TRIREGNUM tradition & continuity

CATHEDRA PETRI CHAIR OF ST PETER

2008-02-28T16:18:00.003-05:00

Unfortunately dear readers I have been busy with a new place of employment and have been unable to add new material to this blog. I should however like to say that I am encouraged by the large amount of readers who have added their names to the petition to which this blog is dedicated. I would like to encourage you all to make known this petition far and wide. On the feast of the Chair of St Petrus traditionally the statue of St Peter in Saint Peter's Rome is clothed in a beautiful cope (not unlike those being worn of late in Rome Deo Gratias) and crowned with the beloved Triregnum Tiara. We all pray that our Holy Father will revive the use of this symbol of his sublime office soon.

PLEASE READ AND SIGN AND MAKE KNOWN THE FOLLOWING PETITION TO THE HOLY FATHER FOR A RETURN OF THE TRIREGNUM

2008-02-13T18:13:00.004-05:00

THE FOLLOWING PETITION TO THE HOLY FATHER CAN BE SIGNED AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: Petition for a return of the Papal triregnum tiara Petition ...

Most Holy Father,

We are most grateful to you for your continued untiring dedication in restoring the sacred to the holy liturgy & above all we thank you for your Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" and the restoration of the Classical Rite. We can only applaud your efforts to restore continuity in the Church. We especially laud your continued effort to restore the use of venerable papal vestments & other traditions thereby reaffirming the dignity of your office as the Vicar of Christ. Many if not most of us were born during or after the Second Vatican Council. Many of us feel robbed of our sacred patrimony as Roman Catholics and are therefore all the more grateful to your holiness for your work for the "hermeneutic of continuity" in holy mother church. Most of us were deeply saddened at the abandonment of the triregnum & papal coronation as provided for by your predecessor his holiness of blessed memory Paul VI in his 1975 Apostolic Constitution "Romano Pontifici Eligendo". This venerable ceremony and crowning with the papal triregnum so full of rich symbolism calling to mind the very kingship of Jesus Christ would be but one more blessed opportunity to pay tribute to our patrimony. We the undersigned faithful humbly beg you Holy Father to restore the venerable tradition of the triregnum to the papal ceremonial. The patriarchs of the Orthodox east do not refrain from their own traditions & insignia of their patriarchal office and authority therefore all the more fitting is it that you holy father the vicar of Christ, the patriarch of all the west, the bishop of Rome should wear that ancient symbol of your office the triregnum. For as Mgr Nabuco states in his "Ius Pontificalium" : "Being exempt from all human authority, [The Apostolic Lord: (The Pope)] is crowned with a Tiara and uses it vested with the Sacred Vestments as a sign of his supreme dignity in temporal as well as in spiritual matters."

Submitted respectfully in the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

Out of necessity

2008-02-10T21:15:00.000-05:00

Since my work schedule now requires me to work more Sundays a month than I would like I am now out of necessity to make a painful decision. There is only one diocesan sponsored usus antiquior in my city on any given Sunday. There are 2 or 3 that are either SSPX, Sedevacantist, Sedeprivationist ect at various chapels. My dilemma is one that I'm sure many out there are faced with: what to do when I am unable to assist at the diocesan sponsored usus antiquior? I would not have issue with going to a chapel of SSPX. I have at this time opted to try to find a tolerable missa ordinaria which is like finding a needle in a haystack. It is a real dilemma of conscience for me. I have issue with alot that goes on at most parish liturgies. My real dilemma is that because of circumstances being the way they are ie. 'EXTRAORDINARY ministers of the Eucharist', hand communion, and just the whole decorum that goes along with celebrations of average missa ordinaria. My biggest issue is not being able to kneel for holy communion which bothers me a great deal and so normally (like today) I went with out and made a spiritual communion which is a great sacrifice. Would that there were parishes like a former one of mine Church and School of St. Agnes or St. Joseph Catholic Church, Detroit, Michigan or St John Cantius Parish to name a few places where the missa ordinaria are celebrated with as much hermeneutic of continuity as possible. Alas I don't have this option. I beg your prayers that the liturgical landscape will begin to change soon. 

