Bye for now!

There will be no posting during the next 2 or 3 weeks.

But of course I wont leave without giving you a small Christmas-present first. So here are some more pictures from my "a blast from the past"-collection.



This is François-Antoine de Méan, the last prince-bishop of Liege in Belgium. After having been installed in September 1792, he already had to flee his town in February 1793, when the revolutionary army took Liege. De Méan returned one month later, when the Austrians occupied Liege and installed the old government. But in July 1794 the Austrians are driven out of the city again, de Méan is left without protection and leaves Liege. The end of the reign of the prince-bishops in Liege also meant the ruin of the beautiful and huge cathedral, which was savagely torn apart by the revolutionaries over the course of many years.



Another familiar face. This is Louis René Édouard, cardinal de Rohan of "the affair of the necklace" fame. OMG! Has anybody seen that movie with Hillary Swank in which Jonathan Pryce plays the cardinal? And we wonder why people nowadays do not know anything about their Church anymore unless it is grotesquely biased pseudo-historical "sex and crime"-stuff! Disgusting.



As for the last four prelates, I have no idea who they are.










That's it for the next weeks. I wish you all a merry Christmas and all the blessings of the infant Jesus. See you again in 2007!

Leo

Here it is! (4 of 4)

From “Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church according to Roman Etiquette” by John Abel Nainfa:


Cappa Magna

8. Use

The Bishop must be vested in the cappa magna when he goes to the cathedral on feast days; and, where the cathedral is canonically constituted, having a chapter, the Bishop vested in cappa magna has a strict right to be escorted by the chapter as a body, and to have as assistants two canons. If he does not wear the cappa magna, he has no right to these honors. When vested with the mozzetta, he takes his seat in the first stall of the choirs; but when he wears the cappa magna, he sits upon his throne.

The hood of the cappa magna is used to protect the head from cold when the Prelate assists at Matins - a rare occurrence in our days - and, as a sign of mourning, when he goes to church, the last three days of Holy Week. When giving his blessing from the throne, the Bishop covers his head with his biretta, or with the hood of the cappa, as a sign of authority. Another occasion, on which the hood of the cappa is used, is when the Prelate wears a pontifical hat, as this hat is not worn directly over the head, but over the hood of the cappa magna,

In Rome, at Papal “chapels” held in the Apostolic Palace, Cardinals wear the unfolded cappa magna; Archbishops, Bishops, the Prelates di fiochetti, Protonotaries Apostolic, The Votantes and Referees of the Signature, The Auditors of the Rota, The Clerks of the Reverend Chamber Apostolic and the Ministers of the papal chapel wear over the rochet the curtailed cappa magna. Visiting Archbishops and Bishops are however allowed to wear the mantelletta, for the reason that they usually lack the cappa required for the occasion. At such ceremonies, the Prelates di mantellone appear in the special red cappa - crocia - described in the preceding chapter. As Cardinals are privileged to let down the train of the cappa magna in presence of the Pope, they have a train-bearer, whose duty it is not only to carry the train of the Cardinal’s cappa, but also to hold his biretta, his breviary, papers, etc., when necessary. A Cardinal never wears his biretta in the presence of the Pope, so the train-bearer holds it all the time at Papal “chapels”. Those who wear the folded cappa at Papal “chapels” never let down its train, except on Good Friday at the adoration of the Cross; and, when these Prelates perform some liturgical function at the “chapel”, they do not wear the cappa, but put on the cotta over the rochet; Bishops, who serve the Mass of the Pope, or receive Holy Communion from his hand on Holy Thursday, observe the same rule.

9. Cappa of Canons

Canons, who wear by privilege the cappa magna, are not entitled to wear the Episcopal cappa. It is understood that the cappa conceded to Canons is the folded one; and they are never allowed to let down the train, except for the adoration of the Cross on Good Friday, as was mentioned for the Prelates attending Papal “chapels”; and, as regards the occasions on which to wear the cappa, they are expected to follow faithfully the terms of the indult. The cappa, with an ermine cape, is a winter garment, as was said; therefore, Canons should not wear it in summer, but should substitute the cotta for the cappa over the rochet, unless they have received the very explicit privilege of using a summer cappa, that is the same style of cappa with a cape lined of silk instead of fur, in which case they wear the cape of fur in winter and the cape of silk in summer. Moreover, as the cappa is a choir ornament and not a liturgical garment, if a Canon has to perform ecclesiastical functions, or to administer some sacrament, he should leave aside his cappa and wear instead the cotta over the rochet.

