This is one of the Latin Mass communities banished in Charlotte, NC. In their final Sunday TLM, the faithful of St. Ann’s sing the Salve Regina following Mass, as they have done for years. This is the beauty and transcendence so many seek. And it has just been crushed. pic.twitter.com/eGGyMvJEPX
— Charlotte Latin Mass Community (@CLMCLatinMass) September 29, 2025
Bishop Martin’s letter to the flock whose joy he crushed, about the generous, single TLM in the boonies, in a tiny chapel, without community life or other sacraments… in his compassion. HERE (And don’t forget to pay at your territorial parish.)
These poor people. My heart aches for them.
Some highlights:
Pope Francis determined that while both are equally sacramentally efficacious, promoting two forms of the same rite was instead furthering division in the liturgical discipline of the Church. He therefore rescinded, as was his right, the possibility of more widespread celebration of the TLM and restricted it to non-parish churches.
Yeah… “as was his right” as a sheer act of power, but an act nevertheless based on a falsehood (not to use a stronger word, like “fraud”). Evidence has come forth that the “survey” which was alleged to the basis of the decision was not as described. In fact, it indicated the contrary.
In 2023 Bishop Jugis took the flrst step…
Blame your predecessor?
…it is now appropriate for our diocese to come into full compliance with the Church’s discipline on this issue.
Why, exactly, is it appropriate? It could be deemed appropriate to do many other things.
As your bishop, I recognize the challenge that these past four years have presented to you.
It seems to me that they might think that the bishop has been the challenge. I can’t speak for them.
I also know that God’s grace is not limited by our sacramental celebrations.
Yeah… who needs sacraments? Okay, he isn’t saying that… but he sort of is.
This chapel holds approximately 350 people and has been recently renovated specifically for the celebration of the TLM. Understand that the chapel is not meant to be able to accommodate all who are currently attending the TLM in their respective parishes.
Yeah… too bad for the rest of you.
While I recognize that for many of you there is still uncertainty regarding the future of the TLM, Jesus calls us to live fully in this moment as His Church. As such this is a moment for letting go and may therefore be a moment of grief for some. I understand that and commit to walk with you through that experience toward a greater glory that is always found in Jesus.
“Jesus calls us…”. I’m not sure what he is saying here. Jesus wants this? Jesus wants this for those people because the bishop is doing it to them?
And “I… commit to walk with you…”. How, exactly is he going to do that? What is he going to do? Is he going to go to that chapel and celebrate the TLM for them himself? Anything short of that is just… vapor.
And that “walk with you”… how “synodal” was the process. I don’t recall that it involved meetings with lay people who attend the TLM. I may be wrong about that.
Regina Magazine has produced a film about the plight of the faithful in the Diocese of Charlotte, where the local bishop has conducted what amounts to a pogrom against those who desire traditional expressions of their Catholic Faith.
The film, “removes the polemics and simply shows real people, with real names and faces who are suffering”.
Spread this around. Share it. Use the share buttons.
This film touches on so many themes which we’ve explored on this blog for… decades, now. It’s as if this blog wrote the story board about the knock on effects of the Traditional Latin Mass on priests and the faithful.
Reverence
Silence
Ad orientem
A birthright stolen
Conversions to the Church
Priests not the same after learning the TLM
Going deeper
Processions
Unity of groups in Latin
Sense of peace
Young people, families
Vocations
Disruption caused by suppression
Heartbreak
Loading ...
> [Francis] therefore rescinded, as was his right, [the ancient Mass]
At some point, folks, we are going to have to talk about the Spirit of Vatican I.
For the final Sunday Masses 9/28/25, in Charlotte St. Ann’s had 675 in attendance for the 12:30PM TLM, and St. Thomas Aquinas had 540 in attendance for the 11:30AM TLM. Our Lady of Grace Greensboro has nearly 380 at their TLM.
I’ve enjoyed the Holy Father’s contemplativeness and silence. I think he’s a breath of fresh air. I like seeing him in the regalia.
Now is the time to act. Real people are suffering at the hands of ideological bishops. People are soon to lose their Masses. If Pope Leo was looking for a cue to act, now would be the time.
My Novus Ordo parish sings “Salve Regina” about every other week after Communion. You can have transcendence in the reformed Mass when it is celebrated properly and with reverence.
I support Traditionis Custodes and the phasing out toward eventual total elimination of the preconciliar Mass. The reformed, post-conciliar Mass is the Roman Rite in its latest iteration, reformed by mandate of Vatican Council II and duly approved and promulgated by the magisterium. There is no justification for continuing to celebrate the older version of the Roman Rite anymore; the Roman Church should be unified in its liturgy.
