Keeping up appearances.
The stories, the discussions online are really fascinating in many ways - they are also pretty nasty in some cases. I suppose the 'liberals' as Fr. Z calls them may be the worst - or most vindictive. Of course the anti-papists can be pretty mean spirited as well. But I have to say, I read what the Pope says in his homilies and at the audiences and he is teaching the Gospel. He's not changing doctrine, and he's not saying a word against Cardinal Burke. Everyone else is busy doing that - filling in the blanks, as it were.
Fr. Z asks today why the 'liberals' throw a spittle flecked nutty over the cappa magna. Personally I think this is the only reason why the Cardinal was 'demoted' - remember what the Pope said after he was elected and they were trying to get him all dressed up: "Carnival is over". No fancy clothes - ever. But I digress.
"If you dress down for the poor,
they won't respect you." - Imelda Marcos
It's about perception...
I'm a little surprised Fr. Z asks why 'liberals' hate the cappa so much. He knows the answer. It is considered pre-Vatican II. It isn't just the cappa magna - it's the buskins, the slippers, the galero, the ermine, the gloves - OMG! The gloves! The heavy embroidery... Clothes reserved only for bishops - whith servers needed to hold up, carry, and then arrange. Clothing reserved, exclusively, and by privilege. Clothing worn in the long procession, with great pomp and solemnity; the drama, the symbolism in our day reserved for the coronations of monarchs. Courtly attire: It's just so un-Marxist.
That's why.
So anyway. What will become of Cardinal Burke?
Jesus said to Peter, “... What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” - John 21:22That is all I can do too. It is all I want to do.
It's what I did when I first returned to the Church.
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Song for this post here.
Upon my return to the Church, I was so at sea regarding everything I had lost, not been taught originally, and so on: I had even to learn and memorize the Hail Mary and the Our Father. I turned to Kevin Orlin Johnson, a wonderful writer: I have and often refer back to all of his books and pamphlets: He covered, I know, the meaning of the colors, why what we call red is actually purple looking and so on....(or is it the other way 'round ?). It's all to the glory of God, like Icons, like stained glass windows, to open the door for us to enter into the other world which is God. In my own mind...the cappa, the flowing red, is to me the Blood of Christ: which so surely we see covering many faithful clergy today.
ReplyDeleteAlso I see Card. Burke's new home as a place, I hope, of protection, of shield, for him: while he awaits another role, another fate, within the Church.
I have had two days off in a row, a novelty for me: and as I catch up on rest, and planting bushes, and vinca, I am also catching up on much of the brohaha all about......I think it just produces anxiety: in me, anyway.
One of the more demented nuns at work wants me to heat Everything for her: milk,cranberry juice, which also requires sugar: and the ice cream sundaes must be nuked in the microwave for 10 seconds. All we can deal with....'control'....is our most immediate environment...it is this which we are given by Heaven....to do with the very best that we can, for it is This which is our school, and This, wherever we are, is where we are meant to be.
......I begin ok at work each day...and fail very shortly after....I fall upon St. Therese and the other day when a co-worked complained about how not only are we very poorly we paid but we are treated poorly, too, and as though they are doing us a very great favor to be doing so: I realized that indeed, they Are doing us the favor....just not in the way they think: God uses his servants ironically sometimes.
guess I will delete this after a bit, as I worry about who, about here, may see My complaints...&....betrayals....
Consolata
"One of the more demented nuns" ... haha! Oh we could share stories Consolata! These are precious gifts - one day you will see. Say a prayer for her.
DeleteOh Terry ! If only you could be a little fly on the wall, it would make your day....even the ones who own/run the place, or are on the board, require Much special treatment, many 'little' indulgences, and special regard...........there sure is a lot of swearing in the kitchen.....
DeleteI try to visual their guardian angels standing beside them....and I am kind for their sake. Who knows what occurred in the lives of these poor souls to bring them to this sad state of affairs, where I am daily astonished .......
I really do know what you mean and what it's like - some day I'll tell you.
Delete“... What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” - John 21:22
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those people who needs to fall back on those short prayers to make it through difficult periods (the Irish nuns I had called them ejaculations). I get unfocused and decide that things are worse than they are. A simple prayer makes all the confusion a little easier to bear.
"I get unfocused and decide that things are worse than they are."
DeleteI do too. I hate it when that happens. ;)
Do people "hate" those things? Hate is such a strong word, and then people are backed into the impossible corner of proving a negative if they've been accused of "hate" for those things.
ReplyDeleteI don't find over-the-top spectacle uplifting, not in government, not in religion, not anywhere, but I don't "hate" it. There are people who do find that stuff helpful, or uplifting, or whatever. Okay. So there's something for everyone. Shrug.
I'm an old-skool cradle Catholic, so I don't pay much attention to Bishops and Cardinals. I don't know what the latest kerfuffles are, or who's "in" and who's "out". None of that stuff has any impact on my life in any meaningful way. Feels like an overly religious sort of busywork, to get all caught up in that, especially when there's so much real, actual, beneficial, meaningful work to be done right in front of each and every one of us.
