Saint Michael The Archangel Chapel
Important note about Mass: Due to a shortage of Traditional Priests, Father Katzaroff is only able to fly to Midland for Confessions and Mass once a Month. Please pray for vocations to the Priesthood.
MASS TIMES
Mission
Our Beliefs and Values
St. Michael the Archangel Chapel in Midland, Texas, is dedicated to fostering a strong community rooted in Catholic tradition. Our goal is to provide spiritual guidance, peace, and support to all individuals seeking solace and faith. Through our services, we aim to spread love, compassion, and the teachings of Christ, welcoming everyone with open arms.
Preparing the Heart and Mind
for the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Entering With Reverence
The Latin Mass is often called the “Mass of the Ages,” preserved through centuries as a treasure of the Church. Pope St. Pius V once declared it to be a safeguard of the Catholic faith, and Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre described it as “the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.”
To attend fruitfully, approach with humility and the expectation that you are stepping into sacred time. The gestures, language, and silences are not designed for entertainment but to lift your soul heavenward.
Prayerful Disposition
Before attending, make time for prayer. A simple Act of Contrition and Act of Faith are powerful ways to dispose your soul. St. Francis de Sales counseled, “The perfection of prayer does not consist in many words, but in the fervor of the desire which raises the heart to God.” If possible, go to Confession beforehand—this ensures you approach the altar with purity of heart.
Silence as Preparation
Unlike many modern liturgies, the Traditional Mass surrounds you with intentional silence. Much of the priest’s prayer is spoken quietly, hidden from the congregation. This is not exclusion—it is mystery. Prepare yourself by practicing recollection. Turn off distractions before you arrive. Resolve not to chatter in the nave but to enter in quiet awe, following the example of Our Lady, who “kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
Intention of the Soul
It is good to offer the Mass for an intention: your family, a friend, the souls in Purgatory, or even for your own deeper conversion. The Council of Trent declared, “In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ is contained and immolated in an unbloody manner who once offered Himself in a bloody manner on the altar of the Cross.” Keep this mystery in mind: you are uniting yourself to Calvary itself.
Dress and Exterior Conduct
The way we dress and carry ourselves speaks before we ever open our mouths. At the Latin Mass, modesty and reverence in clothing reflect the sacred reality unfolding at the altar. For men, this means neat attire—slacks, collared shirts, and, if possible, a jacket or tie. For women, dresses or skirts below the knee, covered shoulders, and the traditional chapel veil (mantilla) are customary signs of reverence, echoing St. Paul’s counsel in 1 Corinthians 11. Avoid casual or immodest clothing, as it distracts from the worship owed to God.
Conduct is equally important. Enter the church quietly, genuflect before the tabernacle, and use holy water to make the Sign of the Cross. Phones should be silenced and conversations kept for outside. Remember: every gesture, every silence, becomes part of your offering to God. The external reverence of dress and demeanor should mirror the interior disposition of your soul.