Floodlights on Mount Gellért Are Renewed

On 8th October, the feast of Our Lady of Hungary His Eminence, Péter Card. Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Primate of Hungary has blessed the new floodlights of the cross on Mount Gellért, which event is also connected to the preparation for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress.

The ceremony was held on the occasion of the fiesta of the Cave-Church consecrated to Our Lady of Hungary, on the 8th October, after the Mass.

On the festivity participated and held a speech: Alexandra Szalay-Bobrovniczky, deputy of the Lord Mayor of Budapest and Miklós Soltész, secretary of state for relations with Churches and nationalities and of aiding persecuted Christians. On this occasion Péter Erdő emphasised: it is a joy to see that in the middle of our city, Budapest, a cross emerges above the River Danube. This cross will be lit up every evening as a courtesy of the capital. The shining cross is the symbol of hope. The resurrection of Christ reminds us to that divine love, which calls us into eternal happiness. Christ's sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection remained among us in the Holy Mass and in the Eucharist. He became our nourishment and the source of our strength. Let the light of this cross remind us all, that we are preparing for the International Eucharistic Congress. When we see this light, we shall pray that the meeting held in Budapest between 13 and 20 September 2020 may serve as a spiritual renewal of our cities, nation, Europe and the world.

The Archbishop has asked every Catholic, who joined in through the report of the EWTN Hungary around the world to pray together for the Eucharistic Congress.

After that Cardinal Péter Erdő has blessed the cross lit up with the new floodlights

Blessing of the Floodlights

Let us pray! Lord, Creator of light, source and origin of every human existence, look with mercy on us, your servants who have made this floodlight and are present on this festive occasion!

The outer forms of our churches, the sound of the bells, and the cross are signs, which warn us and call us to your praise. Grant us that - similarly to them - this new floodlight, which will be an ornament of our capital may serve the same purpose and may result deepening the faith and the giving love in the people living here.

Please grant us, that this floodlit cross may watch over the night's rest of those living here, and that after our earthly lifer, after the darkness of the world we may arrive to you, the never-ending light, in whom we live, move and exist.

May the new floodlight of this cross be blessed by the Father ✠ the Son and the Holy Spirit, so that those, who bow themselves and pray in front of this Cross by thinking of Jesus may receive physical and spiritual strength and salvation. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Cross above the Cave Church of the monks of the Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit, which has been re-erected after half a century was inaugurated more than a decade ago, on 12th August 2001. The former crucifix was destroyed on the night of 16th July 1951, and the new one was erected exactly on the 50th anniversary of that event.

The granite-covered cross, which was lit only with some simple lights became cca. one meter smaller than the original one, but for geological reasons it was erected on a different cliff. The re-making of the cross on Mount Gellért was supported by the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage - on the basis of a governmental decree - with a sum of 5 million Hungarian Forints.

Source and photo: MTI