UVM News and Readings: October 2024
News & Events
Maine Turns Out for The Pilgrimage for Restoration
By Adam Chamberland
Another year, another unforgettable pilgrimage. Whether it was their 1st year or 10th year, Mainers had a strong showing at the 29th Pilgrimage for Restoration, a 62-mile traditional walking pilgrimage in New York, devoted to the restoration of the Church and Tradition.
Over 800 pilgrims reached their destination on Sunday, where we reverenced the ground that the first martyr on this continent had shed his blood, followed by a Solemn High Mass at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs.
Looking back
There's always something special (or at least extra-penitential) about each pilgrimage.
St. Athanasius, patron of this new brigade
Last year (2023) you could say it was how Maine had finally organized its own brigade for the first time (the St. Athanasius Brigade), which was the 3rd or 4th largest of the 20+ brigades. Or, you could say it was how a member of our brigade essentially re-entered the Church while on pilgrimage with us, receiving the Sacraments for the first time in over 10 years. Or when all attempted to sleep under park lights set on full blast, all night Thursday. Or our chaplain, a true character, giving us questionable time estimates and shaky promises of cheesecake awaiting us at the end of each day.
Then there was the pilgrimage the year before that, during Ember Week. Out in the cold before dawn, at the Saturday Ember Day Mass, silent but widespread confusion broke out over the 9 Readings heard during this Mass, far more than the typical 1 reading, and more than any other Mass in the entire Liturgical Year. Later at our destination, the first rain of the weekend was perfectly timed with our arrival, starting 15 minutes before the very end and setting a serious tone for our walk into the ravine of the first martyr. Exhausted, sore, and now wet, we reverenced the ground and went to Mass refreshed (and soggy).
And many more moments from years past.
This year
Our 2024 pilgrimage was no exception.
Eight pilgrims in our group were enrolled in the Brown Scapular, one of the main topics of our brigade’s meditations on the road. We aimed for the entire brigade to be enrolled in it by the end… maybe too ambitious, however eight is a major grace any way you count it.
Another grace for some - the often brutally cold nights didn't make an appearance this weekend, with lows generally in the 50's.
Back home, with a day left until the pilgrimage we were tested with a van breaking down, leaving a significant amount of pilgrims without transportation to New York, but the van was fixed just in time. And when we had no priest chaplain (meaning few opportunities for confession or spiritual direction) that problem was also resolved, with four priests joining us frequently at various points.
Finally, on the more action-packed side: a pilgrim in our brigade made pilgrimage history. A deer tried to cross the road between our brigade and another, and a second deer followed it without having enough room. Our guy got nailed by the deer and fell to the ground, but barely had a scratch after the encounter.
And many more moments that can't be fit in a newsletter.
Looking ahead
We are fairly certain that a certain priest from our Diocese will be our chaplain for 2025, whose own name is very appropriate for our brigade. Two other priests are possibly interested as well (but they haven’t committed yet; if you know them, don't harass them!)
We had a total of 42 people register with our brigade this year, making it the 2nd or 3rd largest in the entire pilgrimage. Because of this, if more in Maine are interested, there’s the possibility of starting a second brigade from Maine. Stay tuned!
If you would like occasional updates about the next year's pilgrimage and haven't received emails about them before, please email me (Adam) at adam.chamberland1@gmail.com.
Communion Rail to be Reinstalled at Lewiston Basilica
Fr. Daniel Greenleaf, Rector of the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, in Lewiston, recently announced the launch of a fundraising campaign with the goal of reinstalling the Basilica’s communion rail.
“When cleaning out the priory, we had to move the marble used for the altar rail at the Basilica,” Fr. Greenleaf explained in the weekly bulletin for Prince of Peach Parish. “In the renovations, the marble was placed there for safe keeping. Not having another place to store the marble, I asked the Bishop if we could restore it back to its original spot, and he gave us permission to restore it. Since then, I have asked for quotes from marble workers and the best quote we received was $40,000.”
Envelopes have been made available at the Basilica marked with “For the Restoration of the Altar Rail at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul.”
Donations can also be made online.
Photo of the original sanctuary with the Communion Rail to be restored
To signal the TLM community’s support and enthusiasm for this long awaited development, Una Voce has committed to a donation. In his book, “The Traditional Mass: History, Form, and Theology of the Classical Roman Rite,” Michael Fiedrowicz discusses at length the traditional significance of the practice of kneeling at the Communion rail to receive Communiton.
“Ultimately, the point is that the method of receiving Communion and the careful treatment of the Eucharistic species should make evident the Church’s faith in the Real Presence. It is precisely the practice of Communion on the tongue while kneeling that contradicts the atmosphere of the everyday and profoundly conforms to the mystery: one is not taking common bread with his own hand, but receiving the Body of Christ that the Church gives to the faithful.
