Sunday, January 27, 2013

The Papal Falda

3 comments:

  1. What was the purpose of this vestment?

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    1. Most likely it had a very practical purpose in the earlier times: to prevent the sacred and precious vestments (chasuble/cope...) from being soiled.

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  2. The falda dates back to, at least, the fifteenth century. I would presume it as part of the regalia for a Pope in that period. One thing it did do: When standing at his cathedra or seated on the sedia gestatoria, the falda would flow down, having the effect of making the Pope seem taller than the other dignitaries present!

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