I know...

...that color-week is over, but this photo of Juan Cardinal Landázuri Ricketts (1913-1997) can hardly be called "colored". But, it shows us what a OFM-cappa looked like.


As archbishop of Lima/Peru (1955 - 1990) he was well-respected and one of the most prominent churchmen in South America. He was president of the Medellin Conference in 1968 and later either failed to clearly recognize the problems of liberation theology or considered them unimportant in view of what might be gained for the poor. Therefore his relations with the Vatican became a bit complicated under Pope John Paul II. During the 70's - in accordance with the Franciscan ideal and the demands of liberation theology - Landazuri-Ricketts moved out of his archiepiscopal palace into a little house in the workers area of Vitoria/Lima.

Giovanni Battista Dellepiane

He was born in 1889 and ordained a priest for the diocese of Genova in 1914. He was a military chaplain during the first world war and was made titular archbishop of Stauropolis in 1929. After spending 19 years in Africa as the first apostolic delegate to Belgian Congo, Ruanda and Burindi, Dellepiane became the apostolic internuncio (in 1949) and then the apostolic nuncio (from 1951) in Austria. He died in 1961.



During some ceremony in Salzburg.



During a procession, also in Salzburg.




Visiting the cathedral canons of Vienna. I read that Dellepiane never was really popular or even loved in Austria because he could be very brusque. I don't know. He certainly looks like a "happy prelate" on these Vienna-photos. And what is he doing with his biretta on the last pic?

Caspar Klein

Installed as bishop of the old and prestigious diocese of Paderborn/Germany in 1920, Caspar Klein became the first archbishop of this city, when Pius XI raised the see to an archdiocese in 1930. The diocese of Paderborn was founded in 799 by Leo III. During the middle ages worldly territory was acquired and the bishops became prince-bishops. After the dissolution of the Empire, the diocese was reinstated in 1821.



Caspar Klein is one of the few German bishops from the 20th century which I have seen in a cappa with ermine tails. And what is this thing covering his rochet? Or is it the rochet? It shows the coat of arms of an archbishop (I got twenty bucks that say it's Klein's). It is kind of weird, isn't it?

Cleaning house

The previous post ("My ten favorite arguments against the Cappa Magna...") is a relaunch from the old "far sight". I am planning to take the old blog offline in a couple of days but didn't want to get rid of this entry since I initially considered it to be kind of a "mission statement" (actually, I still do, which is why I'll link to it from the sidebar).

So: If there are any photos on the old blog you always wanted to download but didn't, now's the time.

My ten favorite arguments against the Cappa Magna....

...and the explanation why I love them so much


10.: It is medieval
If you consider that historically/culturally the middle ages ended in the early/mid 16th century (at the latest) and the cappa magna as we know it today was introduced in 1464 and never officially abolished afterwards, 30 feet of scarlet watered silk are as medieval as a Corpus Christi Procession.

9.: It is expensive
So are the computers that certain people use to operate blogs in which they ridicule friendly, generous and pious Catholic bishops and Cardinals, who were caught wearing the cappa magna. So the “sell the unnecessary stuff and donate the money to some good cause”-mantras only seem to hit home so much, don’t they, guys? At least the prelates don’t insult people with gruesomely ignorant weblogs. Then again, they don’t have to. They got a life and probably way more attention than they want sometimes.

8.: It is unbiblical
I don’t think I even have to comment on that, do I?

7.: It is pure splendor
Exactly!

6.: It is self-aggrandizing
And it is therefore in stark contrast to the aforementioned self-righteous snipers who with childish slander and blatant sarcasm unjustly judge those they don’t understand, and consider themselves the self-anointed future of pure and clean Catholic Christianity.

5.: It is out of touch with the people
Yep. I had the opportunity to witness the “Out-of-Touchness” of Cardinal Pell in Germany. Man, was I mad when I saw the smiles on the faces of the Juventutem youngsters, as they greeted the Cardinal, who was leaving the church in his cappa magna. And what does this arrogant, haughty prince of the church do? He dares to shake hands and exchange some pleasant and humorous words with these kids. Booh! Shame on you, George!

4.: It is ridiculous
When in a teenager’s autograph-book someone writes “beauty is only in the eye of the beholder” everyone is down on their knees, shedding tears because of so much insight and truth. When men who are at peace with their faith, men who do not have to go down into the cellar if they want to laugh, men who do not have to take a poll before they decide what to wear, when those men demonstrate their love for Christ and his Church by adding a little more style and beauty, and this expression of joy is seen as ridiculous, then the defect is supposed to be with the wearer of the garment? Yeah, right! And even if you argue (as I would) that it is not beauty, but only preference, that is in the eye of the beholder: Well, if you’d rather prefer no cappa, don’t use one and don’t go to a place where one is used.

