Saint Mary, Mother of God, Church in Washington, D.C. has scheduled its fifth annual Votive Mass of Blessed Karl of Austria.   Blessed Karl, the last ruler of Austria-Hungary, worked tirelessly to stop the carnage of World War I.  As a model of holiness in his public life, family life, and spiritual life, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 3, 2004.  Because his feast day, October 21, falls on a Sunday this year, the Mass will take place during the octave on Saturday, October 27, at 10:00 a.m.

The Solemn High Mass will be celebrated by Monsignor Andrew Wadsworth, with Fr. Gregory Pendergraft and Fr. Rhone Lillard of the Fraternity of St. Peter as Deacon and Subdeacon.   Various chivalric orders of the Church will participate, and music will be provided by St. Mary’s schola and a polyphonic choir.  At the end of Mass there will be an opportunity to venerate the relic of Blessed Karl.

At the reception following the Mass, history professor Dr. Paul Van Wie will share a representative sampling from his vast archive of documents and artifacts about Blessed Karl and his empire.   Dr. Van Wie has spent his life collecting original period photographs, rare books, medals, posters, maps, paintings and documents, and will give a lively commentary about the significance of the items he brings.

Saint Mary’s is now honored to house a first-class relic of Blessed Karl in a new shrine dedicated on September 2nd, when HIRH Archduke Imre of Austria presented the relic to Fr. Harris, pastor of St. Mary’s.   In light of the significance of the shrine and the graces and blessings which can flow from the veneration of relics, Suzanne Pearson will give a short reflection on “Blessed Karl as Intercessor.”
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St. Mary, Mother of God, Church is located at 727 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001, which is the corner of 5th and H Streets, N.W.   If you have questions, please contact Suzanne Pearson at 703-524-0411 or send an e-mail to karl.info@verizon.net.