Father Karol Wojtyla’s First Masses on November 2, 1946

The day after he was ordained a priest, Karol Wojtyła—later St. John Paul the Great—celebrated three first Masses on November 2, 1946, in the crypt of St. Leonard in Wawel Cathedral. A few friends and his aunt gathered together with him in this crypt that contains the remains of several kings, queens, clergy, and artists. George Weigel writes that the young priest wanted to express his gratitude to those influential Poles who had a significant impact on his life and education (Witness to Hope, 81).

The Feast of the Patronage of St. Joseph

This past Wednesday I attended Mass in the Extraordinary Form (EF) which happened to be a votive Mass for St. Joseph.  I knew that Wednesdays were traditionally dedicated to St. Joseph but this celebration was different from the Solemnity on March 19th and the memorial on May 1st as well as the St. Joseph votive Mass in the Ordinary Form (OF).  I thought the priest simply wanted to celebrate a votive Mass but later found out that St. Joseph had a regular feast day in the liturgical calendar during the Easter season.