Life was better before we knew every last little thing exactly as it happened, even if it happened on the other side of the world.
Remember when the nuns used to say keep your eyes on your own page? And how, in the Narnia stories, Aslan was always quick to tell people not to get caught up in other people's stories? There's a great deal of wisdom in that. But the internet, methinks, is quickly destroying all wisdom, all common sense.
Excellent comment - excellent advice. Thanks.
DeleteI agree..its not really that people "hate," the get up...but its just kind of off putting and "weird." I also think its an easy target to make him and others look foolish and yes, its kind of funny that this anti-gay (I know, oh he's not anti gay) dresses up more flamboyant then if Uncle Arthur and Dr. Bombay had a love child that Liberace raised. Cheap jokes and laughs can be had at his expense because of it...in the pic above he looks like he is the Great Oz in the Emerald City.
ReplyDeleteI think that what bothers me about it is that it is so Medieval..and it reminds me that the Church is really still kind of stuck in the Middle Ages, both in teaching and in its ridiculously outdated (and dysfunctional) organizational and administrative operations.
You are hilarious!
DeleteI'm glad you take my "nonsense" (see my school nuns are still in my head) as it meant to be taken. The good Cardinal shall rise again.
DeleteThe Wizard of Oz was just dressed for ordinary time.
ReplyDeleteWhat?
ReplyDeleteNo Terry, I don’t believe the cardinal was demoted for his colorful outfit, though it seems that he was out of step with at least the "suggestion" by the pope that Bishops comport themselves more simply. Maybe we are witnessing a modern version of St Paul opposing St. Peter to his face, by means of his wearing ancient regalia that hasn’t been seen in the Vatican in forty years. Or is it an opulent visual protest of his “church without a rudder,” Comment.
And through all this ecclesial commotion, some of the faithful have begun to swoon, uncomfortable with any open papal disagreement, with what appears to be a threat to their own personal faith. One thing Francis got 100% right, is the candid discussion of many different voices. None of whom will go away by Papal edict. Everyone needs to remember, “Clarity is better than agreement.”
P. Wagner
Of course he wasn't demoted for his liturgical 'style'. That would imply that the Cardinal is nothing more than a superficial dolt and lacking 'humility'.
DeleteI agree with you Paul.
DeleteHey Terry, but would humility be better served had the cardinal abandoned the lavish attire and followed by the instructions of the pope on the issue of simplicity? Instead, his choice of regal tramping has made him an object of contempt and mockery.
DeleteP. Wagner
Paul - I can't answer that - but I can express my opinion. I would say no - humility would not be served. The Cardinal is extremely humble - the lavish attire isn't necessarily his 'personal taste' much less projection of an inflated ego. Truly it is part of the patrimony of the Church, part of a sacred liturgical tradition - so it really has nothing to do with human glory or self exultation. Secular world view interprets it that way, but it is not true - it is spiritual - sacred ritual has been lost, and those who seek to trample it underfoot serve the faithful fast food. The gloves are actually extremely significant - so much so, those of us who receive communion in the hand cannot fathom.
DeleteThe fact Cardinal Burke is the object of contempt and mockery bodes well for his eternal salvation.
I should add that when the Holy Father calls for simplicity he may be referring to personal lifestyle and ostentatious living - nothing liturgical however. The fact he celebrates as a humble priest can never be a signal that decorum and solemnity in liturgical rites be done away with. The Pope's personal style is what it is - Pope Benedict's liturgical style didn't change the way most of the world's priests celebrate Mass.
DeleteYou say on the one hand that the "lavish attire" is not about personal style, but part of something larger, the sacred liturgical tradition of the Church, and that it's actually humble to realize this and act as such. Then, you say that the Pope, who opposes this, celebrates as a "humble priest", citing his personal style being what it is.
DeleteWhich is it?
"The fact Cardinal Burke is the object of contempt and mockery bodes well for his eternal salvation."
DeleteThen I'm going to straight to Heaven Baby!!!! (said in George Costanza style!)
It was the gloves did it for me - what?
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how long it takes to put that stuff on and off. They have to have a "wardrobe person," to care for all of that stuff and keep a log of it..(I would think its only on certain days,etc.) What a pain to keep track of all that stuff and take care of it...(imagine the dry cleaning bill.) But then, I have problems matching my tie to my shirt each day so matching the gloves with the dress or whatever, and the feast day would give me a headache.
DeleteI think all the rich donors will be impressed all the trappings of royalty and as my grandmother would say, "putting on airs." So it wont be too bad for Burke. I wish someone would punish me by giving me a job in Malta hanging out with rich people and attending dinners and events.
Good comments all. He is still young in hierarchy years and may be called upon again one day. But til then may he benefit from his new assignment and be a spiritually richer man for it.
DeleteSimcha has a great article out today about this whole affair. No one else has made similar observations. She made some good points that put it all where it should be.
He will continue as always, a faithful priest. Hey, Mack. If you want to see him in his real life, go to lacrosse for mass Dec 12.
ReplyDelete