Here it is! (3 of 4)

From “Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church according to Roman Etiquette” by John Abel Nainfa:


Cappa Magna

4. The Pope

The Pope’s cappa magna is not white, as some may believe, but red. He wears it only when attending the Matins of Christmas, the Office of the Dead, and the Tenebrae. On Christmas night, his cappa magna is of red velvet, and of red serge for funeral services and Tenebrae


5. Cardinals

Cardinals wear a silk cappa magna during the entire year, except on Good Friday, when they should wear a cappa of woolen material. A Cardinal’s cappa magna, red at ordinary times, is purple during the penitential season, on days of mourning, and when attending funeral services. In Rome, Cardinals wear the red cappa magna in their titles and when attending the papal “chapels”, held in the Pontifical Palace. Should the Papal chapel be held outside of the Pontifical Palace, etiquette would require the Cardinals wear the purple cappa magna; but for this, as for many other points of Roman ceremonial, the Cardinals who are to attend a solemn function receive detailed instructions beforehand form the pontifical Master of Ceremonies. When at Rome, Cardinals have a special train-bearer belonging to the “Confraternity of Train-Bearers”.


6. Bishops

The ceremonial of Bishops contains full information on the use of the cappa magna by Bishops. The Episcopal cappa magna is exclusively made of woolen material and always purple, even in penitential season (ut sint [Cappae] … laneae et violaceae et non alterius coloris). No custom authorizes the use of a silken cappa magna by a Bishop.


7. Religious Prelates

Cardinals and Bishops belonging to Religious Orders are not allowed the use of a red or purple cappa magna. Their Cappae, made of woolen material, are of the same color as the outer part of the order habit. The cape is sometimes of ermine, namely, when the lining of the prelatial dress is white; but as a rule, it is made of other furs, matching the color of the Cappae, as those of the vicunia, otter, northern cat, or Russian blue fox. For these furs, silk of the same color is substituted in the summer.

Abbots who have the privilege of wearing the cappa magna ought to follow the same rules, unless the papal concession includes special regulations.
Bishops belonging to Religious Congregations or the Orders of Clerics Regular may wear the same cappa magna as secular Prelates; but the cappa magna of a Cardinal belonging to the same Congregation or Orders must not be made of silk, like that of a secular Cardinal, since that matter is forbidden to Religious; his cappa magna, while conforming to that of the secular Cardinals as to colors, must be made of woolen material like a Bishop’s.

Here it is! (2 of 4)

From “Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church according to Roman Etiquette” by John Abel Nainfa:


Cappa Magna

3. Different Kinds

There are two styles of cappa magna, the one fully displayed, the other curtailed and folded.

The former - the one above described - is the cappa which we are accustomed to see worn by a bishop in his diocese. This cappa is a sign of jurisdiction and authority; therefore, it is worn by the Pope and Cardinals everywhere; by a Metropolitan Archbishop, in his province; by a Bishop, in his diocese. When the Prelate is sitting, the vestment is fully unfolded and gracefully draped around him, “covering the whole person”. Whenever the prelate walks, the train of the cappa must be carried by a train-bearer.

The train-bearer is supposed to be a cleric; he may be a seminarian, a member of the Prelate’s household or even an altar boy, not a “page” in fancy costume, and there should be only one. The Pope having only one train-bearer, no other prelate is entitled to have more. The dress of the train-bearer varies according to the different occasions on which he performs his duties. When accompanying a Cardinal to the papal “chapel”, he vests in a purple cassock of silk, with trimmings and buttons of black velvet; he wears a purple silk cincture and a purple collaro; over the cassock, he puts, on the crocia, a surtout of peculiar shape, made of purple cloth or sage, lined and trimmed with purple silk. When the Pope officiates, the Cardinals vests in the sacred vestments of their order - cope for Cardinal-Bishops, chasuble for Cardinal-Priests and dalmatic for Cardinal-Deacons; the train-bearers then put on a cotta over the crocia, and throw on their shoulders the vimpa, a long humeral veil of light silk with which they hold the Cardinals’ mitres. When a Cardinal officiates outside of the papal “chapels”, his train-bearer does not wear the crocia, but the cotta over his purple cassock; and, when the Cardinal assists in cappa magna at a ceremony, the train-bearer wears over his purple cassock the ferraiolo of black silk. The train-bearer of the diocesan Bishop does not wear the crocia, which is a garment used only at papal “chapels”; but he wears the purple cassock with the black ferraiolo when the Bishop is vested in cappa magna, and the cotta over the purple cassock when the Bishop is dressed in his pontificals. In no case should he wear gloves or a biretta.

