Fr. Ray Blake's, Saint Mary Magdalen Blog, New Years At The Vatican

Fr. Ray Blake is awesome! A must read, for any critical Catholic thinker. This is his New Years Day post. The pictures are awesome!

New Years Eve And Day

I am as you might expect a great fan of the sartorial revival that is going on in Rome. I have always been a proponent of the seamlessness of the Church: the Church today is a direct continuation of the Apostolic Church. Wearing vestments that belong to his immediate predecessors ratifying their reign and his succession.

I was always a great admirer of the Great John-Paul, and like many asked how the shy Bavarian professor would ever fill his shoes, what all this revival is about is seems to be simply saying it is the Office of the Papacy that matters. Wearing the coat of arms of John XXIII or the mitre of Benedict XV means that Benedict XVI is only important in so far as he is their successor.

Fr Justin has makes some interesting comments on this on his blog about the Pope dressing in harmony with the basilica, he also mentions the extravagance of the previous Master of Ceremonies. The whole point of vestments is to cover up the personality of the priest or bishop, not to emphasise it. He is important because of what he is not who he is. I do like the return of the Throne, the idea of the Chair of Peter is so important for Catholics. I also like the way the cope is held open, with the suggestion of "alter Christus" being crucified, being led.

Link to post (here)