Pope Benedict XVI Receives the Pallium

Vivificat! - A Catholic Blog of Commentary and Opinion ^ | 24 April 2005 | Teófilo

[Teófilo]

But what does it mean?

Folks, Pope Benedict XVI was solemnly installed today in an impressive Divine Liturgy celebrated today at St. Peter's Square. Symbolism and substance took precedence today as Pope Benedict received a "pallium" of the kind that were in use earlier in Rome, which differs somewhat from the modern version (pictured left). Pope John Paul the Great was invested with the "modern" pallium more than 25 years ago.Check out this picture of the same moment at Pope John Paul the Great's installation back in October, 1978.

According to the article in the Catholic Encyclopedia, "There are many different opinions concerning the origin of the pallium. Some trace it to an investiture by Constantine the Great (or one of his successors); others consider it an imitation of the Hebrew ephod, the humeral garment of the high priest. Others again declare that its origin is traceable to a mantle of St. Peter, which was symbolical of his office as supreme pastor. A fourth hypothesis finds its origin in a liturgical mantle, which, they assert, was used by the early popes, and which in the course of time was folded in the shape of a band; a fifth says its origin dates from the custom of folding the ordinary mantle-pallium, an outer garment in use in imperial times; a sixth declares that it was introduced immediately as a papal liturgical garment, which, however, was not at first a narrow strip of cloth, but, as the name suggests, a broad, oblong, and folded cloth. Concerning these various hypotheses see Braun, "Die liturgische Gewandung im Occident und Orient," sect. iv, ch. iii, n. 8, where these hypotheses are exhaustively examined and appraised. To trace it to an investiture of the emperor, to the ephod of the Jewish high-priest, or to a fabled mantle of St. Peter, is entirely inadmissible. The correct view may well be that the pallium was introduced as a liturgical badge of the pope, and it does not seem improbable that it was adopted in imitation of its counterpart, the pontifical omophorion, already in vogue in the Eastern Church."

So that's fascinating, that it may be of Eastern derivation. In this icon of Pope St. Gregory the Great (left), we may see him vested in an omophorion, the kind of "pallium" used today by Pope Benedict XVI. We've come full circle!

Speaking of the pallium, Pope Benedict XVI said today in his inaugural homily:

The first symbol is the Pallium, woven in pure wool, which will be placed on my shoulders. This ancient sign, which the Bishops of Rome have worn since the fourth century, may be considered an image of the yoke of Christ, which the Bishop of this City, the Servant of the Servants of God, takes upon his shoulders. God’s yoke is God’s will, which we accept. And this will does not weigh down on us, oppressing us and taking away our freedom. To know what God wants, to know where the path of life is found – this was Israel’s joy, this was her great privilege. It is also our joy: God’s will does not alienate us, it purifies us – even if this can be painful – and so it leads us to ourselves. In this way, we serve not only him, but the salvation of the whole world, of all history.

The symbolism of the Pallium is even more concrete: the lamb’s wool is meant to represent the lost, sick or weak sheep which the shepherd places on his shoulders and carries to the waters of life. For the Fathers of the Church, the parable of the lost sheep, which the shepherd seeks in the desert, was an image of the mystery of Christ and the Church.

The human race – every one of us – is the sheep lost in the desert which no longer knows the way. The Son of God will not let this happen; he cannot abandon humanity in so wretched a condition. He leaps to his feet and abandons the glory of heaven, in order to go in search of the sheep and pursue it, all the way to the Cross. He takes it upon his shoulders and carries our humanity; he carries us all – he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.

What the Pallium indicates first and foremost is that we are all carried by Christ. But at the same time it invites us to carry one another. Hence the Pallium becomes a symbol of the shepherd’s mission, of which the Second Reading and the Gospel speak. The pastor must be inspired by Christ’s holy zeal: for him it is not a matter of indifference that so many people are living in the desert. And there are so many kinds of desert. There is the desert of poverty, the desert of hunger and thirst, the desert of abandonment, of loneliness, of destroyed love. There is the desert of God’s darkness, the emptiness of souls no longer aware of their dignity or the goal of human life...

Amen! Amen!

- Read the Catholic Encyclopedia's article on the pallium.

- Read Pope Benedict XVI's inaugural homily

[Kolokotronis]

"The correct view may well be that the pallium was introduced as a liturgical badge of the pope, and it does not seem improbable that it was adopted in imitation of its counterpart, the pontifical omophorion, already in vogue in the Eastern Church. So that's fascinating, that it may be of Eastern derivation. In this icon of Pope St. Gregory the Great (left), we may see him vested in an omophorion, the kind of "pallium" used today by Pope Benedict XVI. We've come full circle!"

Hehehe!

