Friends in Christ,
Welcome to our weekly Sunday update. This Sunday, there are two commemorations, depending on location. Locally in the Diocese of Charlotte, the Chapel of the Little Flower will offer a special External Solemnity of Epiphany to allow the faithful to celebrate this ancient and solemn Twelfth Day of Christmas and the beginning of the next part of the Christmas cycle, Epiphanytide.
At other locations, it is the Feast of the Holy Family. For this Mass, the Gospel reading for this Sunday offers a singular view of Jesus as a child, revealing much about the nature of the Holy Family itself. At the age of twelve, Jesus is not yet a man; but He is knowledgeable and wise beyond His years. He displays remarkable independence and self-assurance by remaining in Jerusalem alone, in order to engage in discussion with the Jewish doctors in the Temple, when His parents head back to Nazareth following the Passover celebration. When His parents find Him, after seeking Him for three days, Mary responds as one would expect, saying, “Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing?” The boy is unyielding in His response: “How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father’s business?” His mother and father are mystified, but they return with Him to Nazareth. “And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.”
Calendar of Special Observances
Celebrations are those listed in the Roman Missal of 1962.
DAY, DATE – FEAST (CLASS)
Sunday, January 11 – Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (II) – First Sunday after Epiphany (or External Solemnity of Epiphany)
Monday, January 12 – Feria of Epiphany (IV)
Tuesday, January 13 – Commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ (II)
Wednesday, January 14 – St. Hilary, Bishop Confessor and Doctor of the Church (III) – Commemoration of St. Felix, Priest and Martyr
Thursday, January 15 – St. Paul the First Hermit and Confessor (III) – Commemoration of St. Maurus, Abbot
Friday, January 16 – St. Marcellus I, Pope and Martyr (III)
Saturday, January 17 – St. Anthony, Abbot (III)
External Solemnity of the Epiphany (Chapel of the Little Flower - Sunday January 11)
Propers and Commentary for Epiphany
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (Other Locations)
The links provided below can be used to download printable copies of the Proper Prayers for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. A link to Dr. Michael P. Foley’s New Liturgical Movement commentary is also provided.
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
Cancellation Note: Per the parish bulletin, no Latin Mass will be offered at Prince of Peace Church on Monday January 12.
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 January 11 - In Thanksgiving and for special intentions by the Chinnasami Family
External Feast of the Epiphany on Sunday January 11
Since a Latin Mass was not offered at the Chapel on Tuesday January 6 for the Feast of the Epiphany, Fr. Jones will offer the External Solemnity of the Epiphany on Sunday January 11.
In Thanksgiving: New Vestments
Father Jones expresses his thanks to Tiffany Peoples of Lily and Rose Vestments who made violet and gold vestment sets for the Chapel. The funds for the vestments were paid for by the late Aline Cooper (+), a longtime Saint Ann parishioner who loved the Latin Mass and the priests of this diocese. Please consider offering a prayer for Ms. Peoples and for the repose of the soul of Ms. Cooper.
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
Parish Bulletins Now Available at the Chapel
To help Chapel attendees/visitors stay connected with their parishes, the Chapel is providing Sunday bulletins from Saint Ann and Saint Thomas Aquinas parishes. Father is thankful for the volunteer help in bringing the bulletins.
New Fund for the Chapel of the Little Flower
There will soon be a fund established to which one may contribute to the Chapel of the Little Flower. The procedure will work as follows: Please make out the check to the “Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte” and earmark it very specifically (in the check memo) as to how one would like the funds to be used. For instance “Artwork - Chapel of the Little Flower” or “Hymnals - Chapel of the Little Flower” (which Father hopes to acquire soon). More details will be forthcoming on how to contribute. For questions please contact Father Jones at: tlmchapel(at)rcdoc.org
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 during Epiphanytide. 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
New Book Announcement: Meditations on the Litany of Humility – Local publisher Sensus Fidelium Press has released an enriching new
book on the Litany of Humility according to the writings of the saints. Meditations on the Litany of Humility: From the Examples of the Saints unpacks
this important litany through the examples and words of the saints
themselves who practiced this foundational virtue. Sensus Fidelium Press
and Sensus Fidelium, are run by local parishioner, Steve Cunningham. To order your copy, click here.
Help Thy Neighbor – For those looking to help those struggling financially this time of year, Fr. Reid announced a link to the parish’s Help Thy Neighbor program, which helps families in need. To give, one can either write a check to St. Ann with "Help Thy Neighbor" in the memo line, or donate at the parish’s online link.
The FSSP 30-Day Novena to Our Lady begins January 12th – A thirty-day novena in preparation for the renewal of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter’s (FSSP) consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is being organized this year. The novena consists of a daily Rosary and Memorare. Saint Ann parish has two parishioners at the FSSP’s seminary in Nebraska. Please consider joining this novena. To learn more click here.
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.
Prayer Request – In your charity, please continue to pray for the healing of Tony Reitz from a rapidly progressing Lymphoma. He is the brother-in-law of Amanda Banville who attends Our Lady of Grace parish. Pray also for Tony’s wife and young children.
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
St. Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church was born in Poitiers early in the fourth century, the son of noble parents who were not Christians. He was given a broad-based secular education; but, taking up the study of Scripture, Hilary was motivated to renounce his pagan heritage and seek baptism. The breadth of his learning and ardor of his faith led to his selection as bishop of his native city around the middle of the fourth century. Thenceforth he became one of the principal defenders of orthodox Christianity at a time when heresy abounded.
