Parish of St Mary
Church
CONTACT
TOPICAL
MONASTERY
Christianity probably arrived to Finland by the end of the first millenium AD. By the end of the 12th century the Roman Catholic Church was established, following the "crusade" of the Swedish king Eric and his English-born bishop Henry to south-west Finland.
On the other hand, the Orthodox Church spread into the country from the east, into what is now east Karelia. Cultural and religious boundaries deepened the country's division into two spheres of influence: Novgorod and Russia on one side and Swedish Finland on the other.
Presently the population of Finland is mainly Christian. Although Finland has Catholic roots, due to the Reformation of the 16th century the nation became Lutheran. Nowadays most of the Finnish Christians (86%) belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. About 60,000 (1.2%) belong to the Orthodox Church which originally came from the East but is now present throughout the whole country. Many of the remaining may belong to the Pentecostal movement and Free Churches. Catholics are a small minority - around 8,400 (0.14%).
The Catholic community, though small, is actively involved in Finland. The majority of the Catholics are to be found in the capital and the sorrounding areas, but there are parishes elsewhere.
Finland consists of one diocese which is divided in seven parishes.
THE CHURCH
The church of St Mary is the second catholic parish church built in Helsinki (the first one being St Henrik's). The architect was Kay Selenius and the church was consecrated on the sixth of December 1954. Now there is space for 300 people, half of which can be seated.
The Choir
Originally there was only one altar, which is now situated against the wall. On this altar there is the tabernacle, where the eucharistic bread is kept to be given to the sick or those who were unable to attend the mass. As a church we believe that the risen and glorified Christ is present in the eucharistic bread and wine. That is why there is always a burning lamp on the left.
The main altar is the other altar in the middle of the choir. Everyday the mass is celebrated here. According to the usage of the Catholic Church, some of the remains of the saints, here of St Bridget of Sweden and her daughter St Catherine, are put under this altar.
The German artist, Claus Kilian decorated the choir wall with a mosaic in 1985; the crucified Lord's open hands offer salvation to
all those who come unto him. Around him one can see the evanglists' traditional symbols: angel for Matthew, lion for Mark, cow for Luke and eagle for John (cfr Rev 4, 7). The upper part of the mosaic depicts Pentecost, the birth of the church by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
On the left side of the choir, there is the baptismal chapel. Here one can find the baptismal font and the Easter candle.
The Stained-glass Windows
The windows on the left, starting from the front, describe the seven works of mercy which "concern the body" (cfr Matt 25, 31 -46):
-Feeding the hungry. Jesus feeding the peopke (Matt 14, 19).
- Giving drink to the thirsty. Jesus asking water from the Samaritan woman (John 4, 7).
- Giving dress to the naked. St Martin giving half of his dress to the beggar.
- Giving shelter to the homeless. The disciples of Emmaus asking Jesus to stay with them for the night.
- Visiting the sick. Jesus healing the sick at Betesda (John 5, 1-8)
- Taking care of the prisoners. Jesus frees the possesed (Mk 5, 1-16).
- Burying the dead. The disciples take the corpse of John the Baptist and bury him (Mk 6, 29).
On the right one can see the seven works of mercy which "concern the soul":
-Praying for the living and the dead. Job and his friends (Job 42, 9) and the Maccabees who organised prayers in the temple for thos who died during the war (2 Macc 12, 43).
- Forgiving the injuries. The Lord turned and looked at Peter (Lk 22, 61).
- Enduring evil. "We salute you, king of the Jews" (Mt 27, 29).
- Comforting the distressed. Jesus raises the son of the widow of Naim and hands him to his mother.
- Guiding the wavering. Jesus discusses with Nicodemus (John 3, 12)
- Teaching the ignorant. Jesus sent to teach: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to give the good news to the poor." (Lk 4, 1-8).
- Reprimand the sinners. John the Baptist reproaches Herod (Mk 6, 18).
The Way of the Cross
As in most Catholic Churches, one can find the forteen stations of
the Way of the Cross in St Mary's Church. It starts from the front
left of the aisle. The stations are the following:
Jesus sentenced to death
Jesus takes the cross
Jesus falls for the first time
Jesus meets his mother
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus in carrying the cross
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Jesus falls for the second time
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Jesus falls for the third time
Jesus is stripped of his clothes
Jesus is nailed to the cross
Jesus dies
Jesus is taken off the cross
Jesus is buried
The aisle
The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. On the right one can see a painting of the assumption of our Lady, which feast is celebrated on the 15th of August and which is also the feast of this church. On the left one can see our Lady in heaven as the new Eve (cfr Rev 12, 1-2). As a church we believe that the bodv is not left out off the final beatitude, and that Mary is already enjoying such beatitude.
The Dutch artist Lou Manch has made these paintings, as well as the baptismal font, the stained-glass windows, the Way of the Cross and the statue of the Blessed Virgin during the fifties.
Statue of Our Lady
At the back of the aisle there is a statue of Our Lady. The style is "Seat of Wisdom" (Sedes Sapientiae). Mary is Jesus's throne. The candles lit in front of her are there as a prayer when those who lit them went away from the church. Catholics learn already in their childhood this prayer:
Hail Mary full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and in the hour of our death.
Amen
On the other side of the back of the aisle there are the confessionals.
The organ of the church was built in 1965 by the Swede Richard Jacob. It has seven registers, two manuals and pedals.
Three bells are found in the bellfry.
Entering the church, the very first thing one sees is a painting of St Christopher on the right hand side. In many Finnish mediaeval stone churches one finds the same figure.
(30.9.2005)