DECEMBER 8 (Friday)
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
- Holy Day of Obligation
PILGRIM VIRGIN STATUE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA
Visits the Cathedral
7:00 AM – Holy Mass in Ordinary Form
12:05 PM – Holy Mass in Ordinary Form (Bishop Provost to celebrate)
5:30 PM – Solemn High Mass in Extraordinary Form
7:00 PM – Marian Procession through the streets of downtown Lake Charles
8:00 PM – Reception in the Ave Maria Hall
From a theological perspective, it is
important to emphasize that a procession is a sign of the Church’s condition, the pilgrimage of the People of God, with
Christ and after Christ, aware that in this world it has no lasting dwelling.
Through the streets of this earth it moves towards the heavenly Jerusalem. It
is also a sign of the witness to the faith that every Christian community is
obliged to give to the Lord in the structures of civil society. It is also a
sign of the Church’s missionary task which reaches back
to her origins and the Lord’s command (cf. Mt 28, 19-20), which
sent her to proclaim the Gospel message of salvation.
DECEMBER 28 (Thursday), 5:30 PM
FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS
SOLEMN PONTIFICAL MASS
Missale Romanum of 1962
Celebrated by
HIS EXCELLENCY, THE MOST REVEREND GLEN JOHN PROVOST, D.D., M.A.
Bishop of Lake Charles
Reception following in the Ave Maria Hall.
Experience “The most beautiful thing this side of heaven.”
Why Attend the Pontifical Solemn Mass?
This is a very special Mass. Bishop Provost gives a Papal Blessing at the end of this Mass, and we can gain a plenary indulgence if we meet the usual conditions.
This Mass is truly extraordinary in its beauty and elaborate ceremonies. Many of our clergy will be involved in this Mass. The Seminarians of the diocese will be serving the Mass.
Regarding the Extraordinary Form, Pope Benedict XVI said we should give this Mass "due honour for its venerable and ancient usage."
By promoting wider use of the Traditional Latin Mass through the Motu Propio Summorum Pontificum, the Holy Father hopes to foster a “spiritual and theological richness.”
He wrote: "What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too."
This form of Mass has existed in the Church for more than 1500 years, thus its title “Mass of Ages.”
It was the Mass that helped spread the Catholic faith in Europe and build Western Civilization.
It was the Mass celebrated in the mission fields of the New World.
It was the Mass that inspired magnificent cathedrals and brilliant composers – Mozart, Beethoven, Palestrina, Gounod, etc.
It was the Mass that inspired the greatest artists, poets, and writers – Michael Angelo, Raphael, Bernini, Dante, GK Chesterton, JRR Tolkien, etc.
It was the Mass that nourished the saints for centuries, from St. Augustine to St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Gregory the Great to St. Pius X, St. Ignatius of Loyola to St. Peter Claver, St. Therese of Lisieux to St. Padre Pio!
The Vatican said that parishes and priests should make available the Extraordinary Form so that “everyone may have access to this treasure of the ancient liturgy of the Church.”
This Mass has been called “The most beautiful thing this side of heaven.”