Number 1: They often carry these walking sticks, which must have been a decoration rather than a walking aid. Anyways, these sticks are just too cool. Here are some examples:
José Cueto y Díez de la Maza, O.P., bishop of the Islas Canarias (Canary Islands) from 1891 to 1908. He was a saintly man and the process for his beatification is in progress.
Adolfo Pérez y Muñoz, successor of bishop Cueto from 1909 to 1913.
And a third bishop from the Islas Canarias: Bishop Antonio Pildáin y Zapiáin, who led the diocese from 1936 to 1966.
Francisco de Pol y Baralt, bishop of Gerona from 1906 to 1914.
Fernando Cardinal Quiroga Palacios, bishop on Mondoñedo from 1946 to 1949, archbishop of Santiago de Compostela from 1949 to 1971, elevated to the cardinalate in the consistory of January 12th, 1953.Number 2: Spanish bishops and cardinals somehow almost always manage to look as impressive as a prince and as gentle as a shepherd at the same time:
Salvador Cardinal Casañas y Pagés, bishop of Barcelona from 1901 until 1908 elevated to the cardinalate in 1895. On December 25th 1905 an anarchist made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the Cardinal in the Barcelona cathedral. A bad portent of the worse things that were to come...
Victoriano Cardinal Guisasola y Menéndez, bishop of Madrid from 1901 to 1905, archbishop of Toledo from 1914 to 1920, elevated to the cardinalate in the consistory of 1914.
Antolín López Peláez, bishop of Jaca from 1904 to 1913, archbishop of Tarragona from 1913 to 1918.
José Maria Salvador y Barrera, bishop of Tarazona from 1902 to 1905, bishop of Madrid from 1905 to 1916, archbishop of Valencia from 1916 to 1919.
I have no idea who this is but he was just too god to pass up.Number 3: If all else fails, there are still the names, which are too cool to believe. This already goes for pretty much all of the above, but the following prelate really takes the cake:
Archbishop Remigio Gandásegui y Gorrochátegui. A name as long as my arm, but definitely more beautiful. He was bishop of Segovia from 1914 to 1920 and archbishop of Valladolid from 1920 to 1937.With the exception of Pildain, Quiroga Palacios and Gandásegui all these men lived before the Spanish Civil War. Let us not forget the countless martyrs who fell prey to the frenzied red mobs between 1936 and 1939. Say what you want about Franco, but I for one don't even want to start imagining what a victory of the reds would have meant for Spain. Of course, today they are trying to do it again. This time they don't use physical weapons to eradicate Catholicism but the psychological pressure of the new elites. Pray for Spain. Pray for Europe.
9 comments:
Wow, wow, wow. Incredible pics.
Thanks! I live but to serve ;-)
Great pictures as always. Also a very nice example of the choir dress of religious (in this case Dominican) bishops - really a pity that that was abolished, and I cannot understand at all why.
Something intrigues me however: what is the mantelletta-like garment that most of these prelates are wearing? It isn't an actual mantelletta, is it? For one thing it would be improbable that all of the pictures were taken outside of these bishops' respective dioceses, and then the mantelletta as I know it doesn't have buttons. But what is it then?
It is indeed a mantelletta, Spanish cut, i.e. shorter than the Roman and with buttons. It was quite common in Spain for all bishops, both diocesan and titular, to vest with mantelletta and mozzetta. Notice as well here and there some of the many Spanish peculiarities in the choir robes: old-fashioned collar, rochet with tassle hanging in front, pectoral cross hanging from chain, use of civil decorations with the special band reserved to the clergy,the cane or "baston de mando", tassle on the skullcap, cappa magna in the shape of a true cape with long train attached, folded mozzetta, etc.
What "anonymous" said.
Only in the late fifties all bishops in Spain conformed to Roman usage. A shame I think.
Yep! Most of the old pictures I have seen of Spanish Prelates are very *impressive.* They really knew how to look very *prelatical.*
See, Leo, that picture (in the old blog) of two Prelates (in cappa and in procession) wearing gloves was not wrong.
In the penultimate photo apresent, D.José Alves Correia da Silva, in the Episcopal House, first Bishop of the restaured diocese of Leiria in Portugal, from 1920 untill 1957 the year of his death. His body are buryed in the Basilica of the Sanctuary of Fátima.
It is him how approved the apparitions of Our Lady in Fátima.
Bishops in Spain held up to the last Century several symbols of their power:
Báculo (Crosier),, that is the symbol of a Shepherd (he) taking care of the flock. Off course this is a religious ceremonially symbol.
Mitra (miter), the pentagonal hat symbolizing the flames of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost: they are embedded by the Holy Spirit to take care of the flock, of their church (diocese)
The "walking stick" is name in Spanish "bastón de mando" (i.e. mandate stick). It is not a religious symbol but a civil power symbol. All, all the majors of all the cities and villages of spain has one of them (more or less beautiful), also the Rectors of the Universities and also the Generals of the Army (Generals, Admirals) and other politic positions (The head of the Province...).
Ok, now the religious and civil power is separated and the bishops no longer show this sticks.
Actually, the stick should be worn with the arm, and occasionally the stick can touch the floor.
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