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PDF versionCardinal Rodé photos: a meditation
by Thomas C. Fox on Oct. 28, 2009
Cardinal Franc Rodé, Prefect of the Congregation for the Religious, and the person charged by Pope Benedict to conduct the Apostolic Investigation of U.S. women religious congregations, last March ordained six new deacons for Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest at the institutes mother house in Gricigliano, Italy, near Florence, Italy.
Looking at these photos, one is reminded of the cultural, ecclesial, and socio-psychological diversity that make up our church. Living, as we do, in the early 21st century, we should recognize we are products of a mix of complex and unprecedented pre-modern, modern, and post-modern influences and temperaments.
Looking at these photos, one is moved to ask if Cardinal Rodé, who, according to John Allen's profile, is a charming person and a product of old European, Slovenian, anti-communist forces, is, indeed, so far removed from contemporary U.S. cultural and social settings, that he cannot possibly fairly fathom the lives and work of our women religious. The cardinal, whose penchant for a traditional, monarchical, European styled, pre-counciliar church, is clearly evident in these photos, told John that Vatican II triggered "the greatest crisis in church history." Our women religious have dedicated their lives to carrying out the council's mandates of service and reform.
Looking at these photos, one is reminded that multi-culturalism is a central ingredient in our church and world today, requires understanding, patience and special tolerance. It is also true that judgment leads to judgment, and that's why growing numbers in our communities are asking, "Who, exactly, is this man who has been commissioned to judge the souls, lives, dedication and faith of our women religious?"
Looking at these photos, one can hardly avoid the conclusion that the Apostolic Investigation, as currently structured, and carried out is tragically flawed, and could cause irreparable damage to our church unless wise minds figure out a way to call it off.
Praying the preparatory prayers:
Processing to the chapel
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Mass is underway
Altar boys receive Communion.
Read more about it on the web site of the New Liturgical Movement.
See more photos here: S. E. R. le Cardinal Franc Rodé ordonne six diacres
Just in time for Halloween!
Just in time for Halloween!
What's supposed to be wrong
What's supposed to be wrong with this? The time for street clothes and independent living by women who took vows to be obedient to the church is long past. If we return to a little more of the "pomp" that accompanies the beauty of the church we'd all be better off for it.
yeah sure but how much did
yeah sure but how much did that thing cost anyway?
wouldn't we do better to feed the poor than to buy a mile of wettened satin?
what would Jesus wear?
John 12:3 - 8. While I'm not
John 12:3 - 8. While I'm not claiming that His Eminence is Our Lord, I feel the reference is somewhat apropos.
You ask "what would Jesus
You ask "what would Jesus wear?". Check http://icrsp.org/IMAGES-APOSTOLATS/IMAGES-2009/Gricigliano/Ordination-di... page 10 to see for yourslf.
After thorough study of the
After thorough study of the above website, I have discovered that Jesus just loved lace! ...and as I recall, John the Baptist preferred leather. (animal skins.)
Lord, please remind us not to take ourselves too seriously! And help our wonderful women religious to weather this storm, no matter what they wear.
You cant be serious in
You cant be serious in thinking Jesus (son of a simple carpenter and itinerant preacher, really dressed like that
What Jesus would wear is not
What Jesus would wear is not the issue. I'm sure Jesus wouldn't approve of us wasting time even discussing this as long as there are people without any shelter, food, or clothing. Then again, who are we to pretend to know Jesus' thoughts.
Jesus very clearly expressed
Jesus very clearly expressed his thought to us:
Heal the sick
Clothe the naked
Feed the hungry
Receive the stranger at your gate
and give them sanctuary
Love thy enemy
Saint James writes
what good does it to tell someone "Keep warm and well fed! Have a nice day!" while not providing the means to do so? Faith without works is dead!
What good does it do to require a full term birth and then leave the baby to freeze to death in this cold, to starve to death in drought and famine, homeless, naked, abandoned by us, without health care?
This display of "royal" pomp
This display of "royal" pomp is certainly more in keeping with Roman emperors than with the carpenter from Judea put to death by that Emperor's agents. If Jesus appeared again in human form today, the Roman Catholic Church would be the agents of his destruction.
frère charles du désert OSB
frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco) on Oct. 29, 2009.