“For a meeting with the Redeemer’s divine Person, the outward sign of kneeling—witnessed many times in the biblical portrayals of encounters with the Risen Christ (cf. Mt 28: 9; Lk 24: 52)—is singularly appropriate. If the Church prescribes that the faithful must kneel for the moment of the consecration, then it is indeed liturgically appropriate also to kneel for the moment of Holy Communion, at which time Christ comes as close as possible to the faithful.
“Receiving Communion while kneeling is a sign of deep reverence; it is a manifest expression of a living faith in the sacramental presence of Christ and of humble reception of the divine gift. Furthermore, kneeling together at the Communion rail emphasizes the Communion of the faithful with each other in an impressive manner.”
Once the goal of $40,000 is reached, the installation will begin.
Readings: The Liturgical Year
Very Rev. Dom Prosper Guéranger Abbot of Solesmes, 1833-1875
October 17 – Saint Hedwige, Widow
It is Poland’s happy lot that at each decisive epoch in its history a Saint appears to point out the road to the attainment of its glorious destiny. Over the battlefield of Liegnitz (13th century) shines the gentle figure of St. Hedwige, mother of Duke Henry the Pious. She had retired, in her widowhood, into the Cistercian monastery of Trebnitz, founded by herself. Three years before the coming of the Mongols, she had had a revelation touching the future fate of her son. She offered her sacrifice in silence; and far from discouraging the young duke, she was the first to animate him to resistance.
The night following the battle, she awoke one of her companions, and said to her: “Demundis, know that I have lost my son. My beloved son has fled from me, like a bird on the wing; I shall never see my son again in this life.” Demundis endeavored to console her; no courier had arrived from the army, and her fears were vain. “It is but too true,” replied the duchess; “but mention it to no one.”
Three days later the fatal news was confirmed. “It is the will of God,” said Hedwige; “what God wills, and what pleases him, must please us also.” And rejoicing in the Lord: “I thank thee, O my God,” said she, raising her hands and eyes to heaven, “for having given me such a son. He loved me all his life, always treated me with great respect, and never grieved me. I much desired to have him with me on earth, but I congratulate him with my whole soul, for that by the shedding of his blood he is united with thee in heaven, with thee his Creator. I recommend his soul to thee, O Lord my God.” No less an example was needed to sustain Poland under the new task it had just accepted.
October 18 – Saint Luke, Evangelist
The goodness and kindness of God our Savior hath appeared to all men. (Titus 2:11, 3:4) It would seem that the third Evangelist, a disciple of St. Paul, had purposed setting forth this word of the Doctor of the Gentiles; or may we not rather say, the Apostle himself characterizes in this sentence the Gospel wherein his disciple portrays the Savior prepared before the face of all peoples; a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of … Israel. (Luke 2:31) St. Luke’s Gospel, and the words quoted from St. Paul, were in fact written about the same time; and it is impossible to say which claims priority.
Under the eye of Simon Peter, to whom the Father had revealed the Christ, the Son of the living God, Mark had the honor of giving to the Church the Gospel of Jesus, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1) Matthew had already drawn up for the Jews the Gospel of the Messias, Son of David, Son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) Afterwards, at the side of Paul, Luke wrote for the Gentiles the Gospel of Jesus, Son of Adam through Mary. (Luke 3:38) As far as the genealogy of this First-born of his Mother may be reckoned back, so far shall extend the blessing he bestows upon his brethren, by redeeming them from the course inherited from their first father.
October 31 – Vigil of All Saints
Let us prepare our souls for the graces heaven is about to shower upon the earth in return for its homage. Tomorrow the Church will be so overflowing with joy that she will seem to be already in possession of eternal happiness; but today she appears in the garb of penance, confessing that she is still an exile. Let us fast and pray with her; for are not we too pilgrims and strangers in this world, where all things are fleeting and hurry on to death?
Year by year, as the great solemnity comes round, it has gathered from among our former companions new saints, who bless our tears and smile upon our songs of hope. Year by year the appointed time draws nearer, when we ourselves, seated at the heavenly banquet, shall receive the homage of those who succeed us, and hold out a helping hand to draw them after us to the home of everlasting happiness. Let us learn, from this very hour, to emancipate our souls, let us keep our hearts free, in the midst of the vain solicitudes and false pleasures of a strange land: the exile has no care but his banishment, no joy but that which gives him a foretaste of his fatherland.
With these thoughts in mind, let us say with the Church the Collect of the Vigil.
Oremus:
O Lord our God, multiply thy grace upon us; and grant us in our holy profession to follow the joy of those whose glorious solemnity we anticipate. Through our Lord.
