St. Benedict Traditional Roman Catholic Church
1139 Hwy 231, Laceys Spring, AL 35754
St. Philomena Traditional Roman Catholic Church
508 Monroe Nunley Rd., Hazel Green, AL 35750
Preserving the Catholic Faith of the Ages
At St. Benedict’s Traditional Roman Catholic Church, we observe only the traditional, pre-Vatican II, form of the mass and sacraments. We do this not out of disobedience, but because it is our obligation to preserve the deposit of faith as it was handed down to us. We welcome all visitors and encourage anyone who is curious about the Catholic faith or confused about the present crisis in the Church to speak with Father Trough, and visit our library and bookstore for many great resources!
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.” — Galatians 1:8
Announcements and Upcoming Events
1st Sunday: Blessing of Religious Articles/ 3rd Sunday, blessing of expectant mothers.
UPCOMING
Please pray for the sick of the parish: baby Matt Funston, Kearney Funston, Dakota Michael Hines, Zoey Knight, Dawn Bottass, Colleen Martin and Baby Boy Balk. If you'd like to be added to this list, please let Fr. Trough know.
Paschal time Communion: all faithful are required to receive Holy Communion at least once during this time.
SACRAMENTS:
Confessions: 30 mins prior to Sunday Masses /daily Masses, upon request.
Holy Communion for the sick/housebound, please phone Fr. Trough.
Mass Intentions: suggested donation is $25. For specific dates, please submit 4 weeks in advance.
For emergencies, please phone Fr. Trough ASAP.
Paschal time Communion: all faithful are required to receive Holy Communion at least once during this time.
ASCENSION THURSDAY Holyday of Obligation, May 14th. St. Benedict’s 8:30 am; St. Philomena’s 6:00 pm.
ROGATION DAYS “The Liturgical Year"
Dom Prosper Guéranger
The main part of the Rogation rite originally consisted, (at least in Gaul) in singing canticles of supplication whilst passing from place to place, -- and hence the word Procession. We learn from St. Casesarius of Aries, that each day's Procession lasted six hours ; and that when the Clergy became tired, the women took up the chanting. The Faithful of those days had not made the discovery, which was reserved for modern times, that one requisite for religious Processions is that they be as short as possible. The Procession for the Rogation Days was preceded by the Faithful receiving the Ashes upon their heads, as now at the beginning of Lent ; they were then sprinkled with Holy Water, and the Procession began. It was made up of the Clergy and people of several of the smaller parishes, who were headed by the Cross of the principal Church, which conducted the whole ceremony. All walked bare-foot, singing the Litany, Psalms and Antiphons. They entered the Churches that lay on their route, and sang an Antiphon or Pesponsory appropriate to each. Such was the original ceremony of the Rogation Days, and it was thus observed for a very long period. The Monk of St. Grail's, who has left us so many interesting details regarding the life of Charlemagne, tells us that this holy Emperor used to join the Processions of these three Days, and walk bare-footed from his palace to the Stational Church. We find St. Elizabeth of Hungary, in the 14th century, setting the like example : during the Rogation Days, she used to mingle with the poorest women of the place, and walked bare-footed, wearing a dress of coarse stuff. St. Charles Borromeo, who restored in his Diocese of Milan so many ancient practices of piety, was sure not to be indifferent about the Rogation Days. He spared neither word nor example to re-animate this salutary devotion among his people. He ordered fasting to be observed during these three Days; he fasted himself on bread and water. The Procession, in which all the Clergy of the City were obliged to join, and which began after the sprinkling of Ashes, started from the Cathedral at an early hour in the morning, and was not over till three or four o'clock in the afternoon. Thirteen Churches were visited on the Monday; nine, on the Tuesday; and eleven, on the Wednesday. The saintly Archbishop celebrated Mass and preached in one of these Churches.