Posts on the Saint Bede Studio Blog

Since the Announcement of the Abdication of Pope Benedict on 11th February, almost 70 posts have appeared on this Blog discussing the Papacy and aspects of Papal Liturgy.  During this time, more than 15,000 visits have been made to the Blog.

This Blog exists primarily to illustrate the design and vestment-making work of the Saint Bede Studio.  Since its beginning in 2007, however, this Blog has also posted articles on the history and aesthetics of the Sacred Liturgy.

If you are newcomer to this Blog, a list of the recent Posts can be found in the lefthand column.  Labels illustrating the categories of our vestment work can be found in the righthand column.

Posts on Pope Francis and some aspects of Papal Liturgy will continue here, but not with the same intensity as has been experienced in these five weeks past.

Perhaps you would be interested in becoming a Follower of the Saint Bede Studio Blog?  If so, instructions on how to do so can be found here.

Early photographs of Father Bergoglio

Jorge Mario Bergoglio SJ was ordained priest just a few days before his 33rd birthday in December 1969. This was two weeks after the introduction of the New Order of Mass, the Missale Romanum of Paul VI.  

Adjacent are two photographs of the young Father Bergoglio during Mass.  His vestments are very simple, but certainly tasteful.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Continuity in the Mass of Pope Francis

The Saint Joseph's Day Mass in Saint Peter's Square, on which was Inaugurated the Pontificate of Pope Francis, manifested a marked continuity with the Liturgical arrangements set in place and promoted by Pope Benedict (of happy memory). It is pleasant to think of Pope Benedict watching proceedings from his apartment in Castel Gandolfo.

The selection of chants and other liturgical music, the decoration of the altar with its splendid candlesticks, Crucifix and magnificent frontalpieces, the arrangement and decoration of the Papal throne, the Liturgical participation of Greek Catholics, the placement of an Image of the Blessed Virgin, all these were consonant with Papal Liturgies in the Pontificate of Benedict XVI. Some of them were also seen in similar Masses in the Pontificate of John Paul the Blessed. We also saw the Pope's continued use of the Pastoral Staff or ferula which was presented to Pope Benedict.

Something not seen very clearly in the telecast of the Mass was the two deacons who stood before the altar and distributed Holy Communion. All those who received Holy Communion at the Altar did so on the tongue, whilst kneeling.

Yes, there were differences, which might be mentioned here, because they indicate the aesthetical philosophies or liturgical preferences of Pope Francis. It would seem that the Pope does not care for drawn-out ceremonial, because he removed parts of the Liturgy which would have been time-consuming (for example, the Homage of the Cardinals was confined to six Cardinals instead of the entire College). It seems obvious that the Pope eschews personal ostentation and vestments were used which were dignified, but extremely simple. Pope Francis did not wear the Episcopal dalmatic beneath his chasuble, a practice which had been reintroduced by Pope Benedict. It seems obvious that the Pope dislikes the use of lace for albes and surplices. Nevertheless, some of the albes used by the deacons and surplices used by the Masters of Ceremonies were decorated with inserts of lace. It seems obvious that the Pope does not feel comfortable singing parts of the Mass and what was sung by Benedict XVI was uniformly read by Francis.

Are the above very significant matters? To some, yes. to others, less so. The significant Continuity with the externals of the Papal Liturgies, which were established in the Pontificate of Benedict XVI, would seem to be largely left in place, and this is the important point. We cannot say yet if, or how that might change.  Most importantly, however, is the fact that Pope Francis offer Mass with true reverence.

The following images were selected of the Papal Mass.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Procession of the Pope to the Altar
also shewing the Cardinal-bishops Re, Bertone and Sodano.

Procession of the deacons also shewing the Uniate bishops

The simple dignity of the Pope's chasuble
together with a simply-ornamented and well-fitting albe.

The Cardinal protodeacon approaches the Pope with the Pallium.

Blessing the Faithful with a beautiful Evangelarium.

A detail of the magnificent decoration of the frontalpiece of the Altar
also shewing the splendid candlesticks.