You stated:
"Jesus very clearly expressed his thought to us:
Heal the sick
Clothe the naked
Feed the hungry
Receive the stranger at your gate
and give them sanctuary
Love thy enemy
Saint James writes
what good does it to tell someone "Keep warm and well fed! Have a nice day!" while not providing the means to do so? Faith without works is dead!
What good does it do to require a full term birth and then leave the baby to freeze to death in this cold, to starve to death in drought and famine, homeless, naked, abandoned by us, without health care?"
---------------------------------------------
Agreed, Frere Charles. And during his pontificate, Pope John Paul II strongly exhorted Cardinals, Arch/bishops to reduce all appearences of richness in their dress (ah hem), housing, mode of transportation (Cardinal Rode has a Mercedes Benz that he received as a gift from the Legionaires of Christ). From what I've seen of several of the Villas in Italy, and the mansions of the Arch/bishops in the States---not many seem to have heard that aspect of JP II's recommendations.
Hmmm... Isn't that exactly
Hmmm... Isn't that exactly what Judas said?
I doubt Jesus would judge
I doubt Jesus would judge people by looking at pictures of them.
Also, if you don't like wasting money - what about the millions spent on church renovations after Vatican II? What about all the valuable art and vestments tossed in the garbage around that time? Nothing is more wasteful than having wealth and then dumping it (and spending more money in the process!) in the trash to look humble.
Anonymous on Oct. 28, 2009.
Anonymous on Oct. 28, 2009.
You stated:
"I doubt Jesus would judge people by looking at pictures of them.
Also, if you don't like wasting money - what about the millions spent on church renovations after Vatican II? What about all the valuable art and vestments tossed in the garbage around that time? Nothing is more wasteful than having wealth and then dumping it (and spending more money in the process!) in the trash to look humble."
----------------------------------------------------
Ah yes, and the hierarchy is so concerned about the poor, too! They don't care that 1) by insisting on the new Roman Missal, all the parishes will have to spend money buying new sacramentaries for church use---not a cheap venture. 2) in countries like the Philippines, as just one example, the bishops don't care that there are so many children in the family that children either die early (sickness or undernourishment) or whole families go picking food in garbage dumps to stay alive---the hierarchy have their ornate vestments, lovely homes and all is well with the world.
Cardinals were not part of the early Christian Church---they are baubles that the church picked up at the end of the Roman empire. And they have been parading around like royality ever since.
Nonsense. That which was
Nonsense. That which was certified as valuable was preserved. Some preservation took the form of integration into the redesign of the church. Other preservation took the form of placement in museums, special collections and vaults. Tossed in the garbage? Hardly.
Frere Charles, Isn't there a
Frere Charles,
Isn't there a passage in the Gospels where someone complains that the expensive perfume the repentent woman poured on Jesus could had been sold and the money given to the poor? Didn't Jesus rebuke him? If all of this ceremony was for the glory of the celebrants, then your point is good. But it is for the glory of God. In addition, since beauty can draw people to God, all of this "pomp", as some might say, can contribute much to spiritual welfare, which is more important than serving material needs (not to deny, of course, the importance of the latter). People today, and I know this from personal experience, are hungry for a sense of the Sacred and the Beautiful; many churches are not providing it. We humans are both body and spirit, and beauty such as in the ceremony above draws us into the spiritual beauty of God.
Of course we know that Jesus did not wear such clothes during his earthly life. He did not wear a suit either, so maybe we should get rid of those (anyway, they are more expensive than regular clothes). The dress we see here is partly meant to reflect the glory of Christ the King in Heaven.
Just some thoughts I had . . . Pax tecum!
I remember Masses like these.
I remember Masses like these. There was indeed great pomp and circumstance, and waves of incense came over the whole building. By the time we got near to Ite missa est, we were ready to leave. But what's missing in all but a few pictures near the conclusion? Women! Naturally, there was no place in the Latin liturgy but gee whiz everybody, everyone of these young men had Mothers, none of whom are noticed as such except for a few women who kneel at the altar rail for first blessings.
I think these recalcitrant rites could be enhanced if some of our learning could be added. But then your mileage may differ.
Maggie, why don't you join a
Maggie, why don't you join a traditional religious community and see how you can stand it. I speak from experience.
