Putting the Pope in cheap vestments - Marini champion of Italian bad taste???

What is going on at the Vatican?  The much hailed Papal Master of Ceremonies, Mgr Guido Marini seems to have made some changes that can range from the sublime to the ridiculous! 

Certainly, he has made the so called "Paul VI Surplices" optional, with a distinct return to lace - which is obviously the Monsignor's preference since he is never seen in anything else - we have not seen the re-emergence of the "Classical Roman Surplice" as depicted in well thumbed editions of the (Usus Antiquior) Roman Pontifical (Pontificale Romanum).  We continue to await it's coming...

But the chasubles, the chasubles!  What has happened?  Are we seeing off the rack commercial Italian vestments?  De Ritis et alia?  Now that would be disgraceful considering the attention which has always been given to Papal vestments, their quality and (not always pleasing) design.

Recent reports indicate that the good Mons has also favoured the recent new appointment of musical director, an appointment vehemently opposed by the eminent Mgr Miserachs Grau formerly of the Pontifical Academy of Sacred Music - could we be in for more Italian schmalz.

 THE GOOD...


The Pope in  a well made cope

"This beautiful cope is made from dupion silk.  Its imaginative ornament in black and gold silk damask has all been applied by hand, as has the braid placed around as an edging.  This cope is part of a larger set of matching dalmatics, chasuble and mitre which was made for Pope John Paul.  Upon becoming Master of Ceremonies in 2007, Monsignor Guido Marini, set aside this set and a red set like it.  They have not been seen since."

A exquisite chasuble in the Borromean Style by Tridentinum

 THE BAD....

THE UGLY

Maniple - Never abrogated!

Zenit reports on the maniple - Fr. Mauro Gagliardi of the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, say it was never abolished and offers catechesis on the symbolism of this lovably recondite bit of vesture:

"The maniple is an article of liturgical dress used in the celebration of the extraordinary form of the Holy Mass of the Roman Rite. It fell into disuse in the years of the post-conciliar reform, even though it was never abrogated.

The maniple is similar to the stole but is not as long: It is fixed in the middle with a clasp or strings similar to those of the chasuble. During the celebration of the Holy Mass in the extraordinary form, the celebrant, the deacon and the subdeacon wear the maniple on their left forearm. This article of liturgical garb perhaps derives from a handkerchief, or mappula, that the Romans wore knotted on their left arm. As the mappula was used to wipe away tears or sweat, medieval ecclesiastical writers regarded the maniple as a symbol of the toils of the priesthood.

This understanding found its way into the prayer recited when the maniple is put on: Merear, Domine, portare manipulum fletus et doloris; ut cum exsultatione recipiam mercedem laboris (May I deserve, O Lord, to bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow in order that I may joyfully reap the reward of my labors).As we see, in the first part the prayer references the weeping and sorrow that accompany the priestly ministry, but in the second part the fruit of the work is noted. It would not be out of place to recall the passage of a Psalm that may have inspired the latter symbolism of the maniple.

The Vulgate renders Psalm 125:5-6 thus: Qui seminant in lacrimis in exultatione metent; euntes ibant et flebant portantes semina sua, venientes autem venient in exultatione portantes manipulos suos (They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds, but coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their maniples)."