[Mike Fieschko]

Then three are the red shoes (not quite the slippers). They're lace up, and I can't see if there are crosses. Since they're leather, any crosses wouldn't be embroidered.

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

Interesting details about the pallium Pope Benedict XVI was invested with today.

[Gerard.P]

That should be "Benedict the Great."

All we need now is a letter campaign asking him to have a portrait done with the tiara and papal vestments on.

[Pyro7480]

You're calling him "Benedict the Great" after 5 days?

[Gerard.P]

Sure. Why not?

[Pyro7480]

He hasn't done much yet. (I think I know the point you're getting at.)

[Salvation]

(Live Thread)The Solemn Mass of Inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI

[Salvation]

Homily Thread -- HOMILY OF INAUGURATION MASS OF BENEDICT XVI

[Gerard.P]

I think you're onto me too. I want to find a nice way to get the idea across without having to "say it".

Fr. Peter Gumpel was on EWTN and he diplomatically got the same message across without having to say it.

[Mark in the Old South]

Our new Pope is either a very small man or that is one giant chair.

[murphE]

He is on the petite side isn't he? Reminds me of that Lilly Tomlin skit.

[NYer]

Great article, Teofilo! Did you watch the Mass? THIS is the Novus Ordo liturgy, as it was intended by VCII! The vestments were ornate yet simple - minus those modernist design elements that annoy most of us. And the Gospel! Read first in Latin, then chanted in Greek, an acknowledgement of the Catholic Church's two lungs - Western and Eastern. Another nod to the East was shown during the Celebration of the Mass, with the selection of Nasrallah Cardinal Peter Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, who con-celebrated the Mass with the Holy Father and 3 other cardinals.

Do you feel it? This pope speaks through actions. As St. Francis of Assisi always told his Brothers - "Preach the Gospel; if necessary, use words!"

May God richly reward and bless Pope Benedict XVI!

[Teófilo]

Yes, I watched the Mass.It was excellent, the way it's supposed to be!

[Tantumergo]

"Hehehe!"

LOL! His meeting with Rowan Williams tomorrow should reveal more about where his ecumenical priorities lie - it could be his first major test.

[Kolokotronis]

"His meeting with Rowan Williams tomorrow should reveal more about where his ecumenical priorities lie - it could be his first major test."

Ah yes, the Pope of Rome meets the Arch Druid! Oh how I wish I could be a little Balkan fly on the wall in that room! On another thread someone commented that as of Tuesday the A of C wouldn't have a church to preside over. I wonder if this is what he was posting about?

[Petronski]

"Do you feel it? This pope speaks through actions. As St. Francis of Assisi always told his Brothers - "Preach the Gospel; if necessary, use words!"">

"I think you're gonna like this new guy...."

[cyborg]

bump

[Gerard.P]

"THIS is the Novus Ordo liturgy, as it was intended by VCII!"

I'm sorry to say this, but if that is the best the Novus Ordo can do. No Thanks.

It is still rife with problems. Foremost among them, the reduction of respect towards the Blessed Sacrament. The "Sign of Peace" is so exaggerated to the point of distraction from the Eucharist that has just been consecrated. Our Lord is among us and everyone suddenly brings their attention away from him and that glad handing starts. The Old Kiss of Peace was highly stylized and most of all quiet. Priest bows to Deacon, Deacon to Subdeacon and so on. That's it. It's a ripple through the sanctuary with the Eucharist still being the center of attention.

After that, we have the same situation with the Holy Father. I'm not going to fault him for his quickie genuflections. At 78, he can't be expected to touch the ground with his knee if there's a chance he might not get back up. But he is still nimble enough to have pinched his fingers in the old way so as no particles whatsoever would be risked towards falling to the ground. And consequently the whole free-for-all when it comes time for the faithful to recieve is an embarassment. Banners and flags and cheers and applause are offensive during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which is Calvary. If you wouldn't do it on Calvary. Don't do it at Mass.

Just to make sure. I'm simultaneously watching "The Immemorial Tridentine Mass on my Computer while the Papal Inaugural Mass is going on. Chicago in 1940 on Easter beats Rome 2005 when it comes to solemnity, reverence and discipline.

As much of an improvement this Mass today was over the hootenanies that JPII presided over, it's still not what Our Lord Deserves when we and the Vatican can do much better. Give me a papal coronation Mass anytime. Carry him in on the Sedia Gestatoria. Sainted Popes were no less Humble than B16 and they understood that they were honoring the office of the papacy, not the man residing.

I have a lot of hope for this Pope that he will straighten out much of the mess that is widespread. I don't expect him to overturn everything in a day or a year. But faithful Catholics should make known to him that they will fight for him if he will just give back to the Church the highest honors and priveleges of Our Lord, Our Church and Our Lady.