Does this comment mean that
Does this comment mean that you are a failed nun?
there are no failed nuns,
there are no failed nuns, only failed communities which persecute our religious women
The term 'failed nun' bothers
The term 'failed nun' bothers me also. I want to speak for the grace of our God who invites believers into the journey of discernment. Neither the individual brave enough to enter the discernment journey nor the community involved in the process need to own the term 'failed.' None of us own God's call, healthy and holy folks honor God with a variety of understandings, the only failure is to fight about the differences.
ridiculous!!!!!
ridiculous!!!!!
I agree that these rites and
I agree that these rites and traditions can be beautiful. We are not Protestants after all; but doesn't it strike you as very odd in today's Church that there isn't a single woman anywhere in the photos? This destroys for me any desire to preserve this type of practice. It's unrealistic as a representation of the Body of Christ and People of God.
It's not odd at all. All
It's not odd at all. All these pictures are of priests and altar boys, it would be the same if these pictures were taken at a Novus Ordo Mass. I'm sure there're plenty of women in the congregation.
And that, of course, is just
And that, of course, is just what Jesus said!!!!
Oh, then please, let's get
Oh, then please, let's get this on the evening news. I'm sure it will be very impressive to the people. geesh.
The cappa magna (the cape) is
The cappa magna (the cape) is longer (or appears to be) than is currently allowed under church law. Therefore one can only assume that it is a hand-me-down from over 40 years ago. It may be as old as the good cardinal.
If the cardinal is to say a pontifical mass according to the 1962 missal, then under church law, he must follow all the rubrics, which include a cappa magna. Since they don't make many of these anymore, it is reasonable to assume that instead of spending money on a new cape - money best spent on the poor - the cardianl chose to use an antique one.
He could hate wearing the thing, but under church law, he is REQUIRED to use it. He was also invited to say mass there. This means he was asked to wear the cape! You may not like the long cape, but those who requested his presence wanted to see him wear it!
How true :)
How true :)
This liturgy and its
This liturgy and its vestments were designed for celebrations in a basilica NOT some private chapel. How did these clerics manage to move about in that tiny sanctuary? Ridiculous ...
The good cardinal turned 75
The good cardinal turned 75 last month. How long do you think the Vatican will stall to accept his retirement papers?
The noble simplicity of the
The noble simplicity of the Roman Church. Look and weep.
The noble simplicity is a
The noble simplicity is a myth and of quite recent origin for that matter. The Roman rite has never been simple. Well, compared to the Byzantine rite anything looks simple, yet Roman has been anything than dry and simplistic.
Yes, for last 40 years we have seen lots of synthetic ponchos in place of real vestments, if not simple (and noble?) casual jeans. Maybe I should not even comment on casual boredom and formlessness of the last period - after all it's quickly fading _as we speak_.
Adios companeros!
I'm sorry but the most
I'm sorry but the most PROFOUND Masses I have attended and participated in during my lifetime have been ones where no one wore fancy clothes, including the priest.
Vestments are stupid, as is pomp and circumstance. All of it elevates certain people and things to a level that is false. Proponents like to claim that this is what we should do to show reverence for Jesus Christ and proclaim his glory. BALONEY. His glory comes in the reverencing of each other, as humans, not with gold and glitter.
I agree with other posters - can you imagine how many vaccines we could provide to third world countries, or food for those who are hungry, with the money it cost to put on this dog and pony show? Oh I forgot, that doesn't make a pretty picture....
Count me way, way off of the 'back to the good old days' bandwagon. It disgusts me.
I'm not sure whether you'd
I'm not sure whether you'd make a better Calvinist, with your dour disposition towards all things beautiful or a Unitarian Universalist with your comment about self-worshipping "reverencing eachother." What is quite evident is that you left the Church a long time ago in your mind, if not in person.
So rad trads can read minds
So rad trads can read minds now! Ha ha ha...... Anyhow,nobody cares what you think.
And you think this
And you think this pompousness and pricey attire is beautiful as people are dying of hunger, lack of medicine? Your idea of beauty is to wash the outside of the cup, when the inside is filthy.
