Blessings
Epiphany Blessing
Typically, on the eve of the Feast of Epiphany, there is a special blessing in the Traditional Latin Rite for Epiphany Water and Epiphany Chalk. Father blesses enough Epiphany Water to last the rest of the year. The blessed chalk is given to those who wish to inscribe the Epiphany Blessing over the lintels of their house doors. All are invited to attend this special ritual of blessing and to bring their own water and salt for the blessing to then take back home with them.
Devotions to the Sacred Heart
Enthronement to the Sacred Heart
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- Picture courtesy of Carina DeBakey
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- Picture courtesy of Carina DeBakey
Enthronement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was begun in France in 1907 by Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SSCC. He believed that in order to win souls for Christ and build a civilization of love, it must start with the evangelization of the family. One way to accomplish this goal is to enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus in one’s home. It is very simple act that will bring countless blessings to your family.
Much more than a blessing of a picture of Jesus for your home, it is the dedication of a person and family to the Divine Heart of Jesus, to live in union with Him by love, grace and obedience to His Commandments.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus enthronement ceremony was approved by Pope St. Pius X in 1908, and since then has enjoyed much success as homes all over the world have enthroned Jesus as their Lord and King.
For those families who are spiritually prepared to elevate their home to a higher state by formally enthroning the Sacred Heart in a prominent location, the Church offers a beautiful rite that is typically shared with friends and neighbors and followed by an appropriate feast and social gathering to celebrate. Contact one of our priests to make arrangements for your enthronement. The protocol for the enthronement is available here. Booklet options for the ceremonies are available here and here.
https://lancasterlatinmass.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Enthronement-Certificate.pdf
First Friday Devotions to the Sacred Heart
On First Fridays, Confessions are offered beginning at 7:05 a.m., followed by 7:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Family Chapel. For more information about the Nine First Fridays Devotion, please click here.
Advent Devotions
Rorate Caeli Mass
The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn. The interplay of light and darkness speak to the meaning of Advent and the coming of the Light of the world.
The Mass takes its title, Rorate Caeli, from the first words of the Introit, which are from Isaiah 45:8:
Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour.
It is a tradition to celebrate Rorate Masses in the early morning (before sunrise), accompanied by candle light in an otherwise dark church. It has a long tradition, especially in German-speaking areas. While it can be celebrated anytime in Advent, it is often held on a Saturday morning. Because it is a votive Mass in Mary’s honor, white vestments are worn instead of Advent violet. In the dimly lit setting, priests and faithful prepare to honor the Light of the world, Who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady.
As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our Faith is illumined by Christ. The readings and prayers of the Mass foretell the prophecy of the Virgin who would bear a Son called Emmanuel, and call on all to raise the gates of their hearts and their societies to let Christ the King enter; asking for the grace to receive eternal life by the merits of the Incarnation and saving Resurrection of Our Lord.
Our Latin Mass community celebrated our first annual Rorate Mass at 6 a.m. on the First Saturday of Advent 2019. It was the first time this beautiful tradition was celebrated at St. Joseph church in at least 45 years. The Rorate Mass continues to be offered on a Saturday in Advent each year.
Lenten Devotions
Stations of the Cross
The traditional Way of the Cross by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) on is offered on select Fridays in Lent.
Picture courtesy of Mark O’Neill
Marian Devotions
Rosary
The Rosary is prayed before each Sunday Mass, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Members of our community take turns leading us in this devotion to Mary.
May Crowning
Yearly in May, a May Crowning is held to honor Mary. At the May Crowning, children present flowers to Our Lady and a recent First Communicant crowns Mary. Click here to view the program from a past May Crowning.
Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima Home Visitation
The Lancaster Latin Mass Community invites you to welcome into your home our own Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima. You may sign up to have the statue in your home for a period of approximately one month. During this time of visitation, families are encouraged to: practice daily prayer of the rosary; invite guests to join your family in praying with Our Lady; and make a Home Enthronement to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. For questions or more information, contact Mrs. Kathy Haddon, 717-397-7221.
Rosary Rally
In October, a public rosary rally is organized by members of our Latin Mass community on behalf of America Needs Fatima, an apostolate of the TFP (Tradition, Family and Property). Other public rosaries occur locally throughout the year.
