Thank you to the Traditional Latin Mass Community of Flint for sharing the sights and sounds of this Rorate Mass offered in the darkened early hours of December 3, the Second Sunday of Advent, at Saint Matthew in Flint. What is a Rorate Mass? The pastor of Saint Matthew, Father Anthony Strouse, now explains:

“The Rorate Mass is a votive Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Advent and is celebrated entirely by candlelight. Its name comes from a passage from Isaiah 45:8 used in the Introit of the Mass: Rorate, caeli, desuper et tubes pluant justum / Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down the Just One.”

“In this dark time of the year, we are reminded about Mary, who gave birth to the Light of the World, who scatters the darkness and shadow of death, and provides a guiding light for our feet to walk towards eternal peace in heaven.”

“While the prayers of the Mass themselves have a certain power, seeing the church go from almost total darkness (except for the candlelight) to being lit by the morning sun reminds us of what Advent prepares us for: the rising of the Sun of Justice that we celebrate at Christmas.”