I can't say it's my favorite, however, nice to see you reunited with part of your history. Beautiful cabinetry, however. Everything had its place and I suppose if you could zoom out, the unit as a whole probably bore a resemblance to a high altar (on purpose).
RCIA, I was tempted to do so but the EF master of ceremonies who tool the photo, Dr. Felix Maher counseled against it!!!!! I did send our new bishop this photo but said I did not wear it because it did not match the chasuble!
Once, trying to be of assistance to Bishop Lessard, I reached out to hold his crozier while he was adjusting, I think, the clip on microphone. He initially acted as if he would allow me to hold the crozier, but then pulled back, pretending to be shocked. I said, "Don't worry, I won't leave any marks on it." In his typically clever way, he looked me in the eye and said, "You've got it backwards. It leaves the mark on you."
In the Episcopal Church, the use of the miter these days is widespread, but not required. Atlanta's Episcopal bishop got his degree at traditionally Low-Church Virginia Theological Seminary and often only wears his miter when presiding at his cathedral. Often he just basically wears choir robes (rochet and chimere) even when presiding over confirmations. Traditionally, southern Episcopal dioceses were "Low Church" in their liturgical orientation, so for many years, Eucharistic vestments were rare in Episcopal parishes, And ditto for bishops miters. Savannah's Episcopal diocese has had bishops with a more liturgical orientation since the days of the late Bishop Albert Stuart.
I'm more of a fan of traditional miters which were always white and/or gold and not modern ones which match the other vestments in color and style (which seems to be a gimmick of vestment makers to increase sales).
Medieval miters were white, red, gold, and sometimes blue. Miters also in the Orthodox or Eastern churches could come in a variety of colors. They were not always white or gold.
Anonymous June 15, 2021 T 8:26 pm: I recommend you read the classic of 1909, "Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church: According to Roman Etiquette" By John Abel Nainfa. You can read it online on google books. It says of the precious miter (which today is simply the ornate miter in the Ceremonial of Bishops) "It is to be made of fine white silk or silver cloth tastefully embroidered with silk and gold."
JR - Yes, the "precious" or "ornate" miter is to be...
There are, however, not-so-precious and far-less-ornate miters, no?
I all my Catholic years, I've never seen a miter in "silver cloth." I'm not saying they're not out there, but, having seen thousands of miters in action, not one has been of silver cloth.
Reaching to my own handy bookshelf and referring to my own handy copy of "Costumes of Prelates of the Catholic Church" by Rev. John A. Nainfa, SS, Professor of Church History and Litirgy, St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, MD (copyright 1909) I find his comments on the overly large ogival headpieces preferred by some of the prelates today, quite humorous. "This high mitre is not only UGLY (caps mine) and out of proportion, but is heavy and inconvenient to wear."
11 comments:
I can't say it's my favorite, however, nice to see you reunited with part of your history. Beautiful cabinetry, however. Everything had its place and I suppose if you could zoom out, the unit as a whole probably bore a resemblance to a high altar (on purpose).
That is really cool! Tell the truth, did you try it on?
RCIA, I was tempted to do so but the EF master of ceremonies who tool the photo, Dr. Felix Maher counseled against it!!!!! I did send our new bishop this photo but said I did not wear it because it did not match the chasuble!
Once, trying to be of assistance to Bishop Lessard, I reached out to hold his crozier while he was adjusting, I think, the clip on microphone. He initially acted as if he would allow me to hold the crozier, but then pulled back, pretending to be shocked. I said, "Don't worry, I won't leave any marks on it." In his typically clever way, he looked me in the eye and said, "You've got it backwards. It leaves the mark on you."
He knew too well.....
Is the miter still in use?
Is the miter still in use?
In the Episcopal Church, the use of the miter these days is widespread, but not required. Atlanta's Episcopal bishop got his degree at traditionally Low-Church Virginia Theological Seminary and often only wears his miter when presiding at his cathedral. Often he just basically wears choir robes (rochet and chimere) even when presiding over confirmations. Traditionally, southern Episcopal dioceses were "Low Church" in their liturgical orientation, so for many years, Eucharistic vestments were rare in Episcopal parishes, And ditto for bishops miters. Savannah's Episcopal diocese has had bishops with a more liturgical orientation since the days of the late Bishop Albert Stuart.
No longer used.
I'm more of a fan of traditional miters which were always white and/or gold and not modern ones which match the other vestments in color and style (which seems to be a gimmick of vestment makers to increase sales).
Medieval miters were white, red, gold, and sometimes blue. Miters also in the Orthodox or Eastern churches could come in a variety of colors. They were not always white or gold.
Anonymous June 15, 2021 T 8:26 pm: I recommend you read the classic of 1909, "Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church: According to Roman Etiquette" By John Abel Nainfa. You can read it online on google books. It says of the precious miter (which today is simply the ornate miter in the Ceremonial of Bishops) "It is to be made of fine white silk or silver cloth tastefully embroidered with silk and gold."
JR - Yes, the "precious" or "ornate" miter is to be...
There are, however, not-so-precious and far-less-ornate miters, no?
I all my Catholic years, I've never seen a miter in "silver cloth." I'm not saying they're not out there, but, having seen thousands of miters in action, not one has been of silver cloth.
Reaching to my own handy bookshelf and referring to my own handy copy of "Costumes of Prelates of the Catholic Church" by Rev. John A. Nainfa, SS, Professor of Church History and Litirgy, St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, MD (copyright 1909) I find his comments on the overly large ogival headpieces preferred by some of the prelates today, quite humorous. "This high mitre is not only UGLY (caps mine) and out of proportion, but is heavy and inconvenient to wear."
Post a Comment