On the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Most Rev Edward J Slattery will be celebrating a pontifical Solemn Mass, with the blessing of candles beforehand, at the National Shrine of the Infant of Prague in Prague, OK. This will be one of the first solemn pontifical Masses celebrated at the Shrine in more than 50 years, and this year, the shrine celebrates 65 years of existence. The Mass will be on February 2nd.
It may also be noted that Bishop Slattery is a great supporter of both the Extraordinary Form, as well as the reform of the reform, as it relates to the Ordinary Form. He now celebrates his Ordinary Form Masses ad orientem in his Cathedral, and also celebrates the Extraordinary Form there as well (he celebrated a pontifical Mass there as recently as October of this year!).
Additionally, it is a day of indulgence at the shrine for those who attend and fulfill the normal requirements.
It is also likely that the Mass will be broadcast on EWTN. More details will be provided here as we receive them.
Update: The rector has just informed me that they will indeed carry it on EWTN. They are just unsure whether it will be taped or live. Also, he has some additional information about the shrine where this Mass will be celebrated:
This National Shrine was established in 1949, at the end of WWII, when the local pastor needed to build a new church and entrusted his need to the Infant of Prague; the local bishop, being prophetic, and knowing that communism had swept across Europe and thus blocking pilgrims from going to Prague Czechoslovokia, told the pastor to write to Rome to request permission for pilgrims to make their way to a town of the same name, so as to accomplish the devotions to the Holy Infant here in the states. In a town of 2300 people, and a parish of less than 100 families, the Shrine now has over 8000 members from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries, and has an annual attendance of over 75,000 people. Devotees from everywhere come to honor the Infant King and to seek His blessings and special favors, knowing, “the more you honor me, the more I will bless you,” (the lesson learned in the 16th century when the Carmelites of Prague received the original image from the Crown Princess who married the Grand Duke of Bohemia and gave the then 600 year old statue to the Order).
This year, the 65th anniversary will see several celebrations marking it. The Carmelite Generalate, who in August 1949 established the Shrine, gave the Shrine 29 days of Indulgence, including the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Most shrines, cathedrals and basilicas are given just one or two. The National Shrine of the Infant of Prague is so blessed and richly enhanced with so many days of indulgence. Many pilgrims come seeking the Lord’s blessings and hearings. The church, the grounds and the bookstore welcome pilgrims from all over the world. Situated on the boundaries between the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, it is one of the best kept secrets in the midwest.
The image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the most important image of Our Lady for the Carmelite community will be crowned by Bishop Slattery at the end of the Mass. She is a gift to the Shrine from Shrine members in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is the only image from when Our Blessed Mother appeared on earth, holding Her beloved Son, and the only time she ever spoke English (as an approved apparition), when she spoke to St. Simon Stock on Mt. Carmel.