The Pope with ministers approaches the Altar for the Offertory.

The incensation at the Offertory.

A simple but ample dalmatic was worn by each of the deacons.

Pope Francis greeting the Faithful
at the conclusion of the Mass
standing before the statue of the Madonna and child
which had been presented to Pope Paul VI by
South American Catholics.

Mass inaugurating the Petrine Office of Pope Francis

We are pleased to present these two photographs, together with the Papal Coat of Arms.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Dean of the Sacred College, Cardinal Sodano,
imposing the Fisherman's Ring on Pope Francis.

The Homily at the Papal Mass.

The Sistine Chapel Mass

We are pleased to present these photographs of Pope Francis' Mass with the Cardinal-Electors in the Sistine Chapel on Friday 14th March.

These photographs are the copyright of L'Osservatore Romano and below each one is an identification number, so that any reader who wishes may order a copy of the photograph from L'Osservatore.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

At the beginning of the Mass.
The Pope is at the same throne which his Predecessors have occupied
stretching back almost the entire life of the Sistine Chapel.

During the Lesson.
Six candlesticks and a central Cross on the freestanding altar.

The preparation of incense at the Offertory.

During the Preface.

The concelebrant-Cardinals pictured during the Mass.

Giving the Blessing holding the ferula or staff
of Benedict XVI.

The Recession.

Leaving the Sistine Chapel after Mass.

The Sistine Chapel choir.

Sunday Morning Mass with Pope Francis

Pope Francis preaching at the Church of S' Anna.

Pope Francis offered Mass for the Fifth Sunday in Lent in the small but lovely Church of Sant' Anna in Rome. Footage of this occasion has shewn us more of the natural rapport Pope Francis has with people and his desire to reach out to them. It is all captivating, uplifting, and I must write, moving.

With great disappointment, I have discovered that not a few Catholics worldwide have reacted with dismay to the election of Pope Francis, even knowing little of him. This seems largely to be a disappointment in what we have seen (which is very little) of his liturgical style. I want to make clear to readers of this Blog that I do not share this dismay or disappointment (not that my reaction is of any consequence whatever).

To all those who are burdened with misgivings or disappointment at this time, I say: have Faith, trust that God has given us the right man at this time for the Greater Good of Holy Mother Church. Pessimism is not a Christian Virtue. Also, give Pope Francis a chance to establish himself. But above all else, pray. Less chat, more prayer.

Pope Francis on Sunday morning in the Church of Sant' Anna.
The Pope is wearing the Papal Simplex mitre.

Welcome Pope Francis

In answer to the fervent prayers of the Faithful around the world, the All-Provident has given us a wonderful new Apostle to be Christ's Vicar upon earth and chief Shepherd of His Flock.  May God preserve Pope Francis and give him life and make his name Blessed upon earth!

The Changing Aesthetics of Papal Vestments

Pope Sixtus IV presiding at Mass celebrated
in the Sistine Chapel late 15th century.

Our Retrospective of Papacies from Pius IX to Benedict XVI has afforded a glimpse into the changing fashions of Papal Rome.

One day, we hope to continue the series by travelling back farther than the 19th century, to shew images of the Popes down the Ages, so far as they are available to us. This would help us to understand that Papal Rome was not always Baroque, but had other, equally legitimate expressions.

The continuity of the aesthetics of Papal Liturgy remained more or less unchanged from the 18th to 20th centuries. But in 1965, an abrupt change came about, brought about by Pope Paul VI under the advice of Monsignor Annibale Bugnini. Those changes will be obvious to anyone who has followed these Papal Retrospectives.

The pendulum swang too violently. What was well-known, if perhaps fussy and archaic, was swept aside in favour of an austere and functionalist aesthetic. There was to be an emphasis on the form of the vestments, rather than their ornament. Perhaps the intentions were good, but the change was too radical and disorienting.

From the 1980's, during the reign of Pope John Paul II,  the radical nature of that change to Papal aesthetics was softened. The Pope began to wear vestments which were more elaborate, made of better quality fabrics, sometimes magnificently embroidered or at least ornamented imaginatively. The revival of the TAU ornament on chasubles - which had been the manner of decorating chasubles for a thousand years in Rome - took place in the 1990's and through until the last years of the Pontificate of Pope John Paul. Some very fine vestments were produced in this period.

