September 3, 2011

On Saturday September 3rd the Cardinal McIntyre assembly participated in the first annual Marion procession to commemorate the 230th birthday of our City of Angels.

The City of Los Angeles was founded on September 4, 1781 in the name of Our Lady of the Angels, the Blessed Virgin, who had appeared to St. Francis of Assisi over 500 years earlier. On the first birthday of Los Angeles, after the central plaza was dedicated with solemn ceremonies, a mass was said in honor of Our Lady of the Angels, and a grand procession took place invoking Our Lady's protection, with salvos of musketry, a processional cross, banners, and candlesticks.

This great tradition started many years ago is now being brought back as an annual event.

The procession started at 3:00pm at the La Placita church on Main Street next to Olvera Street and wound it's way through downtown streets to the Cathedral. The procession included a processional crucifix, a beautiful statue of Our Lady in a processional carriage, flowers, banners and flags. At the Cathedral, all gathered for the recitation of the Rosary, and after the Rosary the Knights processed into the Cathedral Sanctuary for a votive mass. After the mass the Event Organizers (Queen of Angels Foundation) provided a wonderful reception in the Cathedral plaza.