Category: Devotions

Liturgical Year with Father Carr

  • Other recommended books for the entire Liturgical Year:
    – Murder in the Cathedral – T.S. Elliot
    – Around the Year with the Von Trapp Family – Maria Von Trapp
    – Catholic All Year – Kendra Tierney
    – The Year and Our Children – Mary Reed Newland
    – Roman Martyrology: Free on-line

Liturgical Year with Father Carr

  • Other recommended books for the entire Liturgical Year:
    – Murder in the Cathedral – T.S. Elliot
    – Around the Year with the Von Trapp Family – Maria Von Trapp
    – Catholic All Year – Kendra Tierney
    – The Year and Our Children – Mary Reed Newland

UPDATE – Women’s Retreat: Marian Holiness

 Sr. Marie Benedict of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist is offering a mini retreat on Friday, January 7th from 9:00 – 12:30 for the women of Holy Trinity.  We’ll begin with Mass, share a light buffet style breakfast and receive two talks as well as a period of Adoration.   RSVP is appreciated so we can plan for food space.  Contact relevent@holytrinityparish.net by January 4th if you plan to attend.

We are very much looking forward to the mini retreat on Friday with you all!   There has been a change of plan, due to uncontrollable circumstances for Sr. Joseph Andrew.  The hardship of air travel currently, along with the surge of covid cases nationwide makes it impossible for her to come to Virginia at this time.  
Good news!  Sr. Marie Benedict, of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, has agreed to lead the retreat at the last minute.  Spread the word, we still have space for more attendees. 

*Donations are appreciated the day of, to help cover the cost of the food and Sister’s stipend.  There is no set fee, please only donate if you feel called to. 
*This is a child-free retreat with the exception of nursing babies.  

Liturgical Year with Father Carr

  • Other recommended books for the entire Liturgical Year:
    – Murder in the Cathedral – T.S. Elliot
    – Around the Year with the Von Trapp Family – Maria Von Trapp
    – Catholic All Year – Kendra Tierney
    – The Year and Our Children – Mary Reed Newland

Epiphany Schedule and Traditional Blessings


Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, is on January 6th. Traditionally on the vigil of the Epiphany, there is a special blessing of Holy Water and salt.

On the day of the Epiphany there is a special blessing of chalk, gold and frankincense.

A priest or the father of the family (or a senior family member) uses the chalk and the Epiphany Holy Water to bless the family home.

Here is a printable sheet you can use for blessing your home.

Sunday, January 2nd
Epiphany is transferred to this Sunday in the Ordinary Form

Wednesday, January 5th
 6:30 p.m. Blessing of Water and Salt

Bring a container (no smaller than a half gallon please) of water and any salt you would like blessed for your personal use in 2022.

6:45 p.m. Thursday, January 6th
 Blessing of Chalk, Frankincense or Gold

Bring any of these items to be blessed.

7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 6th
 Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form

Women’s Retreat: Marian Holiness

 Sr. Joseph Andrew, OP is offering a mini retreat on Friday, January 7th from 9:00 – 12:30 for the women of Holy Trinity.  We’ll begin with Mass, share a light buffet style breakfast and receive two talks as well as a period of Adoration.   RSVP is appreciated so we can plan for food space.  Contact relevent@holytrinityparish.net by January 4th if you plan to attend.

Liturgical Year with Father Carr

  • Other recommended books for the entire Liturgical Year:
    – Murder in the Cathedral – T.S. Elliot
    – Around the Year with the Von Trapp Family – Maria Von Trapp
    – Catholic All Year – Kendra Tierney
    – The Year and Our Children – Mary Reed Newland

Traditional Blessing of Wine on the Feast of St John – December 27, at 5pm

Father Carr will be doing the traditional blessing of wine for the Feast of St. John at 5pm on Monday, December 27th. If you would like to have your wine blessed for this feast, bring a bottle or two (or as many as you wish) and Father will let you know what to do with the bottles to have them blessed.

Wine is blessed on this day because according to legend, St. John was served poisoned wine, but survived because he blessed the wine before he put it to his lips; the poison rose from the chalice in the shape of a serpent. In his happy memory, Catholics bring wine to church, which the priest blesses, turning it into a sacramental called the “Love of St. John.” Catholics use this sacramental wine for special occasions throughout the year and to give to the sick. The wine is also a symbol of the great love of Christ that filled St. John’s heart with loyalty, courage and enthusiasm for his Master. He alone of all the apostles was not afraid to stay close to Jesus during the Passion and Crucifixion and he was the only Apostle not martyred. At least some of the wine blessed on the feast should be enjoyed on the day of the feast itself. When it is drunk on his Feast Day, we drink it before dinner as a toast to St. John. The Father of the house lifts his glass toward Mother and says, “I drink you the love of St. John.” The Mother replies “I thank you for the Love of St. John” and then turns to the oldest child, lifts her glass, and says, “I drink you the love of St. John…” –and on it goes down the line until each has been toasted. The wine may be drunk as is, out of the bottle, or may be prepared as in this recipe:

St. John’s Love (serves 8)

1 quart red wine
3 whole cloves
1/16 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 two-inch cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup sugar
Pour the wine into a large saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients. Boil for 5 minutes (this pretty much evaporates all of the alcohol). Serve hot.

Sources: Fisheaters.com and SanctaMissa.com