FASTING

2008-02-06T09:28:00.000-05:00

This will be the third year or so that i've sought to hold to a more traditional fast during the season of Lent. This means for me one major meal and two smaller meals that together do not equal the major meal. I try because of my blood sugar to drink pure fruit juice between my meals. As I long ago gave up flesh meats I try to limit my use of eggs and dairy to Sundays without being too scrupulous about it. This being more akin to the fast held by eastern churches. I find I do very well increasing my intake of fresh vegetables, legumes & whole grains. I also try to drink lots of fresh water. The practice of fasting has made me appreciate food and God's providence alot more. Fasting has made me more grateful for God's bounty and much more aware.

The fisheaters website has alot of wonderful information on Fasting and Abstinence. I am going to try to include some good lenten recipes for all my readers.

Shrove Tuesday

2008-02-05T21:25:00.000-05:00

I took the opportunity to be 'shriven' this past Saturday morning. I've always liked that word 'shriven'. I have very vivid memories of the lively celebrations of Carnival in Cologne and the Rhineland where I lived for many years. The one thing that always amazed me was that in many places where Carnival is celebrated it's become nothing more than an opportunity for sin and hedonistic indulgence for people who have no intention of giving up anything for Lent let alone offending almighty God.

I've always liked this work by Bruegel, "The fight between carnival and Lent". If you get a chance to see view it up close it's quite extraordinary (Click on the picture to enlarge it). It's very full of symbolism. If you look closely in the upper right hand corner you can see penitents leaving the Church (after having been shriven). I hope most of you had the opportunity to go to confession today or are planning to do so soon.

The Lenten rigours begin tomorrow. The current law of the Church obliges us to fast and abstain from meat on only two days Ash Wednesday (tomorrow) and Good Friday as well as abastaining from all meat on all the fridays of Lent. I gave up meat long ago in order to live a more simple life so I try to fast more during Lent and to give up dairy and eggs on the fridays of lent (as is the custom in the eastern rite churches). If any of you need any recipes for making lenten fare, I would be most happy to send them to you.

The Code of Canon Law states that Fridays throughout the year and in the time of Lent are penitential days for the entire Church. Although fasting usually refers to any practice of restricting food, there is a distinction, in the Church, between fast (limiting food to one full meal a day, with two smaller meals allowed) and abstinence (abstaining from eating meat.) Abstinence from meat on Fridays as the universal form of penance on all Fridays is no longer mandatory. We may choose another way of observing the Church's requirement for acts of penance on Fridays, but we are not to neglect it, either.
Since the change in the abstinence rules, some people have become confused about the requirement to observe penitential days. As a result, the discipline of fasting (or abstaining from meat) or any form of regular penance has all but disappeared. Confession, or the Sacrament of Penance (or Reconciliation) has sharply declined, as well.
Both fast and abstinence are required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. For the record, rules of the Church in the United States about fasting and abstinence in effect since 1966 state that:
"Catholics in the United States are obliged to abstain from the eating of meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays during the season of Lent. They are also obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday. Self-imposed observance of fasting on all weekdays of Lent is strongly recommended. Abstinence from flesh meat on all Fridays of the year [excluding solemnities like Christmas which may fall on Friday] is especially recommended to individuals and to the Catholic community as a whole." (ref. Canons 1249-1253, Code of Canon Law)

Happy Candlemas

2008-02-02T10:18:00.000-05:00

I wish you all dear readers where ever you are a very happy and blessed Candlemas. I went to the early traditional Mass this morning at 7am. Unfortunately, we didn't have the procession and blessing of candles. I remember growing up with the 'forma ordinaria' that the liturgy for this day included a gathering outside the church or oratory with blessing of candles and priest & people processing into the Church. Unfortunately during my childhood we didn't celebrate this beautiful feastday with the blessing of candles or procession. This like so many of the ancient observances fell into disuse after the council. It's very important to have blessed candles in the home. They are used to meet the priest at the door with the Blessed Sacrament when he comes on sick calls and to have on the bedside table in the sick room. If you like me were unable to get any at Church you can get them here: http://www.theholyfamily.com/Candles.htm

We live in dark times. We need all the light we can get! I think few of you would disagree with this. We as traditional Catholics need to be 'a light to the nations' and to all of those around us. There is such beauty and richness to our Catholic faith. Septuagesima is fast ending. Lent will be upon us soon. It's time for us to get our 'lenten rule' formulated. Last year I did my best to assist at the traditional Mass every day. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to do that this year but i'll try to do something. Let's all make a holy Lent. Let us pray that with the revival of the ancient liturgy that such beautiful traditions will be revived as well. Pray fervently for the holy father, pray for the consecration and conversion of Russia, pray for a revival and return to holy tradition.

