On this trip, as previously mentioned, I had prayed for a Latin mass every day I am traveling. Again, this is a rather large request – trying to find a Catholic mass in the United States. Stop and re-read that.
So far, the Blessed Mother has not disappointed me. Late last night I knelt down to say my prayers and asked again, “Blessed Mother and Guardian Angel, please wake me at 5:30. The mass nearby is at 6:15 and if I miss it, I’m out of options.” Well, they did. And guess what I did.
I hit snooze.
Truthfully, I really needed sleep. I had been deprived of slumber for a while, what with sitting behind the wheel for hours on end the past week. But I thought to myself when I woke up again some two hours later, “She made it available to me. I just didn’t respond in kind.” And I feel awful about it.
But let’s come back to that headline because I know some of you have thought it. And it’s not just for guys like me taking my family on a road trip. Remember, I will always be at a Sunday mass. I will never again let the bishops shut me out of that. And I will always be at a daily mass provided I truly cannot make it.
But you know it’s coming. You know it will be harder to find TLM’s. Every other week I read a headline that this or that bishop has decided to “follow the Responsa ad dubia” that we all know weren’t ever asked. By anyone. Ever. It might just become near impossible to find the mass of the ages.
This is just a thought, but what if someone were to start a network of underground TLM priests? What if the retired priests who say the old mass privately in their homes were to leave their side doors unlocked and some of us just happened to wander in?
I could be overthinking this. Perhaps it’s not that dire. Look, it’s not like our bishops placed us under interdict for a year because of a seasonal cold, right?
I’m combining yesterday and today into one exposition.
Yesterday the kids and I drove through the town of Charles Town, WV. This eastern panhandle hamlet had been previously known to me as the home of a horse racing track and that’s about it. Mass is offered here by the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem.
“So what’s a canon?” you ask. Short answer: canons are priests who live in community following the rule of St. Augustine. These canons were established by Cardinal Burke when he was Archbishop of St. Louis and somehow made their way to West Virginia. The church, a small-ish structure on a quiet tree-lined street downtown is unassuming from the outside. Stepping inside, though, I found a structure that was a tribute to the people who had transformed it into the home of Our Lord.
A couple of oddities(?) I noticed. First, this was a dialogue mass. These aren’t common in TLM communities. Typically the people only chime in at a high mass. Personally, I tend to follow along in my missal, silently (or at least extremely quietly) praying along the whole mass. There were only four other congregants this day. This was also unusual to me. I come from a large parish where the infants on hips outnumber the elderly (and there are many of them too). I dutifully followed along, brushing up on my Latin responses along the way. I’m hoping to learn to serve mass myself. You never know when it will be necessary. Humility will direct me to ask my 7 year-old nephew for help when I return home. The final quirk here was that the priest read the Epistle and Gospel in English from the altar. I suspect this is a TC thing and I don’t like it. Enough said.
Notice the canon hiding in plain sight. Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mother, Charles Town, WV
Today my guardian angel violently woke me at an ungodly hour. I had asked him to do that so I had to comply. Mass at St. Lawrence in Harrisburg, PA was only at 7:10 and it’s a 20 minute drive from here. Fortunately I’ve been coming here for a few years whenever I visit my sister and I not only know some of the parishioners but also the parish well. This is a beautiful church one block in from the Susquehanna River and one block out from the State Capitol. The diocesan cathedral sits between the two. This parish has a full mass schedule (Sunday-Saturday) and is run by the FSSP.
It is what happened right before mass that I want to tell you about here. I try to go to frequent confession. Even though we were running late, we made it in the door at 7:05. I prayed a priest would be in the box. I find Our Lord tends to answer these prayers quite favorably. I noticed a woman exiting the confessional so I quickly stepped in the door. I imagine Fr. was hoping he’d be free to step out and vest for mass. Instead he got me.
Fr. gave me a manly penance. I LIKE MANLY PENANCES. I do not like “Think about something nice about someone…” Still wonder why I tradded?
Again, St Rita makes her appearance (first window on the left). St. Lawrence, Harrisburg, PA
And then Fr. invited me (not as part of my penance) to consider practicing daily mortification. He even suggested some tips. In mass I have been meditating of late on Our Lord’s passion. I find myself saying, “Lord Jesus, let me take you down from the cross. My sins put You there. This isn’t fair.” Then I remember His words to Peter when Peter scoffed at the idea of Our Lord’s crucifixion.
“Get there behind me, Satan.”
He called him Satan. Clearly, I can’t take Him down. This is how He satisfied the debt of my sins and still gives Himself to me daily. Instead I have come to understand that He is inviting me gently to be drawn up to the cross with Him. These daily penances, these “mortifications” will be the way. Thank you, my Lord! Give me to suffer with Thee for my sins, my family, the world!
