Midnight Mass plus Pictures

There will be Christmas Midnight Mass (High Mass) in the Extraordinary Form at St. Joseph's-  Friday at midnight.  There will not be Latin Masses on Saturday, Christmas Day or on Saturday, January 1 (but there will be the usual 12:30PM High Mass on Sunday, December 26.)

        

All had a wonderful time at the Latin Mass Community dinner.  May everyone have a most Blessed and Holy Christmas.

Reminders

--Please remember that Mass on Sunday, December 12 will be held downstairs in the Lower Chapel due to a concert of sacred music being held in the Church at 2PM.

--There will be a baptism in the Church after Mass on Dec. 19,  if anyone  would like to attend.

-- December 13, the commemoration of St. Lucy, is the herald for the winter quatember, the Ember Days of winter.   This year the Days fall on December 15, 17, and 18  (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday).  The Ember Days  are traditional days of penance, fasting, prayer and almsgiving, giving us the opportunity to focus on repentance.      http://www.fisheaters.com/emberdays.html

--The O Anitphons which are recited at Vespers during the Octave before Christmas, begin on Friday, Dec. 17.    Each Antiphon addresses Our Lord with a unique title which comes from prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, and whose initials, when read backwards, form an acrostic for the Latin "Ero Cras" which means "Tomorrow I come."    http://www.fisheaters.com/customsadvent10.html

Announcements

--The Unfailing Christmas Novena begins on the Feast of St. Andrew, Tuesday Nov. 30th.  To be prayed 15 times every day until Christmas for a special intention: “Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.”


-- If you would like the opportunity to attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation, on Wednesday Dec. 8, there will be a 7PM Mass at St. Ann’s Chapel: 254 Still River Road, Still River

--On Sunday, Dec. 12, our Mass will be held in the Lower Chapel downstairs due to an afternoon concert of Christmas music being held in the Church at 2PM. The front row will be reserved for receiving Holy Communion.

--Latin Mass Dinner on Sunday, Dec. 19: If you haven’t done so already, please let us know if you are coming to the Latin Mass dinner on Sunday, Dec. 19th, at 4PM (after Vespers) at Il Forno Restaurant (27 Airport Road, Fitchburg). RSVP to Todd and Diana Tabbaa: sedessapientia@verizon.net so that we can give the restaurant a general count. (You may still attend even if you don’t RSVP).

Children are welcome; cake and wine will be served. There will only be one bill, so every family will keep track of their own tab (cash only). We will hold a Yankee Gift Swap: Anyone who would like to participate should bring a wrapped gift with no name tag (a Catholic theme gift (funny or nice) or home-made goodies- under $20). As many family members who would like to participate may each bring a gift. Each person who brings a gift will draw a number to determine the order. The first person opens a gift. The next person may choose from any opened gifts or open a new gift, and so on until the last person may choose from all of the opened gifts. The best gift will be sharing the time together!

Save some dates....

Beginning next week for Advent, the psalms for Vespers will be chanted (instead of recto tono).   Anyone who would like extra help in learning the chant modes is welcome to join the choir for practice at 6:30PM on Wednesday Nov. 24 at St. Joseph's Church.    All are encouraged to take this wonderful opportunity to learn chant from our very knowledgeable and experienced choir director, and offer praise to God in this most beautiful  tradition of our Faith.

Save the date for a Latin Mass dinner on Sunday, Dec. 19th, at 4PM (after Vespers) at Il Forno Restaurant (27 Airport Road, Fitchburg).    Children are welcome; cake and wine will be served.   There will only be one bill, so every family will keep track of their own tab (cash only).     We will hold a Yankee Gift Swap:   Anyone who would like to participate should bring a wrapped gift with no name tag (a Catholic theme gift or home-made goodies-  under $20).    As many family members who would like to participate may each bring a gift.   Each person who brings a gift will draw a number to determine the order.  The first person opens a gift.  The next person may choose from any opened gifts or open a new gift, and so on until the last person may choose from all of the opened gifts.  The best gift will be sharing the time together!

Feel free to post or email our new video to promote our Latin Mass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L5ChvEYLQQ&feature=player_embedded


(The video is currently at the top of our blog.)

Feast of Christ the King

Viva Cristo Rey!

Feast of Christ the King

For the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday, October 31, we will recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King.  Along with the usual conditions, this allows for one to to gain a plenary indulgence. Copies of the prayer will be placed at the entrance and front tables.    Benediction and Vespers will take place in the church, beginning at 2:40pm.   