in memoriam Pater Andreas Hoenisch SJM

2008-01-26T09:59:00.000-05:00

I received very sad news from Austria yesterday. Father Andreas Hoenisch SJM the founder of SJM - Congregation (Servi Jesu et Mariae) passed to his eternal reward in the night between Thursday and Friday. Father Hoenisch was an ardent advocate of tradition and continuity. He was deeply ignatian in his spirituality. He was a priest of the Society of Jesus until such time as he was unable to continue on as a traditional Jesuit and founded the Servi Jesu et Mariae in 1988 with the consent of the bishop of the diocese of Augsburg, Germany. A more detailed account of the life of this holy man can be read at The New Liturgical Movement: Fr Andreas Hönisch SJM

I became familiar with the Servi Jesu et Mariae whilst living in Germany and making pilgrimages to the marian shrine Marienfried near Ulm, Germany. The Catholic scouting movement founded by Pater Hoenisch always had a strong gathering there. I've been prayerfully considering a vocation with the Servi Jesu et Mariae. I had spoken a few months back with Pater Hoenisch about this. I am deeply saddened that I shall no longer have the chance in this life to meet this wonderful priest. I am consoled that he can now pray for me and my vocation. I ask for all your prayers for the repose of the soul of this holy priest.

The Lord has blessed is in these bleak and dismal times with such priests who are few and far between and who have remained faithful to tradition and continuity and for this I shall remain eternally grateful.

Der Herr gib Ihm die ewige Ruhe und das ewige Licht erleuchte Ihm.

St Agnes

2008-01-21T14:27:00.000-05:00

Today is the feast of St. Agnes virgin & martyr St. Agnes Eve & St. Agnes Day . I should like to commemorate her and the great church of St. Agnes in St. Paul, Minnesota Church and School of St. Agnes which celebrates its' patronal feast today. It was at St. Agnes Church in the twin cities where I first found a truly Catholic spiritual home. It was where I first witnessed and was a part of what would come to be called, "the hermeneutic of continuity". Whatever your position is regarding the Novus Ordo Missae and its' kalendar I think we can all agree that the work put forth by the great msgr richard j schuler (RIP) for "the hermeneutic of continuity" was a very great work. St. Agnes Church was a well watered oasis of sanity in those bleak years following the council when it seemed the whole church had lost its' way. I shall always be eternally grateful to Msgr. Schuler and to St Agnes Church for being there for me and countless others at a time when authentically Catholic places of worship & liturgy were few and far between. It was at St Agnes that I first took part in Benediction of Blessed Sacrament, it was where I first heard Gregorian Chant, it was where I first learned the words of the Pater Noster and it was where I first saw a housling cloth covered altar rail where the faithful kneel to receive the Blessed Sacrament.

I would urge anyone who is fortunate enough to live in the twin cities to visit St Agnes Church and for those who might be visiting to not miss attending Holy Mass there at 10 am on Sundays. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Msgr. Schuler. St. Agnes virgin & martyr pray for us!

Septuagesima

2008-01-20T15:08:00.000-05:00

The name "Septuagesima" Septuagesima Sunday and its Vigil (roughly 70 days before Easter) is one of those words that conjures up mystery and being a part of something beyond the 20th century. It seemed to me in childhood part of that mysteriousness that we as Catholics had always shared along with other things that had fallen into disuse (meatless fridays, women's head coverings, processions etc) I remember as a young boy first seeing the name (along with all the "gesimas") in old missals and prayerbooks in those dismal years following the introduction of the new kalendar. I didn't know its' meaning as a child and as it was part of the "old pre vatican II church" it didn't seem proper to ask about it though of course I longed to know about it and a whole myriad of other things. I wished more than anything to be a part of the Church of the ages and to share in those things that had organically developed over time. I read about the saints and their spiritual lives and wondering how on earth what I saw on a weekly basis in my parish church (liturgically speaking) was one and the same with what the saints of old experienced in ages past. There was a sense of disconnection with them. I couldn't put my finger on it but I just seemed to know that there was a rupture with our past.