Arianism, which denied the divinity of Christ and claimed he was a created being, was already firmly established in other areas and had also made significant, if largely covert, inroads in Gaul. Hilary exposed the Bishop of Arles as a proponent of the Arian heresy, whereupon Saturninus convened a council at Béziers in 356 for the purpose of ratifying his heterodox views. The Bishop of Poitiers attended the council, intending to denounce Arianism; but he was prevented from speaking by the dominant Arian faction. Denounced to the Emperor Constantius, the defender of Arianism, Hilary was exiled to Phrygia.
While in exile, Hilary devoted himself to the intensive study of Scripture and the writings of the Fathers of the Church, completing certain of his own works, including his treatise on the synods. This monumental study analyzed the professions of faith issued by the Eastern Councils of Ancyra, Antioch and Sirmium, exposing their Arian-influenced deviations from Christian orthodoxy, while doing so in a way that encouraged moderation on the part of Western bishops in their response.
In 359 Hilary was invited to attend a synod in Seleucia composed almost entirely of Oriental bishops holding opinions sympathetic to Arianism. There he set forth the views of Western bishops but had little success in winning converts to their orthodox brand of Christianity. Undaunted he set forth for Constantinople, where heresy reigned supreme, determined to continue the battle for the true Faith. The bishops of the Greek provinces responded by calling on Constantius to end the troublemaker’s exile so that he could return to his own country and leave them in peace.
Hilary returned to Poitiers in triumph in 361 and was able to reclaim his see. Among those who came to welcome him back was his one-time disciple, the future St. Martin of Tours, who would be Bishop of Tours a decade later.
Three years after his return to Poitiers, the bishop traveled to Milan, where he openly challenged Bishop Auxentius. Auxentius, a proponent of the doctrines promoted by the Arians, called on his protector, Emperor Valentinian, to shield him. The emperor ordered Hilary to leave Milan immediately. Returning to Poitiers, never to leave again, the bishop took up the pen which is mightier than the sword to fight on against heresy. His notable works include a Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, the first in Latin to have survived intact; his Tracts on the Psalms; the twelve-volume theological opus now known under the title, On the Trinity; and numerous works of an essentially historical character.
According to St. Jerome, Hilary died in Poitiers in 367. In 1851 Pope Pius formally recognized him as a Doctor of the Church. His feast is celebrated on January 14 in accordance with the traditional liturgical calendar.
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The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord marks the end of the immediate Christmas season. Epiphany is derived from a Greek word meaning “manifestation”: thus, the feast celebrates the manifestation of the Infant Jesus to the world in the persons of the “wise men from the East” described in Mattthew’s Gospel. While there is nothing in Scripture to specify their number or names, the traditional belief is that there were three of them and their names were Casper, Melchior and Balthazar.
In a larger sense, the Epiphany is meant to celebrate the revelation of Christ as the Son of God: the Theophany. This broader concept of the celebration was widely held in the early days of Christianity and is still prevalent in the East. There is evidence that the celebration of the Epiphany on January 6th originated in the early Church and included, in addition to the Visitation of the Magi, the Nativity of Our Lord, the Baptism of Christ and the Wedding at Cana. The Council of Tours took formal action in 567 to separate the celebration of Christmas and Epiphany, fixing the Nativity on December 25th, 12 days prior to the Epiphany.
There are various customs connected to the celebration of the Epiphany around the world. It is on Epiphany, not Christmas, that La Befana brings gifts to the children of Italy. Similarly, the children of Portugal and Spain, as well as many other countries where Spanish is spoken, receive gifts on “Three Kings Day.” Catholics in Poland take chalk to be blessed on the Epiphany, a custom that has been adopted in our own country.
The culinary phenomenon of the King Cake may be found in many nations. In New Orleans the baking of King Cakes traditionally began on Twelfth Night when the Christmas season gave way after Epiphany to the revelry of Carnival. King Cakes remain prevalent in the city until Mardi Gras, the last day before Lent. Bakers place a small doll, representing the Infant Jesus, in the dough before baking the oval cake. In the past, King Cakes were primarily made of sweet brioche bread topped with sugar colored purple, green and gold, the colors of Carnival. In more recent times, various fillings and toppings have gained popularity. According to custom, King Cakes are shared; and the person “finding the baby” in his slice was expected to furnish the next King Cake to be shared with others unfortunate enough not to “get the baby.”
Closing Commentary
In closing, we share a commentary extracted from The Liturgical Year of Dom Prosper Guéranger on “The Feast of the Holy Family.” A link to the full text of the great liturgist’s commentary follows the extract.
The Feast of the Holy Family
This Sunday has been chosen by the Church for the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family; the liturgy of the day, as expressed in the Gospel, harmonizes well with the mystery of the new Feast, for it already carries us forward to the childhood of our Emmanuel and gives us those wonderful words which, after the example of his Blessed Mother, we must ever ponder within our hearts: And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them.
The Feast of the Holy Family is of recent origin. In 1663 Barbara d’Hillehoust founded at Montreal the Association of the Holy Family; this devotion soon spread and in 1863 Leo XIII expressed his approval of a feast under this title and himself composed part of the Office. The Feast was welcomed by succeeding Pontiffs as an efficacious means for bringing home to the Christian people the example of the Holy Family at Nazareth, and by the restoration of the true spirit of family life, stemming, in some measure, the evils of present-day society. These motives led Benedict XV to insert the Feast in the universal Calendar, and from 1921 it has been fixed for this present Sunday.
If we would attain to charity, the bond of perfection which unites all Christians together in the one great family of God, we must pay heed to those virtues which the Epistle puts before us. We must be full of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, and patience; we must bear with one another and forgive one another, after the example of the Incarnate Word. Then the peace of Christ will dwell not only in our hearts, but in those around us, and our homes will truly become like that of Nazareth, where Mary and Joseph were ever singing in grace to the Lord God. [Feast of the Holy Family]
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To Our Readers and All Friends of the Latin Mass: May you be abundantly blessed by God in this joyous season of Christmas.