Well the great day has arrived, and what a great day it proved to be. Outside the sun shone from a clear blue sky and the temperature rose to a very respectable 22C (for Scotland that is).
Inside the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of the Archdiocese of St Andrew and Edinburgh, a large congregation gathered to hear Rev. Fr. Simon J Harkins, FSSP, offer his First Solemn High Mass following his ordination to the sacred priesthood on the 22nd May 2010.
Fr Simon Harkins FSSP seen in the centre.
Seminarians from both FSSP seminaries of Denton, USA and Wigratzbad, Germany joined by their rectors, Very Rev. Fr. Josef Bisig and Very Rev. Fr. Franz-Karl Banauch, fellow priests of the Society, a contingent from the Community of The Sons of The Most Holy Redeemer (who have five seminarians at Denton) plus local diocesan priests filled the choir stalls.
In addition, and what I have been informed may be a "world first", was the attendance of a Cardinal at a First Solemn High Mass in his own Cathedral Church since the Reformation, namely His Eminence Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien who preached the homily.
The St Andrew Camerata performed the "Paukenmesse" and "Te Deum" by Joseph Haydn with orchestra, plus "Ecce Sacerdos" by Jose Mauricio Nune Garcia.
See full set of Photos here
Cardinal O'Brien's Homily here
Videos
A wonderful mass. Ad multos anos to Fr. Simon. Am amazed but delighted you secured the attendance of the Cardinal, even if sadly he was not attired in his Cappa Magana! Perhaps you will be able to persuade him to celebrate Pontifical High Mass one day!
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ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your kind comment.
Yes we had originally been informed he would wear his Cappa Magna but later changed his mind. Nevertheless we in Scotland are very happy he attended and actively participated.
God Bless you.