Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
Catholic question...
Settle an argument for me...
Why, exactly, do we refer to the cardinals as "George Cardinal Spinelessmarshmallow" and not "Cardinal Seamless O'Boychaser"?
From what I understand (though I'm hard-pressed to find documentation at this exact moment), the convention came about as a sign of humility within the College of Cardinals--that a Cardinal be addressed primarily by his Christian name, and only then by his proper title (as opposed to begin to address him by saying something like, "May I present His Lordship William Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Keeler", one could say in a more humble fashion, "May I present William Cardinal Keeler").
From what I understand, in saying "Cardinal" after the cleric's first name, one makes an unconscious pause, almost as if to correct onself, e.g. George *break* Cardinal Pell.
I had thought it is because Cardinals are Princes of the Church. One might say Edward, Earl of Wessex; Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; and by extension Edward, Cardinal Egan. Through gradual use the comma is merely implied rather than actually employed.
I'm guessing, but p'raps it also has to do with the episcopal custom, for a bishop to be called "+Albert Krakatoa", as a symbol of marriage to the church, and fatherhood of an area under God's care.
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ReplyDeleteAnonymous posts are not allowed. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteCommbox rules are posted to the left and down a bit.
But as for the "Church of What's Happening Now"...
are you referring to the Church of the Holy Zeitgeist?
I've heard of that one.
From what I understand (though I'm hard-pressed to find documentation at this exact moment), the convention came about as a sign of humility within the College of Cardinals--that a Cardinal be addressed primarily by his Christian name, and only then by his proper title (as opposed to begin to address him by saying something like, "May I present His Lordship William Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Keeler", one could say in a more humble fashion, "May I present William Cardinal Keeler").
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand, in saying "Cardinal" after the cleric's first name, one makes an unconscious pause, almost as if to correct onself, e.g. George *break* Cardinal Pell.
Hope that helps...
I had thought it is because Cardinals are Princes of the Church. One might say Edward, Earl of Wessex; Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; and by extension Edward, Cardinal Egan. Through gradual use the comma is merely implied rather than actually employed.
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm with Cusack on this one. This is what I understood too.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Cusack also
ReplyDeleteafter all, the introduction of Cardinals, Dukes etc antedates the invention of surnames
I'm guessing, but p'raps it also has to do with the episcopal custom, for a bishop to be called "+Albert Krakatoa", as a symbol of marriage to the church, and fatherhood of an area under God's care.
ReplyDelete