Rorate Mass

A Rorate Mass is a beautiful, ancient Advent custom, at which the Mass is celebrated, illuminated only by candlelight, usually before Dawn. The Mass is a Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary and so is celebrated in white, rather than Advent purple. Rorate (Drop down dew) is the first word of the Introit chant (addressed to: you heavens from above) for a Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin celebrated in Advent. There is also a beautiful Advent Gregorian Chant hymn that uses this text that comes from Isaiah 45:8. In a time before electricity, a pre-dawn Mass for the workers was celebrated entirely by candlelight. Come join us in the Mass of our ancestors on Saturday, December 17, at 5:30 a.m. This is a Latin Mass.