A long-time reader and supporter here had a road trip to Charlotte, NC. He recounts for us his experience of a Sunday Mass. I’ll anonymize the comments to remove specific references and not post photos because I strongly suspect that Bp. Martin would go out of his way to hurt these parishioners in some way.
Father,
Happened upon one of the traditional parishes while visiting my daughter in Charlotte, NC. Wanted to share this story as I saw someone else reached out to you about this troubled traditional community.
It’s been an extraordinary weekend, as my wife and I journeyed down through NJ, Pennsylvania, Maryland, WV, VA and into North Carolina for a visit with our daughter. Lots to share but as this is about Sunday, this is really a report about the faith community we encountered….
I was literally blown away by the faith, community, prayerfulness, beautiful liturgy, spectacular chant by the choir, and preaching by the parish priest.
We attended a morning mass and you’d think it was Easter or Christmas! Standing room only, people in the side aisles and narthex, along with well dressed robust families with scores of children – in what I think is what remains of a traditional community who has been mistreated by the local competent authority…with lots of veiled women and young ladies. I have seldom heard the strong, clear responses in English and ordinary of the mass in Latin at a Novus Ordo – for instance the Gloria and Credo sung by everyone.
There were more than a dozen young men serving, all attentive and clearly very well trained.
I exited quickly and caught the parish priest telling him how impressed I was, pledging prayers from me and my friends in NY and saying that what a shame they cannot pray as they want. He appreciated the pledge of prayer, invited me back then made sure to add: we will win in the end.
[E]veryone who communicated knelt at the first step of the sanctuary, on a carpet, and received there, one-by-one. It was striking.
We should pray for this and other communities of strong Catholic tradition in the Diocese of Charlotte if what I saw today is representative of their love of the church, the Eucharist and Our Lord!
I am buoyed with great hope for the church after praying with these people today. May God keep them strong in faith and Our Lady protect them!
When the Pharisees complained about the people cheering for Jesus as He entered Jerusalem in Luke Chapter 19, Jesus replied, “I say to you, that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.” A quote attributed to Victor Hugo is “No power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come.”
The Bishop of Charlotte is fighting a losing battle. The powers that be may win a battle or two and may seem to have the upper hand, but they will in the end lose this war.
We must pray for the Suffering Church and ask God to shorten their suffering in this case.
I was visiting Charlotte last Sunday and attended the 0730 Mass at the Cathedral. There was reasonable attendance, and the priest – maybe 30 years old- celebrated a solid Novus Ordo mass. Two male altar servers – one with green trim on his surplice – minor seminarian? – did an adequate job, although the sleepy one left one candle unlit and the celebrant had to go to the Sacristy at the offertory as someone had forgotten the Host.
Father preached on the diocesan annual appeal, following a short talk on the scriptures. I’m sure he’d rather have had another topic, but he did a good job.
At communion, there was a mixture of in the hand and on the tongue, with some standing and more kneeling. Father did not seem bothered at all.
The congregation was reverent, although the singing was soft.
I’m not sure what I expected, but it was a good Mass. The only drama came from the sleepy acolyte. As a visitor, I saw no sign of dissension or oppression.
If I had been able, I would have liked to have returned to Belmont Abbey for their Mass and to revisit their perpetual adoration chapel, run by students at the associated university.
I should add: as someone who served 0600 Mass for Fr. Joe Small, SJ, for years at the old Forest Ridge Convent in Seattle in Interlaken for the Mothers of the Sacred Heart, I have a warm sympathy for sleepy acolytes and meant no criticism.