Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Prayer Request
Please offer a prayer for the repose of the soul of my dear cousin, recently deceased.
Rev. clergy, kindly offer a Requiem Mass for the repose of her soul: Ann Marie Sonnen.
Thank you!
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=ann-marie-sonnen&pid=182805700
Rev. clergy, kindly offer a Requiem Mass for the repose of her soul: Ann Marie Sonnen.
Thank you!
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=ann-marie-sonnen&pid=182805700
The Papal Court
From the mid-sixteenth century the management of the Papal Dispatch Riders and Couriers was entrusted to the General Supervisor of the Papal Posts.
It was also the task of this lay dignitary of the papal court to make advance arrangements and provision for horses and lodgings during the Pontiff''s journeys, and to accompany and precede him wherever he went. If the Master Horseman happened to be absent, he stood in for him by opening and closing the Holy Father's carriage door.
With the constitution of the State of the Vatican City in 1929, it became the responsibility of the General Supervisor of the Papal Posts to meet together with our lay dignitaries, the sovereigns and heads of state at the border of the papal palace when they were on their way to an audience with the Pope.
This position was abolished in 1968 by Paul VI.
More info on the Papal Court HERE.
Rome Quotes
"Togliere la porpora a Burke e Brandmüller? Voi provateci. Siamo pronti a
scatenare una guerra che non avrà mai fine contro di voi."
-Anonymous Vatican Source
-Anonymous Vatican Source
Monday, November 28, 2016
Cavallerizzo Maggiore di Sua Santita' (Master Horseman of His Holiness)
Whenever the pope went out in a carriage or on horseback through the city, or set out on a journey, the Master Horseman would visit the monsignoral prefect for information about the route to be taken, so as to make the appropriate arrangements for a herald and to ride before the papal carriage.
His perogative, besides that of being able to open and close the Holy Father's carriage door (genuflecting after doing so, as the pope exited), was that of presenting the Pontiff with a horse to ride, and then of taking it back again.
After 1870 the post of Master Horseman became merely honorary. It was completely abolished in 1968 by Paul VI.
Bring Back the Papal Court
Uniform of the FORIERE MAGGIORE DEL SACRI PALAZZI APOSTOLICI (High Quartermaster of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces).
Present in the Papal Court since the time of Alexander V (1409 - 1410), the High Quartermaster was the first among the palatine officials of the Monsignor Major-Domo, whose functions he assumed when the Major-Domo was absent.
Appointed for life at the Pope's discretion, he was entrusted with oversight of the buildings, gardens, water and furnishings of the Apostolic Palaces, including the care of the papal wardrobe and the organisation of the Pope's journeys and vacations, taking charge of the arrangement of lodgings.
From the end of the eighteenth century the post of High Quartermaster of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces was conferred exclusively on a member of the noble Roman family of the Marchesi Sacchetti. It was finally abolished in 1968 by Paul VI.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Rome Quotes
"What my wife and I say to ourselves when we hear the, 'well, like,
you know, totally, oh my gosh, for sure, dude, whatever' Americanish on
the buses in Rome. 'Hic enim aut barbarus semisermo discendus est
aut tacendum est.' For around here one either has to learn a barbarous
half-language or say nothing at all. St. Jerome's seventh letter. And these are the college students who are wealthy enough and
"educated" enough to spend a semester abroad in Rome. Lord, save us from
education!"
-Jonathan
-Jonathan
Thursday, November 24, 2016
America's Favorite Seminarian to be Ordained
I was honored to receive an invitation in the mail for his ordination. I remember well meeting for the first time Philip and his parents outside the entrance to the Vatican Museums. Later, I met his parents in Piazza Navona, and his father was kind enough to offer me a beer!
Philip is one of the best. A book could be written on the witness of his incredible story, an adventure which brought him from the U.S. Navy to the altar of ordination!
Congrats, Fr. Philip!
Papal Carriage and Horses
The last pope to ride in a horse-drawn carriage was Paul VI, during the 1970s energy crisis.
The golden one, depicted here, is the most beautiful. It is an enclosed, horse-drawn carriage known as the gold papal stage coach, seen here in the Vatican Museums.
The famous gold stage coach of the British Royal Family is still in use in London, England. Commissioned in 1760, it has been used at the coronation of every British monarch since George IV.
I think we should bring back the papal stage coaches. Each pope had one commissioned for him as a gift. The last was for Pius XI.
They can all be seen in this newly rearranged underground pavilion in the Vatican Museums, which is finally open with regular hours! Now they just need a better sign for visitors to know where and what it is.
From the Sacrity of St. Mary Major
Favorite Roman Dish: Carbonara
Indiana Jones Fedora in Florence
It is not from Italy, but from the Indiana Jones headwear collection, available online.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Monday, November 21, 2016
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Friday, November 18, 2016
Thursday, November 17, 2016
What is Wrong With this Picture?
It is called Le Oranti. Painted in 1918. The artist is the former Fascist, Antonio Giuseppe Sangata.
It is shameful to see Christ depicted as a Venus, a sexually ambivalent Aphrodite.
Considering the sheer volume of great artwork kept in the Musei Vaticani deposits because there is ostensibly no space on the walls, it would be nice to see this pale work replaced and done away with forever.
Il Colosseo: Lugo di Devozione (The Colosseum: A Place of Devotion) Placard Displayed at the Coliseum in Rome
Of course Christians were martyred here! Why not? They were martyred everywhere.
It starts off by saying "no certain information exists" which is bogus considering the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch!
Indulgence Cross Seen at the Coliseum in Rome
Fresco of the Crucifixion Seen at the Coliseum in Rome
Annual General Meeting of Una Voce Canada
Thanks to David and to the other organizers. A very fine job. This is a fine way to introduce others to the movement and to include them while giving an introduction to what it's all about.
The speaker was the great Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, PhD from Wyoming Catholic College. I first met Dr. Peter in Rome. He is the finest liturgical theologian that I know of teaching in the U.S.A. May God reward him. I encourage others to buy his books and to consider him as a speaker at your next event. For his bio, see HERE.
Porta Sancta: the Holy Year Comes to a Close
It was a great Holy Year.
Many thanks to all those who joined us on a Holy Year pilgrimage to Rome and the Vatican.
The experience was spectacular.
God bless!
Thank a Vet!
Antique French Vestment Detail
Stalin Gargoyle at All Saints Parish (FSSP) in Minneapolis (USA)
Catholic Humor
Caption: "A heretofore unknown Offertory from a recently discovered MS."
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Monday, November 14, 2016
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Whan an Ablution Cup Looks Like
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Venerable Pius XII Bust at Old Collegio Americano in Rome
Tradition of the Church in Rome: Lectionary Covers
This was always a common scene in Rome - the Lectionary covered. The Epistle and Gospel chanted from a covered book. Some of the covers were quite ornate. Sometimes in rather rough shape. This one looks terrific.
