Vanity,
Envy, and defamation… Oh my!
That is what the Cardinal was talking about recently to members of the clergy:
The former archbishop of Milan, Carlo Maria Cardinal Martini, warned fellow Jesuits at a meeting near Rome that the most common sins in the Church (speaking about and to clergy on the occasion) were vanity, envy and defamation. He said, “We think, why did someone else receive what rightfully belongs to me? There are people eaten up by envy, thinking, ‘why has he been made a bishop and not me?’
So there we have the envy thing - who didn’t know that? For instance, after parish assignments are announced, someone may say, “Why did he get St. So and So and not me?” Or, “They made him a bishop? Who does he know?” Or, “He was given his own diocese? Good riddance - but how does he rate?” That’s just dinner conversation, with a bit of defamation possibly thrown in - along with cigars and brandy. Ah! That was the old days though.
But vanity?
Vanity could be encountered frequently, too: “Vanity is great in the Church, it shows in the vestments. In the past, cardinals wore an 18-foot silk cape. Constantly, the Church decorates itself with pointless ornaments, it has a tendency towards vanity.” - Source: Cafeteria- News story translation by Gerald Naus
Now that could be coming back.
Photo credit: Dappled Photos - Cappa magna.
June 7th, 2008 at 4:37 am
As for the cappa magna, good. It serves the useful purpose of reminding everyone of authority. That’s needed more than ever.
“Vanity, envy, and defamation?” Best description of the blogosphere I’ve ever heard.
June 7th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Jeffrey - I thought it an apt description as well - which is why I went back and took out the names of the priests and bishops and parish I cited as examples. LOL!
Didja know, the term “drag” arose in reference to one’s train being dragged behind them?
June 7th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Is there a store where you go to buy stuff like this? Can you imagine going down the cape aisle?! It’s just past the processional canopy aisle! They might call it Cardinal’s R Us!
June 7th, 2008 at 11:44 am
The outward use of signs to express things (such as authority in this case) is good, and needed. That is how the average man understands things, he does not bother with long intellectual evaluation. Symbolism is a quick, easy way to comprehend Ex: Crown=King, Badge=Police, Suit=Professional, Miter=Bishop,…and so on. It’s the elevation of office, not always the man.
Symbolism is of the utmost importance to expressing grand truths, and the Grandest Truth of all (God) always expressed Himself in Signs.
Get rid of Symbols=get rid of Religion.
Also, this particular Card. has opened his mouth in public against Church teachings in the past. “Pointless Ornaments” he says, thereby implying the Church was frivoulous & silly before we wise modern prelates came along and…you see his mindset.
June 7th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I don’t get what he mens by pointless ornaments either. I agree, symbols are indeed very important. That said - I think the Cappa magna is somewhat exagerrated…
Although the vices the Cardinal refers to are not the sole property of clergy - John of the Cross and other spiritual writers have written extensively about vain rejoicing in all sorts of goods, as well as the deadly sins that trip us all up.
June 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
No doubt about it, there is some value in signs & symbols. Does anyone really believe that a return to the use of such extravagence is going to resurrect faith? It would be a house of cards. (haha) Seriously, this is not the Church. Not sure when that photo was taken, but can you imagine if that door opened, and out walked Teresa of Calcutta. Would the Cardinal kinda feel like a fool, or not?
June 7th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I think the material salespeople are selling the 18 foot capes, so they can make more money! The Cardinals probably think, “who the heck decides to buy these things anyway.”
June 9th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I only wear my 18 foot silk cape when I go out for cosmos with the girls, and even then I keep the mitre at home.