Here is some liturgical eye-candy for ya!
Go to the site of AirMaria for many more great photos!
His Eminence Card. Burke on 26 December pontificated in the Extraordinary Form at the seminary of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate in Rome. The Mass was offered in honor of Fr. Stefano Maria Manelli, being his patronal feast day, and in thanksgiving for the elevation of His Eminence to the Cardinalate. The Mass was sung by the combined choirs of the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Immaculate from various convents of the F.I. in Italy, and was conducted by Sr. Maria Cecilia Manelli and Fr. Giovanni Maria Manelli – resulting in an outstanding example of the magnificence the Mass is meant to have. The Friars and Sisters also had the honor of hosting His Excellency Bishop Gino Reali of the local diocese of Porto-Santa Rufino, Rome.
In his homily, Cardinal Burke focused on the need for beauty and splendor in the sacred liturgy, echoing what His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI wrote in the letter accompanying his Moto Proprio “Summorum Pontificum:” “It is not appropriate to speak of these two versions of the Roman Missal as if they were ‘two Rites’. Rather, it is a matter of a twofold use of one and the same rite.” And “What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place…”
And here is the group photo with the Cardinal in his cardinalatial cappa magna.
A great group of religious and a great prelate of Holy Catholic Church.
WDTPRS KUDOS.
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Very nice cappa magna H.E. Cardinal Burke is wearing. I like it.
He is also wearing white pontifical sandals. Very seldom nowadays.
1 month and 6 days. That is all it took for the cappa to come out publicly. Oh the times they are a changin’!!! I forsee a renaissance of the cappa magna.
Could the days of Pontificalis Domus be numbered? I’m just sayin’…..
Oooo, verrry niiice! The FIs are a wonderful bunch of religious! Their American postulant house is in lower New York State. I’ve been there a few times.
The vestments at the Mass are QUITE bright! Look almost yellow!
And of course, a big BRAVO to Cardinal Burke! He looks good in the cappa magna!
While I am sure it could be argued that the cappa magna is not specifically prohibited, I doubt that such an ostentatious display does much to enhance this prelate’s reputation among the vast majority of Catholics. Nor, in reference to an earlier string, does such flamboyance do much to promote the “manliness” that several posters would tend to associate with orders.
There may be arguments that such conspicuous personal adornment is appropriate, however when eccentricities of this degree create such a distraction – not the least of which is the perhaps wrongly percieved gross narcissism of the principal – they undermine credibility and detract from efficacy of said church leader’s pronouncements. [Mainly among those who are predisposed to dissent and liturgical abuses.]
Actually, frjim4321,
We like it. Beauty is a good thing and beauty befits the church. We’ve seen ugly for its own sake long enough.
cmw, yes, I am aware that in the eyes of some beholders that is the case, however my wonderment is whether that degree of ostentation benefits the church at large.
frjim4321,
Besides, in this case it’s symbolic and that symbolism is seen favorably by those who are tired of weakness and corruption in the church, but I expect that some people know that.
cmw:
should read:
“by some of those who are tired of weakness and corruption in the church”
frjim4321,
Maybe there are some who don’t know who Cardinal Burke is. We should tell them! He’s doing the church a lot of good! It would cheer them up.
@ frjim4321,
“I doubt that such an ostentatious display does much to enhance this prelate’s reputation among the vast majority of Catholics.” Obviously, you don’t minister to my Catholic friends and me. We absolutely love the cappa.
“Nor, in reference to an earlier string, does such flamboyance do much to promote the “manliness” that several posters would tend to associate with orders.” There is nothing feminine about what he is wearing. The cappa doesn’t resemble anything that a woman would wear. That includes the cassock and rochet.
“There may be arguments that such conspicuous personal adornment is appropriate, however when eccentricities of this degree create such a distraction – not the least of which is the perhaps wrongly percieved gross narcissism of the principal – they undermine credibility and detract from efficacy of said church leader’s pronouncements.” Interestlingly enough Fr. Jim, you’re the only one who sees this as a distraction. Have you not read the other posts? I will put your mind at ease on one of your statements though. I am a Catholic layman and I find the credibility and efficacy of Cardinal Burke to be of first rate. As a Catholic layman, I find credence in the fact that he is clad in the robes which distinguish him from “anyman.”
