Cäcilienmesse

Every year at the Museum Schnütgen, on the feast day of St Cecilia, 22 November, the festive Mass for the patronal feast of St. Cäcilien is celebrated. The Mass is celebrated by Pfr. P. Stephan Kessler SJ from the neighbouring Kunst-Station-St. Peter. The assistance is provided by the Artists' Pastor of the Archdiocese of Cologne, Deacon Patrick Oetterer. The Figuralchor of the Künstler-Union-Köln under the direction of Richard Mailänder provides the musical arrangement of the Mass. St. Cecilia is regarded as the patron saint of church music, musicians and instrument makers. The present museum church of St. Cäcilien was named after her. In its present form, the place of worship, which was once the centre of a women's foundation (Damenstift), largely dates back to the 12th century. The Cäcilientympanon from the portal of the north side aisle also dates from this period, a major work of Romanesque stone sculpture in the Rhineland. Today a copy adorns the tympanum above the portal, while the original can be seen in the museum.