Happy 200th birthday, Prime Minister Macdonald!

This weekend marks the 200th birthday of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister and a father of confederation.

Our very own Archbishop Lynch was a frequent correspondent of Sir John A. ARCAT holds a number of signed letters from the Prime Minister. Many of them were political in nature: the two worked together on issues such as Irish immigration. Lynch made suggestions for candidates for political office, and Macdonald used Lynch's influence to gain the Catholic vote.

Below is a personal letter that Macdonald wrote to Lynch on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Lynch's episcopate.

"Dec 10 / 1884

My dear Lord Archbishop. - I only arrived here from England yesterday and found an infinity of work awaiting me. It grieves me very much that I am prevented by pressure of public business from being present at the celebration of the twenty fifth year of your Episcopate. 

"Lady Macdonald wrote me to England of your kind invitation. -

"I can only express my best wishes for a long continuance of your health and strength. - 

"My wife joins me in sending you our [?] kindest regards. 

"Bless me, Your Grace's very obedient servant,

John A Macdonald"

L AF02.31

As you can see, our first Prime Minister didn't have the neatest penmanship.

Letters such as the above show how early Canadian ordinaries worked to maintain relationships with political leaders. By remaining friendly, bishops would have been able to lobby for policies that improved the lives of their flock. As well, it's another example of how Archdiocese of Toronto history is also Canadian history.

Happy Birthday, Sir John A.!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...twelve illum’nated texts,

Bishops' fonds and Special Collections
AF.158, POAA45.02, POAA45.03, AF.275, AF.075, AF.008, AF.111, RB.30, AF.074, AF.077, PB.04

For the purposes of today's post, illumination refers to gold or silver decoration added to textual material. We have included both hand-illuminated records as well as printed items, where metallic inks have been applied using a mechanical process. From left to right:

• The first seven are pages from illuminated addresses, which are decorated booklets typically presented to bishops to mark special anniversaries or jubilees. The addresses usually include a biography of the bishop. The first and fifth images were created by noted Toronto artist A. H. Howard for the 25th anniversary of Archbishop Walsh's consecration in 1892.  These pages have small illustrations of St. Peter's Cathedral in London and St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto, respectively.
• The next two are examples of illuminated, printed books: The Holy Bible and a limited edition of Humanae Salutis, the Apostolic Constitution with which Pope John XXIII solemnly convoked the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council on 25 December 1961.
• In the bottom left corner are the letters patent registering the 1984 coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Toronto with the College of Arms in England.
• Next is an illuminated printed certificate naming Archbishop Lynch of Toronto an elected member of the Roman Society of Jusrisconsults in 1879.
• The last image is a papal bull issued by Pius XI with a decorated initial "P."

eleven saintly medals,

ten ’broidered vestments,

nine document seals,

eight spir’tual bouquets,

seven papal bulls,

six pairs of buskins,

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

With the Feast of the Epiphany, the twelve days of Christmas come to an end.  We hope you've enjoyed our artifacts show and tell.  Happy New Year!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...eleven saintly medals,

Medallions Special Collection
MD.20, MD.141, MD.64, MD.126, MD.111, MD.101, MD.80, MD.42, MD.74, MD.36, MD.51, MD.64

Medals are typically round pieces of metal struck or cast for commemorative purposes. Religious devotional medals often depict the saints.  Medals may be designed for display purposes, or to be worn or attached to a rosary.

In the Middle Ages, it became common practice for pilgrimage sites to distribute tokens cast in lead, which served as a souvenir and proof that the pilgrim had duly reached the destination. During the Renaissance, religious medals became aides in popular devotion, often because the medals were given a papal blessing or enriched with indulgences. The issuing of papal jubilee medals began as early as 1475. Since then, the most noteworthy actions of each pontificate have been commemorated with medals.