A few years back I remember how surprised I was to find that "the gesimas" had been preserved in varying degrees among the Lutherans and Anglicans (at least on their respective calendars). They are marked in their liturgies with the omission of the Gloria. I remember they also knelt at communion time at the railing to receive in their churches. How odd I thought that they should preserve such traditional practices when we had done away with them. The difference seemed that practiced such traditions not out of some allegiance to tradition or apostolic practice but simply because they preferred it that way. I did find it telling though that they seemed to be aware & humble enough to know that they should kneel at such times. It seemed prudent on their part that they kept "the gesimas" at least on their calendars if for no other reason than as a preparation time for Lent. I've always disliked the word, "ordinary time". There is no "ordinary time" in the life of a Catholic. Surely they could have come up with a better term than this! I hope and pray that this will begin a time of reflection for us all as we prepare to make a good and holy lent.

AD DEUM

2008-01-15T16:01:00.000-05:00

As has been published far and wide on the internet the holy Father has shown all the Catholic world his desire for a return to continuity and tradition in his celebrating the missal of Paul VI "Ad Orientem". It's been a vexation for me to read the unenlightened and rather ignorant mutterings of the secular press regarding Sunday's liturgical celebration. One would think that a bit more research could be put into an article other than to say in essence that the holy father celebrated Mass "with back to the faithful". The secular and sadly Catholic press all to often lead only to confuse the faithful and public at large with their ignorance of liturgical matters.

I am and know many of you out there in blogosphere are eternally grateful to the holy father for this sign of hope and "the hermeneutic of continuity". We know that for far too long (for many of us since childhood) we have been told that any kind of continuity with the preconciliar church is out of touch with that nebulous "spirit of Vatican II". My reading of Sacrosanctum Concilium in junior high school was enough to inform me that the "Novus Ordo" as it was celebrated in the great majority of Churches was not what the council fathers had in mind. Not to mention that what was seen in the average parish church was in sharp contrast to what I read about (liturgically-speaking) in the "Lives of the Saints". It was as if there was a "fresh start" from "point zero" and that everything that had existed and been held to be sacred and in high esteem prior to 1969 was suspect. It was common place to hear "Oh, Vatican II did away with that!". I'm sure many of you have heard this ad nauseum.

I am grateful that the holy father has taken the lead in this endeavor to dispel this myth. My great hope is that he shall continue to do this with ever more frequency. He needs our daily fervent prayers.

Ruminations

2008-01-08T13:20:00.000-05:00

It occurred to me when I considered starting a petition for the restoration of the "Triregnum" that it would to many seem an exercise in futility. Especially considering the holy Father's coat of arms that specifically broke with the tradition of including the tiara and replaced it with a "mere" bishop's mitre. I think this was a disturbing development for most of us who consider ourselves as traditional Catholics. I mean for most of us it was bad enough that the coronation itself with the triregnum had been done away with by John Paul I and replaced with a "inauguration" which certainly speaks more about the spirit of the age in which we live. Many of you will ask, "why would the holy father revive the use of the triregnum when he has appeared to downplay it by breaking with tradition and leaving it out of his coat of arms?" This is a valid question and I shall seek to give a sufficient answer. I think too many out there see in the triregnum and the sedia and all of the traditional "pomp & ceremony" of the holy see as residue of the past having no bearing on the present. I mean we inaugurate presidents we don't crown them with a crown. I'm convinced that the times in which we live are so saturated with the "spirit of 1789" that in our day any reference to Kings or Kingship is seen as hopelessly old fashioned, passe and reactionary. This mentality is so widespread that it has in my opinion become prevelant in the Church in post Conciliar times. Catholics see Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We believe that the Pope is the vicar of Christ the king. I think this endeavor regarding the petition to restore the Triregnum is for many not only an exercise in futility but they see it as traditional Catholics placing too much emphasis on "external symbols". None of us would argue that his holiness Benedict XVI is any less a Pope simply because he was not crowned with and doesn't presently wear the triregnum. His authority does not rest in his wearing the tiara. However, the triregnum is symbolic of his authority just as the pallium is symbolic of that authority. We hear so little today about the social kingship of Christ, of Christ as King because it's not popular to speak of Kings and Kingship in this "democratic" age. Little if any aknowledgement is given to Christ the King even in the bosom of His Church. I would argue that in this age so imbued with the "spirit of 1789 of the French revolution" that such a symbol of the offices of priest, prophet and king would be a clear unmistakeble sign for all the world to see of the authority of the vicar of Christ and a clearly conducive to "the hermeneutic of continuity" so eloquently spoken of by the Holy Father. I think those of us who are traditional Catholics can pray for and work for a day when perhaps the Holy Father will revive this ancient tradition and perhaps consecrate Russia and all the world in union with all the bishops of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Jesus Christ the King of history. Let's pray for this sisters and brothers.