3.: Is is a sign of triumphalism
If you believe that this feeling of triumph is in no way related to what happened 2000 years ago but only means: “Hey, I can dress way nicer and occupy way more space than you losers!” the problem, again, seems to be pretty much on your side.

2.: It is for fussy youngsters that cannot stop living in a past they didn’t even know
The fussy youngsters that seemed to have quite enjoyed Cardinal Pell entering the Church in the cappa magna also were the kids who knew the Latin Vespers by heart, who sang with loud and beautiful voices, who behaved with utter dignity and who were altogether a totally pleasant crowd to be with. In my lifetime I have spent way too much time with people who will gladly use any argument against what they think is too much splendor or too much pride or just too much. The only memories I have of those people are bitter faces, a lack of a sense of humor and an ostentatious holier-than-thou attitude. So, please, give me fussy anytime. These kids know what they are doing and why they are doing it.

1.: It is effeminate/unmanly/queer
Of course this has to be #1! In an age where art refuses to depict reality, and where pure beauty is seen as evil, where else would you go, if you see a man wearing lace and watered silk? Back into your closet? Rather not. Someone might find you there while you are not officially protesting against all things presumably gay. So cock the gun and fire away. As long as you do not find yourself at the receiving end of the prejudice, you’re fine. And as long as you point the finger and keep on yelling, you might escape the uneasy silence that will force you to think about the real reasons behind the uncomfortable feeling you get, whenever you see a prelate in Cappa Magna.

Clemens August Cardinal Graf von Galen (2)

Here is a series of photos showing Cardinal von Galen on the day of his return to Münster from Rome. It was the 16th of March, 1946, the day of his 68th birthday.


As you can see on this first photo, Münster was almost completely destroyed during the war. The cathedral was hit badly, the episcopal palace was totally gutted and most of the old center of the town was gone. You can also see that pretty much everybody was out on the streets that day, to give a warm welcome to "their" cardinal.


Cardinal Graf von Galen arrived in an open coach...


... was welcomed by the major (left)...


... and proceeded to a platform in front of the cathedral...


... where he gave a very moving speech. Here is an excerpt:

"Thousands of people felt painfully with me and like me that the truth of God and the justice of God, human dignity and the human rights were being set aside, despised and trampled on; with me and like me they felt it a bitter injustice also toward the true well-being of our people that the religion of Christ was hemmed in and ever more confined. I knew that many had suffered grievous wrong, very much more grievous than what I myself suffered personally, in the persecutions of truth and justice that we have been through.

They could not speak, they could only suffer. Perhaps in the eyes of God – for whom suffering, yes suffering, weighs much more than acting and speaking – and perhaps also many of those here now have in reality merited more in the sacred eyes of God, because they have suffered more than me.

But my right and my duty was to speak out and I spoke out, for you, for the countless persons gathered here, for the countless people of our beloved country of Germany, and God blessed my words, and your love and your fidelity, my beloved diocesans, kept me from what could have been my end, but perhaps they also prevented me from receiving the more beautiful reward, [in a voice choked with tears] the glorious crown of martyrdom.

Your fidelity prevented it. Because you were behind me, and the powerful knew that the people and the bishop in the diocese of Münster formed an unbreakable unity, and that, had they struck at the bishop, all the people would have felt stricken."

Cardinal Graf von Galen died only six days later. He already was weakened because of the long and tiresome trip to Rome and back and he wasn't able to fight down an appendix infection, which was diagnosed too late.

Clemens August Cardinal Graf von Galen was beatified on October 9th, 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Clemens August Cardinal Graf von Galen

Beatified on October 9th 2005, this German bishop went down in history as the "Lion of Münster". "Lion" for sure if you consider that he was one head taller than his average contemporaries. While he was a conservative patriot and a fierce anti-communist he also had the guts to speak out against the confiscation of monasteries and the expulsion of nuns and monks by the Nazis and against the laws of euthanasia which were implemented during the Third Reich. In 1941 three of the bishop's homilies were printed on leaflets and widely distributed. So widely, that a certain Karol Wojtyła, who was doing forced labor in a chemical plant in Poland, held a copy in his hands one day.



