MOORESVILLE, North Carolina (LifeSiteNews) — Months after Bishop Michael Martin announced new restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in the Diocese of Charlotte, 625 Catholics packed a small chapel in Mooresville for the church’s first two Masses this past Sunday. The Charlotte Latin Mass community shared the success of the first Masses in a post on their X account.
The community noted that the combined attendance between the early Low Mass and the High Mass was between 600 to 625 people.
“Gratitude for our priests, deacons, servers, and talented schola,” stated the X post.
“Blessed be God!”
The new church, located in Mooresville, North Carolina, about an hour north of downtown Charlotte, was originally a Protestant building. It has now been designated by the bishop as the sole location in the diocese where the Traditional Latin Mass may be celebrated. The relocation means that many of the faithful will now have to drive up to two hours to attend the Traditional Latin Mass. The Charlotte Latin Mass Community posted a video of the grounds on which the only TLM in the Diocese of Charlotte would be celebrated and expressed their disdain with the bishop’s decision.
As the video pans across the plain exterior of the church, the caption conveys the sense of exile many Catholics feel following the restriction of the Traditional Latin Mass.
“Located in Mooresville, NC the chapel is 45-60 mins north of Charlotte, and yet this was designated by the bishop,” stated the X post.
“Exiled in the name of unity. The tragic irony.”
This sense of exile stems from restrictions imposed on the Diocese of Charlotte by its prelate, Bishop Martin, in May. Citing Traditionis Custodes, Martin issued a letter that limited the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in an effort to promote “concord” and “unity” within the diocese.
“It is my heartfelt desire and prayer that this implementation of Traditionis Custodes will further ‘promote the concord and unity of the Church’ among the People of God in the Diocese of Charlotte so that, as Jesus prayed to His Father, we ‘may all be one’,” wrote the bishop.
On their website, the Charlotte Latin Mass Community addressed the root causes behind the backlash against the Traditional Latin Mass, despite the deep reverence and beauty it offers.
“How could something so beautiful be considered so controversial and divisive?” questions the community.
“It is Jesus Christ in the Eucharist … The manner in which our blessed Lord is treated so reverently; that we kneel before the King of Kings; that we refuse to receive Him in the crude commonplace of our hands; that we do not speak the name of Jesus Christ using vulgar language … some are simply unable to tolerate such things.”