NEW ADVENT CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY FOR TIARA

2008-01-07T18:45:00.000-05:00

Tiara

The papal crown, a costly covering for the head, ornamented with precious stones and pearls, which is shaped like a bee-hive, has a small cross at its highest point, and is also equipped with three royal diadems. On account of the three diadems it is sometimes called triregnum. The tiara is a non-liturgical ornament, which, therefore, is only worn for non-liturgical ceremonies, ceremonial procession to church and back, ceremonial papal processions, such as took place upon stated occasions until Rome was occupied by the Piedmontese, and at solemn acts of jurisdiction, as, for example, solemn dogmatic decisions. The pope, like the bishops, wears a mitre at pontifical liturgical functions. The tiara is first mentioned in the "Vita" of Pope Constantine (708-715) contained in the "Liber Pontificalis". It is here called camelaucum; it is then mentioned in what is called the "Constitutum Constantini", the supposed donation of the Emperor Constantine, probably forged in the eighth century. Among the prerogatives assigned to the pope in this document there is especially a white ornament for the head called phrygium, which distinguished him; this naturally presupposes that, at the era the document was written, it was customary for the pope to wear such a head-covering. Three periods may be distinguished in the development of the tiara. The first period extends to the time when it was adorned with a royal circlet of diadem; in this period the papal ornament for the head was, as is clear from the "Constitutum Constantini" and from the ninth Ordo of Mabillon (ninth century), merely a helmet-like cap of white material. There may have been a trimming around the lower rim of the cap, but this had still in no way the character of a royal circlet. It is not positively known at which date the papal head-covering was adorned with such a circlet. At the time the Donation of Constantine appeared, that is in the eighth century, the papal head-covering had still no royal circlet, as is evident from the text of the document. In the ninth century also such circlet does not seem to have existed. It is true that the Ninth Ordo calls the papal cap regnum, but in the description that the Ordo gives of this cap we hear nothing at all of a crown, but merely that the regnum was a helmet-like cap made of white material. The monumental remains give no clue as to the period at which the papal head-covering became ornamented with a royal circlet. Up into the twelfth century the tiara was not only seldom represented in art, but is is also uncertain whether the ornamental strip on the lower edge is intended to represent merely a trimming or a diadem. This is especially true of the representation of the tiara on the coins of Sergius III (904-911) and Benedict VII (974-983), the only representations of the tenth century and also the earliest ones. Probably the papal head-covering received the circlet at the time when the mitre developed from the tiara, perhaps in the tenth century, in order to distinguish the mitre and tiara from each other. In any case the latter was provided with a circlet by about 1130, as is learned from a statement of Suger of St. Denis. The first proven appearance of the word tiara as the designation of the papal head-covering is in the life of Paschal II (1099-1118), in the "Liber Pontificalis".
The second period of the development of the tiara extends to the pontificate of Boniface VIII (1294-1303). There are a large number of representations of the tiara belonging to this period, and of these the Roman ones have naturally the most value. The diadem remained a simple although richly-ornamented ring up into the second half of the thirteenth century; it then became an antique or tooth-edged crown. The two lappets (caudæ) at the back of the tiara are first seen in the pictures and sculpture in the thirteenth century, but were undoubtedly customary before this. Strange to say they were black in color, as is evident both from the monumental remains and from the inventories, and this color was retained even into the fifteenth century. When the tiara is represented in sculpture and painting as a piece of braiding, this seems to arise from the fact that in the thirteenth century the tiara was made of strips braided together. Of much importance for the tiara was the third period of development that began with the pontificate of Boniface VIII. It is evident from the inventory of the papal treasures of 1295 that the tiara at that era had still only one royal circlet. A change, however, was soon to appear. During the pontificate of Boniface VIII a second crown was added to the former one. Three statues of the pope which were made during his lifetime and under his eyes, and of which two were ordered by Boniface himself, leave no doubt as to this. Two of these statues are in the crypt of St. Peter's, and the third, generally called erroneously a statue of Nicholas IV, is in the Church of the Lateran. In all three the tiara has two crowns. What led Boniface VIII to make this change, whether merely love of pomp, or whether he desired to express by the tiara with two crowns his opinions concerning the double papal authority, cannot be determined. The first notice of three crowns is contained in an inventory of the papal treasure of the year 1315 or 1316. As to the tombs of the popes, the monument of Benedict XI (d. 1304) at Perugia shows a tiara of the early kind; the grave and statue of Clement V as Uzeste in the Gironde were mutilated by the Calvinists, so that nothing can be learned from them regarding the form of the tiara. The statue upon the tomb of John XXII is adorned with a tiara having two crowns. The earliest representation of a tiara with three crowns, therefore, is offered by the effigy of Benedict XII (d. 1342), the remains of which are preserved in the museum at Avignon. The tiara with three crowns is, consequently, the rule upon the monuments from the second half of the fourteenth century, even though, as an anachronism, there are isolated instances of the tiara with one crown up into the fifteenth century. Since the fifteenth century the tiara has received no changes worthy of note. Costly tiaras were made especially in the pontificates of Paul II (d. 1464), Sixtus IV (d. 1484), and above all in the pontificate of Julius II, who had a tiara valued at 200,000 ducats, made by the jeweller Caradosso of Milan.
Various hypotheses, some very singular, have been proposed as to the origin of the papal head-covering, the discussion of which here is unnecessary. The earliest name of the papal cap, camelaucum, as well as the Donation of Constantine, clearly point to the Byzantine East; it is hardly to be doubted that the model from which the papal cap was taken is to be found in the camelaucum of the Byzantine court dress. The adoption by the popes of the camelaucum as an ornament for the head in the seventh or at the latest in the eighth century is sufficiently explained by the important position which they had attained just at this period in Italy and chiefly at Rome; though they could not assume a crown, as they were not sovereign, they could wear a camelaucum, which was worn by the dignitaries of the Byzantine Empire.
Publication informationWritten by Joseph Braun. Transcribed by Tim Drake.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XIV. Published 1912. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, July 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur

