I plan, in the middle of next week, a little post on heraldic intercourse between Cardinals. Meanwhile, may I briefly float this: a laicised cleric ought to have the right to display his status armorially.
For Cardinals, perhaps this could be done by superimposing on the shield and on the galero a small escutcheon of the arms of S Gallen in Switzerland.
Any Bishops who, being heterosexual, have begotten children would need some small elegant charge which the heirs male of their body would be proud to inherit and to display. Ideas? A mitre, perhaps, debruised by a baton sinister?
" Any Bishops who, being heterosexual, have begotten children would need some small elegant Charge, which the heirs male of their body would be proud to inherit and to display. Ideas ?
ReplyDeleteA mitre, perhaps, debruised by a baton sinister ? "
Dear Rev. Fr. May I, respectfully, suggest " Bends Sinister Wavy " ?
How about laicized clergy displaying Monty Python’s giant “foot of Cupid” coming down and crushing the galero on top of the shield?
ReplyDeleteMr McCarick's shield can have a black "X" painted over it.
ReplyDeleteThe same for all his co-conspirators . . . .
Perhaps one could check what arms were borne by Cardinal Cesare Borgia. He would be ideal from this perspective owing to his case being relevant to both sons of cardinals and to former cardinals.
ReplyDeleteHow about laicized clergy displaying a sable pitchfork on a blazing field?
ReplyDeleteIs there different terminology for those laicized as a punishment, versus those laicized by being granted permission to go? One would not like to paint the poorly discerning man of goodwill with the same brush as unindicted criminals.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest a blank escutcheon with the warning below:
ReplyDelete“The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
Traditionally nephews ex fratre of bishops and cardinals inherit their arms, as they are considered their "descendants" - which is something a prelate should consider (should he ever be aware of this!) before assuming arms which, alas! are generally badly designed \ ridicolous \ un-heraldic \ inept.
ReplyDeleteIn Italy until the 1860s the nephews of prelates were also ennobled by their uncle's rank, as they inherited the noble status pertaing to their office.
Of course, if a prelate is laicized, he loses the privileges attached to his rank, such as arms.