Minor Orders

Conformably to the designs of Our Lord, the Church has ordained that there should be for each of them (orders) a particular class of ministers, that some should be established to watch over the holy place, others to instruct the faithful, others to defend them against the devil and withdraw them from his power, still others to prepare the sanctuary and to decorate the altar, etc. Moreover it has been determined that one may arrive at the higher powers only progressively, mounting degree by degree, that each new order be super-added to the preceding orders, and that the lower be dependent on the higher. {Si quis dixerit non esse in Ecclesia ordines et majores et minores, per quos velut per gradus quosdam in sacerdotium tendatur, anathema sit. CONG. TRID., Sess. xxm, can. 2. Ordinis sacramentum est thronus ille eburneus mystici Salomonis, cujus reclinatorium aureum, ad quern ascenditur sex gradibus purpureis, media caritate constratis. PET. BLES}.

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Hence the holy hierarchy of sacred ministers, the supernatural origin and divine character of which was defined by the Council of Trent. {Si quis dixerit non esse hierarchiam divina ordinatione institutam, anathema sit. CONC. TRID., Sess. xxm, can. 6. Minor Orders. 5}.

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Thus, the pontificate or the plenitude of priestly power which resides in the Bishop, is distributed by ordination into seven distinct orders, the one subordinate to the other: the priesthood, which gives the power to offer and consecrate the Divine Host; the diaconate, charged with its distribution; the subdiaconate, to which belongs the duty of preparing the matter of the sacrifice and the sacred vessels; the order of acolyte, to which belongs the care of the altar and the lights; the order of exorcist, which keeps out the unworthy and frees those possessed; the order of lector, which proclaims the word of God and assists the hearers to penetrate into its spirit; the order of ostiary, which guards the property of the House of God and assembles the faithful.

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These seven powers successively conferred, beginning with the last, are superimposed one upon the other without ever disappearing or coming in conflict, so that in the priesthood, the highest of them all, they are all found. The priest unites them all in his person and has to exercise them all his life in the various offices of his ministry. They are as the seven columns of the living temple which the Incarnate Wisdom has raised up to the Divine Majesty. {Sapentia sedificavit sibi domum, excidit columnas septem, immolavit victimas suas, miscuit vinum et proposuit mensam suam. PROV., ix, 1}.

Guadalupe

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Non fecit táliter omni natióni
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Papal Privileges - Patriarch of Lisbon

O.K. Finally!!!

I have found a picture of the Mitre-tiara that used to be worn by the Patriarch of Lisbon as a privilege given to him. I have also found a picture of the sedia gestatoria that the same Patriarch was allowed to have and preach from, but he could not use it for procession or things like that - just preach (I'm pretty sure).

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This Mitre, from far away, is supposed to resemble a (papal) Tiara. That is the purpose of the three lines of jewls on it. Of course, the top will always look like a Mitre, even from far away, because it is a Mitre! However, the tiara (very different from the Papal one) is still part of coat of arms of the Patriarch of Lisbon. Check their website!

Now, this is a picture (very small, though) of the sedia and the flabella used by the Patriarch. The sedia looks smaller than the Papal one and not as wide. The flabella are much smaller, too.

La inmaculada - ~ P. Rodríguez Villar

Llegado el tiempo dichoso fijado por Dios para la salvación del mundo, fué concebida la Santísima Virgen, pero no como los demás hombres, sino pura y sin mancha, sin contraer el pecado original.

Diecinueve siglos suspiró la Iglesia por este Dogma. -- Contempla el magnífico desfile: son los Santos Padres, los Doctores, los escritores eclesiasticos, los místicos y ascéticos, los santos todos y en especial los más enamorados de María, los que han tejido sin cesar una corona de alabanzas a su Inmaculada Concepción. Son las vírgenes de la Santa Iglesia que por imitar su inmaculada pureza, se consagran a Ella, y a imitación suya, con voto de virginidad. -- Mira cuántas son y qué hermosas... ­¡qué ejército tan escogido!... es el ejército blanco de María Inmaculada. -- Fué todo el pueblo cristiano que la aclamaba hasta en sus cantares, pura y limpia en su Concepción. -- No ha habido Dogma más hondamente sentido, ni más comprendido por todos que éste. -- Y fué entonces, cuando después de diecinueve siglos, el Papa Pío IX, recogiendo ese anhelo y esas alabanzas, teje con ellas la corona definitiva de la definición dogmática de la Inmaculada Concepción.

Contempla ahora el alma de María al entrar en el mundo. -- También Ella debía ser como nosotros y nacer como nosotros... pero Dios la exceptúa y Ella sola... la única... nace tal, cual se formó en las manos del Señor... pura... limpia... sin mancha... inmaculada. -- Mira a los ángeles acompañándola con palmas y celebrando su entrada en este mundo que no es una derrota como en nosotros [que nacemos con pecado], sino un triunfo sobre la serpiente. Canta con los ángeles alabanzas a la Virgen, al verla así tan hermosa aparecer en la tierra. -- No ha habido, ni habrá flor más blanca que el alma de María en su concepción.

