• 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.  

4 December 2016, 2nd Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Introit: Populus Sion

Offertory: Creator alme siderum, PBC, p. 130

Communion: Jerusalem surge

Recessional: On Jordan’s bank, V2H, p. 229

Ordinary from Mass XVII, PBC, p. 71. Credo I, PBC, p. 75.

The Introit antiphon has three phrases:

1. Populus Sion, ecce Dominus veniet ad salvandas gentes:

2. et auditam faciet Dominus gloriam vocis suae,

3. in laetitia cordis vestri.

These three phrases all begin with the same, or at least a similar, motif: Populus and et auditam (g c c d) and in laetitia (g g a c c d). Still more evident is the agreement of the closing motifs: gentes and vestri (g a g g), and suae a fifth higher, (d e d d). The real dominant of the first and third phrases is c; that of the second, d. Like Populus, Dominus stresses c. Before this, however, the fifth over ecce fixes the attention. And then it is as if the Lord Himself solemnly came into view. He had sent the prophets; now He Himself appears. He comes not to judge but to redeem all the nations. In the Sequence-like melody over ad salvandas gentes it is best to treat the torculus as points of support, and to keep the rhythm as smooth as possible so that the word-accents are clearly brought to the fore.

            The second phrase begins with the same motif as the first, but its span is greater. After the accented c and the following d it does not sink back to c, but establishes itself on d. However insignificant this small note may appear, it wields great power, urging up to the high f. After the ascent over faciet comes a brief relaxation. But then follows a mighty cry (obviously the text has influenced the melody)—gloriam vocis suae.

            The third phrase soars upward from g to e, with full, round tones. Then with an interval of a fourth it descends to the tonic and to the final cadence.

The Communion antiphon has two phrases. 

1. Jerusalem surge, et sta in excelso:

2. et vide jucunditatem, quae veniet tibi a Deo tuo

Commentators are fond of this antiphon, and have several different takes on it. I have long opted for the positive outlook rather than the negative. The surge of this Communion may not be as dramatic as the Surge et illuminare that we will soon hear at Epiphany, but the major third makes it a quick and penetrating cry. Solemnly it continues—in accordance with the best manuscripts, which give almost each note the broad form—'stand on high'! Rise above our environment; from our sharing in the sacred mysteries, judge wisely what is earthly, as the Postcommunion prays; see the real happiness that is coming from God.

            We keep the first phrase together, but sing surge et sta in excelso very deliberately, with an emphasis on each note, as the manuscripts direct. The second phrase is sung a bit more quickly, as the voices feel the excitement of seeing God's special joy coming towards us. In the second part, after the comma pause after jucunditatem, you'll find the intervals over (ti)-bi a De-(o) much easier to sing if you remember to ignore the dot at that low la and keep the pace moving along smoothly until the natural slowing at the end of the phrase.

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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!