Feast of the Holy Maccabees Mass 7pm Tonight & First Sunday Potluck


Mass for The Feast of the Holy Maccabees will be celebrated tonight Thursday, August 1st, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in accordance with the traditional liturgical calendar. (See Gregory DiPippo’s New Liturgical Movement article, "The Feast of the Holy Maccabees.")

The Holy Maccabees were seven Old Testament brothers who, along with their mother, were martyred by King Antiochus Epiphanes around 150 B.C. for refusing to eat the flesh of swine in violation of the Judaic law.

Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish will offer its 7:00 p.m. Traditional Latin Mass for this rare commemoration of Old Testament saints who died defending God’s sacred laws and traditions.

But one of them, who was the eldest, said thus: What wouldst thou ask, or learn of us? We are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of God, received from our fathers (2 Maccabees 7:2).


Portiuncula Indulgence – Friday August 2nd

Starting tonight and continuing through Friday August 2nd, there is a plenary indulgence called the Portiuncula Indulgence which was first offered to only those who visited the Portiuncula chapel St. Francis of Assisi rebuilt in Italy, but now it is available to everyone in the universal Church.

This indulgence, the "Pardon of Assisi" can be performed at any time during the evening August 1 until midnight Friday night August 2nd. To participate, one must go to confession (20 days before or after); receive Holy Communion at Mass on August 2nd, and enter into a parish church or Franciscan Church, and with contrition, pray the Our Father, Apostles Creed, and a prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions. To learn more visit this Catholic News Agency article.


Latin Mass Schedule: First Saturday August 3

Charlotte Area Latin Masses

  • Saint Thomas Aquinas –10:00 a.m. followed by blessing of religious objects

Other Diocese of Charlotte Latin Masses

  • St. John the Baptist (Tryon) – 8:30 a.m.
  • Church of the Epiphany (Blowing Rock) – 10:00 a.m.


First Sunday Potluck this Sunday

This Sunday (August 4) will be First Sunday Food and Fellowship at Saint Thomas Aquinas following the regularly scheduled 11:30 a.m. Latin Mass. All are invited to come break bread and have a good time!


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 weeks 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.
  • St. 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.


Holy Face Devotions

We reshare our weekly posting of the Holy Face devotions across the diocese. This devotion was specifically requested by Our Lord (in Church-approved private revelations) to offer reparation for blasphemy and irreverence. These powerful 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
  • Is your parish not listed? Why not consider starting this devotion at your parish?