On the Sunday closest to 15 November, the feast-day of St Leopold of Babenberg (St. Leopold the Pious) and the “King’s Feast” in Belgium, the Custody of the Holy Land celebrated the Mass for Belgium.

During the celebration, in the presence of the Consul General of Belgium in Jerusalem, Wilfred Pfeffer, prayers were said in particular for the reigning sovereigns – Philippe and Mathilde – and for the Belgian nation. The country’s official languages -  French, German and Flemish – were used for the readings and prayers. The Belgian national anthem was played at the end of the celebration.

In the name of Leopold

The annual Mass for Belgium is held on the feast day of St Leopold of Babenberg (1073-1136), the Austrian sovereign whose governance was enlightened by the Catholic faith and fidelity to Rome. His liturgical feast day, 15 November, is present in the German calendar, while in the Roman calendar it has been replaced by that of St Albertus Magnus.

St. Leopold is the patron saint of the first king of Belgium (Leopold I). In 1866, his successor, King Leopold II, established 15 November as the “King’s Feast.” It is not a national holiday, but government offices are closed on the day.

The consular Mass

Mass was presided over by Fra Stéphane Milovitch, President of the Holy Sepulchre. The homily was given by Father Frans Bouwen, of the congregation of the Missionaries of Africa (the White Fathers). Concelebrants were some French-speaking Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land, religious of the White Fathers and Dominicans of the École Biblique of Jerusalem.

It was a consular Mass,  with the presence as expected of diplomatic representatives. Belgium, together with France, Italy and Spain, is one of the four “Catholic Nations” which have historically supported the mission of the Custody of the Holy Land.

Welcoming and sharing

In his homily, Fr. Bouwen focused on the topic of welcoming and sharing, and on the attitude to the last,  as proposed by the reading of the day. “Not only do the small and the poor belong to our society, but they have the same dignity and the same rights,” he said. How do we welcome the needy we meet in our daily lives?  At every moment we can make our small contribution to building a better world, where the place and the dignity of each person are recognized.”

Fr. Bouwen invited those present to pray for the royal family and the rulers of Belgium, so that “they can build a country that is united in harmony and in mutual respect.” And so that God “can open the eyes of the rulers in different countries, so that they can see the real needs of their peoples and make a commitment to responding, recognizing the equal dignity of everyone.”