Imperial mass

Just like in Habsburg times - every year on 'Emperor's Birthday' on 18 August, the 'Emperor's Mass' is celebrated in the Catholic parish church in Bad Ischl.

Thousands of visitors line the streets as members of the Habsburg family, members of former noble families and delegations of traditional regiments from the former crown lands and several citizen guards make their way to the fair. Before the mass, the delegations line up and the commander of the parade reports to the Habsburg family and requests further orders. After Archduke Markus has walked down the line of honour, the flag bearers enter the festively decorated church.

The imperial anthem is also sung at the following mass. Following the mass, the regiments march with musical accompaniment from the "Bürgermusik Bad Ischl" and the "Hoch- und Deutschmeister k.u.k. Wiener Regimentskapelle IR4"  into the Imperial Park to pay their respects to His Imperial Highness Archduke Markus Salvator of Habsburg Lorraine.

Programme: 
from 08:30
gathering of the traditional associations and clubs in the Kurpark
 
until 09:30 am             
Reporting to the Commanding General, provided by the Deutschmeister Schützenkorps
 
at 10:00 am             
March of the units from the Kurpark via Pfarrgasse to the forecourt of the
parish church. The bands play: Bürgerkapelle Bad Ischl, Bürgerkorpskapelle Windhaag bei Perg and Stadtkapelle Melk
 
until 10:30 am             
Arrival on the forecourt of the parish church, report to SKH Archduke Markus Salvator of Austria, playing of the national anthem, parade to the front with Archduke Markus Salvator of Austria, Mayor Ines Schiller and Tourism Director Jakob Reitinger
 
at 11:00 am              
Holy Mass will be celebrated by Provost of Klosterneuburg Abbey Anton Höslinger Can.Reg. and Regional Dean Konsistorialrat Mag. Christian Öhler with musical accompaniment by the Vienna Boys' Choir.
 
approx. 12:30 pm              
After the mass, departure from the church, march with music through the town centre: Kaiser Franz Josef Straße - Kreuzplatz - Wirerstraße - Pfarrgasse - Kaiser Franz Josef Straße - Götzstraße - to the Kaiservilla
The music bands play: Bürgerkapelle Bad Ischl, Bürgerkorpskapelle Windhaag bei Perg and Stadtkapelle Melk
 
approx. 13:00 hrs             
Arrival in the Kaiserpark, thanks from the General Commander to SKH Archduke Markus Salvator of Austria, salute of honour, playing of the national anthem, 
Departure with defilade, reception in and in front of the Imperial Villa / Imperial Stables
 
approx. 15:30              
Platzkonzert der Stadtkapelle Melk vor der Kaiservilla