Fr. John Putnam offered St. Mark Parish’s first Rorate Mass Dec. 11 with parochial vicar Fr. Michael Carlson as deacon, and seminarian Christian Goduti as subdeacon. (Photo by Paul Johnson)
St. Mark Church in Huntersville's Rorate Mass. (Photo by Paul Johnson)
Father John Putnam, pastor, holds aloft the chalice containing the Precious Blood during the first Rorate Mass celebrated at St. Mark Church in Huntersville Dec. 11. More than 600 people attended the special liturgy. (Photo by Amy Burger)
Detail of the altar before Mass at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. (Photo by Paul Johnson)
More than 600 St. Mark parishioners participated in the Mass, with only candlelight to illuminate the church in the predawn hours. (Photo by Paul Johnson)
St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte welcomed Father Matthew Kauth and seminarians of the Diocese of Charlotte for the celebration of a Rorate Mass Dec 4. (Photo via Facebook)
St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte welcomed Father Matthew Kauth and seminarians of the Diocese of Charlotte for the celebration of a Rorate Mass Dec 4. (Photo via Facebook)
St. Joseph College Seminary took part in the special liturgy at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte Dec. 4 (Photo via Facebook)
Parishioners of St. Elizabeth Church in Boone came to the parish before dawn to participate in a Rorate Mass celebrated Dec. 11 by Father Brendan Buckler, pastor. (Photo provided by Amber Mellon)
Father Brendan Buckler, pastor of St. Elizabeth Church in Boone, prays during the Rorate Mass Dec. 11. (Photo provided by Amber Mellon)
St. Ann Church in Charlotte hosted an annual Rorate Mass in honor of Our Lady Dec. 11. Father Timothy Reid, pastor, celebrated the Mass. He was assisted by Deacon Peter Tonon and seminarian Nick Kramer, who served as subdeacon. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
St. Ann parishioners take part in the Rorate Mass, a special Advent liturgy that is a Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Photo by Markus Kuncoro)
Detail of the altar for Mass at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. Note the blue votive candles in honor of Our Lady. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
St. Ann parishioners filled the church in the predawn hours for the parish's annual Rorate Mass. (Photo by Markus Kuncoro)
St. Ann Church in Charlotte hosted an annual Rorate Mass in honor of Our Lady Dec. 11. Fr. Timothy Reid, pastor, celebrated the Mass. He was assisted by Deacon Peter Tonon and seminarian Nick Kramer, who served as subdeacon. (Photo by Markus Kuncoro)
St. Ann Church altar servers hold candles as they pray during the Mass. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
The Rorate Mass honors the Blessed Virgin Mary during Advent and reminds us that she is the mother of Our Lord, who we await at Christmas to be the Light of the World. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
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Several churches recently offered special liturgies called “Rorate Masses,” a Votive Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary during Advent.
This is an ancient Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Latin) offered by candlelight before dawn to symbolize the coming of the Light of the world, Jesus Christ.
The name “Rorate” comes from the first word of the Introit (entrance antiphon) taken from Isaiah 45:8: “Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem” (“Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior.”).
Rorate Masses were offered at St. Ann and St. Thomas Aquinas churches in Charlotte, St. Mark Church in Huntersville, Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon, and St. Elizabeth Church in Boone.
A Rorate Mass will also be offered at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at St. Margaret Mary Church in Swannanoa. The church is located at 102 Andrews Place in Swannanoa. All are welcome to attend.
— Photos by SueAnn Howell, Amber Mellon, Amy Burger, Paul Johnson, Markus Kuncoro and Mike FitzGerald