World hunger will not end
World hunger will not end because Priests and Bishops wear less fancy vestments, but when governments establish effective programs to fight it. It is true that Jesus would not care what people wear but I have found that sometimes simplicity in the vestments and ornaments does not necessarily bring people closer to God during Mass. Sometimes it can even be harmful because people in this much seculirized world can lose the sense of the sacred and of the divine. I don't see a problem with beautiful ornaments as long as they do not become the center of our attention during Liturgy. In the same way I don't see problem with more modest vestments as long as we know that God is not only humble and loving, but that He also is almighty and just judge, deserving of all honor and glory. I really wonder if anyone in here will not try to wear their best clothes to go and meet say the President of the USA? I bet nobody would like to look like a ragamuffin. So if we take so much care to present ourselves worthy in front of humans invested with honor as Presidents, how much more we should strive to present our best clothes(internally within our hearts and a clear concience and externally with what wewear) when coming to Mass to meet our Lord, our Savior, the Creator of all?
Perhaps then, from what you
Perhaps then, from what you have said, women should wear a formal evening gown to Mass and wear a crown on our heads to Church.
All of this pomp does not bring people closer to God. I see a problem with beautiful ornaments that do not reflect God and who He is in all His glory and no ornaments can hold all His glory and righteousness. All the pomp and fancy clothes do become the center of attention especially in stark contrast to little children who scavenge for food or something to sell in the marketplace from garbage dumps in Brazil and many other countries to help their family survive another day. They don't have any fancy clothes either and some don't even having running water in their little shacks.
Not many people get to meet the President, and I wouldn't equate going to Mass with meeting the President, but if you've noticed during campaigning practically no one dresses up, including the politician running for office.
World hunger is not just an issue for "governments (to) establish effective programs to fight it." World hunger is not something to fight, it is something that all followers of Jesus Christ should unite together to end such misery by Acts which will prove love for our neighbor and love for God in obeying His commandment for us to "love one another."
Whose conscience is clear when every week we pray that no one will starve to death or go hungry, but in which no Acts were actually performed by any of those who prayed and dressed up in supposed honor and glory to God?
Nancy...you've been counted
Nancy...you've been counted off. So while the rest of us progress with organic liturgical growth, you can stay where you're at and pout. Progress doesn't mean you throw off everything of the past. It means you grow organically in the context of the past.
I suppose you would have been complaining about the cost of the oil with the disciples when the woman anointed the Lord's feet.
We'd love to have you on board. But if we disgust you, there's a "lovely" quaker meeting barn in most major areas.
PDXCatholic Did you see what
PDXCatholic
Did you see what you wrote? YOU feel comfortable to invite / kick people out of the church? And you use "we" as in "We'd love to have you on board." OMG
You speak of "organic liturgical growth". Plugged into any SPIRITUAL growth lately? When did people of the church go back to being exclusive? I read your words, and I see pursed lips and a mean face. 3 Hail Mary's and a good act of contrition, please.
If it's all about vaccines
If it's all about vaccines and gift baskets for you then why waste your time with the church? There are a zillion different NGOs out there to choose from, just join one. Or at least send a check. The American Red Cross is always looking for volunteers. I thought we were supposed to bring the gospel of good news to the poor, not a block of government cheese.
And since when are poor people "disgusted" by beautiful liturgy and dignified vestments? It's only the cynical rich know-it-alls who are. What pompous arrogance to assume that the poor prefer their priests in jeans and t-shirts singing crappy praise ballads and sorry Dan Schutte ditties.
The horrifying reality for
The horrifying reality for those who want to promote themselves over others and those who would denigrate sacred ministers who wear vestments is that it is not about the one wearing the vestments at all and never has been. The vestments are meant to point beyond the one who is engaging in sacramental ministry to God who showers his people with grace through those sacraments. It is not about us, it is about God. That's why we use beautiful vestments, they cover up the one engaged in ministry and direct the attention of the community gathered to God. Beautiful vestments point to God because God is beautiful and glorious and magnificent. Our ultimate hope is to dwell in the kingdom in the presence of God, that's when hunger and pain and suffering and tears will end. These all end in the presence of our beautiful, glorious, magnificent God. In the meantime, we are called to live the kingdom reality in our day to day existence and share the abundance of God with the world. Beautiful vestments and beautiful liturgy remind us of the abundance of God and they remind us of the extraordinary grace we've received from him. It is that grace that changes us and helps us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to thirsty, take care of the sick and visit the imprisoned.
I agree, forget all the pomp
I agree, forget all the pomp and circumstance and keep our eyes on Jesus rather than the showy vestments, fancy rings etc.
Correct as far as this goes.