Picture courtesy of Brenda Asso
Public Square Rosary
In Reparation for the Sins Against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary
“The Rosary will be a very powerful armor against hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin and dispel heresy.” —Our Lady to Saint Dominic
When: Saturdays on select months throughout the year
Where: Longs Park, 1441 Harrisburg Pike Lancaster, PA (Across from Wegman’s Shopping Center)
Time: 12 noon (Typically 30-40 minutes)
For questions contact Rosary Captains: Mark Asso or Brenda Asso
717- 293-1384 (Home)
Pilgrimages
Carmelite Pilgrimages
Pilgrimages to the Carmelite Monastery in Fairfield are offered separately for women and men. Pilgrimages offer participants the opportunity to attend Holy Mass, meet the sisters to learn more about the Carmelite vocation, and listen to a spiritual talk, followed by doing service projects for the sisters. Past projects have included sewing bed sheets, weeding and planting gardens, and cleaning the farmhouse. You can read an article about the Fairfield Carmelites here.
https://lancasterlatinmass.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DECEMBER-6-CarmeliteArticle.pdf
Annual Pilgrimage for Restoration
The annual Pilgrimage for Restoration — a traditional walking pilgrimage in the footsteps of the North American Martyrs, in the majestic Adirondacks of New York State in late September. Pilgrims walk from the Lake of the Blessed Sacrament at Lake George Village, NY to the Shrine of Our Lady’s Martyrs of New France at Auriesville, NY
Modeled on the pilgrimage to Chartres that takes place in France each year, the Pilgrimage for Restoration has enriched the faith of thousands of Catholics of all ages over the last 25 years. The Traditional Latin Mass is offered each day, and there are opportunities for confession, prayer, and fellowship with Catholics from around the country and around the world. Discounts are available for groups and families. This pilgrimage is held annually the last Friday to Sunday of September. For more information, click here.
Annual Buckley March for Men and Boys
Each year, priests, seminarians and laymen undertake the Buckley March, an annual Traditional Latin Mass pilgrimage from Barnesville, Maryland to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Named after its founder, Father James Buckley, FSSP, the march is now over a decade old.
Several men and their sons from our Lancaster Latin Mass community have participated in this grueling, but spiritually rewarding event. Our Knights of the Altar Society servers joined their fathers for the march which has a strong component of promoting vocations to the priesthood. The boys are able to interact with priests and seminarians as they hike 20 miles each day singing songs, praying all the decades of the rosary and observing periods of silent contemplation.
The purpose of the march is to make reparation for our own sins and the sins of our nation, to beg God’s mercy upon us and to pray for the conversion of hearts.
There are different ways to participate in the march. Men and capable teenage boys (able to walk 20 miles each day) are invited for the entire march and stay at the campsites. Everyone else can join the last leg of the pilgrimage, which begins at the Georgetown Waterfront Park in D.C. for the final uphill march to the Basilica.
The three-day march typically held in late May/early June comprises nearly 60 miles in total, following the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal route. The schedule begins with a sung Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Barnesville on the first morning and concludes with a Solemn High Mass at the Basilica in D.C. For additional information, visit the pilgrimage website: http://fsspdcpilgrimage.com/index.html
Sacramentals
Brown Scapular
Following the reception of their First Holy Communion, children are invested in the brown scapular.
Sacramentals for Expectant Mothers
There are certain Sacramentals in the Roman Ritual through which we request God’s blessing that an expecting mother can have a safe delivery and also the grace of having her child baptized. Fr. Tcheou would be happy to provide the following to any expecting lady at her request. Please do not hesitate to ask.
- Blessing of Expectant Mother
Can be given at any time during pregnancy - Candle in Honor of St. Raymond Nonnatus
To be taken home and burned, and especially when the time of delivery approaches. - St. Torellus Water
Special Holy Water which can be sprinkled, used to bless oneself, drunk, or used in small amounts in cooking.
Rite of Betrothal
Fr. Tcheou is happy to offer the Rite of Betrothal for any newly engaged couple. An article about this ancient custom can be found here. A program for the rite is found below.
https://lancasterlatinmass.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Betrothal.pdf
Benediction
BENEDICTION is a short exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for adoration by the faithful. Benediction began in the 14th century with the custom of exposing the Blessed Sacrament for reverence and adoration. By the 16th century, blessing with the Sacred Host was added. The rite usually consists of:
- Exposing the Blessed Sacrament for reverence in a monstrance
- Incensation
- Singing the O Salutaris Hostia (O Saving Victim)
- Incensation during the singing of Tantum Ergo (Down in Adoration Falling)
- The Priest wearing the humeral veil makes the Sign of the Cross over the people with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance.
- Recitation of the Divine Praises
- Replacement of the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle during the recessional.
Please note: Whenever a rite such as benediction or a procession or any other separate event from Holy Mass takes place following Mass, the rubrics call for the Final Blessing and Last Gospel to be omitted and the servers immediately prepare the altar with the twelve candles on either side of the tabernacle while the priest removes his chasuble and replaces it with a cope.
Benediction is permitted on Sundays, feast days, twice a week during Lent, at the Forty Hours Devotion, and every day during a parish mission and on other days designated by the Bishop.
