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Now that the funeral of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth is past, and may we continue to pray for her soul, we are happy to offer the report upon the Victory Mass, held the day the late Queen died, Thursday 8th of September. Holy Mass of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called in the Order "Our Lady of Philermo", was celebrated at 11.30 am at the Church of the Assumption and Saint Gregory, Warwick Street, used as a Conventual Chapel of the Order.
Mass was celebrated in the gracious presence of the Lieutenant of the Grand Master, His Excellency Fra’ John Dunlap, who during Mass installed HE Fra’ Max Rumney as the 58th Grand Prior of England. The Lieutenant was attended upon by Fra’ Duncan Gallie and Fra’ John Eidinow, now a member of Sovereign Council.
During the Gospel the Lieutenant held a sword in honour of the victory at the Siege of Malta, following a custom on this Feast in the Conventual Church in Valetta, on which day the Master held the sword of Grand Master de la Valette at the throne.
The Investiture, in the usual way, took place after the singing of the Gospel. The supporters to the new Grand Prior were Grand Prior emeritus Fra' Ian Scott, and Fra’ Julian Chadwick. Following the new Prior being led by the hand by the Lieutenant to his throne, members of the Grand Priory, knights in Justice and in Obedience, came forward to make the customary homage of Obedience.
Holy Mass was offered by our Chaplain Fr Richard Biggerstaff, assisted by Fr Stephen Morrison OPraem and Fr Edmund Montgomery. The homily was preached by the Chaplain of the Grand Priory, Monsignor John Armitage, who is also Chaplain to BASMOM; the text was published HERE last week.
Mass was attended by the President of the British Association, HE Lady Celestria Hales, and two former Presidents, Peregrine Bertie and Richard Fitzalan Howard, and the Chancellor and officers of BASMOM.
The Grand Priory was delighted to welcome members of the Diplomatic Corps; the Apostolic Nuncio was represented by Mgr Ervin Lengyel, Counsellor. Also among the guests were Knights of St Gregory, members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and the Constantinian Order of St George; the Venerable Order of St John was represented by the Chancellor, Dr Gillian Willmore.
The music was performed by the 'Ensemble Pro Victoria', under the direction of Toby Ward, Master of Music of the Grand Priory, who was also organist. The Mass setting was Missa pro victoria a 9 by Tomas Luis de Victoria and the Offertory Decantabat populus by Orlando di Lassus. At Holy Communion were sung Ego flos campi and O salutaris hostia by Guerrero. During the homage they sang Job tonso capita by Clemens non Papa.
A Reception was held after Mass in the Grand Priory's Chapter Room and Library and in the Chalonner Hall, by gracious permission of the Rector, Fr Mark Elliott-Smith.
The Lieutenant was very pleased to be able to meet many people involved in the life and work of the Order in Britain, and in the evening attended the Companions' Soup Kitchen in St James's Spanish Place. The Order in England is very honoured to have been able to welcome him. During the evening the death of the Queen was announced, and the Rector, Monsignor Philip Whitmore, led members of the Order and our guests in silent prayer for the repose of her soul. May she rest in peace.
Our Lady of Philermo, pray for us
Saint John the Baptist, pray for us
Blessed Gerard, pray for us
Blessed Adrian Fortescue, pray for us
