What does this mean--Church affiliated with St. Peter's Basilica

[PacoG]

I posted this on the “Basilica” thread, but the way I figure it, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so I am re-posting it.

I found an old Mass Book (a program and missellete) from when the late Humberto Cardinal Medeiros was installed as the second bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, in 1966. Brownsville was his first episcopal assignment. Anyway, the program has a small write up and description of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Brownsville.

The booklet says:
In 1924, Immaculate Conception Church was affiliated or incorporated with St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Because of this privilege, the faithful who visit Immaculate Conception Cathedral may receive the same indulgences, graces and spiritual favors as those who make a personal visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

(From what some folks have told me, the Immaculate had been the seat of the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville. Then when the Vicariate Apostolic was raised to the level of a diocese, the see was transferred to the larger city of Corpus Christi so the Immaculate was given this affiliation into St. Peter’s as a sort of consolation prize.)

What exactly does “affiliated or incorporated with Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome” mean? Anyone heard of this? Are there any other churches in the U.S. that have this “affiliation” status?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I posted this on the “Basilica” thread, but the way I figure it, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so I am re-posting it.

I found an old Mass Book (a program and missellete) from when the late Humberto Cardinal Medeiros was installed as the second bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, in 1966. Brownsville was his first episcopal assignment. Anyway, the program has a small write up and description of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Brownsville.

The booklet says:In 1924, Immaculate Conception Church was affiliated or incorporated with St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Because of this privilege, the faithful who visit Immaculate Conception Cathedral may receive the same indulgences, graces and spiritual favors as those who make a personal visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
(From what some folks have told me, the Immaculate had been the seat of the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville. Then when the Vicariate Apostolic was raised to the level of a diocese, the see was transferred to the larger city of Corpus Christi so the Immaculate was given this affiliation into St. Peter’s as a sort of consolation prize.)

What exactly does “affiliated or incorporated with Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome” mean? Anyone heard of this? Are there any other churches in the U.S. that have this “affiliation” status?

It means just what it says. The privilege was granted to this cathedral so that those faithful who are unable to visit St. Peters in Rome can receive the same Indulgences and Spiritual favors as though they had visited St. Peters.

 

[PacoG]

I understand that. But what does that mean to the overall rank of that particular church? Is that some kind of rank below a basilica but higher than a regular church?

Does anyone know of any other churches that are “affiliated with St. Peter’s Basilica?”

 

[m134e5]

I understand that. But what does that mean to the overall rank of that particular church? Is that some kind of rank below a basilica but higher than a regular church?

Does anyone know of any other churches that are “affiliated with St. Peter’s Basilica?”

The church was probably named a minor basilica.

 

[PacoG]

The church was probably named a minor basilica.

I would think that, except that the Cathedral doesn’t have any of the marks of a minor basilica. It doesn’t use “basilica” in its name, it doesn’t have the bell or the umbrella thingies. It’s not on any list of basilicas. I think it was given some of the priveledges of being a basilica but not raised to the level of one.

Honestly, I seem to remember hearing something similar on EWTN once. When Fr. Joseph Mary had that series of shows on churches in the Midwest…I remember hearing one of the priests at one of the churches featured saying that their church was declared to be the equivalent of a chapel at St. Peter’s.

Anyone heard about anything like this? Can churches be given the priveledges of basilicas but not the title?

 

[mullenpm]

Why don’t you send an email to “Viewers’ Services” at EWTN and ask them; they should be able to get an answer for you from their Archives. Or, send an email to Father Joseph Mary via EWTN.:yup: