CARDINAL BURKE REMOVED FROM CONGREGATION FOR BISHOPS

Cardinal Raymond Burke, an American prelate and a divisive leader of the Catholic Church's conservative wing, was today removed from a prestigious Vatican congregation that helps the pope select new bishops.

The Congregation for Bishops takes lists of names of potential candidates for bishop and whittles them down to a short list that's then sent to the pope for final approval. According to John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter, while the pope is technically not bound by the congregation's recommendations, he nonetheless usually selects their top choice when a position opens up. Consequently, the group plays a huge role in shaping the direction and ideological makeup of the Catholic hierarchy.

Cardinal Burke is still Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest judicial body in the Roman Catholic Church, but his conservatives proclivities are likely to be curbed by Pope Francis.  The pope has counseled simplicity in liturgical dress to Roman Catholic clergy and shown by example that he is serious, so the elaborate and flamboyant vestments may be relegated to the dustbin of history. Still, I won't hold my breath.  As you view the series of pictures of the cardinal in silk and lace at the link above, remember I had them first in my long-running series of posts with pictures here on "Wounded Bird".  Google search conveniently gathered the posts together into one link.

What other changes are in the offing?  Who knows if liturgical fashions will be never be the same?  What a loss!  I shall dress in mourning black...with a bit of lace and matching black gloves.  

Read more at http://www.bilerico.com/2013/12/vatican_fashion_leader_removed_from_influential_po.php#HGTst2ZfxCY6qcBY.99

Cardinal Raymond Burke, an American prelate and a divisive leader of the Catholic Church's conservative wing, was today removed from a prestigious Vatican congregation that helps the pope select new bishops.
The Congregation for Bishops takes lists of names of potential candidates for bishop and whittles them down to a short list that's then sent to the pope for final approval. According to John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter, while the pope is technically not bound by the congregation's recommendations, he nonetheless usually selects their top choice when a position opens up. Consequently, the group plays a huge role in shaping the direction and ideological makeup of the Catholic hierarchy.

Read more at http://www.bilerico.com/2013/12/vatican_fashion_leader_removed_from_influential_po.php#HGTst2ZfxCY6qcBY.99

Cardinal Raymond Burke, an American prelate and a divisive leader of the Catholic Church's conservative wing, was today removed from a prestigious Vatican congregation that helps the pope select new bishops.
The Congregation for Bishops takes lists of names of potential candidates for bishop and whittles them down to a short list that's then sent to the pope for final approval. According to John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter, while the pope is technically not bound by the congregation's recommendations, he nonetheless usually selects their top choice when a position opens up. Consequently, the group plays a huge role in shaping the direction and ideological makeup of the Catholic hierarchy.

Read more at http://www.bilerico.com/2013/12/vatican_fashion_leader_removed_from_influential_po.php#HGTst2ZfxCY6qcBY.99

CARDINAL BURKE IN FABULOUS RED SATIN AND LACE

I’m sure that [Cardinal Raymond] Burke could explain why he is dressed this way. I am not sure that I would understand that explanation.

Yes, I’m a Protestant from a very low-church Baptist tradition. And, yes, I’m sure that explains a measure of my befuddlement over this photograph. But not all of it, because, well, just look at it.

I can only guess that this is a ceremonial costume. It surely does not seem to be anything one might wear for practical reasons.

If the splendid vestments point the worshippers to God, then fine, but if the elegant satin and lace serve as adornments for humans (in the Roman Catholic Church, men only) in a way that indicates the wearers are special in the eyes of God, then it's all wrong.  I showed my posts on Cardinal Burke's liturgical fashions to my friend, and she said she liked them...well maybe not all of them.  I believe the red vestment is the cappa magna which has a 20 foot train.  I hadn't see the puffiness in the back before now.

Photo from the cultural christian via Slactivist.

Thanks to Paul (A.) for the link.  You all know how fond Paul is of the splendid vestments. 

LENT IN SILK AND LACE

We've seen Cardinal Raymond Burke wearing splendid red and green vestments, and now we see him arrayed in purple Lenten vestments.  Once again the cardinal wears the tall, gold mitre.  After clicking on the link above, scroll down to see all the posts on the Cardinal Burke.

Orbis Catholicus Secundus reports that American Cardinal [Raymond]Burke celebrated a Pontifical Mass at the Lenten Stational Church of San Nicola in Carcere  (St Nicholas in prison) with outdoor penitential procession and chanting of the Litany of Saints. San Nicola in Carcere is one of the traditional stational churches of Lent.

For the procession, His Eminence wore a very tall golden mitre (mitra aurifregiata), and a penitential purple cope bearing the coat of arms of Pius IX. For the Mass, he wore another tall white mitre and a purple chasuble and Pontifical gloves (chirothecœ). The use of episcopal gloves became customary at Rome probably in the 10th century. Most of these liturgical vestments have been rarely seen after the Pauline changes of the last ‘60s. The revised Caeremoniale Episcoporum no longer imposes on bishops the use of episcopal gloves.

 I wanted you to see the gloves, which all too often seem to be not quite the right color and tend to clash with the other vestments.  These chirothecœ are the best match I've seen yet.  The vestments may seem  somewhat splendiferous for the Lenten period, but think of it this way: Lent is a time of fasting, so the people who attend the services at least get to feast their eyes on colorful silk and beautiful lace during the penitential  season.

Cardinal Burke explains the attraction of masses with elaborate pageantry and lavish vestments in the video below which was posted on the website of the National Catholic Reporter.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

...since I've posted a liturgical vestment fashion statement from His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Burke, so I thought it was time for another.

Other liturgical fashion statements from His Eminence are here, here, and here. And no, I am not obsessed.

Cardinal Burke is Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

Photo from "The Cost of Looking Good in the Magic Kingdom" (pdf) from a link from Lapin.