September 2023 Newsletter
Dear Una Voce Maine friends,
Greetings, I hope you have all had a enjoyable summer, rain notwithstanding. As we look forward to the months ahead, I wanted to alert you to some of the changes you’ll be seeing on the UVM website in the weeks to come.
The Mass schedule is far and away the most frequented page, but we’d like to expand the available information to include some highlights from the Liturgical Calendar for the month ahead. Another section we’d like to add will be dedicated to excerpts from the numerous resources available that delve into the history, theology, and symbolism of the TLM. I suspect I’m not alone in observing that one of the beauties of our Faith is that there is always something more to be gained from its depth and spiritual richness.
"I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe,” St. Anselm of Canterbury famously observed in the 11th century, “but rather, I believe in order that I may understand.” On a personal note, I must admit that I wrestled for years with that observation, assuming in typical “modernist” fashion that I had to understand something before I could actually believe it. Once I realized, however, that the mystery and beauty of faith are a form of understanding unto themselves, I saw that the more I learned, the more I delved into the font of the Church’s tradition and wisdom, the deeper my belief would be.
It is our hope that the insights we are able to gather and offer will have a similar effect on daily faith for all of us, as well as the faith we bring to Mass each Sunday.
That said, the updated website is not quite ready for prime time, but we wanted to provide an example of what we’re intending. Below are three liturgical “highlights” from the month of September, with accompanying excerpts from Dom. Prosper Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year.
Moving forward, the dates will be included in the newsletter, with links to the website for the accompanying passages. Comments are always welcome.
In Domino,
Jeff Rowe
The Liturgical Year
Very Rev. Dom Prosper Guéranger Abbot of Solesmes, 1833-1875
September 8
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
And the Virgin’s name was Mary. (Luke 1:27) Let us speak a little about this name, which signifies Star of the sea, and which so well befits the Virgin Mother. Rightly is she likened to a star: for as a star emits its ray without being spoilt, so the Virgin brought forth her Son without receiving any injury; the ray takes nought from the brightness of the star, nor the Son from his Mother’s integrity. This is the noble star risen out of Jacob, whose ray illumines the whole world, whose splendor shines in the heavens, penetrates the abyss, and traversing the whole earth, gives warmth rather to souls than to bodies, cherishing virtues, withering vices. Mary, I say, is that bright and incomparable star, whom we need to see raised above this vast sea, and shining by her merits, giving us light by her example.
September 21
Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Great and singular, then, is the glory of the Evangelists. The name of Matthew signifies one who is given. He gave himself when, at the word of Jesus “follow me,” he rose up and followed him; but far greater was the gift he received from God in return. . . . Matthew was called to be the first Evangelist. Under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost he wrote, with that inimitable simplicity which speaks straight to the heart, the Gospel of the Messiah expected by Israel, and announced by the prophets—of the Messiah the teacher and Savior of his people, the descendant of its kings, and himself the King of the daughter of Sion—of the Messiah who had come not to destroy the Law, but to bring it to its full completion in an everlasting, universal covenant.
September 29
Dedication of Saint Michael the Archangel
The glorious Archangel appears today at the head of the heavenly army: There was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels. (Apocalypse 12:7) In the sixth century, the dedication of the churches of St. Michael on Monte Gargano and in the Roman Circus increased the celebrity of this day, which had however been long before consecrated by Rome to the memory of all the heavenly Virtues. From the Sequence at Mass: Let all praise Michael; let none deprive himself of this day’s joy. O happy day! whereon the solemn victory of the holy angels is recorded. The old dragon is cast out, and all his hostile legions put to flight: the disturber is himself disturbed, the accuser is hurled down from the height of heaven. Under Michael’s protection there is peace on earth, peace in heaven, praise and exultation; for he, mighty and valorous, stands for the safety of all and triumphs in the battle.
Sancte Michael Archangele, ora pro nobis!
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