Thursday, February 4, 2010

Two nice snapshots...

... of Francis Cardinal McIntyre


8 comments:

Gregor said...

Awesome! I don't think I've ever seen a pic of the caligae in action before. And the one of the good cardinal walking up that dismal staircase in full pontificals is just priceless.

Anonymous said...

They look like co-respondent shoes, with fawn slacks. Who is his valet?

And he appears to be climbing the back stairs - though at least in buckled court shoes and watered silk.

What is going on?

Anonymous said...

Re climbing the back stairs: I think I see an aspergill in his right hand; possibly blessing the building or an apartment or whatever?

Pompous Ass

Anonymous said...

What is the "caligae" mentioned by Gregor?

The woodwork on the "throne" is exquisite too!

Anonymous said...

"Caligae" & buskins are the shoes & the calf covers worn by a bishop when celebrating a solemn Pontifical Mass. In that picture you also get a peek (look closely) at the pontifical dalmatic and tunic under the chasuble. In the other pic, no doubt he's dedicating a school building.

Anonymous said...

"Pompous ass"?
Shame on you.
Cardinal McIntyre was one of the greatest prelates of the 20th Century American Church.
He made Los Angeles the great archdiocese it was, and kept a firm hand on the tiller during the post Conciliar period. After retirement he lived the ten remaining years of his long life as a simple priest: hearing confessions and saying Mass as would the humblest of curates.
His memory remains bright among those old enough to remember his sterling example.

Anonymous said...

Re Anonymous, Feb 8, 2010, 2:02 am

I sign myself as "Pompous Ass". Why should I insult a prelate, about whom I have never heard anything and against whom I do not have any grudge?

If anything, a prelate is to be admired, who has enough humour left to ascend the backstairs in full pontificalia.

I am, sir, madam, or whatever, your obedient servant

Pompous Ass

Gregor said...

Atcually, the caligae *are* the buskins, and they are not mere calf covers, but ceremonial stockings.