For readers in the Washington DC Metro area (or a within driving distance) I wanted to alert you to a fast-approaching event.
On Saturday, June 4th at 5:30PM, there will be a Solemn High Mass in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (located at 400 Michigan Ave, NE in Washington, DC). The Mass is being brought to you by the good folks at the Paulus Institute for the Propagation of the Sacred Liturgy, and will be offered by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter.
The Mass will be offered in reparation for abortion, and for the other sins of our nation. It caps off the FSSP’s annual pilgrimage to the Shrine.
Those wishing to attend can also join the pilgrimage during its final five mile journey to the Basilica. More information is available on the event right here.
If you’d like to print a flyer to share at your parish, homeschool group, or other venue, a one page printable PDF is available here.

Steve Skojec is the Founding Publisher of OnePeterFive.com. He received his BA in Communications and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2001. His commentary has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Crisis Magazine, EWTN, Huffington Post Live, The Fox News Channel, Foreign Policy, and the BBC. Steve and his wife Jamie have eight children. You can find more of his writing at his Substack, The Skojec File.
Steve I just have to ask on behalf of cafeteria Catholics, does this count for the Sunday obligation? <>
Forgive my ignorance, but is a Solemn High Mass always in the Extraordinary Form? Assuming so, since FSSP is celebrating here.
Yes. The Novus Ordo doesn’t really make such distinctions, although I believe they have a “sung” Mass vs. a spoken one. The term “Solemn High Mass” is, to my knowledge, nowhere to be found in the new GIRM or rubrics.
Thanks, Steve.
Here’s a link which is extremely helpful:
http://www.lms.org.uk/resources/comparison-between-the-traditional-and-novus-ordo-missals
This is a comparison of both the TLM and the Novus Ordo. Share it if possible.
Why not have the Mass in the basilica? Down in the crypt sounds like down in the basement. We don’t have to sit at the back of the bus!
They should have had it in the Basilica proper and offered it on Corpus Christi with Benediction and Holy Hour. THAT would be awesome. (Sigh.)
Presumably by having it in the crypt, space and thus numbers will be limited. By keeping the TLM in its place, we ought to know our place. Down in the basement with our little fixation is fine, but don’t be getting any ideas.
For what it’s worth, the Crypt chapel at the Basilica is the most beautiful in the whole place. No, it’s not the biggest, but there’s something truly special about it.
It is, in fact, where I proposed to my wife.
Wow! Great place to propose!
Right in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
It’s where they had my daughter’s confirmation. My first visit to the basilica and teh crypt of cousre. very beautiful down there. I guess people expect it to look like a dungeoon or unfinished basement. LOL It surely is not. :0)
Sweet. I’m just being a bit cynical. It’s not a virtue. :-/ On the other hand, if the numbers are not sufficient, a quarter full Basilica is not ideal. Perhaps we’ll hear back from those who were there.
I agree. I personally prefer the Crypt chapel—a medieval and mysterious sense pervades it.
dont know if you’ve ever been there, it’s quite beautiful, a basement it is not, i assure you. :0)
I’ve never been. In my own local parish church, there is a crypt and it’s basically a small basement oratory, underneath the sacristy.
Way back in the 1990s they used to have a Latin NO there on Sundays. The lady who led the chant had a heavenly voice; it’s where I started suspecting that we the VII generation had been robbed!
Is that Fr. David Franco in the picture?