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...Contempla a esa alma purísima que brota de las manos de Dios, y burlando al demonio entra en el mundo victoriosa, mientras los ángeles la acompañan y la cantan "Toda hermosa eres María, y no hay en Ti mancha alguna." -- Repite muchas veces: todos menos Tú... donde todos caen, Tú no caes... donde todos mueren, Tú vives... donde todos se manchan, Tú permaneces pura e Inmaculada. -- Privilegio gloriosísimo por ser único.

Piensa cómo Dios deja gustoso su Palacio del Cielo por morar en María. -- ¡Qué pureza daría a aquella sangre que había de correr por las venas de su Hijo!... ¡Qué carmín a aquellos labios que tantas veces habían de besar las mejillas de su Hijo!... ¡Qué brillo a aquellos ojos que se habían de extasiar contemplando los de su Hijo!... ¡Qué manos las que habían de sostener al que sostiene con las suyas a la creación entera!... ¡Qué corazón tan puro, tan delicado, tan tierno!... Ella en su Concepción tuvo más santidad y gracia que todos los santos juntos... donde los demás terminan, Ella empieza: ¿qué será María?

Sólo María es flor de pétalos blancos, sin polvo y sin espinas: rosa de huerto cerrado..., pura más que el mismo sol, que también tiene manchas..., por eso de Ella, dice la Iglesia, que "comparada con la luz, es más pura y brillante"... ¡Qué hermosísima el alma de María! ...Tota pulchra es..., dila muchas veces con el alma extasiada ante Ella... Toda hermosa eres, Madre mía... Y todo un Dios se recrea en tan graciosa belleza... Dame el participar de esta hermosura... que de esta belleza de pureza y virginidad me enamore para así imitarte en algo... y para ellos te doy desde ahora alma, vida y corazón... ¡mírame con compasión, no me dejes, Madre mía!...

Advice FOR THE CAREFUL Altar server

† DO NOT come up with your own "pious" gestures.

† DO NOT destroy Signs of the Cross. It is an action to be proud of.

† Do not rush your responses.

† Do not begin your response till the Priest has finished.

† Do not destroy your genuflections. Bring your right knee down to the ground close to your left foot, keeping head and shoulders erect.

† Sign yourself (†) when the Priest begins to read the Introit, except during Masses for the deceased.

† ALWAYS make the reverences every time the Most Holy Name of Our Lord (Jesus or Jesus Christ, but not just Christ), the Name of Our Lady (Mary), the name of the reigning Pontiff, and name of the Saint of the day are mentioned (This does not occur on Sundays).

† Do not rush about the Sanctuary, and do not dawdle, either.

† Do not be afraid to join your hands properly: palms together, right thumb over left. If one hand is doing something, place the unoccupied hand on your heart. (Your heart is not right over to the left).

† ALWAYS remember to genuflect every time you pass in front of the Tabernacle.

† Do not rub the cruet against the Priest's fingers at the Lavabo. Leave him room to move his fingers.

† DO NOT hand the Priest anything with your LEFT hand.

† Do not ring the bell as though it were an alarm. The bell is a signal.

† Do not fail to watch for the Dómine non sum dignus. Remember that the Priest has to say it in a low tone, and if there is a noise, you might not hear him.

† DO NOT stretch along the Altar to pour wine into the Chalice. Go quietly up to the side of the Priest. Be ready to do so as soon as you return to the Altar.

† DO NOT rest your hands on the Altar. Only the Celebrant may do that, and he only sometimes.

† DO NOT lean against the Altar.

† NEVER walk backwards. The back of the cassock is longer than the front.

† When you are sitting down, rest your hands flat on your lap.

† Always be attentive during the Mass and the Sermon. DO NOT look around the church or directly at the congregation.

† When you help the Priest to distribute Holy Communion, DO NOT turn the Communion plate over as there might be some Particles of the Blessed Sacrament on it.

Female Religious Orders (2)

Benedictine

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Philippine

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Bernardine

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Apostoline

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Augustinian (Portuguese)

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Augustinian (Penitent)

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Augustinian

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Perpetual Adoratrix of the Blessed Sacrament

Male Religious Orders (2)

 Augustinian (formal habit)

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Augustinian (home habit)
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Barnabite
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Cistercian Benedictine
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Confederate Benedictine
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Vallombrosian Benedictine

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Silvestrian

Female Religious Orders

Basilian

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Cappuciness

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Carmelite

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Poor Clare

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Immaculate Conception

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Immaculate Conception

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Maronite

Male Religious Orders

Dominican

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Camaldolese
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Cappucin

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Descalced Carmelite
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Mercedarian
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Franciscan
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Trinitarian

Blessed Pius IX's Mitre

This could possibly be the Mitre that Pope Benedict will soon wear.

(Picture sent by a friend from Livorno who received it from a friend from Milano)

I thought that no one had worn the Mitre after Bl. Pius IX, but we can see that Pope John Paul II wore it once. Well, he had to wear something that had to go with the Eastern Mitre-crowns.


The Immaculate Conception Mitre seems somewhat smaller (compared to the ones worn by Pius XII & John XXIII). However, as seen in this picture of Pope Pius IX, it seems he had a preference for somewhat smaller Mitres (but not ugly like the modern ones). (The above is supposed to be a picture -not a painting- that was later retouched, but I cannot prove it).
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This picture (of vestments that belonged to Bl. Pius IX) again shows a beautiful Mitre that was smaller than the ones worn by Pius XII and John XXIII.