Monday, December 01, 2008

Pontifical Mass Sung by Card. Castrillón Hoyos...












"La belezza del sacro," as they say in Italy. Yesterday, the First Sunday of Advent, Solemn Pontifical Mass was sung in the Roman Basilia of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs by His Eminence the Cardinal President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

Mass was sung in the Chapel of San Bruno, a side chapel of the Basilica. The Mass was hosted by members of the parish Archconfraternity of Misericorida (Mercy) on the occasion of their annual celebration.

The celebrant was from Columbia, the assistant priest and deacon from Australia, the subdeacon from America with altar servers from England, Australia, Germany, Canada, the United States and Brasil.

This basilica has been, since 1870, the de facto state parish of the Kingdom of Italy and now the Republic of Italy. The kings of Italy were wed in and buried from this church and to this day state funerals are still held here.

The basilica, which is named after the Beatissimae Virgini et omnium Angelorum et Martyrum, was actually built into the frigidarium of the Baths of Diocletian and also houses the tomb of Pope Pius IV Medici, of Trent fame. The Christianization of the former pagan baths with the construction of a church was one of the last projects of the great Michelangelo.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ahem !!

Notice that the two priests flanking Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos are both AUSSIES (Australian) !!

Fr. Kramer and if I am not mistaken Fr. Mark Withoos

Hilary Jane Margaret White said...

so glad I didn't go...

I mean,

Ooooo, wow, looks great.

Anonymous said...

You may have noticed that His Eminence is not holding together thumb and index finger during the distribution of holy communion (hope that my English is okay...).

Anonymous said...

Catholic Aussie / John

That is indeed the Great Rev Father Mark Withoos.

As we would say Down Under, a "top bloke".

Thanks for this

Down Under

PeterHWright said...

I would say the Catholic revival is well under way, and is not confined to Rome.

Nevertheless, many thanks to JP for these wonderful photos from the Eternal City.

Unknown said...

Go Withoos!