At Saint Peter's Cathedral of the Evangelical Church in Geneva, a Mass that could be called "historic" was celebrated on March 5, 2022. Call it a "historic" Mass, because it was the first Catholic Mass celebrated in this church since the 16th century, in almost 500 years.
In August 1535, the last Catholic Mass was celebrated in St Peter's Cathedral before the success of the Protestant Reformation in Geneva. The Catholic Mass eventually ended with riots, priests being kicked out and the church looting statues and altars, which were seen as symbols of “idol worship.”
Although converted to the Protestant Reformation in 1536, the church of Saints Peter and Our Lady of Lausanne retains its name of cathedral, that is, the church where the bishop's throne is located. In 1821, the diocese of Geneva was merged with the diocese of Lausanne. And it was not until 1924 that the diocese received its present name of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg.
Atmosphere of Protestant and Catholic Unity in Geneva
The Evangelical Church initially invited the Catholic Church to celebrate Mass in 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the program to be postponed.
In 2020, pastor Emmanuel Fuchs, president of the Evangelical Church of Geneva and pastor at St Peter's Basilica, stated that the Catholic invitation to celebrate Mass at St Peter's "is a signal that, in Geneva, the atmosphere was extremely favorable and fruitful for the Roman Catholic Church.
We have made remarkable ecumenical progress, especially with the Joint Declaration, signed in 2017, which recognizes our ministries.”
What connects is bigger than the difference
For Daniel Pilly, representative of the St. Peter's Parish Council, as well as for Pastor Emmanuel Fuchs, even if the disparity between Protestants and Catholics remains great, it is what unites. together they are much more important.
Pastor Emmanuel Fuchs concluded: “It is a strong sign that we are lending our cathedral, the desire to open up, the desire to bring the two churches together, the desire to bring the Gospel and testify to our love for Christ. As Pope Francis said, ecumenism is accomplished by walking together.
We try to walk together, hoping that when we've made enough progress, the obstacles that seemed insurmountable to us today will no longer be the same."
First Mass in nearly 500 years
And that's right. The first Catholic Mass in St Peter's Basilica in the 21st century was completely different from what happened in 1535.
The Mass was celebrated by Father Pascal Desthieux, Vicar of the Bishop of Geneva, with about 1,500 faithful in attendance. The Catholic community asked forgiveness for shortcomings in the matter of Christian unity. And the community also prayed for Ukraine.
“The time is favorable to celebrate a Mass in the cathedral of Geneva.” These words from Pastor Emmanuel Rolland did what seemed unthinkable for a long time in the city of Calvinist reformers – a Mass in St. Peter's Cathedral.
Half an hour before Mass began, the nave of the cathedral was packed with people. At 6 p.m., the church was packed with about 1,500 faithful representing all the local Catholics. Concelebrating with Father Pascal at Mass on the first Sunday of Lent were about fifteen priests from the canton of Geneva.
Mr. Daniel Pilly, on behalf of the evangelical St Peter's parish council, cordially greeted the Catholic faithful, highlighting the "strong symbolic significance" of the event. Mr. Pilly said that the "meaningful gesture" of celebrating Mass at St Peter's Basilica would foster "effective ecumenical collaboration" between Roman Catholics and Reformed Protestants in the state. .
Pray for Ukraine
At the beginning of Mass, Father Pascal called for a moment of silence to pray for Ukraine. At the Mass was the presence of Ukrainian Father Sviatoslav Horetskyi, of the Ukrainian Eastern Catholic Church, as the embodiment of tragedy in Ukraine.
Trust in each other
The celebrant said that the invitation from the Protestant community deeply touched Catholics in Geneva. “It is wonderful that the cathedral, the mother church of our state, can this afternoon become the church of all Christians a little more,” he said. And he added, with humor: “If I were in your position, I would do exactly the same thing.”
“Your invitation means a lot to us and has aroused great enthusiasm. Thank you for the trust you have given us by inviting us to your home.”
Ask for forgiveness for the mistake against unity
The episcopal vicar begged forgiveness for "errors against unity", acts of mockery, caricature or lack of trust towards the Reformed Protestant community. The presence of representatives of the Protestant Genoa faithful showed the vitality of ecumenical relationships in the state.
Father Pascal recalled in his homily that “We did not unite our two Churches”, and emphasized how the situation has progressed since the time when “the two Churches looked at each other with suspicion.” .
The desire to enrich each other
He also reiterated his desire to “enrich each other with our differences” while ecumenical dialogue sometimes seems to come to a standstill. Proof of this desire is the diverse cooperation between the Churches in Geneva – the Reformed Protestant Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Old Catholic Church – through charitable activities, ecumenical celebrations, Lenten conferences.
I also greet those who "live the most profound ecumenism", so many couples from two different Christian Churches in the state of Geneva.
Referring to the Gospel reading at Mass on the first Sunday of Lent, which recounts the event that Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, the celebrant called for "resistance against the forces of division in our lives. , among us and among other Christians.”
Rite of anointing ashes
The relationship between the Christian Churches of Genoa, Roman Catholic and Reformed Protestants, is marked by the anointing of ashes between Pastor Rolland and Father Pascal. This penitential gesture characteristic of the Catholic tradition is first explained, then proposed to the entire community.
The Community Prayer then emphasizes the diverse and multilingual character of the Geneva international community: seven sisters from various religious congregations prayed for the Church and for the world.
During the Mass, the community silently remembered two priests of Geneva: Father Jean-Daniel Balet and Father Marc Passera. Father Jean-Daniel Balet of the Dominican Order, died in 2013. He was the one who composed the Masses of Divine Mercy, Saints and Lambs, which were sung by the singers at Mass.
The second priest, Father Marc Passera, pastor of St. Joseph's parish, died suddenly in 2020.
The late priest would have preached at the first Mass celebrated in the cathedral when it was scheduled two years ago.
About 200 choirs from across the state sang at the Mass, including the parish choir of St. Joseph and Our Lady, the children's choir and the mixed choir of the parish of St. Teresa and the African choir.
Darkness fell after Mass that lasted more than an hour. Before giving the final blessing at Mass, Father Pascal once again thanked the Protestant community and said that the Mass would "be recorded in the books of ecumenical history."
At the end of Mass, Catholics of “the whole state of Geneva” were able to stay in front of the church to chat for a long time.
On March 6, 2022, this ecumenical building received a new stone. (Cath.ch 06/03/2022).
Source: VaticantNews/ Conggiao.vn
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