TRIREGNUM "SINGING IN THE REIGN BLOG" POSTING

2008-01-07T17:26:00.000-05:00

The Papal Triple Crown and the Jewish High Priest's Miter

THE TRIREGNUM ON TURNING TOWARDS THE LORD BLOG

2008-01-07T17:05:00.000-05:00

Christ the King and the Crown of His Vicar

http://jeremypriest.blogspot.com/2007/12/christ-king-and-crown-of-his-vicar.html

ORBIS CATHOLICVS

2008-01-07T01:33:00.001-05:00

The "Orbis Catholicvs" blog has alot of interesting things to say about the tiara as well as some very fascinating photos of the same: http://orbiscatholicus.blogspot.com/search?q=tiara

Unam Sanctam Catholicam: The Papal Tiara

2008-01-04T11:01:00.000-05:00

Unam Sanctam Catholicam: The Papal Tiara

ROUGH DRAFT PETITION TO THE HOLY FATHER FOR A RETURN OF THE TRIREGNUM

2008-01-04T10:54:00.000-05:00

I've made an honest effort to make a "rough draft" of a petition that could be presented to the holy father. I humbly submit it for your critique and I welcome any and all suggestions regarding this endeavor.

Most Holy Father,
We are most grateful to you for your continued untiring dedication in restoring the sacred to the holy liturgy. Above all we thank you for your recent Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" and the restoration of the Classical Rite to its' rightful place. We can only applaud your efforts to restore continuity in the Church. We especially laud your continued effort to restore the use of venerable papal vestments & other traditions thereby reaffirming the dignity of your office as the Vicar of Christ. Many if not most of us were born during or after the Second Vatican Council. Many of us feel robbed of our sacred patrimony as Roman Catholics and are therefore all the more grateful to your holiness for your work for the "hermeneutic of continuity" in holy mother church. Most of us were deeply saddened at the abandonment of the triregnum & papal coronation ceremony as provided for by your predecessor his holiness of blessed memory Paul VI in his 1975 Apostolic Constitution "Romano Pontifici Eligendo". This venerable ceremony and crowning with the papal triregnum so rich in symbolism calling to mind the very kingship of Jesus Christ would be but one more blessed opportunity to pay tribute to our patrimony. We the undersigned faithful humbly beg you Holy Father to restore the venerable tradition of the triregnum to the papal ceremonial. The venerable patriarchs of the Orthodox east do not refrain from their own traditions & insignia of their patriarchal office and authority therefore all the more fitting is it that you holy father the vicar of Christ, the patriarch of all the west, the bishop of Rome should wear that ancient symbol of your office and authority: the triregnum. We see the current crisis in the Church as one stemming from disrespect for authority. We particularly lament Holy Father that your authority as Supreme Pontiff is disrespected even among those shepherds who owe you their filial allegiance. We are of the mind that were you to restore the use of the triregnum to its' rightful place in papal ceremonial that it would be a clear sign and symbol of your three-fold authority as Pope. Most Holy Father, on behalf of loyal Catholics everywhere, in the name of Sts Peter and Paul, Gregory the Great, Pius V, Pius X and all the great popes and saints who have gone before you, and in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord Who said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I shall build My Church," take up the rightful sign of your office! Assume the Triregnum so that the Church can govern teach and sanctify in power and in the Holy Spirit! Amen.
Submitted respectfully in the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

