In order to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Holy Mass of 20 August was not celebrated at the square in front of the church, but inside St. Stephen's Basilica, Budapest (Hungary). Gergely Kovács, the Archbishop of Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár) delivered a homily. The principal celebrant of the Holy Mass was Cardinal Péter Erdő, who gave a blessing with the Holy Right Hand of Saint Stephen following a liturgy praying for the Hungarian nation.
Michael August Blume, Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary and several members of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference were concelebrating the Holy Mass. Among others, János Áder, the President of Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also attended the liturgy. Our brothers and sisters and the general audience could join the ceremony through the live broadcast of Duna Television and the Hungarian Catholic Radio.
“While we are celebrating King Saint Stephen, we do not only remember the past. We thank God for preserving the nation of King Stephen and ask him for renewed power and hope to continue our journey. Because we are not wandering along the roads of history without purpose. God has a plan with the life of every individual and the fate of nations as well,” said Cardinal Péter Erdő, Primate of Hungary.
The Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest highlighted: “Our first holy king built his country and life on a rock. This rock is Christ himself.” Christ is still with us despite all the alienation, distraction, disinterest and despair – said the Archbishop reassuringly.
Gergely Kovács, the Archbishop of Alba Iulia gave a sermon focusing on the Holy Right of Saint Stephen. He emphasised that the right hand of Saint Stephen is a hand of blessing both literary and symbolically. Only those can give a blessing, who are closely connected to God. Thanks to faith and a living relationship with God, every action of the hand may become a blessing, he said.
“Let us clasp our hands in prayer! We shall work and act for ourselves, for each other and for our nation every day! If we do so faithfully, it will become a blessing,” said Gergely Kovács at the end of his homily.
The traditional procession of the Holy Right was cancelled due to the precautions related to the pandemic, but a liturgy praying for the Hungarian nation was held in front of the relic placed on the main altar, at the end of which the attendees – led by the Cardinal – renewed the pledge of Pál Esterházy, Palatine of the Kingdom of Hungary, who offered the country to the Holy Virgin.
Finally, Péter Erdő holding the Holy Right blessed the people in the church and everyone, who joined the celebration through the media and also blessed the attendees standing in front of the Basilica with the relic in his hand.