Correct as far as this goes. The Roman Rite was a reflection of the Church once it was recognized by Roman Imperial authority as an authentic religious tradition. With that recognition in place, the Church moved from nearly 300 years of required simplicity as a church that was often in hiding into an institutionalized church which initially reflected imperial customs and forms in buildings, dress and liturgical rubric. Later, the Church would reflect the customs of medieval royal courts. In general, the great churches, cathedrals, shrines and basilicas, had the resources to do this in very grand style. Small churches, monasteries and convents adapted as best they could. Vatican II's expressed intention was to reflect both the simpler roots of Catholic Liturgy and the grander elements of imperial and medieval worship.
Of course, if we are to turn to Scripture as the ultimate guide in this, the liturgy would be very simple indeed.
What is there to mediate on?
What is there to mediate on? Seems to me that Fox is asking people to Judge a book by it's cover. I Won't do it.
You're right, Ana. I'll go by
You're right, Ana. I'll go by the Cardinal's own words about how impressive his humility is. Yikes.
Why judge at all? Why judge
Why judge at all? Why judge him good or bad? why judge him humble or arrogant? It is not our place to judge. I won't do it.
If your opinion of the investigation is that it is uncalled for, then by all means go ahead and voice it. But Judging a man is not something that is our place to do.
res ipsa loquitur
res ipsa loquitur
What a waste of time and
What a waste of time and money to investigate the Religious of the US. Let those Bishops who asked for it pay the price and not saddle all the Bishops - the majority of which, I feel, think this is unnecessary.
So much precious time, energy and money is spent on trivia e.g. the changes proposed for the Roman Missal! Why doesn't our leadership wake up and address the real needs of the world - where millions are starving and the number is rising with the escalating global warming!
Why you ask... look at those
Why you ask... look at those pictures and see what they are concerned with... an ancient Church that should never change... Why would they be concerned with the poor! (being that sarcasm is not easily seen in text... please note my sarcasm!)
I agree. Especially when all
I agree. Especially when all that money would be better spent making sure the Cardinal continues to have all the trappings that make him feel like a true Prince of the Church.
Yikes is right!
Thank you, Julie. Our church
Thank you, Julie. Our church leadership has been asleep for a long time. Thanks be to God that others, like Sisters and wonderful and caring lay women and men address the real needs of the world. When is this ALL going to end? I hope the bishops in the US don't send any money to Rome for the "ridiculous investigation."
UGH! There are also pictures
UGH! There are also pictures of Burke wearing a 40 foot long cape at another venue. What would Christ say of these men in their pretty pink silk and expensive dresses and a pope who dresses like Santa Claus with red Prada slippers? Thanks Tom for the heads up on these characters!
I consider the visitation
I consider the visitation fully justified. But these photos, and similar ones of Abp. Burke, are silly, pathetic, and sick.
These are not photos of Abp.
These are not photos of Abp. Burke; they are photos of Cardinal Franc Rodé who is the one charged with administering this witch hunt of an investigation to see if the Sisters have wandered away from the path of Jesus!!! Someone seems to be off track, but I don't think it's the Sisters.
As a former member of the now
As a former member of the now defunct Pontifical Council for Non-Believers, I think Cardinal Rode is an ideal candidate to lead the Apostolic Visitation of our women religious. One can only hope that Cardinal Rode is as reactionary and misguided as you fear.
Indeed, a picture is worth a thousand words but when the only words in one’s vocabulary are “multicultural”, “diversity” and “Vatican II” what difference does it make?
Dear David D., your post
Dear David D., your post poses more than one question in my mind. 1)There actually was a Pontifical Council for Non-Believers? 2)If it was real, why is it now defunct, given the cries by more than one Pope, many clergy & other adherents to orthopraxy that secularism is rampant especially in Europe and the U.S.A.? 3)If this is a product of your devising, how is it that you are a former member? 4)How is it possible for you to see "multicultural", "diversity" and "Vatican II" as the entire content of Tom Fox's vocabulary when he clearly states in the second paragraph that he has a firm grasp of "complex & unprecedented pre-modern, modern, and post-modern influences and temperaments" by which all of us are influences (for good or bad). Mr. Fox also spoke with perceptive conviction about a "penchant for a traditional, monarchical, European styled, pre-conciliar church". I read the article as written by someone who has his eyes wide open to what is - and what is happens to be complex, not simple; diverse, not uniform; 21st century which contains the history of all that went before which is more than multicultural; it's human with all the messiness that vocabulary word connotes.
