Cardinal MĂșller's Pontifical Mass packs Our Lady of Lourdes Philly Church
- James Donovan
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
More than 800 faithful packed the church as the promenade of clergy and laity entered to the hymn ''Christ is Made the Sure Foundation". With six assisting ministers, two master of ceremonies and 11 altar servers, the reason for a Pontifical mass becomes clear: it represents the fullness of worship in the Roman rite.
Attending a mass like this, not in a cathedral, is an enormous privilege. The cardinal may celebrate the Pontifical mass from a throne, anywhere outside Rome, and so it was in Philadelphia.
The mass and music was funded by the Durandus Institute for Sacred Liturgy and Music, whose mission is to provide inspiring liturgical music...drawing from the rich patrimony of the Catholic liturgical and musical tradition."
The Philly-based non-profit, whose institute takes its name from a French bishop and liturgist, Guillaume Durand, has its focus on medieval music and uses of the religious orders especially the mass and Divine Office.
This same organization along with the Ukrainian Catholic of Philadelphia and the Catholic Sacred Music Project will be involved in two other events the month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. First, Byzantine Vespers with Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston, who will speak on the Significance of the Council of Nicaea at the Ukrainian Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Next, Robert Cardinal Sarah will have pre-liturgy remarks before Pontifical Vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter & Paul in downtown Philly.
Our Lady of Lourdes is a 130 year old church and was built like a 13th Century, rural English Gothic Church to harmonize with the new rising 19th Century community called Overbrook Farms. It is now run by the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary, better known as the Mercedarian Friars.
The Mercedarians are a Catholic religious order founded in 1218 in Spain by St Peter Nolasco. The order's mission was formed during the time Christians were being captured and enslaved by Islamists (Some things never change) during the Crusades and other conflicts. Its mission was to ransom Christian captives who were at risk of losing their faith in captivity. In fact, the Mercedarians took a fourth vow--in addition to poverty, chastity and obedience--they vowed to offer themselves as hostages in exchange for those imprisoned Christians.
They have a devotion to Our Lady of Mercy (Ransom).
The parish does offer a Traditional Latin Mass each Sunday, 9:30am at Woodbine Avenue and 63rd Street.
Following the mass there was a reception at Ivy Hall, where we met his Eminence. He was touched by the outpouring of support for him. We all pray for the cardinal!
