Hope and faith: Bishop Wiesemann calls for a vision of the future

Hope and faith: Bishop Wiesemann calls for a vision of the future

On August 15, 2023, Speyer Cathedral celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary with a festive pontifical mass led by Bishop Dr. Karl-Heinz Wiesemann took place. The theme of the service was “Pilgrims of Hope” and a large group of pilgrims and many other visitors were present to mark this important event. The inside temperature of the cathedral was a pleasant 24 degrees, an ideal setting for the celebrations.

In his sermon, Bishop Wiesemann addressed the believers and asked the question about their personal vision of the future. He addressed current concerns about trust in actors and global cooperation on crises such as climate change. Nevertheless, he emphasized the power of faith to offer hope even in times of crisis and encouraged people to be courageous and not to be led by fear. The Bible texts of the feast day emphasized God's help and the promise of a positive future.

Tradition and community

The event was broadcast live on the cathedral and diocese's social media channels, which is another sign of networking with the community. A special greeting went to the pilgrims of the night pilgrimage and to the deaf, for whom the service was interpreted in sign language. During the service, the bishop blessed numerous bouquets of herbs and flowers, a tradition celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption to symbolize God's blessing on creation.

The musical design of the ceremony was carried out by a vocal ensemble with impressive works by Tomas Luis de Victoria and Giovanni P. da Palestrina. The service ended solemnly with the papal blessing and the singing of “Salve Regina”. In addition to the main service, other services took place on the feast, including a pontifical vespers at 4:30 p.m., an evening mass at 6:00 p.m. and a prayer with candlelight procession at 8:30 p.m.

A look into history

The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary has a long tradition in the diocese of Speyer, dating back to the year 670, when it was first mentioned in a deed of donation. The veneration of Mary has historical significance in the diocese, which is reflected in the numerous pictorial representations in the cathedral.

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