The only "wise minds" who can
The only "wise minds" who can can "figure out a way to call it off" are inside the skulls of the nuns being targeted.
They should refuse to cooperate.
Only the women themselves have the power to stop the abuse by these men in lace and brocade.
(The best outfit, imho, is on the guy holding Franc's big hat.)
Looking at these photos I
Looking at these photos I could hardly stifle my laughter. Looking at these photos I wondered 'what year is it?'. Looking at these photos I questioned why these guys have so much power over the humble, earnest religious sisters of America.
Why stifle
Why stifle laughter...especially in response to the question "What would Jesus wear?" LOL...as they say. I did laugh out loud. Yet, there is truly something tragic here and in the making.
I bet the costuming
I bet the costuming department for the Tudors is way jealous. On the other hand maybe they did the costuming.
Absolutely, there is no doubt
Absolutely, there is no doubt that Cardinal Rode dresses the part of a High Renaissance (1400-1500)Lord. What does that long red train, those ornate gold chasubles, and the young altar servers--kneeling to receive Communion have to do with Jesus Christ? Jesus stated that he didn't have a place to lay his head. He walked the dusty roads of Palestine. He bent over to heal the sick. He sat and cuddled young children. He knelt to wash the feet of his disciples. And he died naked upon a cross.
What does this monarchial style of ecclesiastical leadership have to do with
what Jesus initiated among his disciples? I pray every day for this mind-set of Church Leadership to collapse. Europe is not the center of the world any longer.
There was no PALESTINE for
There was no PALESTINE for Jesus to walk---it was ISRAEL!!!!! Hadrian about 140 A.D. after the second Jewish revolt expelled the Jews he didn't murder and changed the name to Palestine. At least be historically correct!
What does giving proper to
What does giving proper to Cardinals and other offices of the heirarchy of the Holy Catholic Church, as Christ established it, have to do with Christ?
What does vesting oneself in the glory of the resurrected Christ to offer His holy Sacrifice have to do with Christ?
What does kneeling to adore the real presence of Christ's Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity under the appearance of bread have to do with Christ?
What does the establishment of the Holy Catholic Church as a heirarchical institution with clearly set levels: pope, bishop, priest, deacon have to do with what Christ instituted among His disciples?
What silly questions!
There are nearly identical
There are nearly identical photos of Archbishop Burke, soon to be in charge of naming bishops for the Roman Catholic Church. Where are we going?
"Where are we
"Where are we going?"
Apparently to hell in a handbasket!
Indeed, where is the humble Jesus in these photos?
Joseph Jaglowcisz
Joseph Jaglowcisz wrote:
"...Where is the humble Jesus in these photos?"
The humble Jesus is in the Holy Eucharist being given to the altar boys, which they are receiving very reverently, as they should. Our Lord is truly present in the Eucharist...how else should they show reverence?
For those here that have read Sacred Scripture and understand Church teaching, Our Lord Jesus Christ said that unless we eat His Body and blood, we will have no life in us. Sounds a bit unpleasnt, but He told us to do this.
The clothing being worn is also showing reverence to Our Lord. If we were to, for instance, meet the president of the United States, or the Queen of England, wouldn't we dress in a respectful manner? How much greater, then, is Our Lord than even the president or the queen?
I think that most of the commentors here are Protestants or anti-Catholic. Sad.
Finally someone has a bit of
Finally someone has a bit of sanity on this "Catholic" looney wagon.
Sorry, sir, but what you wear
Sorry, sir, but what you wear doesn't make you who - or what - you are. Do all the silks and gold make that man something special? Didn't Jesus say something about the people of his time who dressed like that belonging at the bottom of the table? Isn't "reverence" shown by emulation? Now only what Jesus would wear but what he would do! He was a servant, not a peacock. And I'm a Catholic - cradle-raised but freed to worship my God as I do by Vatican II. Praise God for LARGE favors! Shouldn't we exhibit reverence for what we are doing as we are and not by the gold on the altar...or on the man. In our day and age, too many MEN wearing splendid robes have been hiding something very ugly inside.
I might dress in a respectful
I might dress in a respectful manner by wearing decent, not fancy clothing of OUR day not some long ago time.
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