Thursday, December 08, 2005

It's back!

I'm just back from the Pope's homage to the Immaculata at the Pza. di Spagna, and am pleased to report that ermine is back!
(Okay, probably not the most important event in salvation history, but it does become him...)
Update:
Amy Welborn posts selections from the Holy Father's discourses today. I must say that I'm fascinated by the Holy Father's homeletic style - from the point of view of content, it reminds me of the Fathers of the Church in terms of their use of scripture, in terms of style, I am charmed by his humble but confident professorial style. He eschews grand gestures, but by his calm tone encourages reflection and trust that he knows exactly what he is speaking about. He speaks with quiet authority.
Rocco's post of a few days ago seems to have inspired the Holy Father to search through Paul VI's wardrobe:
Curiously enough, Albert -- who has built a reputation as a modernizer in his eight months as head of the seaside haven -- was not wearing a military uniform for his visit, contrasting with the Pope's choir dress, mozzetta and all. (And, by the by, it doesn't look like we'll be seeing the return of the ermine mozzetta as B16's still wearing the satin one way past 1 November, the beginning of ecclesiastical winter.)
Some you win, some you lose.
For thos of you who are curious, the Catholic Encylopaedia has some (out-dated) information on the mozzetta:
A short, cape-shaped garment, covering the shoulders and reaching only to the elbow, with an open front, which may be fastened by means of a row of small buttons; at the neck it has a very small and purely ornamental hood. (snip)
The pope's mozzetta, is always red, except that, in Easterweek, he wears a white one. As regards material, his mozzetta, during the winter half-year, that is, from the feast of St. Catherine to Ascension Day is made of velvet or of cloth according to the character of the day or ceremony; in the summer half-year it is made of satin or fine woolen material (merino). It is edged with ermine only in the winter half-year.
And finally, some more photos from Yahoo:
Note the hood at the back
A delighful picture of the Holy Father looking up to Our Lady.
Giving a blessing.

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