The other cappa, curtailed and folded, is worn by bishops and certain Prelates di mantelletta when attending the papal “chapels”, and also by canons, to whom it is conceded by a special indult of the Pope.

The cape of this cappa is similar to that of the other; but the vestment itself is so curtailed that it is reduced to a wide plaited band hanging on the back and ending in a short train. This train, however, is never let down, for the flowing train is a mark of jurisdiction; it is lifted up, twisted and tied with a purple ribbon, with which it is suspended from the left side of the cape. Thus twisted and tied up, this train symbolizes a restricted jurisdiction, or absence of jurisdiction.

Formerly there was no difference between those two styles of cappa; this is why the regulation laid down for the use of the one applies also to the other.

Here it is! (1 of 4)

From “Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church according to Roman Etiquette” by John Abel Nainfa:


Cappa Magna

1. Origin of the name

“Cappa Magna” literally means a large cope or cape. The word “Cappa” is a term of low Latinity, said to be derived from “capere” (quia capit totum hominem - “because it covers the whole person”), and was originally used by ecclesiastical writers to denote the pluviale or cope, as appears from Durandus and Honorius.

There is no English word translating “cappa”. The only proper word would be “cope” and, as a matter of fact, “cope” was derived from “cappa”; but since this word is reversed, in ecclesiastical terminology, for the liturgical vestment, which the rubrics call “pluviale”, it is necessary to have recourse to the foreign term “cappa”.

2. Description
The cappa magna is a large mantle with a long train. It is entirely closed, with the exception of a vertical opening about ten inches long over the breast, and complemented with a furred cape closed in front, slightly open at the back, and fastened at the back of the neck with a hook. To the cape a hood is attached, the use of which is determined by the ceremonial of bishops. When not in use, this hood is caught up on the right shoulder and fastened there by a row of buttons and silk loops.

Formerly, the entire garment was lined with fur in order to protect the wearer from the cold; about the thirteenth century, hoods assumed a cape form by being allowed to fall back over the shoulders, whereby the fur lining became outermost, and it may be stated as a general principle that whatever fur appears on a Prelate’s dress is supposed to be the winter lining. In the summer, therefore, when fur is not used, the portion of the Prelate’s dress, which in winter is adorned with fur, must show, instead of the fur, the regular summer lining of silk.

Such is the case for the cappa magna. Although, for several centuries, the body of this garment has had no lining, still the fur is supposed to be the winter lining of the cape; therefore the fur cape must be substituted, in summer, by a similar cape of silk of the same material and color as the lining of the mozzetta or mantelletta which the Prelate wears on festival days.

The outside of the cape, visible to the eye, being the lining (whether fur or silk), it follows that the other side, which is concealed, must be made of the same material and color as the body of the cappa magna.

Some tailors cut slits at the side of the cappa magna to pass the arms; but this should not be done; the cappa magna is an entirely closed garment with no other opening than the vertical slit in front. When the prelate stands or walks, he holds the fore part of the cappa lifted over his arms; when seated or kneeling, he lets it down and is thus entirely covered with the cappa (capit totum hominem); he may however pass his hands through the opening in front, if necessary. This, it musts be admitted, is not very convenient if the Prelate wishes to read his breviary; but a Prelate presiding over a ceremony is not supposed to read his private office.

It must have been quite stormy in Malines...

... on that day in March 1926, when Jozef Ernest van Roey was installed as archbishop of Malines.



Here you see van Roey in procession next to Clemente Micara, who was then nuntio in Belgium and later became a cardinal.