To Cardinal Burke, specifically: thank you for carrying out your office in a temporal, spiritual, and visible way. The Church visible is a powerful witness.
To frjim4321, specifically: Catholics want you to be seen in a distinct way. And a little tip….tab collars, while comfortable are as tacky as a 1970s leisure suit. Try a cassock. I guarantee you that someone will compliment you on it. Has anyone complimented your tab collar lately?
Dear Father Jim: I personally don’t care for the cappa, but I don’t think that alone makes his Eminence to be ostentatious. When you see the cars our brethren drive, the country clubs they either belong to or frequent for golf, the amount they will spend for one dinner, the gadgets and items they collect for not so poorly appointed rectories, I am honestly not bothered that Cardinal Burke dressed up in stuff that could be whipped together by a tailor friend at a cost of $200 tops.
And I simply don’t see from vesture alone that we need to speculate that Burke is afflicted with “gross narcissism.” You didn’t say that but your guessing out loud along those lines. I think it is only fair to wait until someone speaks vainly or commits acts of uncharity before we cast aspersions at them.
We are a Church of centuries, and part of our Catholic culture involves attire which is festive and yes, maybe a bit ostentatious. The man carries weighty burdens and onerous responsibilities. Don’t begrudge him the desire to be about in finery on special occasions. It is not too much to ask for what he is giving to the Church. It certainly doesn’t merit your harsh assessment. I would save your severity for those brother priests who while appearing on the outside to be humble and simple, are filled within with every disdainful attitude of entitlement and real self-centeredness.
“While I am sure it could be argued that the cappa magna is not specifically prohibited…”
If citing the 1984 Ceremoniale Episcoporum’s explicit mention of the cappa magna is an “argument”, then I suppose it could indeed be “argued” that is not prohibited…in the Ordinary Form. In the Extraordinary Form, it is simply the normative dress in which a greater prelate arrives for Pontifical Mass and in which he departs afterwards.
“I doubt that such an ostentatious display does much to enhance this prelate’s reputation among the vast majority of Catholics.”
I doubt that this prelate’s reputation needs to be enhanced among Catholics, particularly those who either (a) have any knowledge of his writings or his episcopal acts, or (b) are aware that he has been created a Cardinal by the Sovereign Pontiff, and entrusted with a major dicastery.
“Nor, in reference to an earlier string, does such flamboyance do much to promote the “manliness” that several posters would tend to associate with orders.”
If someone is seriously describing an official liturgical practice of the Church as “flamboyant”, or insinuating that it arises from or conduces to effeminacy, then it seems to me that he should carefully re-examine the basis of his thinking. If he is insinuating that the use of the cappa magna on this occasion had anything to do with such things, he needs to examine his conscience.
On the actual subject of this post: how beautiful to see this great Cardinal and these holy and learned religious united in embracing the traditional liturgy.
A technical question – Why is His Eminence seated in the midst of the Altar rather than at the Throne or at a faldstool at the epistle horn? Is this a cardinalatial prerogative or what? Tnx.
Fr_Sotelo, I agree with you that there are many forms of clerical entitlement all of which are worthy of criticism. Also I would agree that narcissism has many forms. Also, I agree that I do not know the man personally, and that he may have some wonderful pastoral skills of which I am unfamiliar. I would certainly grant that he is an incredible scholar, and so far as I know does his own work with limited recourse to ghost writers. I think you and agree about more than we disagree.
frjim4321: I don’t see it as “personal” adornment. I see it as official attire for a specific occasion. We don’t call it personal attire when an infant is dressed in a white garment for baptism, do we? This cardinal celebrated the Mass and visited this community of Franciscan Friars in Rome in his official capacity. Now, for an example of personal adornment I remember once, with my brother, running into my parish priest at a concert. He was dressed to the nines in flashy clothes (non-clerical) we could not ever afford and driving around in an expensive imported vehicle. True story, he dismantled our parish church and expensively renovated it (and the basic catechesis of thefaithful) according to the faux-simplicity as they say “brutalist” movement. And no kidding he was later found to have abused minor boys multiple times, was treated, came back, left the priesthood with a bereft practice of the faith in his wake in addition to his criminal acts. His superiors settled on his behalf with the victims. He is long gone. So much for his lofty yet minimalist ideals. Give me a cheerful Cardinal who takes his calling, and Who it is he represents to the faithful at face-value, any day.
Love these friars!