F.S.S.P. First Mass in Krakow, Poland

We just showed some photographs of the priestly ordination of Fr. Marek Grabowski, F.S.S.P. in Krakow, Poland, which took place last Saturday (June 4th) in the church of Ss. Peter and Paul. The following day, Fr. Grabowski celebrated his first Mass in the church of the Holy Cross, also in the historical center of Krakow, where the F.S.S.P. has regularly offered Mass for several years. The deacon, Francesco Riegger, was ordained to the diaconate on May 28th along with three other men at the Fraternity's European seminary in Wigratzbad, Germany; this was his first time serving as deacon at Mass. The NLM offers congratulations to him, to Fr. Grabowski, and to all the newly ordained and soon-to-be ordained.

The parish priest of Holy Cross entering the church in procession with a relic of the True Cross, which was venerated by the celebrant and then set on the altar before the Mass began.

First Incensation

The church was packed (as are most Sunday morning Masses in Krakow), and the faithful sang the ordinary of the Mass with great enthusiasm.

During the Gloria

The Gospel

The Offertory

The Elevation of the Chalice

The Last Gospel

Recessional

Some additional views of the church of the Holy Cross. The original foundation goes back to the late 12th century; it was formerly the Polish mother-house of an order of hospitalers, the Canons Regular of Santo Spirito in Sassia, who rebuilt it completely in the late 14th or early 15th century. The major liturgical fixtures are predominantly of the early 18th century, but many features survive from prior and subsequent alterations and restorations; like most of the churches of Krakow, it is kept very well. Unfortunately, the very entire monastic complex formerly attached to this church was demolished in 1891 to make way for a theater.

The main altar.

The right side of the liturgical choir.

The sole Gothic pillar which holds up the middle of the nave, from the 15th century.

The ceiling of the nave preserves decorations of the 16th century, which were recovered during a restoration of the 1890s.

The organ.

The pulpit.

The Lady Altar of 1630 enshrines an icon from about a century earlier.