Friends in Christ,
Welcome to our weekly Sunday update. This Sunday is the Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Also called simply Christ the King, this first-class feast is always celebrated on the last Sunday in October. It will be followed on Wednesday the 28th by the Feast of Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles. The last three days in October are vacant, but over the next week the liturgical calendar will culminate with two more first-class feasts: All Saints on Sunday (November 1st) and All Souls on Monday. All Saints celebrates all the saints in Heaven, both those whose feast days appear on the liturgical calendar and those who have not been canonized and may never be. (The process leading to canonization sometimes takes decades or even centuries to reach its conclusion.) All Souls is the day dedicated to the faithful who aspired to reach Heaven but presumably fell short. They are now in Purgatory undergoing the painful process of purification necessary to achieve the purgation of sins not atoned for in this life. The Church calls on us to pray for them throughout the month of November. Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Calendar of Special Observances
Celebrations are those listed in the Roman Missal of 1962.
DAY, DATE – FEAST (CLASS)
Sunday, October 25 – Christ the King (I)
Monday, October 26 – Feria (IV) – Commemoration of St. Evaristus, Pope and Martyr
Tuesday, October 27 – Feria (IV)
Wednesday, October 28 – Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles (II)
Thursday, October 29 – Feria (IV)
Friday, October 30 – Feria (IV)
Saturday, October 31 – Our Lady on Saturday (IV)
Feast of Christ the King
The links provided below can be used to download printable copies of the Proper Prayers for the Feast of Christ the King with English or Spanish translations, 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
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.
Feasts of All Souls Latin Mass Schedule (Monday November 2 - as announced)
Chapel of the Little Flower Announcements
Mass Intentions for Sunday
Sunday October 25, 10:00 a.m. – Albert Francis Monda, Jr. (+) & consolation of Kristine Monda by the Cascio Family
Eucharistic Procession for the Feast of Christ the King
Tomorrow Sunday October 25, the Feast of Christ the King, a Eucharistic Procession will occur after the 12 noon Mass at the Chapel of the Little Flower. A plenary indulgence is available on this solemnity (see General Announcements).
Support Sacred Music at the Chapel by Joining the Schola and Choir
Saint Paul exhorts us "Be filled with the Spirit...singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart" (Ephesians 5:18-19) and St. Augustine teaches us that “singing belongs to those who love.” Please consider lending your musical talents toward beautifying the sacred liturgy here at the Chapel of the Little Flower. If one would like more information about joining the schola and choir, please contact the Chapel music director whose contact information is at the bottom of the hymn sheets found on the table in the narthex. Thank you for your generosity.
Music Sheets Available in the Narthex
A reminder that music sheets are available in the narthex so that one may join in or follow along with the singing at the sung Mass.
Saint Ann Parishioner Catholic School Check In
If one is a parishioner at St. Ann parish and has children enrolled in the Catholic schools, please scan the QR code found on the table/wall in the narthex of the Chapel. This is the new attendance check in system.
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
Join Us at 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
In Memoriam: Tom Savoy (1955-2022) – Saturday October 24, is the 4th anniversary of the passing of Tom Savoy into eternal life. Tom served as the Director of Sacred Music at Saint Thomas Aquinas parish and as Magister Capellae at Saint Joseph College Seminary, developing the rich sacred music at both places (especially at Saint Thomas Aquinas and throughout the diocese). Please pray for the repose of the soul of Tom (and for consolation of the family on this anniversary), in your Mass intentions this weekend.
Plenary Indulgence for the Feast of Christ the King (Sunday October 25) – A plenary indulgence may be obtained on the Feast of Christ the King under the usual conditions (Mass attendance, confession, the avoidance of serious sin, and recitation of prayers for the intentions of the Pope) when praying An Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a church. The Act of Consecration may be found in this article from The Missive.
First Sunday Food & Fellowship All Saints Party at Saint Thomas Aquinas – Sunday November 1 will be the monthly Sunday Food and Fellowship (and All Saints Party) at Saint Thomas Aquinas from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. If you attend Mass at the Chapel, you can always drop by after Mass. Please consider bringing something to share.
The Georgia Martyrs: The First Beatification in the American South - Saturday October 31 – A historic event is occurring just a few hours from Charlotte on Saturday October 31 in Savannah Georgia. The Church is beatifying Friar Pedro de Corpa and his four companions, who were martyred at their Spanish missions along the Georgia coast in September 1597. If you've never been to a beatification before (and missed Bl. Fulton Sheen's event last month), why not drive down to Savannah to witness this historic Catholic event? To register (free) for the event and learn more, click here.
Prayers at the Cemetery for the Souls of the Faithful Departed – Saint Ann Homeschool Ministry is hosting their annual prayers at the cemetery for the faithful departed on Sunday November 1st, 3:00 p.m. (All Saints Day) at Belmont Abbey Cemetery. Prayers will be led by Fr. Reid. All are welcome. Afterwards there will be “soul cakes” (doughnuts), coffee, and other treats. If you can bring “soul cakes” or other treats to share, please do! Water, coffee, and napkins will be provided.
Next Sunday November 1 Turn Clocks Back – Next Sunday November 1 is when Daylight Savings Time ends. Please turn your clocks back one hour next Sunday November 1 at 2:00 a.m.
All Saints Day Relics Display – On All Saints Day November 1, Saint Thomas Aquinas Church will display relics of many saints in the church. Please see the flyer at the end of this update. Other parishes such as Saint Mark will also host displays - please see parish bulletins for schedule.
Enroll the Souls of the Faithful Departed – The Traditional Carmelite Hermits of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Colorado and Pennsylvania) are offering an All Souls Enrollment during the month of November. Throughout November, the community will dedicate 30 Holy Masses (Traditional Carmelite Rite), along with the daily prayers and sacrifices of the Hermits, for the souls of the faithful departed who are enrolled. To learn more or enroll, click here.
All Souls Indulgences (Nov 1 - 8) – A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful - applicable only to the souls in purgatory - who devoutly visit a cemetery to pray for the dead during the first eight days of November (under the usual conditions each day noted below). A plenary indulgence, also applicable only to the souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful who piously visit a church or public oratory on All Souls Day to pray the Our Father and recite the Creed. One must be baptized and in the state of grace; free from an attachment to sin; go to confession within 20 days; receive Holy Communion on the day of visitation; and offer prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (again, the Our Father and Creed will suffice).
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.
Bishop Martin issues Pastoral Letter to the Faithful Associated with the Society of Saint Pius X
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/
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
The Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ – or Christ the King – was decreed by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical Quas Primas, given at St. Peter’s in Rome, 100 years ago, on December 11, 1925. The Holy Father called for the annual celebration of the feast on the last Sunday in October.
The feast was instituted as a corrective to the “manifold evils in the world due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives. . . . In establishing the annual liturgical celebration of Christ the King, the Pope asserted, “that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations. Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ; and that We promised to do as far as lay in Our power.”
First among the blessings Pope Pius XI hoped would “accrue to the Church, to society, and to each one of the faithful, as a result of the public veneration of the Kingship of Christ” was the following: When we pay honor to the princely dignity of Christ, men will doubtless be reminded that the Church, founded by Christ as a perfect society, has a natural and inalienable right to perfect freedom and immunity from the power of the state; and that in fulfilling the task committed to her by God of teaching, ruling, and guiding to eternal bliss those who belong to the kingdom of Christ, she cannot be subject to any external power.
The Pope quoted his predecessor, Leo XIII, regarding the inevitable consequences of excluding God from the communal life of the people: ‘With God and Jesus Christ,’ we said, ‘excluded from political life, with authority derived not from God but from man, the very basis of that authority has been taken away, because the chief reason for the distinction between ruler and subject has been eliminated. The result is that human society is tottering to its fall, because it has no longer a secure and solid foundation.’
“When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King,” Pope Pius wrote in Quas Primas, “society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony.” A link to the full text of the encyclical is provided below.
Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat! [Quas Primas (December 11, 1925) | PIUS XI]
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Christ the King Podcast Series – The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (an order of priests which offers the Traditional Mass exclusively) produced a 4-part podcast series on the origins and meaning of the Feast of Christ the King, which is commemorated on the last Sunday of October, in the 1962 calendar. The talks can be found at the links below.
Quas Primas and Christ the King Podcast
Closing Commentary
We offer, in closing, that portion of Dom Prosper Guéranger’s commentary (written posthumously by one of his successors) on the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. A link to the full text from The Liturgical Year follows.
Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
The Kingdom of Heaven—Holy Church—is seen bringing forth out of her treasure “things new and old.” Although she can never add new dogmas to the deposit of Faith entrusted to her, as the ages go by she is seen understanding more perfectly and explaining more fully those treasures in her keeping. She is a living body, not a statue, and she can develop, though she can never change her nature. Hence, guided by the Holy Spirit of him who has promised to be with her not merely for a few centuries but unto the end of the world, she defines or emphasizes certain points of doctrine as she sees fit, considering needs of the times. We have an example in the institution of the feast, of the Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ by the Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Pius XI, in the jubilee year 1925, and explained to the faithful in the Encyclical Quas Primas.
Christians have ever hailed our divine Lord as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It was as a King that the representatives of the Eastern World came to adore him in the manger; it was as a King, albeit not knowing what he did, that the official representative of the Western world lifted him up upon the Cross. The patriarchs and prophets of the old dispensation foretold his royalty; he spoke constantly of his kingdom: when asked plainly whether he were in truth a king by the representative of Cæsar, he acknowledged that such indeed he was, though of a kingdom not of this world.
“His Kingship is founded upon the ineffable hypostatic union. It is spiritual and concerned with spiritual things. It is opposed to none other than to that of Satan, and to the powers of darkness. Christ is King over angels and men; King over men’s hearts and wills; his Kingship demands of its subjects a spirit of detachment from riches and earthly things, and a spirit of gentleness. They must hunger and thirst after justice and, more than this, they must deny themselves and carry the cross.”
Yet though his is a spiritual kingdom, opposed to no just earthly polity, “it would be a grave error to say that Christ has no authority whatever in civil affairs, since by virtue of the absolute empire over all creatures committed to him by the Father, all things are in his power. All men, whether collectively or individually, are under the dominion of Christ. In him is the salvation of the individual, in him is the salvation of society.”
Today we sadly behold “a world undone,” largely paganized in principles and outlook and, in recent years, in one country even glorying in the name “pagan.” At the best, governments mostly ignore God; and at the worst, openly fight against him, as we of today are witnessing in the Old World and in the New. Even the statesmen’s well-meant efforts to find a remedy for present ills and, above all, to secure world peace, prove futile because whereas peace is from Christ, and possible only in the Kingdom of Christ, his name is never mentioned throughout their deliberations or their documents.
“To repair the crime,” says the great 20th century Thomist Fra. Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange in his study L’Amour de Dieu et de la Croix de Jesus, The Love of God and the Cross of Jesus, “of ‘lèse-divinité,’ which denies God’s rights over the human society whose author he is, we must exalt Jesus Christ as King over all individuals, families, and peoples. If his universal royalty be proclaimed and his reign in society recognized, one of the principal evils of the modern world—the secularizing of public and private life—will be attacked at its roots.” [Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King]