas (Followed by First Sunday Food and Fellowship: See announcement below)
  • 12:30 p.m., Saint Ann

Other Diocese of Charlotte Latin Masses

  • 8:30 a.m., Saint John the Baptist (Tryon)
  • 9:00 a.m., Our Lady of the Angels (Marion)
  • 1:00 p.m., Church of the Epiphany (Blowing Rock)
  • 1:30 p.m., Our Lady of Grace (Greensboro) (Please note new Mass time)

Diocese of Charleston Latin Masses

  • 12:00 p.m., Prince of Peace (Taylors SC)
  • 1:00 p.m., Our Lady of the Lake (Chapin SC)


Latin Mass Schedule: Weekdays

Charlotte Area Latin Masses

  • Saint Ann – Wednesday, 6:00 p.m.
  • Saint Thomas Aquinas – Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
  • Saint Ann – Friday, 7:00 a.m.

Other Diocese of Charlotte Latin Masses

  • Our Lady of the Mountains (Highlands) – Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.
  • St. John the Baptist (Tryon) – Friday, 8:30 a.m.
  • Church of the Epiphany (Blowing Rock) – Friday, 9:30 a.m.

Diocese of Charleston Latin Masses

  • Prince of Peace (Taylors SC) – Tuesday-Thursday, 12:00 p.m.

Note: Travelers are advised to contact parish offices to confirm weekday and Saturday Mass times, since local schedules are sometimes subject to change without notice, especially on or around holidays, holy days of obligation and other special feast days.


Latin Mass Schedule: Feast of the Assumption (Thursday August 15)

We share the currently announced Latin Masses for the Feast of the Assumption. If more Masses are announced, we will post them in the days ahead.

Charlotte Area Latin Masses

  • Saint Ann – 7:00 p.m.
  • Saint Thomas Aquinas – 7:00 p.m.

Outside of Charlotte

  • Prince of Peace (Taylors SC) – 12 noon (blessing of herbs after Mass)
  • Church of the Epiphany (Blowing Rock) – 6:00 p.m.
  • Saint John the Baptist (Tryon) – 6:30 p.m.
  • Our Lady of the Lake (Chapin SC) – 6:30 p.m.

Note: Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro will be offering a special Traditional Latin Mass on the Vigil of the Assumption, Wednesday August 14 at 6:30 p.m.


Announcements

STA First Sunday Food and Fellowship – The Latin Mass Community at Saint Thomas Aquinas will gather for their monthly First Sunday Food and Fellowship this Sunday, August 4th, following celebration of the 11:30 a.m. Traditional Latin Mass. Aquinas Hall has been reserved for the event so that those attending can eat and greet in air-conditioned comfort!


Holy Face Devotions

Prayers of Reparation to the Holy Face of Jesus are offered each week at the following churches on the indicated days:

  • St. James (Concord) – Monday, 10-10:30 a.m. (in the cry room)
  • St. Mark – Monday, 5:00 p.m.
  • St. Thomas Aquinas – Tuesday, 6:00 a.m.
  • St. Ann – Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. (following 7:00 a.m. Novus Ordo Mass)
  • St. Michael the Archangel (Gastonia) – Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.
  • Holy Spirit (Denver) – Tuesday, 10-11:00 a.m. (following the 9:15 a.m. Novus Ordo Mass)
  • St. John the Baptist (Tryon) - First Saturday, 9:30 a.m. (after 8:30 a.m Latin Mass) - NEW

“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).


Latin Mass and Liturgical News

  • The Gloria in excelsis (Part Three) is the third installment in Dr. Michael P. Foley’s series on the Gloria for New Liturgical Movement. [The Gloria in excelsis (Part Three)]
  • The Legend of St James the Greater, a recent offering by Gregory DiPippo posted on New Liturgical Movement, takes a long look at the lore surrounding this apostle who accompanied Jesus to His meeting with Moses and Elias on the mount of the Transfiguration. [The Legend of St James the Greater]
  • The Golden Legend of St. Peter’s Chains, originally posted by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter four years ago, was posted again on August 1st, the Feast of St. Peter’s Chains, in the FSSP online publication, The Missive. [The Golden Legend of St. Peter’s Chains]
  • The Feast of the Holy Maccabees by Gregory DiPippo was also posted on August 1st, on New Liturgical Movement, in honor of another feast celebrated on that day. [The Feast of the Holy Maccabees]
  • A Design for St. Edward’s Parish in Phoenix, Arizona by Harrison Design, an article by Shawn Tribe in Liturgical Arts Journal, takes a look at an impressive plan for a new Spanish mission-style church to be built in for the FSSP Latin Mass parish in Phoenix. [A Design for St. Edward’s Parish in Phoenix]
  • Return to Our Lady: Tenth Reflection is the latest offering from Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke for those participating in his Nine-Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe on behalf of the Church and the world. Cardinal Burke provides a video presentation of his reflection, together with the text of his message, the prayer to be recited daily by participants and links to valuable background material regarding St. Juan Diego’s miraculous encounter with Our Lady in 1531. [Return to Our Lady: Tenth Reflection]
  • INTERVIEW: Mother Abbess of thriving traditionalist order in US discusses their move to a 19th-century abbey in England, an article from the British Catholic Herald, focuses on the latest move by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, the ever-growing order of nuns founded by Sr. Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB, associated with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). [Interview: Mother Abbess of thriving traditionalist order in US]
  • Abp Cordileone’s Review of Dr. Michael Foley’s Lost in Translation, introduced by Gregory DiPippo on New Liturgical Movement, is an enthusiastic appreciation of selected essays by Dr. Foley on the traditional liturgy, most of which appeared originally on NLM and many of which have been reposted in this newsletter; here reviewed by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. [Archbishop Cordileone’s Review of Dr Michael Foley’s Lost in Translation]


Saints and Special Observances

Saint Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, Confessor, who would one day be the most famous priest in France, was born in Dardilly, a little village just north of Lyons, on May 8, 1786. He was three years old when the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, triggered the French Revolution; and he was thirteen when Napoleon Bonaparte seized control of the country ten years later. His parents, Mathieu Vianney and Marie Béluze, were poor but devout peasants who managed to instill in their son their own dedication to Christ and His Church during a period when it was dangerous (and potentially fatal) to profess one’s faith.