All are  invited to refreshments downstairs in the Parish hall at 2PM, and to participate in a discussion as to the  preferred Mass time for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday Dec. 8.

Remember that on Tuesday, November 2, All Souls Day, a plenary indulgence can be gained for the souls in Purgatory by visiting a Church and reciting one Our Father and the Creed.   On all the days from November I though November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray for the departed.

To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary to perform the work to which the indulgence is attached and to fulfill the following three conditions: sacramental confession (up to a week before or after, one confession suffices for gaining several plenary indulgences), eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.  It is further required that all attachment to sin, even venial sin, be absent.   If the latter disposition is in any way less than perfect or if the prescribed three conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will be partial only,

Community Events

The Latin Mass Community will make a prayerful visit to the chapel of the Little Audrey Santos foundation at 64 S. Flagg Street in Worcester on Monday October 18 at 6PM. Father Phillipson will offer Mass there at 6:30PM. You may read more about Audrey Santos at http://www.littleaudreysanto.org/Test.html

There will be a birthday dinner for Fr. Phillipson: at Il Forno restaurant (27 Airport Road, Fitchburg) on Friday, Oct. 22 at 6:30PM. Children are welcome. Please RSVP the number attending to the Tabbaas sedessapientia@verizon.net as soon as possible so we can estimate the size function room to reserve. As only one check is allowed for the group, payment will be cash only (each family may tally their own tab). Wine and cake will be served.

Ember Days: Sept. 22, 24 and 25

In the liturgical calendar of the Western Christian churches, Ember days are four separate sets of three days within the same week—specifically, the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday—roughly equidistant in the circuit of the year, that were formerly set aside for fasting and prayer. These days were considered especially suitable for the ordination of clergy. The Ember Days are known in Latin as the quattuor anni tempora (the "four seasons of the year"), or formerly as the jejunia quattuor temporum ("fasts of the four seasons").  These times are spent fasting and partially abstaining (voluntary since the new Code of Canon Law) in penance and with the intentions of thanking God for the gifts He gives us in nature and beseeching Him for the discipline to use them in moderation. The fasts are rooted in Old Testament practices of fasting four times a year.

These quarterly periods take place around the beginnings of the four natural seasons. The first of these four times comes in Winter, after the the Feast of St. Lucy; the second comes in Spring, the week after Ash Wednesday; the third comes in Summer, after Pentecost Sunday; and the last comes in Autumn, after Holy Cross Day. Their dates can be remembered by this old mnemonic:

Sant Crux, Lucia, Cineres, Charismata Dia
Ut sit in angaria quarta sequens feria.

Which means:
Holy Cross, Lucy, Ash Wednesday, Pentecost,
are when the quarter holidays follow.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

A most blessed feast day to all, on this the three year anniversary of the implementation of Summorum Pontificum.    With gratitude, we keep our Holy Father in our prayers.

Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary

On Sunday, September 12, in honor of the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary, there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Vespers and Benediction in the church.
Exposition will begin immediately after Mass. There will be refreshments downstairs in the parish hall, and at least one person should be present in the church until Vespers begin at about 2:40. Vespers will be prayed in Latin, and booklets will be provided. When prayed before Our Lord in Exposition, all stand throughout.

Feast of the Assumption

Blessed be the Most Glorious Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Assumption

For the great Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady on Sunday, August 15, we will have Vespers followed by Benediction at 2:30PM after refreshments after Mass.  We will also pray the Rosary before the 12:30 Mass.   All are invited to join us in honoring Our Most Blessed Mother on Her great Feast Day.  Printed copies of the Vespers are provided (Latin and English) and we will chant recto tono, with Father Phillipson leading us.  This beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother was brought from Immaculate Conception Church.  How very happy we are to have Her with us!

Interesting Videos on History of the Changes in the Mass

From Real Catholic TV, here is an interesting study series of the history of the changes in the Mass.
http://www.realcatholictv.com/cia/03Massdest/

Sunday Vespers

We will pray Sunday Vespers in the Church after the refreshments after Mass (starting at about 2:30pm).  Feel free to join us (and for refreshments in the hall downstairs).  Print copies will be provided.

Pilgrimage for Restoration

http://www.national-coalition.org/pilgrim/index.html

The Fifteenth Annual Pilgrimage for Restoration to the Shrine of Our Lady of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York  is coming up September 22-25. 
Walk, sing, pray along the paths, the actual places where the North American  Saints lived and died for Christ, for their persecutors, and for you.
Join one day or four, for 7 miles or 70. Transportation for weary pilgrims  provided throughout. 'Modified pilgrimage' for parents with young children, and for seniors.

