Two Participants in Sunday's Pontifical Mass in St. Peter's

We have already seen quite a bit from Sunday's Solemn Pontifical Mass at the altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica (cf. posts here and here). Today I would like to point out two of the priests involved in the celebration, whose participation is significant given their other functions.

One acted as assistant priest to Cardinal Brandmüller:


It is Msgr. Nicolas Thévenin, one of the seven Protonotaries Apostolic de numero participantium, a prelate of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, and a memeber of the Community of Saint Martin which has regularly been featured on the NLM.

The other acted as one of the familiares, who assist the bishop during Pontifical Mass at the washing of the hands:


To the left in the picture above (the other one being Msgr. Patrick Descourtieux, Official of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei), it is Msgr. Marco Agostini, one of the Papal Masters of Ceremonies. Here we see him in this rôle with His Holiness Pope Benedict:


From the moment a Cardinal is created at a Consistory, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations assigns to his person one of the Office's Masters of Ceremonies. Msgr. Agostini is assigned, among others, to Cardinals Burke and Ranjith. At the latter's taking possession of his Roman titular church we have actually seen both Monsignors on the NLM before:


To the left we see Msgr. Thévenin as Protonotary Apostolic reading the papal bull,
and to the right Msgr. Agostini is acting as Card. Ranjith's MC.

Here are a few more photographs showing both at Sunday's Pontifical Mass. The familiares - Msgr. Agostini to the left - leave after having assisted Card. Brandmüller at the second washing of hands (after the reading of the Offertory; the first is before the prelate puts on the vestments), while Msgr. Thévenin puts the ring back on the Cardinal's finger:


The same situation, but after the third hand washing (after the censing of the oblata; the fourth and last is after Communion):


Msgr. Thévenin receives - first, as assistant priest - the peace from Cardinal Brandmüller:


At the recessional, celebrant and ministers - Msgr. Thévenin to the bishops right - pass the papal altar: