Pontifical Mass

American

noun

(sometimes lowercase) a High Mass celebrated by a bishop or other prelate.

Pontifical Mass British

noun

RC Church Church of England a solemn celebration of Mass by a bishop

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos is scheduled to lead a first-of its-kind "solemn Pontifical Mass" on Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast Washington.

From Washington Post • Apr. 20, 2010

He was also asked to celebrate the Pontifical Mass commemo ating John's fourth anniversary as Pope, and was the only non-Curia cardinal to see the Pope during his final illness.

From Time Magazine Archive

Pius IX. ascended his throne; and as soon as he had received the obedience of the cardinals and bishops, the Pontifical Mass began.

From Pius IX. And His Time by Dawson, Æneas MacDonell

Father Burke introduced me to him after the Pontifical Mass at San Paolo fuori le Mure; and we had a delightful symposium that afternoon.

From Ireland Under Coercion (2nd ed.) (2 of 2) (1888) by Hurlbert, William Henry

If the celebrant be a bishop, the Mass or Vespers is called Pontifical Mass or Pontifical Vespers.

From Baltimore Catechism, No. 3 by Anonymous

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023