Luxembourg’s 400th Octave Celebrated with Closing Mass, Procession

On Sunday 25 May 2025, the closing pontifical Mass of Luxembourg’s 400th Octave (Oktav) took place at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg-Ville.

The Octave is a religious celebration of Our Lady of Luxembourg, the patron saint of both Luxembourg City and the country as a whole. Every year, between the fourth and sixth Sunday of Easter, pilgrims come to Notre-Dame Cathedral from parishes throughout the Grand Duchy. The adorned statue of Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted, is on display in the Cathedral during this time. The closing Mass and procession are the highlights of the Octave for the people of the Grand Duchy.

Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, and Bishop Fernand Franck, Archbishop Emeritus of Luxembourg, were among over 40 prelates, clergy and servers on the altar during the Mass, celebrated in front of a packed cathedral.

The Cathedral choir, Sainte-Cécile Mastery (the Maîtrise), under the direction of Marc Dostert, as well as the Luxembourg Military Band, provided the music and many of the hymns sung during the Mass, accompanied by singer, Luc Nilles, and organists Paulo Breisch and Michel Krier.

The procession of prelates and clergy preceded Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, Prince Felix, Prince Louis and Prince Sébastian up the aisle of the Notre-Dame Cathedral prior to the start of the Mass.

Cardinal Hollerich welcomed the Grand Ducal family, the many clergy from Luxembourg and beyond, dignitaries and the congregation, before giving a special mention to the 68-strong group of Luxembourg Americans that are in the Grand Duchy to celebrate the closing of the Octave.

The Mass was a celebration of Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted, who was dressed in golden fabric known as the “Dudelange” dress. Our Lady also formed a central part of the Octave procession later that day.

The procession started at 15:00 from Notre-Dame Cathedral and followed a route around the city centre. Ominous grey skies kept some of the usual spectators at home, but did not dull the enthusiasm of the 40 groups, comprised of hundreds of pilgrims, that took part.

Altar servers, followed by the Bonnevoie Municipal Band and the Prince Henri Youth Band, led the procession. Other bands in the procession included Royal Grand-Ducal fanfare, Harmony Rollingergrund, the Luxembourg Military Band and the Cathedral choir.

Many communities and organisations were represented. These included Scouting organisations, Luxembourg Rural Youth, representatives of the parish of Notre Dame and pilgrims from all parts of the country. The Polish, Croatian, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Anglophone, Slovakian and Czech communities, as well as the aforementioned Luxembourg American group, debuting their new processional Banner, blessed the previous day  by Cardinal Hollerich, were among the international communities taking part.

Many of the groups sang and prayed, including saying the Rosary of Our Lady, as they walked the route through Luxembourg city’s old quarter.

The main highlight was the statue of Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted being carried aloft through the streets of the capital. Clergy and ecclesiastical authorities preceded the Blessed Sacrament in the procession.

The initially light rain became more persistent and heavier as the Grand Ducal family left the cathedral to join the pilgrims. They were followed by City of Luxembourg officials, led by Mayor Lydie Polfer.

The 400th Octave came to an end with the traditional appearance of the royal family on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace, to the delight of the rain-sodden pilgrims and spectators.