Peter Glenville's "Becket" 1964

Richard Burton as the Archbishop of Canterbury with
Peter O'Toole in the role of King Henry II in the
1964 Paramount Pictures movie of Becket.
The cope worn by Richard Burton is in part based
on actual vestments of Saint Thomas Becket;
the curtains in the background have a Papal monogram:
the triple tiara and crossed keys.

It is not unusual on this Blog for a work of art to be discussed in the context of the history of sacred liturgy or vestments. This is the first time, however, that there is a discussion of a motion picture. Typically, whenever the rites of the Catholic Church are depicted on the big or small screen, they are represented inaccurately (sometimes laughably so), or even sacrilegiously. An exception to this is the very fine 1964 movie "Becket" produced by Paramount Pictures, and starring the late Richard Burton in the role of Saint Thomas Becket (1117 - 1170), once Chancellor of England and subsequently Archbishop of Canterbury.

This post is not about the life of the Saint, but rather about aspects of the presentation of the rites of the Church depicted in this movie. We find that production design for this movie was in the care of John Bryan; art direction by Maurice Carter; set decoration by Robert Cartwright and Patrick McLoughlin with costume design by Margaret Furse. These people obviously researched the rites and vesture of the Church in the early Mediaeval period quite carefully.

A search of the internet has uncovered some interesting stills of this movie, which are shewn here, together with some commentary. Largely they depict that scene where Becket is consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury. An interesting description of the Consecration is given here .

Click on the following images for an enlarged view.

At the Profession of Faith.
The consecrating bishop is vested for Mass in full pontificals.
The co-consecrators are vested in matching copes and mitres.
Surrounding the prelates are deacons vested in dalmatics
and young acolytes some vested in albes, some in surplices.
Amice apparels are everywhere.

At the Laying-on of hands.
A detail of the ornamentation of the cope used in the production.
The ornamentation is accurately based on a stole of Saint Thomas
still housed in the Sens Cathedral.

Imposition of the mitre.
The mitres worn are all accurate reconstructions of mitres
worn in the 12th century.
They are small, and their titulus and circulus ornaments are
enriched with jewels.

After the Imposition of the mitre.
A specially printed impression of the Pontificale Romanum 
prepared for the movie is seen here.

The well-designed and finely-worked ornamentation
of all the vestments can be seen here.
Note the blue stole worn by the co-consecrator. The practice of having all
the vestments worn by a celebrant of the same colour is not an ancient one.

At the Enthronement.
The new Archbishop, now dressed in full Pontificals for Mass,
is also wearing the pallium: a fine interpretation of the mediaeval form.
Also clearly seen are the fringed dalmatic and tunic
worn by the consecrating bishop.
We must also take note of the beautiful Western-style iconography
created as a backdrop for the Archbishop's throne:
vigorous and very religious in feeling.

The Final Blessing of the Mass of Consecration.
We are able to see the altar in this photograph, ornamented with
images of the saints and with a tabernacle resting upon it.
This would seem to be the least accurate aspect of this scene from the movie.

The Final Blessing, somewhat over-dramatically depicted.

Years after the movie was made,
the costumes designed by Margaret Furse for Richard Burton's use were auctioned.
This photograph shews the chasuble and dalmatic, with an amice apparel.
The chasuble is a rather free redesign of the famous Becket chasuble
kept even to this day at Sens Cathedral.

The actual chasuble of Saint Thomas Becket,
housed in the treasury of Sens Cathedral.
This image is the copyright of Genevra Kornbluth.

A 19th century engraving of the mitre, chasuble and stole of Saint Thomas
venerated at Sens Cathedral.
These vestments were carefully studied for reproduction in the Paramount movie.
The ornamentation of the ancient stole was replicated as the ornament of
a cope and amice apparel used in the movie, whilst the ornament
of the mitre (see below) was used as the basis for several mitres in the production.

Saint John Paul II : 2

On 16th October, 1978, KAROL WOJTYLA, Cardinal-Archbishop of Krakow, was elected Pope by the College of Cardinals and took the name John Paul, in tribute to his immediate predecessor. His election had not been expected and few people had ever heard of him.

After several years of debilitating ill-health, Pope John Paul died on 2nd April, 2005 at the age of 84, and was buried in S' Peter's Basilica. After his death, he was dubbed popularly, John Paul the Great.  His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, Beatified John Paul II on 1st May, 2011.

On a memorable Roman day, 27th April, 2014, John Paul II was canonised in Saint Peter's Square.

This post includes some liturgical images of Blessed John Paul II.  They illustrate the changed aesthetic for Papal vestments which emerged during the 1980's and 1990's. The austerely decorated and unlined papal vestments of the 1970's were set aside in favour of vestments which were more imaginative in design, rich in colour and made from better quality fabrics.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Ash Wednesday in the Basilica of Santa Sabina.
A magnificant cope in violet silk, decorated with handwork in silver.
The mitre matches the vestments, being suitably sombre for Lent.

A chasuble of violet dupion-silk.

Pope John Paul II wearing an elaborate chasuble of green, beautifully ornamented.
The chasubles used by John Paul II  during the course of his
Pontificate became increasingly more ornate,  and well-designed,
setting aside the austere Papal aesthetic of the 1970's.

A quite different chasuble in an unusual shade of green.
A mitre tastefully decorated with handwork.
The more tasteful Papal aesthetic of the 1980's and 1990's.

A somewhat rare occasion:
Pope John Paul in full Pontificals of the Roman style
including the Papal fanon.

A Papal Mass on the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul.
The Pope is wearing a reproduction of the well-known Four Evangelists mitre.