Then Fr. finished by saying, “Go in peace, but let me go first.” You see, he needed to get to the sacristy but didn’t want to see any of his penitents. Good man.
First, most news is fake and gay. I worked in that industry. Half the time I couldn’t tell if there was a left wing bias or a stupidity bias.
Second, I know why I homeschool my kids. I know why, when I was a vice principal of a K-12 school in Texas, I carried. It’s legal and I was pledged to protect those kids.
I don’t know what happened there today anymore than anyone else. My heart breaks for any parent who loses a kid. In my family, we’ve been there before. But I also know that the usual suspects will turn this into a political football.
I can say there were moments when I was teaching where I wondered about this or that man walking down the street near campus. The usual “man things” went through my brain. How could I take him down if he breached the perimeter? Is today the day I’m laying it down for the kids? Those moments were rare but they did exist.
And those moments were one of many factors why I left that world behind. NOTHING is more important to me than my kids. I have a solemn task from God Himself to keep them safe. That means their bodily integrity as well as their intellectual development and above all, their immortal souls.
Some will say, “Good for you but I can’t teach.” If you want it, God will make it possible. Reach out to me if you have questions.
Following the announcement late last week that Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Ordinary of San Francisco, had prohibited House Speaker and baby murder cheerleader Nancy Pelosi from receiving the Holy Eucharist in his diocese we get the following from Washington.
Keep in mind that Wilton Cardinal Gregory is the Ordinary of the see in which Pelosi spends a majority of her time attempting to legislate the wanton and wholesale slaughter of millions of babies.
Meanwhile, back in September Crux reported the following.
Holy Wilton doesn’t think it is his place to “police” the Eucharist. Quite odd coming from the same prelates who think nothing of bandying about a phrase like “Traditiones Custodes” in reference to the venerable mass of the ages. They can “guard” Bugnini’s rite at all costs but not guard Our Lord Himself. Huh.
Seems our friend in red needs some help. So let me spell it out for him. I was a teacher. This should be easy.
1.) Eminence, do you renounce Satan and all his works and empty promises? You do? Great! In case you didn’t know, it is he who demands child sacrifice. He does this because he hates God. That brings us to question number 2.
2.) Eminence, do you believe in God the Father Almighty… and in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son… and in His Holy Catholic Church? What’s that? Same?! Wow! This is easier than I thought. So the thing is, Jesus Christ established His Church for the salvation of souls not to play nice with worldly politicians. He left His Apostles (present-day you) in charge of things specifically to guard His Body; not as the Roman soldiers outside the tomb but as dispensatores mysteriorum Dei. It is your duty to protect Him at all costs and to charitably prevent manifest public sinners from dying in a state of unrepentant mortal sin. Eating the Body of the Lord unto one’s condemnation would be a bad thing for Mrs. Speaker, wouldn’t it?
Ok, last one. You’re doing great so far. I’m getting my star stickers out.
3.) Eminence, do you really truly super-duper promise you’re answering truthfully? Come on, man. Don’t front with me. You what? You’re not going to say any more on the subject? But you were batting a thousand. Man, OK… We’ll have to re-enroll you for next term. But don’t worry. You’re young. You’ll get this.
Oh wait a minute. I’ve just been informed that Holy Wilton is not exactly young and that apparently any of us can face judgment any day. Wow. That sucks.
Folks, pray for these men. If I come across as pugnacious it’s because I learned it from my dad. Not unlike the early Christians who stood up in their churches and told their Arian bishops, “You’re wrong!” he was known to take Fr. aside in the narthex after mass and tell him his homily was “bullsh*t”. He did this, by the way, in his three piece suit while reaching into his jacket pocket to take out his pipe, tobacco pouch, and Zippo (just to give you an idea of how stylish and in command he was). We must testify to the Truth at all times. What Archbishop Cordileone did last week was long overdue but necessary and yes, charitable. What Cardinal Gregory is doing? Well, if you’re reading this you probably feel as I do that decades of bishops refusing to call out anyone for this sin is decades too long. Pray your rosaries. Pray them more. Pray for the shepherds.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Late last night we made it to our first destination. We had traveled here to attend the baptism of a friend’s first grandchild and yours truly was asked to be godfather. This is a task I take quite seriously and an honor for me. It doesn’t hurt that my precious baby goddaughter is adorable beyond belief. I now have fifteen godchildren.
The reason I did not specify where this took place is because sometimes I think we need to stay a little below the radar. Many of you will understand. And the point is larger than all that. Let me explain…
Before we set out on this journey I had asked Blessed Mother to obtain for me the grace of being able to come to daily Latin mass every day of our travels. finding a TLM anywhere can be a challenge, especially when one is driving cross-country. But I know many Catholics who won’t even search for the Novus Ordo when they go on vacation for even the Sunday mass and we must pray for them. I taught the faith for many years. A lot of Catholic school alums weren’t even taught the basics of obligation let alone the penalty of mortal sin. I never assume that anyone else has been given to know what I have or that I know half as much as the man next to me. Pray and beg the Lord for an increase in charity and humility.
