Solemn High Mass on January 15

2nd Solemn High Mass

 St Elizabeth of Hungary 

Colonial Beach, VA

 7:00 PM

Mass in honor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor

Reception after Mass.  

Please bring an appetizer or treat to share.

The Week of Joy

There will be a week of High Masses throughout the Christmas Octave!
Please note the location of each day.

Christmas Midnight Mass at St Elizabeth---Carols at 11:00 PM 

Procession to the Creche at 11:55 PM

St. Stephen---Wed, Dec 26 at St Elizabeth---Noon 

St John the Evangelist---Thurs, Dec 27 at St Anthony---9:00 AM 

Holy Innocents---Fri, Dec 28 at St Anthony---7:00 PM 

St. Thomas a Becket---Sat, Dec 29 at St Elizabeth---8:00 AM

Sunday within the Octave---Dec 30 at St Anthony---1:00 PM 

7th Day in the Octave---Mon, Dec 31 at St Anthony---9:00 AM 

Circumcision of Our Lord---Tues, Jan at St Anthony---Noon

Rorate Mass on Sat, Dec 15

There will be a Rorate Mass at St Anthony on Saturday, Dec 15 at 6:45 AM!

The Rorate Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn.  In many instances families and individuals travel an hour or more, rising and arriving very early for this stunningly beautiful Mass.  The interplay of light and darkness speak to the meaning of Advent and the coming of the Light of the World.  

The Mass takes its title, Rorate Caeli, from the first words of the Introit, which are 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 Saviour." 

The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight.  Because it is a votive Mass in Mary's honor, white vestments are worn instead of Advent violet.  In the dimly lit setting, priest and faithful prepare to honor the Light of the world, Who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady.  As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our Faith is illumined by Christ.