The Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter & Paul at 18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103 US - The Crypt
| The Crypt |
Under the main altar of the Cathedral is a spacious crypt containing the remains of most of the Bishops and Archbishops, and of several prominent clergymen of Philadelphia. The crypt can be reached through both the sanctuary and by way of an ambulatory that extends from the rectory to the sacristy on the exterior apse wall. The walls and the ceiling of the crypt are of white Carrara marble. Within the crypt is a simple altar of Carrara marble where Mass is celebrated at regular intervals for the deceased. In the walls are vaults, in which remains of seven of the previous ten Bishops and Archbishops of Philadelphia are interred. Partial translations of the inscriptions in the crypt follow: MICHAEL EGAN, O.S.F., first Bishop of Philadelphia, consecrated October 28, 1810, died 1814. HENRY CONWELL, second Bishop of Philadelphia, consecrated 1820, died April 22, 1842. FRANCIS P. KENRICK, third Bishop of Philadelphia, 1842-1851, died as Archbishop of Baltimore and is buried there. Saint JOHN N. NEUMANN, C.Ss.R., fourth Bishop of Philadelphia 1851-1860, is interred at St. Peter’s Church, Fifth Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia. JAMES FREDERICK WOOD, fifth Bishop of Philadelphia, born in Philadelphia, April 17, 1813. Consecrated Bishop, April 26, 1857. When John N. Neumann died, January 5, 1860, he became Ordinary of Philadelphia. He died with a full share of merits June 20, 1882. Patrick John Ryan, born February 20, 1831, Thurles, County Tipperary. In 1884 he was transferred from St. Louis to Philadelphia and undertook the rule of this metropolitan See as its Ordinary. Finally this very pious man of many years gave back his soul to God, February 3, 1911 of the year of our redemption. EDMOND FRANCIS PRENDERGAST, third Archbishop of Philadelphia, born in the town of Clonmel, Ireland, May 5, 1843, ordained to the priesthood, November 17, 1865, chosen Ordinary (of Philadelphia) May 27, 1911, went to Christ February 26, 1918. DENNIS JOSEPH CARDINAL DOUGHERTY, cardinal priest of the Holy Roman Church. He died May 31, 1951, in his 86th year. May the heavenly halls receive the soul of this great and wise shepherd, and may posterity preserve his deserving memory. JOHN CARDINAL O’HARA, C.S.C., ninth Bishop and fifth Archbishop of Philadelphia, 1951-1960, is buried in Sacred Heart Church at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. JOHN CARDINAL KROL, tenth Bishop and sixth Archbishop of Philadelphia, born October 26, 1910, Priest, February 20, 1937, Bishop, September 2, 1953, Archbishop, March 23, 1961, Died, March 3, 1996. DEUS REX MEUS - Rest in Peace. Others buried in the crypt: Rev. FRANCIS PATRICK O’NEILL, pastor of St. James, Philadelphia, 1843-1882. Rev. JAMES CORCORAN, Professor at Saint Charles Seminary, died 1889. Rev. FRANCIS I. CLARK, pastor of the Cathedral, 1872-1918. Rev. MAURICE A WALSH, pastor of St. Paul’s Philadelphia, 1832-1888. J AMES J. CARROLL, titular Bishop of Metellapolis, and shortly after, being appointed as pastor of St. Edward’s Church in this city, at the age of fifty gave his life for his sheep, April, 1913. D. CLETUS BENJAMIN, (auxiliary of Archdiocese of Philadelphia), titular Bishop of Binda, born 1909, ordained 1935, consecrated 1960, died May 15, 1961. GERALD P. O’HARA, titular Archbishop of Pessinunte and Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain, born 1895, ordained 1920, consecrated 1929, died July 16, 1963. FRANCIS CARDINAL BRENNAN, (1894-1968), Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, 1968. Reverend GERALD V. McDEVITT, D.D., J.C.D., Vicar General, titular Bishop of Tigias and Auxiliary to the Cardinal Archbishop of Philadelphia; Pastor of St. Alice Church; born February 23, 1917; ordained May 30, 1942; consecrated August 1, 1962; died September 29, 1980.