Easter in the year 1999.
A special form of the pallium was used - only once - by the Pope.
See the photograph below.

An exhibit in the Vatican Museum which shews the
special pallium which had been made for the use of Pope John Paul.
The pallium was only used the once.
Visually, it is superior to the different forms of pallia used by Pope Benedict.

Coat of Arms of Saint John Paul II

The Funeral of Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square
8th April 2005: one of the most famous funerals in history.

The casket bearing the mortal remains of John Paul II
is venerated by the members of the College of Cardinals
in S' Peter's Basilica on the day of his
Beatification, 1st May 2011.

Saint John Paul II : 1

Saint John Paul II 1978 - 2005.

On 16th October, 1978, KAROL WOJTYLA, Cardinal-Archbishop of Krakow, was elected Pope by the College of Cardinals and took the name John Paul, in tribute to his immediate predecessor. His election had not been expected and few people had ever heard of him.

Karol Wojtyla was born in the town of Wadowice, Poland on 18th May 1920. His studies for the priesthood were secret because of the Nazi occupation of Poland and he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Krakow in 1946. His early years as a priest were a mixture of further study and pastoral activity. At the early age of 38, Father Wojtyla was consecrated auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 1958. He became Archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and three years later was elevated to the Sacred College by Pope Paul VI.

One paragraph cannot summarise the renown and breadth of the Papacy of John Paul II. Shall we say that it was not for no reason that, after his death, he was dubbed popularly, John Paul the Great. After several years of debilitating ill-health, Pope John Paul died on 2nd April, 2005 at the age of 84, and was buried in S' Peter's Basilica. His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, Beatified John Paul II on 1st May, 2011.

On a memorable Roman day, 27th April 2014, John Paul II was canonised in Saint Peter's Square.

A useful but not exhaustive summary of his life may be found here.

This post includes some liturgical images of Pope John Paul II.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Pope Paul VI bestows the Ring on the newly-created Cardinal Wojtyla,
June 1967.

Cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave which
Elected Cardinal Wojtyla, October, 1978.

The Cardinal Protodeacon, Cardinal Pericle Felici, imposing the Pallium
on Pope John Paul II at the Mass Inaugurating his Pontificate
22nd October 1978.

The Archbishop of Munich, Cardinal Ratzinger
paying his Homage to Pope John Paul II.
Mass to Inaugurate the Pontificate
22nd October 1978.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 1985.
A magnificent cope in the Roman style especially made for
Pope John Paull II.

Pope John Paul II at the Holy Door of S' Peter's Basilica
at the Opening of the Special Jubilee Year of Redemption 1983.
Note the special form of Papal staff,
used on a few occasions by John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II pictured around 1985.

Pope John Paul at the Opening of the Holy Door
in S' Peter's Christmas, 1999.
The cope was specially made for the occasion and has,
thank God, never been seen again.

Pope John Paul pictured in 1979.
He is wearing a rich chasuble of deep green velvet.

Saint John XXIII : 2

On 28th October, 1958, ANGELO GIUSEPPE RONCALLI, Cardinal-Patriarch of Venice, was elected Pope by the College of Cardinals and took the name John XXIII.  

Pope John is mostly remembered as the Pope who convoked the Second Vatican Council, which opened in the year 1962, photographs from which are shewn in this post. John XXIII died on 3rd June 1963 and was buried in S' Peter's Basilica. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000.

On a memorable Roman day, 27th April, 2014, he was canonised by Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Square.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Pope John XXIII being carried through S' Peter's Square on the
Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962.
The Pope is wearing the mitre of his predecessor, Benedict XV.

Pope John XXIII being carried into S' Peter's Basilica on the
Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962.

Pope John XXIII declaring Open the Second Vatican Council,
11th October, 1962.

Pope John XXIII during the Mass in S' Peter's Basilica on the
Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962.

Pope John XXIII at the conclusion of the Mass in S' Peter's Basilica on the
Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962.
The Pope is using the ferula or staff of Pope Pius IX.

Pope John XXIII giving the Blessing at the conclusion of the Mass
in S' Peter's Basilica on the Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council,
11th October, 1962.
The Pope is using the ferula or staff of Pope Pius IX which,
in recent years has been used again by Pope Benedict.

The interior of S' Peter's Basilica on the
Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962.

The interior of S' Peter's Basilica
during one of the Sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

Pope John greeting the Faithful from the Central Loggia
of S' Peter's Basilica.

Pope John celebrating the Liturgy of S' John Chrysostom
in S' Peter's Basilica with Eastern Hierarchs.

Pope John greeting the Faithful from the window of the Papal Apartments
1963.

Pope John XXIII in the Sistine Chapel, 1963.

A vast crowd of the Faithful entering S' Peter's
to venerate the mortal remains of Pope John XXIII.
The basilica is still arranged with seating for the Sessions
of the Second Vatican Council.

A remarkable photograph of Pope John lying-in-state
before the Altar of the Confession in S' Peter's Basilica.
This photograph depicts the manner in which the Popes
were vested for burial: namely in red Mass vestments.
In addition, the Pope was buried wearing
the Papal fanon, the pallium and a cloth gold mitre.

June 1963:  Pope John lying-in-state
before the Altar of the Confession in S' Peter's Basilica.

June 1963:  Pope John lying-in-state
before the Altar of the Confession in S' Peter's Basilica.

Coat of Arms of Saint John XXIII.

On the iconastasis of an Eastern Orthodox Church
in Sophia (Bulgaria) is an icon of Saint John XXIII.
Monsignor Roncalli had been Apostolic Visitor to Bulgaria
1925-1935.