Traditional Roman Mass (forma extraordinaria) and confessions daily. Plenary  indulgence.

Choir

The choir can use the help of anyone who is planning to attend the 12:30 Mass at St. Joseph's. This Sunday, July 25, will be a Low Mass, with music which will all be simple polyphony and chant. The choir meets for a brief warm-up and practice at 12:00 downstairs in the church hall- feel free to join in. For more information, contact Mike Meier at meier.family@usa.net

The Portiuncla Indulgence

The Portiuncula (small portion) refers to the land in Assisi, Italy, that belonged to the Benedictines. On this land was an old church dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God but abandoned. When he saw that the church was deserted, St. Francis began to live there and repair it. He heard that the angels often visited it, so that it was called St. Mary of the Angels.
In 1216, in a vision, St Francis obtained from Jesus Himself the Indulgence of the Pardon of Assisi that was approved by Pope Honorius III. This indulgence has been extended to all parish churches throughout the world.
The date was set from vespers of the first of August until sundown on the second of August, the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels. It is said that St. Francis was given this day by Our Lord because the Feast of the Chains of St. Peter celebrated on August first is the day Peter was released from prison and his chains removed. This is an extraordinary demonstration of God’s mercy in removing the chains of sin from those who devoutly and faithfully seek to gain the indulgence by completing its requirements.

The Portiuncula indulgence is the first plenary indulgence that was ever granted in the Church. To gain it, one must worthily receive the Sacraments of Penance (eight days before or after, and have no attachment to venial sin) and of the Blessed Eucharist (attend Holy Mass) and to say in a church of the Franciscans or in the parish church the customary prayers for an indulgence (according to "The Raccolta", 1957, the prayers for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff for the Portiuncula Indulgence consist of "at least SIX TIMES Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be, at each visit") .

What distinguishes the Portiuncula, indulgence especially from all others is, that on the day on which it is granted, it can be gained not only once, but oftener, as often as on that day you visit a church of the Franciscans, or the parish church, and there pray for some time according to the intention of the Holy Father. The Portiuncula indulgence can be gained more that once on the same day, for we may apply it to the souls in purgatory, if we gain it the second and the third time, etc.

Note: The norms and grants of indulgences were reformed by Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council in his Apostolic Constitution "Indulgentiarum Doctrina" (1967), and the Portiuncula Indulgence was again confirmed at that time. According to the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, the Catholic faithful may gain a plenary indulgence on 2 August (the Portiuncula) or on such other day as designated by the local ordinary for the advantage of the faithful, under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff), by devoutly visiting the parish church, and there reciting at least the Lord's Prayer and the Creed. The Indulgence applies to the cathedral church of the diocese, and to the co-cathedral church (if there is one), even if they are not parochial, and also to quasi-parochial churches. To gain this, as any plenary indulgence, the faithful must be free from any attachment to sin, even venial sin. Where this entire detachment is wanting, the indulgence is partial.

Enrollment in the Brown Scapular

As the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is on July 16, Father Phillipson will enroll anyone who would like to be enrolled in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel after Mass on Sunday, July 18.

New Parish

The Latin Mass Community expresses our most sincere thanks to the Right Reverend Bishop McManus for his help in our transition into a new parish home. Father Richard Trainor, pastor of Saint Joseph Church in Fitchburg, has extended a generous invitation to Father David Phillipson and the Latin Mass Community to have the Ancient Mass on a regular basis, including Holy Days according to the Traditional Calendar . The community accepts his invitation with sincere gratitude. The Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite will be offered every Sunday at 12:30PM as a Sung High Mass, beginning on July 4. The church is located at 49 Woodland Street in Fitchburg. All those attending are asked to please wait for the church to clear from the previous Mass before entering.
Deo Gratias.

Another Meeting

All are invited to a meeting with Father Trainor at St. Joseph Church on 49 Woodland Street in Fitchburg on Tuesday, June 15 at 7PM to discuss the possibility of having the Latin Mass there.
A vote (for adults) will be conducted after Mass on Sunday, June 20th, where people may express their preference.

Notes for our last Mass at Immaculate Conception on Sunday, June 27: The Mass will be at 7AM, and will be followed by Benediction, including the chanting of the Litany of Loreto. All are invited to share in prayer our thanks to God for the time we have had in this beautiful church and our sorrow in its closing. Afterwards, there will be a presentation to Fr. Thien expressing our community's thanks.