I consecrated to Mary control of my exterior goods. She is a loving mother and she will take care of her children. So far, she has delivered.
Today we found ourselves invited to mass in a chapel at an institution of higher learning. The priest was a young monk who had graduated several years back. He belongs to a monastery that only says the vetus ordo. And… there’s my TLM and my first blessing from a new priest! Toss in a new Catholic in the baptism and this fifth Sunday after Easter was most definitely a happy day and I am a happy man.
Tomorrow’s mass is already scheduled.
God bless us and the Virgin protect us! Our Lady of Revelation, pray for us.
PS: Today was also the feast of my favorite saint, St. Rita of Cascia. I met my wife on the ninth day of a novena to this saint of the impossible. Turn to her with your impossible causes. St. Rita, we love you. Pray for us!
Woke up this morning in Lexington, KY. This is horse country, friends, and didn’t see a single horse. What I did see is a Latin mass in another church named for St Francis de Sales.
By the way, de Sales is the patron of writers. I’m sensing a pattern that the patron of writers is following this writer around.
This parish, in horse country, in Lexington, KY, named for the patron of writers, is run by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. Side note: YouTuber Anthony Stine of “Return to Tradition” continually refers to the FSSP as the “Fraternal Society of St. Peter”. Wrong. It’s from the Latin for their name: (Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri – Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter). But I’ll allow it since I generally like his daily content. What’s interesting here is that the “parish” is more of a Latin mass mission run out of a Novus Ordo parish. It was a little jarring that there was a Cranmer table set up between the priest and me. What can you do?…
Most interesting of all was what happened after mass. I had just stepped outside when a man in his 20’s approached me. “Sir?” he said. “Can I ask you a question?” I love questions. I have kids. I’m game. “This is my very first Latin mass. I noticed you making the sign of the cross a few times and kneeling and standing… How do you know when to do that?”
Austere, yes, but Godly in its simplicity.
I saw he had the infamous “red book” in his hand. I asked him a few questions. Turns out this was his very first Latin mass ever. He had been “looking for something more traditional” after years of attending NO masses. My advice, which isn’t too important; was to simply keep coming. “Give it a month,” I said. “You’ll have it down in no time. In fact, put the book down and just pray. Watch the priest. You’ll figure it out.”
What I loved about this exchange is the hope that even one man is here. One man who wanted something more. He’s here. And I bet he’s in your TLM parish too. Get to know him. Show him what to do. Build it back up.
Man oh man… This second day of our drive across America did not disappoint. We woke up in our hotel room on a high-up floor overlooking the Arch and the Mississippi. Been to the top of the Arch a few times. It’s cool but that’s not why we stopped here last night. Our primary purposes in staying in STL was to visit a particular church.
St. Francis de Sales is an oratory run by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) just a few minutes from the downtown hub. I believe this was at one time a diocesan parish that was handed over to the Institute because attendance had fallen and the parish was unable to maintain the upkeep. Big shock. Attendance was down in a rite where the mass is a community meal.
What did we walk in on this morning? I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves; but if you’ve ever wondered why older churches have side altars, this morning would have satiated your curiosity. There were, in fact, two masses taking place on the left-hand side of the church when we walked up the aisle. The air of silence was punctured by the whispered “Nobis quoque peccatoribus” of a priest and the slight clang of a bell from his server.
My old friend, St. Rita seems to follow me wherever I go. And thanks be to God for that!
I was overcome by hope and joy and contrition and faith and charity. I was overwhelmed by beauty. This was a church built by people for whom no expense should be spared for God’s house. They wanted a fitting and glorious church for the sacrifice. They wanted to recreate as best they could on earth the glory of God in His heaven. And they sure got it. And today, seeing it used as it should be? Well, the psalm rings true.
“Oh Lord I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth.”
Much thanks and love to the priests of the Institute for their masses, prayers, and stewardship of this parish. If you happen to be in St. Louis, known as the “Rome of the West” for churches just like this that dot the landscape and skyline, do stop in and light a candle. Stay for mass. Offer a prayer for the Church and the restoration of the Roman mass in all places.
Folks, I got off all that social media nonsense a while ago. Sorry but I'm not on Twitbook, Facepalm, YouHu, WingWang or any of the others. Maybe an event will happen to make me change my mind like Peter and Paul coming down with flaming swords and commanding it be so. Until then, read the blog and if you feel a comment is in order or you feel like sharing a tip or suggestion for a topic, email me at harvey@harveymillican.com.
Harvey Millican's Blog: Musings of a Trad Dad 