This double-shot already shows that it must have been a windy day. Check out the tassles going all wild.





Finally, the whole cappa is out of control. These are the moments, that seperate the caudatarii from the trainbearers.

How's about some color?

Yep, thaaaaaat's right. I got some more cappa magna photos in color. Have fun!



This unidentified prelate's chaplain is friendly enough to present the capello in full splendor.



Andras Rohracher, prince-archbishop of Salzburg, Primas Germaniae. The prince-archbishops of Salzburg have the privilege to wear cardinalatial red.



Emile Cardinal Leger, archbishop of montreal. Of course, the photo was taken before this prince of the Church stepped down from his archiepiscopal seat to become a missionary in Africa. Sorry for the dots and cracks, the picture is from the cover of an old magazine.



Double treat! Julius Kardinal Döpfner, archbishop of Munich (back) and Corrado Bafile, German nuncio (front).


That's all, folks!

That's the funniest thing I've read in a long time

From the webpage of the Berean Christadelphians comes this gem, which I found in a section entitled "Cornerstones - A collection of writings by our pioneer brethren". These "pioneer brethren" are also referred to in the sentence "Our movement is today--and by the grace of God will continue to be until Christ returns--an accurate reflection of those divine principles brought to light by the dedicated work of our pioneer brethren."

So, why not take a look at these divine principles?

From the essay Decline and Fall of the Papacy, written in April 1851:

"I return to the main point, and reiterate my affirmation that the Papacy is in its last agonies."

A-hah!

"All real Protestants would rather accept the Koran for their guide than the degrading traditions of the Romish church for a Mohammedan is at least a worshipper of God, whereas the servile disciple of Romanism crawls at the feet of the most contemptible personages, living or dead."

O-hoh!

"A Papist is an individual of the past, the remnant of a species professedly extinct, save in those isolated specimens which have been left to excite our wonder and astonishment at the depth of degradation to which humanity can be made to descend."

Can you feel the love?

Man, did I have a laugh!

The archbishop emeritus of Esztergom-Budapest

László Cardinal Paskai celebrating the Requiem Mass (shouldn't the cappa magna be violet then?) for the Hungarian martyrs killed by the Soviets in 1956. Thanks to A. for sending the photo and for also pointing out that it looks like the cappa has just been thrown over a habito piano.

War on Christmas?

It's that time of the year again...

"Happy season of Sparkle!"
"Don't impose your faith on me and get that nativity scene outta town!"
"It is just a pagan feast hijacked by the Church anyways!"

Do these sound familiar? Well, they should.

Behind all the hysteria about a secular society trying to turn Christmas into far less than it actually is, there lies the justified concern about a secular society turning religion into something that does not exist outside your private walls anymore. Yeah, you are right. Outside YOUR private walls.

Woe to the priest who during mass dares to denounce homosexuality. If he happens to have someone sitting in the pews who is still clinging to the narcissistic, subjective, "the church has to conform to the world"-credo he will very likely be reported to the police (but first to the press, of course).

Woe to the soccer player who dares to make the sign of the cross while facing the fans of the away-team.

Woe to the airport worker who wears a little crucifix on a chain around her neck.

Does anybody really want to say that societies, in which 11-year old girls fall from their chairs in schools because they OD'd on some drug, in which 13-year old girls dress like hookers, in which 15 year old boys argue about the best ways to make a woman "come", in which again 13-year old girls feel "left out" because they did not have sex yet, in which "swinging" is seen as normal and "healthy", in which kids carry guns, in which education hardly takes place anymore, in which abortion, homosexuality, fornication and divorce are common practice...

... Does anybody really want to say that societies, which offer people so many means of self-destruction and destruction of others, do not need the hope of the Advent season and the light of Christ's Gospel brought to the people by the Church and her priests?

These people are drowning in their bad conscience and personally I think that every attempt to shut out the voice of the Church in reality is at least as much a cry for help as an attempt to make the unwanted and harsh truth heard.

So what to do? Pray. Pray. Pray. Never stop. And never be silent when you have to speak up. For Christ. For your faith. For your Church. For patience with the sinner, but against tolerance of sin and against the conformity of truth to the "life-experience of the people".