Author Topic: Why dont SSPX Resistance bishops wear the long episcopal cappa magna? (Read 4024 times)

RogerThat · « **on:** December 05, 2016, 05:19:47 PM »

Why don't SSPX/"Resistance" bishops wear the long episcopal cappa magna? I don't even recall ever seeing Archbishop Lefevbre wearing the long cope in any pictures or in his docuмentary video either.

Mithrandylan · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2016, 07:15:05 PM »

I don't know exactly, but many of the regalities and instruments associated with bishops are emblematic of their authority. The bishops in question have none. I know they do tend to carry miters, but there's a fair amount of inconsistency in which symbols of jurisdiction the traditional bishops adopt and which they refuse. Perhaps the cope is simply one of those things they've decided not to use.

Maria Auxiliadora · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2016, 12:12:11 PM »

Bishop Fellay may wear it before long. I just saw this:

Quote from: Wikipedia

The cappa magna (literally, "great cape"), a form of mantle, is a voluminous ecclesiastical vestment with a long train, proper to cardinals, bishops, and certain other honorary prelates. It is however a jurisdictional garment.

cath4ever · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2016, 12:19:11 PM »

The cappa magna is a sign of jurisdiction, and only prelates with jurisdiction can wear it, and then only in the territory of their jurisdiction. The bishop of your diocese could wear it in your diocese, but not outside of it. An archbishop can wear the cappa in his own archdiocese and also anywhere in his metropolitan province. An abbot could only wear his in the territory of his abbey.

Cardinals can wear the cappa anywhere except (I think) in Rome. They do wear it there also, but I believe there are some restrictions on its use when in the city itself.

The Pope also has a cappa, but it's use was limited even before Vatican II. I think he only wore it at Matins of Christmas, at Requiems, and at Tenebrae of Holy Week, per the rubrics. The Pope's cappa is red, not white.

The SSPX Bishops do not wear the cappa because they do not have ordinary jurisdiction anywhere. Thus also why Archbishop Lefebvre did not wear it. He would have worn it in Dakar, however, when he was Apostlolic Delegate there, and in the Diocese of Tulle, France, when he was the Bishop there.

RogerThat · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2016, 12:48:35 PM »

Interesting. I was just curious. Thank you for the replies.
And please keep praying for Bishop Fellay's broken leg.

ilpadrino · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2016, 05:58:22 PM »

The Mozetta is a sign of jusridiction for bishops. It is a shoulder cape that buttons down the front center. The SSPX has been using this for years, without actual jurisdiction and the Resistance bishops are doing the same. Objectively speaking, it is wrong for them to wear it, and they should rather use the mantelleta, which is part of a bishop's choir dress, but who has no jurisdiction. If you want an illustration, look at the photos of the bishops in Rome during Vatican II. They NEVER wore the mozetta because the bishops didn't have jurisdiction there.

curioustrad · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2016, 07:51:16 AM »

Quote from: ilpadrino

The Mozetta is a sign of jusridiction for bishops. It is a shoulder cape that buttons down the front center. The SSPX has been using this for years, without actual jurisdiction and the Resistance bishops are doing the same. Objectively speaking, it is wrong for them to wear it, and they should rather use the mantelleta, which is part of a bishop's choir dress, but who has no jurisdiction. If you want an illustration, look at the photos of the bishops in Rome during Vatican II. They NEVER wore the mozetta because the bishops didn't have jurisdiction there.

Well it depends upon which rules you follow. Prior to 1969 or post 1969.

Prior to 1968 the mozetta with a small hood and cappa magna were signs of jursidiction. The Cappa Magna had two forms one with an ermine cape for winer and a silk cape for summer. Bishops without jurisdiction wore the mantelletta. Bishops with jurisdiction in the presence of the pope wore the mozetta over the mantelletta.

In Milan:

and when in Rome:

There was also the issue of the folded cappa magna which was worn by cardinals in the presence of the pope. In conclaves cardinals wore the full cappa magna and when the pope was elected they went in procession to do obeisance to the newly elected pope with the train of the cappa let down.

After 1968 the mantelletta was abolished and the mozetta without the hood became the common choir dress clothing of all bishops. The cappa magna without the ermine cape was never abolished and its use was extended to bishops who did not have jurisdiction on more ceremonial occasions.

The Paul VI Ut Sive rules are here: Ut Sive

Benedict XVI revived many of the customs abolished by Paul VI (hoods on Mozzettas etc) but he never issued legislation reversing Paul VI - so what does that tell you ?

ilpadrino · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2016, 08:31:20 AM »

Thank you for the clarification on the cappa.

It would seem that the SSPX and Resistance bishops don't qualify as Titular bishops in the objective or legal orders, so the mozetta-use is a yellow card.

cath4ever · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2016, 09:11:55 AM »

Bishop Williamson has worn the mantelletta in the past. Look at the picture of the 2002 ordinations in Winona. I haven't seen any pictures of any of the 4 SSPX Bishops (BW included) wearing it recently though.

If my memory serves, I was one time told that Archbishop Lefebvre had been given a personal privilege by Pope Pius XII to use certain marks of ordinary jurisdiction (the mozzetta rather than the mantelletta, the throne rather than the faldstool, etc.). The cappa magna doesn't seem to have been included in this privilege, and in any event I have never seen a picture of the Archbishop wearing one. The Archbishop was entitled to those marks personally, even if he did not have ordinary jurisdiction over anything. This would explain why he used them after he started the SSPX.

curioustrad · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2016, 03:49:40 PM »

Quote from: ilpadrino

Thank you for the clarification on the cappa.

It would seem that the SSPX and Resistance bishops don't qualify as Titular bishops in the objective or legal orders, so the mozetta-use is a yellow card.

The term "titular" bishop would mean a bishop named by the pope to a nominal but non-existent diocese therefore without jurisdiction.

I think traditional bishops that are not named by the Pope would still be considered bishops without jurisdiction but since 1969 the mozetta is no longer a sign of jurisdiction.

Fr. Avery Dulles was named a cardinal by JP2 and wore the mozetta but was allowed not to be consecrated so he remained a priest.

Sedevacantists use the mantelletta because they exist in a pre-1969 world and do not recognize Paul VI.

It is true that Bishop Williamson wore the mantelletta on several occasions not just at ordinations but even at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. He wore whatever the sacristans put out for him - I'm sure he never knew the difference.

Interestingly during the 1975 SSPX pilgrimage to Rome, the Archbishop wore the mantelletta, even though it was "outlawed" 6 years earlier.

curioustrad · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2016, 05:49:10 PM »

After the last post I recalled Archbishop Cordileone as auxiliary bishop of San Diego wearing the mantilletta to Mass:

and the cappa magna as Archbishop of San Francisco:

and even the ermine (Cardinal Burke):

and one of Castrillon in 2010:

To me it seems rules are apparently to be broken.