But concomitant with eliminating the use of the 1962 Missal is the responsibility of bishops and pastors to ensure that celebrations of Mass using the current Roman Missal are celebrated well. For the most part, clerics have been derelict in that responsibility of theirs.
What most lay Catholics seek in the preconciliar Mass could be found in the reformed Mass if the reformed Mass were to be celebrated authentically, in continuity with liturgical tradition, in accord with the rubrics, and observing the Church’s norms regarding Gregorian chant as having the first place in the music at Mass.
I recommend that people attached to the preconciliar form of the Mass in dioceses that have phased it out of use put their efforts into beautifying the celebration of the reformed Mass at their parishes. It can be done. It should be done. God willing, it will be done.
[You recommend that they go to a form of Mass that the Council Fathers never envisaged and is a vast departure from the Roman Rite known for centuries. Okay. I suspect your position flows from a kind of pious legal positivism. That’s okay, for you. However, it may be the case that there is more to the question than you know. That includes the FACT that the older form of Mass, the Usus Antiquior or Vetus Ordo, was NEVER abrogated. It was the Mass of the Council (during the Council) and it remained in continuous uses even under Paul VI. The most recent attempt at suppression was founded on what amounts to a lie concerning the survey of bishops. I suspect that readers will have more to suggest to you, charitably and respectfully (or they will feel my charitable electronic lash).]
“This is a moment for letting go”
Thanks, Elsa from ‘Frozen,’ but, sorry, no dice. We’re NEVER letting it go. Period.
This guy is a real piece of work.
The late Fr. Trinchard was asked at a Traditional Church talk if we need Vatican III? He replied No, we need Trent II
The Charlotte cathedral is about 1-2 miles away from St Anns. Why didnt Bishop Martin come to the last Sunday TLM Mass and read his letter to the congregation himself? Instead he tasked the pastor to do it on his behalf. If he wants to demonstrate that he is ‘walking along’ this journey with us, then why not make an effort to visit this last Mass and speak directly to the parish? And then travel to St Thomas about 10 miles away and do the same? He stated he would organize a meeting prior to the new chapel opening. Never happened.
Bishop Martin has “walked with us” and “accompanied” us so much, he never once celebrated the TLM with us. His actions speak much louder than his words.
Godfrey is free, God bless him, to wish and hope and pray the TLM and its adherents into the cornfield. But ultimately he’s engaging in an exercise that is as hopeless and fruitless as wishing away the stars in the sky. There is not a doubt in my mind that the TLM will outlive you and me and everyone reading this thread. “It is of God; it cannot be withstood” – St. Edmund Campion.
@Godfrey
As someone who local Mass is the NO, you stated the problem with the NO without being aware of it –>You can have transcendence in the reformed Mass when it is celebrated properly and with reverence.
Problem 1.) The NO is not, by itself, transcendent, but can be if celebrated properly and with reverence.
Problem 2.) Trancendence of the Mass is understood subjectively, according to human works, according to the human degree of participation.
Let me put forth an unpopular proposition: The common banality (cf. Ratzinger) that the vast majority of Catholics experience on Sunday in their NO is as legitimate and proper as what you, in your above, would consider doing the NO right. Further, those who support the banality wish to push those who do not out of the Church and argue that they are against the “spirit of Vatican II”^tm.
There is a problem, and those bishops who hate the TLM really hate the people, and they will quickly (and already have) turned on those of the NO who prefer it to be “celebrated properly and with reverence.” Suggesting that those who prefer TLM get with the program doesn’t get you eaten last.
All this talk of “walking together”, yet I’d suspect that Bishop Martin has not once tried to have a genuine discussion with the faithful and clergy in his diocese who love and are devoted to the traditional liturgy, despite their efforts to have open dialogue with him. Synodality for me, but none for thee!
…to further assist you in achieving compliances with Trad. Perditores, groups attending services at The Little Chapel will be limited to two adults, with one child permitted per adult for a group total of four. Seating will be assigned by a diocesan logistics expert.
Finally, since there has obviously been a considerable expenditure of funds required for the preparation of this special worship space, we regret that the Diocese will require a mandatory parking “offering” to offset these expenses. The
feeoffering will be $10 per passenger car, $20 per minivan, pickup truck, or SUV, and $25 per full-size passenger van. In keeping with the spirit of The Holy Father’s encyclical Laud auto? No’ there will be a 50% discount for electric vehicles.Thank you for your cooperation. -The Bishop