The Catholic Defender: The Catholic faith of Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly was a lifelong, devout Roman Catholic whose faith deeply influenced her upbringing in Philadelphia, her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and her life as a European princess.
Born November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, PA; raised in an Irish-Catholic household
Born in 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a prominent Irish-Catholic family, she attended Catholic schools (including Ravenhill Academy) and regularly attended Mass.
The Royal Nuptials: On April 19, 1956, she married Sovereign Prince Rainier III in a high-profile Catholic ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate in Monaco. She carried a missal titled Bride's Manual: A Manual of Catholic Devotion and stopped at the Sainte-Dévote Chapel afterward to leave her bouquet.
Married Prince Rainier III on April 19, 1956, in a Catholic nuptial Mass
As Princess of Grace, she had official state audiences and meetings with multiple popes over the decades, including Pope Pius XII, St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, Pope John Paul I, and St. John Paul II.
Audiences with Pope Pius XII (1957), St. John XXIII (1959), St. Paul VI (1974), Pope John Paul I (1978), and St. John Paul II (1978)
Devotional & Charitable Works: Later in life, she participated in faith-based media projects—such as Father Patrick Peyton’s Family Theater Productions film The Nativity (1981) at the Vatican—and dedicated her platform to humanitarian causes and refugee welfare.
Collaborated with Father Patrick Peyton on The Nativity (1981) and other rosary/prayer broadcasts
Final Resting Place: Following her tragic death in 1982 from a car accident and stroke at age 52, her funeral Mass was held in Monaco's cathedral, and she was entombed in the Grimaldi family crypt.
Died September 14, 1982; entombed in the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (St. Nicholas Cathedral) in Monaco
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