Countless stories/legends are told about Cardinal von Galen. One of the more famous ones is the report about an initial attempt by the Nazis to arrest the bishop. Allegedly the GEstapo came to the episcopal palace one day and ordered von Galen to come with them. The bishop asked whether he could put on some warmer clothes. They said he could. He vanished and returned 15 minutes later in complete choir dress with rochett, cappa, cappello and pectoral cross. The Gestapo men just turned around and left, knowing they'd be torn apart by the people of Münster if they saw them lead away their beloved bishop.



When he was made a cardinal in 1946, red leather was more that rare in Germany. His red buckled shoes therefore were made from a handbag donated by a lady who apparently was a big admirer.



Pretty much every brave Catholic who was alive in the terrible years between 1933 and 1945 and achieved some fame by either speaking out against the terror or silently organizing help and relief sooner or later will be dragged through the mud by the liberal/leftist "historians" that so love to keep those bulls of excommunication coming from their ivory towers of post-war- and post-persecution-security. Von Galen is no exception, although fortunately the attempts to slander his name went by pretty much unnoticed thanks to the positive national and international recognition the bishop got and still gets.



All these photos show von Galen as a bishop. Tomorrow I'll post some photos of him as a cardinal.

Out of town!

I'll be taking a short trip until Sunday, hence no posting until then.



To not leave you all alone and unoccupied I cordially invite you to tell me what Ignacy Krasicki, archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland from 1795 to 1801 is wearing here: Did he skin grandma's sofa because he liked the floral pattern better than the plain silk used for cassock and mozzetta? Or was there a time when something like that was comme il faut?

See you again on Monday,
Leo

Elia Cardinal Dalla Costa (1872 -1961)

Elia dalla Costa was born in Villaverla as the youngest of the five children. He was batpized on June 23, 1872 and ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Antonio Feruglio on July 25, 1895. On May 25, 1923, Costa was appointed Bishop of Padua by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following August 12 from Bishop Ferdinando Rodolfi in the Cathedral of Viacenza. Costa was named Archbishop of Florence on December 19, 1931. From January to May 1932, he was Apostolic Administrator of Padua. Pope Pius created Costa Cardinal Priest of S. Marco in the consistory of March 13, 1933. During World War II, he became known as "the Cardinal of Charity" for helping save thousands of Italians from execution under the Fascist regime. Costa died in Florence, at age 89, and is buried in the Duomo di Firenze. In 1981 his process for beatification was opened.




On this last photo you see Giorgio La Pira to the cardinal's left. La Pira (1904-1977) was an Italian politician who served as mayor of Florence twice (1950-1956, 1960-1964). He also served as deputy of the Christian Democratic Party and participated in the assembly that wrote the Constitution of Italy after World War II. In his public and private life, La Pira was a tireless champion of peace and human rights who worked for the betterment of the poor and disenfranchised. La Pira's Catholic upbringing, especially the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, played a big role in shaping his political and philosophical beliefs. He saw everything he did and every position he took as an expression of his spiritual beliefs. On the eve of World War II, La Pira founded the review Principles, which promoted human rights and openly criticized fascism. During the war he continued his outspoken campaign against the fascists. After his offices were raided by the Italian police, La Pira escaped to Siena, then Rome. After the war, La Pira set about rebuilding Florence, which like most Italian cities at the time, was struggling to recover from the destruction and misery of war. As mayor he steered Florence away from the haphazard reconstruction typical of other Italian recovery efforts. He believed the focus of rebuilding should be self-sufficient neighborhoods. These neighborhoods centered around local shops, public gardens, markets, churches, schools, and tree-lined streets. The most well-known of these is Isolotto, or "little island." These revitalized neighborhoods became the heart and soul of post-war Florence and continue to thrive to this day. La Pira was a Dominican tertiary, i.e. a lay member of the Dominican order, who took his Christian faith quite literally. In the years following the war, it was not uncommon to see him in public barefoot, having given away his shoes, clothing, and most of his salary.

In 1986, the Catholic Church began the process of Giorgio La Pira's beatification. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Giorgio La Pira, John Paul II praised "the holy mayor": "Before the powerful of the earth, La Pira expressed with firmness his ideas as believer and as a man who loved peace, inviting his interlocutors to a common effort to promote the fundamental good in different ambits: in society, politics, the economy, cultures, and among religions."

How many politicians do we have in Europe today that openly profess their Catholic faith and act accordingly? And how many more do we need!

To finish off color-week...

... here are three pretty spectacular photos of Giuseppe Cardinal Siri:

Yeah, right!

Like I would NOT publish some photos of personal fave Fernando Cardinal Quiroga Palacios during color-week!


