Too many people today are without good, strong preaching, to the detriment of all. Share the good stuff.
In very many places the observance of Epiphany (which is really on 6 January) was transferred to this Sunday.
Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Sunday Mass of obligation for either Holy Family (Vetus Ordo) or “Epiphany”?
Tell about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass. I hear that it is growing. Of COURSE.
Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?
I have a few thoughts about the orations in the Vetus Ordo for Holy Family: HERE
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While I was not at at TLM this last Sunday, I was at St. Mary Broadway Providence RI (FSSP) the previous Sunday Jan 1, the Octave Day of the Nativity for the 10:30 AM High Mass and I would say the church was about 80% full, mostly of families with young children. It was a such a beautiful mass, it pains me to then go back to dreary Novus Ordo land.
While I remember being edified by our homilist (we are rather blessed in that regard at a Dominican parish), I don’t recall much of anything that was said.
That’s because after mass, our parish held the service for the blessing of Epiphany water (and salt and chalk) in preparation for blessing homes for the new year. It was a fairly long affair with three chanted Psalms and the Magnificat. Multiple exorcism prayers– general exorcism and one each specifically for the water and salt– were said, and all so inclined left with as much water and chalk as he or she wished.
The blessing is done by writing 20+C+M+B+23 with the chalk while reciting a certain prayer. The initials stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat (may Christ bless this house) and are also the initials of the traditional names of the magi, Casper, Melchior, and Bathasar.
Here in our parish in central NJ (D. Trenton), we celebrated Epiphany. Monsignor (a long retired weekend assistant, who loves to preach using stories…sometimes conflating them together into LONG discourses…) spoke about the Damar Hamlin (NFL cardiac arrest) incident. He shared how he felt that those who participated in or watched the incident unfold had frequently experienced “epiphanies” of their own. Specifically:
– Damar was a Catholic HS grad, and frequently returned to speak with and hopefully inspire the students
– immediately after the collapse, members of both teams surrounded the player, and immediately and publicly prayed for a good outcome. They were no doubt joined by many in the stands and at home.
-the TV analyst, realizing and stating that his employer would disapprove, shared a vocal prayer for the athlete.
-nearly every NFL team shared a call for prayers on their social media
-the NFL itself, having previously fined a player $7k for visible expression of religion, authorized “Pray for Damar” to be worn throughout the league.
-Ultimately these prayers were at least partially answered…as Damar is likely to go home within days.
This spontaneous eye-opening, and perhaps conversion, called attention, Monsignor opines, to the power of prayer in our lives, and our NEED to identify opportunities to use it, and encourage others to do the same.
I was inspired…a high bar to achieve.
Visited an FSSP Mass in “flyover country.” The gentleman sitting next to me said that all three Masses on Sundays are like the one I attended: completely full, people standing in the back, average age probably late 30s, dozens and dozens of young children. Lots of vans in the parking lot.
The homily was centered around Colossians, especially the charity necessary in a family, between man and wife, wife and husband, parents to children. Was most excellent.
SSPX as usual. Fr. Leith gave an incredible sermon. He started by pointing out 3 major errors in human history: Luther, the first public Freemasonic lodge, and the Bolshevik Revolution.
He then pointed out the newest error: the modern attack on the family. He explained the necessity of virtuous parents, he explained how we can’t change the world by calling out the unholiness of others until we forst look in to the mirror.
Attendance was decent considering. Maybe if our Diocese would actually show a positive attitude to the SSPX it would go from decent to huge. The FSSP and IBF parishes in NH are thriving, I’d love to have an equally thriving SSPX chapel. But I digress. Turnout is good and the laity are dedicated.
Keeping the theme of the family, Fr. preached on psalm 127, specifically on the verse: “Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, and thy children as olive plants around thy table.”
‘Why olive plants?’ he asked, ‘is this some sort of biblical home decor insight?’ As it turns out, olive plants take several decades to start bearing fruit, but then continue to do so for millenia. ‘Thus similarly, children are not merely there to provide for us in our old age, but to continue providing for us long after we’re gone, through prayer and supplication.’
Attendance is fairly modest here in the Archdiocese of Washington, which is rather surprising considering the recent implementation of TC.
The gospel was the finding of our Lord in the temple at age twelve.
Father made a point that every Catholic church is greater than the temple in Jerusalem because our Lord is present there in the Eucharist.
Our FSSP oratory is in it’s 17th year. Attendance is good and growing. Some of the newcomers bring traditions that I find rather annoying but it’s still much better than any NO parish in the area and I am thankful for it.