First Solemn High Mass In The Presence of a Prelate

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

First Mass of Rev. Fr. Simon Harkins FSSP

For those who follow this blog you will know I lean very heavily toward the "Forma Extraodinaria" as it is currently named.  Hopefully a more fitting name will be announced  by His Holiness in due course.

It is therefore with great pleasure that I take this opportunity in announcing details of the official First Mass of Rev. Fr. Harkins FSSP, ordained to the Holy Priesthood on the 22nd May 2010 by Bishop Bruskewitz in the Traditional Rite.

The Metropolitan Cathedral Church 
of the 
Diocese of St. Andrew and Edinburgh

Saturday 5th June 2010

1 p.m.

Not only will His Eminence Patrick Kieth Cardinal O'Brien be in attendance, he will also preach the homily.

It is believed that this will be the first time a Cardinal will participate in a First Mass, certainly in the Traditional Rite, in moderm times.  Please support this son of Scotland as he commences his sacred ministry by attending this joyous occasion.

Direction to the Cathedral

The Cathedral is located at the East End of Edinburgh city centre near the St. James' Shopping Centre. The Cathedral faces the Picardy Place roundabout which is the junction of Broughton Street, York Place, Leith Street and Leith Walk.

You can see a map of the area at MultiMap where a red circle at the centre of the map pinpoints the exact location of the Cathedral.

I shall be attending and will hopefully receive permission to photograph / video this event to publish on this site.