With Benjamin Arriby y Castro, archbishop of Tarragona (center) and Gaetano Cicognani, apostolic nuncio to Spain (2nd from right) shortly before all three of them were made cardinals on January 12th 1953.

I think we already had this one (only smaller), but who cares. You gotta love the ferraiolo.

We also had this one before, also smaller.

With co-purpurado Arriby y Castro and Pope Paul VI

This one is a bit blurry but still takes the cake: Fernando Cardinal Quiroga Palacios and Albert Cardinal Meyer during the council.

"Do you think getting rid of watered silk is going to do the Church any good?"

"No! It's just going to empower self-righteous lay-whining that believes you can feed the poor by forcing somebody else to put something in a wardrobe and never take it out again."

"Then why do we do it?"

"Dunno. Ask the Dutch or the French or the Germans"

More from Munich 1960

27 Cardinals 82, archbishops and 329 bishops from all over the world were present at the International Eucharistic Congress. Here are some photos from a procession.

The successor...

to Cardinal Gasparri as both Cardinal Secretary of State and Camerlengo was of course Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli. The link to this photo was sent in by a reader (thanks Gregor!), who also pointed out that a) the photo was colored after being developed and b) the map in the background looks a bit like it shows the most western part of Germany and might therefore have been taken in the nunciature in Berlin.

Pietro Cardinal Gasparri (1852-1934)

He was Cardinal Secretary of State from 1914 to 1930. Mostly of "Lateran Pacts" fame, he also played a major role in making the 1917 Code of Canon Law happen. He was the Papal legate to the 14th centennial celebration of the Abbey of Monte Cassino in 1929, 15 years before this grand and significant place was gutted. From 1916 to 1934 Gasparri was Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. This is a very beautiful painting that looked even better when I saw it during an exhibition in Rome last year.

Color-Photos from the Vatican

I am kind of in a hurry right now and since most of these pictures already were published on the old "far sight", I'll just post them here for your pleasure without any further comment.

Reader's Photos

Here are two photos sent in by readers who are just the thing for "color-week":

Cardinals kneeling at the high altar of St. Peter's basilica [photo sent in by Charles].


Cardinal Krol with his nephews while trying on his cardinalation robes [photo sent in by Ed].

Thanks guys!

The List

Here is the list of the cardinals you can see in the group-shot.

From left to right:

1.) Chiarlo
2.) Cento
3.) Fietta
4.) Giobbe
5.) Urbani
6.) Montini
7.) Ciriaci
8.) Agagianian
9.) Copello
10.) Tappouni
11.) Cicognani, G.
12.) Mimmi (Borgangini-Duca died in 1954)
13.) Aloisi Masella
14.) Pizzardo
15.) Micara
16.) Tisserant
Blessed John XXIII
17.) Canali
18.) Ottaviani
19.) di Jorio
20.) Julien
21.) Morano
22.) Heard
23.) Bea (never would have figured that one out)
24.) Bacci
25.) Traglia
26.) Muench
27.) Testa
28.) Marella
29.) Tardini
30.) Confalonieri
31.) Cicognani, A.

Thanks to Fr. Selvester and a whole bunch of anonymous readers for contributing!

Andreas Rohracher (1892 - 1976)

In this second installation of the "color-week", the prelate who was archbishop of Salzburg/Austria from 1943 to 1969. The archbishops of Salzburg have or had some interesting privileges:

Already in 1027 the archbishop Thietmar II. (or Dietmar) was allowed to make decisions that would have been reserved for the pope in the diocese of Salzburg in extremely urgent matters. Connected with that was the right to use a horse covered in red which later developed into the privilege of assuming the title "legatus natus". Archbishop Eberhard I. became "legatus a latere" in 1162. His successor Konrad III. became "legatus apostolicae sedis in Noricum". From that year on the archbishops of Salzburg used to wear the "purple of the legate". Until today all the archbishops receive with the pallium the title "legatus natus". It is said that the archbishops of Salzburg never really cared about becoming cardinals because they already were allowed to wear the purple (which, of course, developed into the cardinalatial red later on).

Also until today the archbishops of Salzburg have the title "Primas Germaniae", although officially they never received it. The whole story started with a quarrel between the archbishops of Magdeburg and Salzburg about who gets presidency on the bench of the clerical princes during the "Reichstage". When Magdeburg was secularized in 1648 and the last administrator died in 1680, Salzburg made use of position and title, an honor which was affirmed by the Rota Romana in 1691.

Another privilege was the title of "prince-archbishop" until 1951 (when archbishop Rohracher officially renounced it) although after the Secularization in 1803 the archbishops didn't hold any worldly power anymore.