Another expression emerged in 2005, however, at the beginning of the Pontificate of Benedict XVI.  It was an attempt at the avant garde. The Papal chasubles became much more ample - inconveniently so - and their decoration sparse and stylised. This approach was intended to emphasise the more ancient form of Papal Pallium, which had been conferred on Pope Benedict at his Inauguration. The early mitres made for Pope Benedict were short and proportionate, but sometimes terribly misshapen and decorated, it must be said, in the most vulgar manner.

But then, in 2007, another Liturgical Regime was ushered in and the aesthetics of 2005 - 2007 quickly ushered out. A new direction was taken, but not a unified one. Mitres and chasubles of former Pontiffs came to be used, some of which suited Pope Benedict, some of which did not. A whole new range of chasubles and mitres in various styles was introduced and continued to be produced until the time of Pope Benedict's Abdication.

It is a strange fact that no Pope in history has used so many chasubles and so many mitres as Benedict XVI. They have either been gifts to the Pope or arranged by his Masters of Ceremonies. Several websites have been set up solely devoted to Pope Benedict's vestments. Must it be stated? Yes, all of this has been excessive. There was much to be said for the uniform appearance of previous pontificates and even the austere uniformity of the Pontificate of Paul VI.

These criticisms are written with some misgiving, because the insight of Pope Benedict into the nature of the Sacred Liturgy and its role in nurturing the Church is profound and probably unequalled by any Pope in modern times. It also must be emphasised that a wonderful revival in this period took place in the use of Gregorian chant for the Papal Liturgy, for the return of the splendid frontals to clothe the altar of the Confession in Saint Peter's, the use of historic Papal thrones instead of the rather tawdry white armchair which had become all too familiar. And the magnificent candlesticks and crucifixes which, in previous Pontificates adorned the Altar of the Basilica, came to be used again. All of these things were wonderful improvements upon what immediately preceded it.

But might it be hoped that in the forthcoming Pontificate, fewer vestments are used and a more unified aesthetic adopted?  Might it not be desirable that whenever we see the Pope offer Mass, things look more or less the same each time?

Has there also been a too-enthusiastic use of lace albes and surplices for Papal Liturgies?  It is one thing for the Pope to wear a highly-decorated albe, but could the deacons, concelebrants and MCs be returned to plain surplices and albes (preferably of linen) for all occasions?  For assuredly, there never was a chasuble or dalmatic whose appearance has not been cheapened by the excessive use of lace.

This opinion-piece has not been illustrated, but a review of recent posts on the Blog will give some idea.

Papal Retrospective: The Triple Tiara

On the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (22nd February) and the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29th June) the famous statue of Saint Peter in the Vatican Basilica is adorned with specially-made vestments: amice, albe, cincture, stole and cope.  On Saint Peter's head is placed the Triregno, the Triple Tiara, the ceremonial headdress of the Roman Pontiff. Imagine the reaction if it were decreed that the statue may no longer wear the triple tiara, but had to wear a mitre?  That would be an example of ideology and political correctness triumphing over Tradition.

In our age, for a Pope to appear regularly wearing the triple tiara, would probably not be a symbol that the Church, still less the world, would warm to.  Even so, the complete abandonment of this tradition seems a pity. It would be quite feasible and acceptable for the Pope to be crowned in the Sistine Chapel before the College of Cardinals and Papal Court; he need never use the triple tiara again. There is no requirement that the Coronation of a Pope be a public event, covered greedily by the media. It could all be done privately and without ostentation. But the tradition of a Pope being crowned would remain. If this has occurred to me, would it not have occurred to others in the Vatican? If so, perhaps one day it might happen that way, not in March 2013, admittedly.

In this post, we will not trace the history of the triple tiara: that will be the subject of a future post. Instead, this a photographic post of those triple tiaras which still are in existence. 

