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PDF versionDolan's Titular Church Announced
by Michael Sean Winters on Feb. 17, 2012
I know, I know. This may not be the kind of thing that you find interesting, but as one who loves to find a reason to explore parts of Rome I have not visited previously, I take an interest in the title, or deaconry, given to a cardinal at the time they are raised to the purple. (Also, not sure why we say "raised to the purple" seeing as cardinals wear red.) It is because of their status as a titular pastor that cardinals have the right to vote in conclave, preserving the tradition, now symbolic, that the clergy of Rome elect the bishop of Rome.
For the upcoming consistory, there was also the certainty that we would see something genuinely new. Since 1946, when Cardinal Francis Spellman was named titular pastor of SS. Giovanni e Paolo, every Archbishop of New York has been given that same title. Cardinals Cooke, O'Connor and Egan all served as titular pastors of the ancient church, not far from the Colosseum. It is said, although I have never been able to prove it, that Spellman bought the chandeliers from the Waldorf-Astoria ballroom when it underwent renovation, and installed them in the church. O'Connor, was one would expect from an old Navy man, replaced the boiler.
Dolan is the first Archbishop of New York to have a living predecessor, so he cannot be given the title to SS. Giovanni e Paolo. And according to Rocco Palmo, Dolan will given the title to Our Lady of Guadalupe, a church in a largely immigrant neighborhood, which seems especially fitting for an archbishop from NYC. I have never been to that church, but now I have a reason to do so.
DOLAN, OUR DESPARATE MAN ...
DOLAN, OUR DESPARATE MAN ... MSW, we just love when you focus on absurd monarchical minutae. It spares us having the read closely your well spun apologias for the shameless hierarchy that so impresses you.
For more detail on Dolan's visit to the pope, the Roman driver in the US women's health demolition derby, please read the comment, "Dolan as Comic", readily accessible by clicking on at:
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/rome-notebook-dolans-rock-star-cons...
So what does it say about you
So what does it say about you that you comment on this "absurd monarchical minutae"? Sad the anger and resentments so many carry.
Big Whoop!
Big Whoop!
I'd me more impressed and
I'd me more impressed and encouraged with news that Pope Benedict has decided to abolish the college of cardinals altogether. Then have the clergy and people of the diocese of Rome elect the next pope. The election confirmed by a Roman synod taken from the bishops of Italy and the new pope limited to a 15 year pontificate. With all diocesan bishops from henceforth limited to no more than 12 years.
A limited authority derived
A limited authority derived from below is not the Divine model and not remotely the Catholic one either.
Who cares about another
Who cares about another cardinal...Jesus would be horrified by this princely show of prestige and powerful titles. Get a life and a real ministry! The women and men in the pew are not amused when there are so many other major in the church. This reminds me of Marie Antoinette's famous quote, "Let them eat cake!"
In Italian "porpora" is
In Italian "porpora" is bright red, not purple, so cardinals are called "porporati" ("purpled").
Raised to the purple - purple
Raised to the purple - purple is the color of royalty. They are raised to royalty I.e. Princes of the Church. Nice promotion for followers of a poor carpenter.
Michael, whenever you're
Michael, whenever you're tempted to write about arcane trivia like this, please put an aspirin between your knees and practice abstinence. - Camille.
I love it when liberals
I love it when liberals attack liberals! :)
You have a very right-leaning
You have a very right-leaning definition of liberal!
I think it is fitting that he
I think it is fitting that he would have the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in an immigrant neighborhood of Rome. It great because New york is such a melting pot and I would imagine, since we have so many Mexicans settling here,that the church,called after an object of such devotion, was intentionally picked for that purpose. It would also be nice if some people could separate their obvious dislike of the institutional church from the one that has given so much hope and consolation to those of us who do believe. I have never read more hate filled rants than the ones on this blog. It seems that the church (and God knows in 2,000 years there have been some stupid pronouncements) has somehow unleashed every piece of anti-Catholic vitriol apparently blocked up and awaiting release. May you find peace somewhere and leave the rest of us alone.
I think most of New York's
I think most of New York's Hispanic immigrants are from South and central America not Mexico
You are definitely a "wise
You are definitely a "wise owl". I agree wholeheartedly with what you said...
Very interesting, Michael. I
Very interesting, Michael. I know that some folks who have commented on here find this to be inane trivia, but it is a fascinating aspect of our Church.
I am intrigued to know which urban parishes the new Cardinals will be assigned, because it serves as a reminder to us of the ancient origins of the College of Cardinals, the priests who served Rome's urban parishes, the bishops who were ordinaries of the suburbican sees.
One would think that Catholics would be happy to learn more about their faith, about the history of their Church. But then, I fear too many are only interested in the here and now, interested only in navel gazing.
In any event, thanks for this and keep up the great work!
Pity that we don't go back to
Pity that we don't go back to the tradition of the local clergy (or even the people) electing the bishop. Methinks that there would be no contraception controversy and that this would be a good thing.
"Pity that we don't go back
"Pity that we don't go back to the tradition of the local clergy (or even the people) electing the bishop. Methinks that there would be no contraception controversy and that this would be a good thing."
Jesus did not tell the mass of Followers and Well-wishers the same things that he told the Disciples.
Today and for many centuries we have had this arcane practice removed with the death of oral tradition.
BTW: Jesus did explicity tell the Disciples that he came to bring controversy. He did not seem to be so keen to tell that to the base of followers and well-wishers.
I read comments like this and
I read comments like this and I'm just mystified. Has anyone thought of the costs and complexity such an election would have? The possible fraud that might occur, the buying of ballots? And the true "tradition" would be that only free, white, royal males could choose the bishop.
No. I like the way we do it now. Besides, no one's complaining about how the Eastern Orthodox or the Eastern Rite Catholics choose their Patriarchs!
I think this parish may have
I think this parish may have bben one that was staffed with Legionairies, previously. This too would be fitting given the number who have been incardinated in the archdiocese
I don't know whether to hope
I don't know whether to hope you're wrong or right.
As for the choice being fitting or not, symbolically I'm happy that an American would be assigned to a church honoring O.L. of Guadalupe rather than the Immaculate Conception. I never, never understood why, of all things, this abstract depiction of Mary should be the U.S. patron rather than O.L. of Guadalupe.
VIA AURELIA 675: Symbolism is
VIA AURELIA 675:
Symbolism is everything.
http://www.regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/articulo.phtml?id=22516&s...
Personally, I much prefer to explore the paleo-Christian "house church" beneath SS. Giovanni e Paolo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53V_vUt60xo
http://romanchurches.wikia.com/wiki/Titulus
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1583243
...with one of the earliest frescoes of the ORANS prayer position (scroll to photo #3 here):
http://www.the-goldenrule.name/Dionysus_Casa_Celimontana.htm
http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=kuWm7jVWFiEC&pg=PA80&lpg=PA80&dq=ora...
I wonder what possessed Pius XII to bestow his own titular church (given to him by Pius XI in 1929) on Cardinal Spellman?
http://www.romeartlover.it/Vasi53.htm
Great article on the titular
Great article on the titular church assigned to Cardinal Dolan. It seems like many of your readers don't share your love of the Church. That is not surprising since so many of them appear to be anti Catholics. I hope some day you will move on to write for a publication where the readers love the Church as you do. You and the National Catholic Destroyer are not compatible
Do not for one minute
Do not for one minute conflate the college of cardinals, titular churches and all of the rest of the royal dressup nonsense with "love of the church."
I've assigned myself a
I've assigned myself a titular church, too: The Church of the Blessed Pillow, Our Lady of the Mattress parish.
All kinds of indulgences are attached.
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