2008-01-01T01:07:00.001-05:00

V. Oremus pro Pontifice Nostro Benedictus R. Dóminus conservet eum et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum ejus

Prayers for the Holy Father (to be said after the Rosary)
V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him to be blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies (Roman Breviary).Our Father. Hail Mary.(From the old Raccolta: A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, when this prayer has been devoutly said every day for a month (S.C. Ind., Nov. 26, 1876; S. P. Ap., Oct 12, 1931).Let us pray.Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant, Benedict, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving-kindness, in the way of eternal salvation; that, of thy gift, he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto thee and may accomplish it with all his might. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen (Roman Ritual).(From the old Raccolta: An indulgence of three years, a plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions, for the daily devout recitation of this prayer. S. P. Ap., March 10, 1935).

MOST HOLY FATHER PLEASE BRING BACK THE TRIREGNUM!

2007-12-29T11:07:00.000-05:00

The above photo is of the "Triregnum" papal tiara that was given as a gift to his holiness Pope John Paul II by the Hungarian people.

I have for a very long time (since childhood & I'm 41) lamented the fact that his holiness Pope Paul VI symbolically laid the "Triregnum" papal tiara aside. Although I understand the reasoning behind this move, I along with many others feel that in our own humble opinion this great tradition should be revived. Pope Paul VI provided for in his 1975 "Romano Pontifici Eligendo" that his successors be crowned in a coronation ceremony. Alas subsequent Pontiffs have chosen to follow John Paul I in his choice of a "Papal Inauguration" ceremony instead of a "coronation". It was both disheartening and surprising to read recently that his holiness John Paul II had received in 1981 from the Hungarian people a Tiara as a gift. What a precious gift from a once deeply Catholic nation and how sad that it was probably never worn! I had very much hoped when the words "habemus Papam" rang out in St. Peter's square in April of 2005 that the newly elected Pontiff would choose the venerable tradition of a papal coronation complete with the "triregnum". Many of us were disappointed when this was not the case but I don't think any of us were surprised by it. The rich symbolism of the "triregnum" proved for whatever reason(s) to be too much a reminder perhaps for the post conciliar pontiffs of a more "triumphalist" age of the papacy and papal temporal power. However those of us who proudly lable ourselves as Traditional Catholics hold this venerable tradition of a papal tiara in high esteem. I think I speak for many if not most Traditional Catholics who greatly lament that this tradition has fallen into disuse. Unfortunately, one hears precious little today regarding the social kingship of Jesus Christ from most pulpits. I would go so far to say that even the mention of the social kingship of Jesus Christ is as so eloquently put forth in Pius XI "Quas Primas" would be a source of embarrassment for many of our shepherds. Christ as KING seems to the modernist post conciliar Catholic to be hopelessly "old fashioned" and "outdated". Perhaps the revival of the use of the "Triregnum" with it's rich kingly symbolism will revive the duty of all Catholics to work toward the social Kingship of Jesus Christ as king of all hearts.

I've searched the internet high and low for quite some time looking for a blog or "petition" of sorts to present to our Holy Father to humbly beg him to revive the use of the "Triregnum" to no avail. It was suggested that I start one such project. I was unsure how to begin such a task but I hope with this humble blog to begin a movement of petition and prayer to the Holy Father. I humbly request any and all who read this to begin to offer a rosary a week not just for this particular intention (the Triregnum) but more broadly for a return to tradition and continuity above all in the sacred liturgy by all Catholics. I should like to make this endeavor a "grass roots movement of prayer & petition for Tradition & Continuity". Any commentary, suggestions or discussion in this regard will be gratefully appreciated. I should like to begin a petition. Would anyone of you perhaps wish to draft one such petition to the holy father?