Triple tiara of Pope Pius VII from the year 1800
It was made from papier mache but
encrusted with precious stones and pearls.
Pope Benedict XV had these stripped
from the tiara as a donation to the care
of wounded in World War One.

Twenty-four are known to exist and of this number I have been able to find photographs of sixteen. There were, of course, many more mediaeval tiaras, but during the sack of Rome in 1527, Pope Clement VII had all the papal tiaras and other regalia stripped of jewels, broken up, and melted down for the gold to prevent their capture by the forces of Emperor Charles V. Then in the late 18th century, Revolutionary France set out to eliminate the Papal government and Bonaparte began waging war against the Papal States. The Pope lost temporal sovereignty, and lacking sufficient funds, payed the assessed war debt from its fortune in papal tiaras, jewelry, and works of art. In 1798, Bonaparte's forces entered Rome itself, capturing and imprisoning the pope, and plundering the churches of any remaining treasure. 

It is thought that nearly thirty papal tiaras have existed since 1800, but several have apparently never been on public view, so little is known about them.  Only one seems to have escaped the greed of Bonaparte:  it is the tiara which is placed on the head of Saint Peter's statue each year (shewn below). 

Triple Tiara used on the Statue of Saint Peter (16th or 18th century).

Triple Tiara presented to Pope Pius VII
by Bonaparte in 1805.

Tiara of gold made in 1835 for Pope Gregory XVI.

Triple tiara presented to Pope Pius IX in 1854 by Queen Isabella II of Spain.
This tiara was used when Pope Pius defined the doctrine of the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Another tiara of Pope Pius IX.
This tiara is now displayed in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Indiana USA.

Presented to Pope Pius IX in 1877
by the Vatican's Palatine Guard.

Most glorious of them all: the Triple Tiara in the Gothic Revival style
presented to Pope Pius IX in 1871 by the Ladies of the Belgian Court.

Another splendid tiara in the neo-Gothic style.
Presented to  Pope Leo XIII by the Catholics of Paris in 1887.

Triple Tiara presented to Pope Leo XIII in 1903
by the Catholics of Bologna.

Triple Tiara presented to Pope Pius XI in 1922
by the Faithful of the Archdiocese of Milan.

Triple Tiara presented to Pope John XXIII in 1959
by the Faithful of the Bergamo district of Italy.

Triple Tiara said to have belonged to Pope John XXIII
but now in a private collection.

The distinctive Triple Tiara of Pope Paul VI
made by artisans of the Archdiocese of Milan to the Pope's own design.
It is now on display in Washington DC.

Triple Tiara presented to Pope John Paul II by the
People of Hungary in 1981, but never used by him.

Triple Tiara presented to Pope Benedict XVI by a group
of European Catholics in 2011, but never used by him.

The Papal Retrospectives

Our series of Papal Retrospectives has concluded with the posts on Blessed John Paul II.

Over the past three weeks, 70 posts have appeared illustrating the Pontificate of Pope Benedict and his Predecessors back to Pius IX. I hope you have found them interesting and edifying. Presenting them has helped me to understand the enduring Blessing of the Papacy and the way it unifies the Catholic World.

There will be a further post in this series, containing photographs of those Triple Tiara presently in existence.  A later post will discuss the more general question of the aesthetics of Papal Liturgy.  If you are a new visitor to this Blog, please continue to visit here.

Lastly, we return to prayer.  The College of Cardinals is responsible for electing the new Pope, not the Media and those feeding them tidbits of information.

Every Catholic plays a crucial role in this process, by praying for God's guidance of the Cardinals in making their selection. Make no mistake, the Cardinals need our prayers. Our prayers might make all the difference, in ways that we will never know.

This fine prayer is the Collect from the Mass for the Election of the Pope found amongst the Votive Masses of the 1962 Missal. Pray it every day:

We humbly beseech you, O Lord, that of your boundless mercy you would grant to your Holy Roman Church a Pontiff who, by his tender care of us, may ever find favour in your sight; and ever be honoured by your people, because of his good government of your Church, to the glory of your name.  Amen.