If you find yourself in the South of France this July you can enrich your vacation and your spiritual life by participating in some of the Saint Mary Magdalene feast day festivities surrounding her July 22nd Feast Day.
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Feast Day Festivities in Provence
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Sunday, July 19, 2015 — at 5 pm in the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in the town of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume is the opening of Congress “Adoratio2015” — “Mercy and Adoration in the school of Saint Mary Magdalene.”
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Under the patronage of Bishop Dominique Rey, bishop of the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, this ecclesial event will be organized by Fr. Florian Racine, MSE and the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist. There is a 5 pm Opening Holy Mass presided by His Excellency André-Joseph Leonard, Archbishop of Brussels with homily preached by Msgr. Ravotti Jean-Pierre. “Adoratio2015” continues from Sunday, July 19th to Friday, July 24th.
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registration still open
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Feast Day Procession
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 — at 9 am there is a Pilgrimage to the Cave of La Sainte-Baume—a Feast Day Procession with the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene (a piece of her tibia) which begins on the prairie below at the Hostellerie-de-la-Sainte-Baume in Plan d’Aups and ends up the mountain in the Cave of La Sainte-Baume.
At 11 am Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Cave of Saint Mary Magdalene presided by Cardinal Dominik Duka, the Archbishop of Prague.
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Candlelight Procession
Thursday, July 23, 2015 — from 9-10 pm there is the Official Opening of the Feast with a Candlelight Procession through the streets of the town of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume with relics of Saint Mary Magdalene (her skull in a gold reliquary). The procession is presided by Cardinal Robert Sarah. Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
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Skull of Saint Mary Magdalene in a gold reliquary
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Pilgrims and locals carrying the skull of Saint Mary Magdalene. When they carry her skull in the gold reliquary they cover the skull with a gold face plate. Everyone carries candles in the procession through the streets of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, singing and praying their traditional Saint Mary Magdalene hymns and prayers. It is a truly beautiful and holy event.
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Feast Day Mass & Procession
Sunday, July 26, 2015 — 10:30 am there is a Feast Day Mass at the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. After Mass the whole town celebrates in front of the basilica.
At 3:30 pm there is a Procession with the relics (her skull in a gold reliquary) through the streets of Saint Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume.
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Procession through the streets of Saint Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume
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