Rather than being intimidated by the terrible violence inflicted on Christians by the revolutionary forces, young Jean-Marie was inspired by the courage and steadfastness of those who endured torture and suffered death because of their faith. Knowing that so many others were giving their very lives for the one who had been crucified to redeem mankind, he realized that he too was called to love Christ with all his heart and soul. After receiving the Body of Christ in the Eucharist for the first time, during a secret Mass celebrated by a priest evading the authorities, he decided to become a priest.

Jean-Marie Vianney was ordained to the priesthood in the seminary chapel at Grenoble on August 13, 1815, two months after the Battle of Waterloo finally brought the career of Napoleon to an end. Assigned to the rural village of Ars, the new curé celebrated Mass in a nearly empty church at first. Refusing to be discouraged, the young priest spent hours on his knees before the tabernacle, praying day and night for the conversion of the people of Ars. Attendance at Mass began to grow as those who came heard him speak of how Christ had come into the world to save men from their sins, and of the boundless love and mercy that had led Him to the cross.

Surviving on a meager diet of dry bread and boiled potatoes, Fr. Vianney also subjected himself to self-flagellation in an effort to expiate his own sins and those of his parishioners. More and more were drawn by his message of love for Jesus Christ and the necessity of surrendering all to Him. Over time the town underwent a total transformation as the spirit of conversion gripped the entire community. The drunkenness, swearing and other vices that had plagued Ars in the past disappeared as people flocked to the confessional to be absolved by the priest consumed by love of Christ.

In 1823, as more and more people from neighboring districts were making their way to Ars to go to confession and hear Mass celebrated by the curé there, the mission was raised to the level of a parish. Fr. Vianney, believing himself unworthy to be a parish priest, thought he should be reassigned but remained in obedience to the bishop. Four years later he made his famous declaration, crying out in joy to his parishioners, “Ars, my brothers and sisters, is no longer Ars!”

Fr. Vianney celebrated Mass with total devotion, knowing himself to be standing in the place of Christ and being motivated by the solemn conviction that it was through the sacrifice of the Mass that the salvation of souls was made possible. Of the priesthood he said, “The priest has the key to the treasures of Heaven.” In his zeal to save souls he spent uncounted hours in the confessional, patiently hearing what penitents had to say and encouraging them in their efforts to reform their lives.

As his reputation spread, people came from all over Europe to make their confession to the priest at Ars. The number of confessions he heard each year increased from five figures to several hundred thousand over time. Those who came went away greatly fortified in their faith: One, when asked who it was that he had seen, answered simply, “I saw God, in a man.” They came without surcease until, on August 4, 1859, the future saint passed away two days after receiving Holy Communion and Extreme Unction from his curate.

On May 31, 1925, the Feast of Pentecost, Jean-Marie Vianney was elevated to sainthood by Pope Pius XI. Three years later, on April 23, 1928, the Pope named him patron of parish priests throughout the world. His feast is celebrated, in accordance with the traditional Roman Calendar, on the 8th of August.


Closing Commentary

In closing, we offer commentary on the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost excerpted from The Liturgical Year of Dom Prosper Guéranger, OSB, followed by a link to the full text.


Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

With the Greeks, this Sunday—their eleventh of Saint Matthew—is called The Kings Parable, who calls his servants to account. In the Western Church, it has gone under the name of Sunday of the deaf and dumb, ever since the Gospel of the Pharisee and Publican has been assigned to the tenth. Today’s Mass, as we now have it, still gives evidence as to what was its ancient arrangement. Our commentary on today’s liturgy will show us this very plainly.

In those years when Easter falls nearest to the 21st of March, the Books of Kings are continued as lessons of Matins up to, but never beyond, this Sunday. The sickness of the good king Ezechias, and the miraculous cure he obtained by his prayers and tears are then the subject of the first Lessons of the Night Office.

Mass.—The learned and pious Abbot Rupert—writing on this Sunday’s Mass previous to the change made in the order of the Gospel Lessons—thus explains the Church’s reason for selecting the following Introit: “The Publican, in the Gospel, accuses himself, saying: I am not worthy to lift up mine eyes to heaven! St. Paul, in the Epistle, does in like manner, and says: I am the least of the Apostles, who am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. As, then, this Humility, which is set before us that we may practice it, is the guardian of the union between the servants of God, because if keeps them from being puffed up one against the other—it is most appropriate that we should first sing the Introit, which tells us that God maketh men, in His house, abide together as though they were but one soul.”

The Collect, which follows, is most touching, when we see it in the light of the Gospel which, originally, was fixed for this Sunday. Thou that connection has now been broken, yet the appropriateness is still very striking; for the Epistle, as Abbot Rupert was just telling us, continues to urge us to Humility, by proposing to us the example of St. Paul; the Humility of the repentant Publican has been anticipated. Our Mother the Church is all emotion at beholding this Publican—this object of contempt to the Jew—striking his breast, and scarce able to put his sorrow into words: she, with motherly tenderness, comes and takes up his faltering prayer, and gives it her own eloquence. Nothing could exceed the delicate way in which she asks of the Omnipotent, that in his infinite mercy, he would restore peace to troubled consciences, by pardoning them their sins, and granting them what they, poor sinners, are too afraid to presume to ask for.

[Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost]