• Saint Mary of Victories

    Catholic Church

    Reverent  Faithful  Welcoming 

    Since 1843

  • Saint Mary of Victories

    Catholic Church

    Reverent  Faithful  Welcoming 

    Since 1843

  • Saint Mary of Victories

    Catholic Church

    Reverent  Faithful  Welcoming 

    Since 1843

  • Saint Mary of Victories

    Catholic Church

    Reverent  Faithful  Welcoming 

    Since 1843

  • Saint Mary of Victories

    Catholic Church

    Reverent  Faithful  Welcoming 

    Since 1843

  • Saint Mary of Victories

    Catholic Church

    Reverent  Faithful  Welcoming 

    Since 1843

  • Saint Mary of Victories

    Catholic Church

    Reverent  Faithful  Welcoming 

    Since 1843

  • Saint Mary of Victories

    Catholic Church

    Reverent  Faithful  Welcoming 

    Since 1843

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About St. Mary of Victories

Historic Saint Mary of Victories Catholic Church, just south of the Gateway Arch, is a splendid and unique part of the heritage of old Saint Louis.

Founded in 1843 for German immigrants, it became the city's Hungarian Catholic Church and cultural center in 1956. Its acclaimed architecture, beautiful old paintings, ornate statuary and noted historical personalities have earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of the few consecrated churches in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and has a magnificent high altar with hundreds of sacred relics.

Saint Mary’s accordingly offers a classically reverent style of worship in proclaiming the joy of Christ's Gospel to locals and tourists alike. The 11 a.m. Sunday Mass is mainly in English, with a touch of Hungarian in Scripture and song.

Read the Whole Story...  

Reflections From Our Saints...

  • SMOV - Infant of Prague
  • St. Therese of Liseaux
  • St. Elizabeth of Hungary
  • SMOV - Cabrini
  • SMOV - Anthony (1)
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History

St. Mary of Victories has played an important role in the development of St. Louis... Read More
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Architecture

St. Mary of Victories is an excellent example of pre-Civil War architecture in St. Louis... Read More
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Hungarian Parish

St. Mary of Victories has been the official home of the Hungarian Catholics in St. Louis since 1957... Read More
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Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos once preached at St. Mary of Victories... Read More
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Latin Novus Ordo Mass

St. Mary of Victories is the only place in St. Louis that celebrates the Modern Rite, ad orientem, with Gregorian Chant... Read More
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Liturgy Schedule

Mass Times

11:00 AM Sunday - Third Sunday ONLY

Ordinary Form Mass, Traditional Music, Some Latin
Hungarian Lunch After Mass - Usually $10

Confessions:  Sundays at 10:30 am
Tours Conducted Sundays after Mass

The Facilties are Not Open Other Sundays Of the Month (No Lunch)

 THERE IS NO DAILY MASS AT SMV CHAPEL

Latin Ordinary Form Mass with Gregorian Chant - One Saturday Per Month

See Web Page or Facebook Group (or Call) for Details

                                                                                                           

Note:  the 7 pm Saturday and 9 am Sunday Masses have been discontinued.  

5 July 2020, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

IntroitSuscepimus

OffertorySoul of my Saviour, p. 297

CommunionGustate et videte

RecessionalLift up your heads, ye mighty gates, p. 211

Mass XI, PBC p. 58. Credo III, PBC p. 77

 

The Introit antiphon is, as you know, also the Introit for the Feast of the Presentation (or Purification in the EF) on 2 Feb. It is among the most beloved of chants and volumes of commentary have grown up around it. It has three phrases:

  1. Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui

  2. secundum nomen tuum Deus, ita et laus tua in fines terrae

  3. justitia plena est dextera tua

The extended intervals at the beginning of the second phrase catch our attention. It would seem as though the singer wished to clarify our notion of the majestic essence of God. The entire middle phrase seems to dominate the first and third. The cadence over fines terrae, which forms the close of the first phrase as well, imparts to both a well-rounded finish. In the first phrase is the predominant note, being sounded only in passing. The second phrase is dominated by c, the third by f. Briefly, we might say that the first phrase is characterized by f-a, the second by a-c, the third by d-f. The important transition to the third phrase is explained below.

 

Two notes on performance:

  • In the modern printed editions of the chant, we find sometimes a curved line under the text to remind us that the composer wants the singers to tie together the words and ideas in the phrases before and after the point where this line occurs, ignoring the usual effect of a full bar line. So we must not breathe or break the flow of the chant at that point, but have a renewed emphasis on the entry into the phrase following the line. [Einsiedeln 121 and some other early manuscripts insert at this point 'st' (=statim, at once) which in modern music corresponds to an attaca subito.] As always, these long phrases means we'll have to take turns stealing a breath at other points—just not all at the same time, please.

  • Also, please note that we do observe the vertical episema over the la of (su-)sce(-pimus), i.e., the fourth note in that word. The manuscripts clearly mark it with 't' (=tenete, hold). That does NOT mean it's a double note, but it does have a slight hold before we move on to the si (or b♭).

The Communion Antiphon has two phrases:

  1. Gustate et videte quoniam suavis est Dominus

  2. beatus vir qui sperat in eo.

Chant historians are fond of reminding us that this antiphon, Gustate et videte, (Ps 33:9), always sung along with the entire Psalm 33, was the original chant for communion sung in both East and West at almost every Mass. We read of it in the works of many of the Fathers in both East and West. Dom Johner's comments are worth repeating in full:

This antiphon is composed of only two phrases. Both have a marked rise in their first parts, with a pause on a. Their second parts are identical: sperat in eo corresponds with (su)-avis est Dominus. Still each little phrase has its peculiarities. The first is a lively exhortation; hence the rise to high c (do) and the tarrying there with a double tristropha, a neum rarely used in the Communion. The exhortation is to resound and to penetrate into all hearts. The second phrase is a simple assertion and never rises above a (fa).
This is the oldest Communion song to be found with its psalm in all the liturgies, oriental as well as occidental. How heartfelt it must have sounded, coming from the lips of those who were returning from the altar with the sweetest and most savory of foods in their hearts! What longing it must have awakened in the souls of the faithful who were still on the way to receive Holy Communion! Whoever loves the Eucharistic Saviour will not only gladly and frequently carry this exhortation into effect, but will also, as far as he is able, make others partakers of this same great joy. The Greek equivalent for sweet is chrestos; hence the play on words: Taste and see that it is Christ (Christos/chrestos) the Lord.


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Address and Phone

744 South 3rd Street (at Gratiot)
Saint Louis, MO 63102-1645
(314) 231-8101

Click Here for Directions

 

Copyright © 2023 St. Mary of Victories Catholic Church. All Rights Reserved.
Our Lady of Victories, Pray for Us!  St. Stephen of Hungary, Pray for Us!
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos and Venerable Cardinal Mindszenty, Pray for Us!