Today we highlight “saintly medals” in our collections, including religious medals of saints, and papal medals of popes who have since been canonized (left to right):

• St. John XXIII (the Pope is wearing headgear known as the Papal Camauro, a cap of wool or velvet with fur trim)
• St. Elizabeth of Hungary
• The Conversion of St. Augustine
• St. Paul (presumably because this bearded figure is holding a scroll, representing the Scriptures)
• St. John Paul II (World Youth Day Toronto 2002 medal)
• St. Charles Borromeo
• St. Christopher medallion, popularly worn by travelers or hung in vehicles for protection.  The reverse of this medallion states: “I am a Catholic. In case of accident call a priest."  
• St. Pius X
• St. Joseph, distributed at the Oratory in Montreal
• St. Gregory Barbarigo
• St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, a Canadian saint

ten ’broidered vestments,

nine document seals,

eight spir’tual bouquets,

seven papal bulls,

six pairs of buskins,

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

On the tenth day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...ten ’broidered vestments,

Textiles Special Collection, TX.01, TX.06, TX.101, TX.50, TX.09. TX.121, TX.49, TX.122, TX.04, TX.95

Embroidery refers to thread or yarn stitched to fabric for decoration. Historically, liturgical vestments were richly embroidered by hand to emphasize the solemnity of the garments' purpose.  In our collection, we have a variety of textiles with embroidery ranging from weighty metallic thread to fine, machine-made details.  

In this selection are four chasubles (gold, white, purple and red), the liturgical garment worn by the celebrating priest. All of these are examples of the "fiddleback" style. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, chasubles were heavily lined and stiffened to support the heavy embroidery. Therefore, in order to allow for better range of arm motion, the front sides were cut away, forming a fiddleback shape. 

Other embroidered vestments include:

• a humeral veil, worn for holding the monstrance during the Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament;
• liturgical gloves (also called episcopal or ceremonial gloves), which are reserved for bishops. They are worn only at Pontifical Mass, and then only to the washing of the hands before the Sacrifice;
• an unusual grey-coloured stole, presumably for funerals;
• an alb, the garment worn under the chasuble or dalmatic, with embroidered cuff details;
• a green dalmatic, the sleeved tunic worn by celebrating deacons;
• a gold mitre that belonged to Cardinal Carter.

nine document seals,

eight spir’tual bouquets,

seven papal bulls,

six pairs of buskins,

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

On the ninth day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...nine document seals,

Seals Special Collection, DS.01, DS.05, DS.06a&b, DS.07, DS.08, DS.09, DS.10

Seals authenticate documents. Corporate seals are particularly important because they act as the signature of the corporation. (In the past, individuals were not allowed to sign off on certain corporate acts, so a seal was necessary to prove authority).  

Instead of using wax or ink, these nine seals are designed for embossing paper or foil. Embossing required two dies: one with a raised image and one that is recessed. The dies fit into each other so that when paper is pressed between them, the raised die forces the sheet into the recessed die and creates the embossed impression. The two dies are aligned and fitted to an embossing machine, such as the hand-operated clamping devices shown above.

Most of these are corporate seals that are now obsolete. Two of these are old archdiocesan seals.  The others are seals of various bishops, a parish, the Papal Visit Community Fund, the Catholic Industrial School society, and St. Mary's Hospital.

Seals Special Collection, DS.01

Example of the two dies required for embossing paper. The mirror image of the seal is carved out of the brass plate (right), and then molten zinc is cast into this recessed image to create the raised die (left). Using this technique, the plates perfectly interlock when pressed to form an impression of Archbishop Neil McNeil's seal.  The oval image features his coat of arms and the Latin words Archiepiscopus Torontinus, meaning "Archbishop of Toronto." 

eight spir’tual bouquets,

seven papal bulls,

six pairs of buskins,

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

On the eighth day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...eight spir’tual bouquets,

Spiritual Bouquets, POAA45.01, MGDA12.48, MGCA11.01, MGDA12.03. AF.273, AF.134

A spiritual bouquet is a card with a list of prayers and spiritual devotions that will be offered for the benefit of a particular person. These may include specific numbers of Masses, Communions, Rosaries, Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, Stations of the Cross, and Litanies, to name a few.

The cards may be given for a variety of occasions as expressions of joy, best wishes, congratulations, or sympathy. Traditionally hand-made, spiritual bouquets are often decorated with flowers as their name implies. Offering spiritual bouquets is a uniquely Roman Catholic tradition that continues today.

As these eight cards illustrate, spiritual bouquets come in all shapes and sizes and are given by individuals, religious communities and school groups. Counterclockwise from top left:

• Spiritual bouquet for Archbishop Philip Pocock on the anniversary of his consecration, from The Separate School Children.
• Spiritual bouquet offered to Cardinal McGuigan from a good friend for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
• Bouquet spirituel for then Most Rev. McGuigan when he was appointed Archbishop of Regina, including 17,619 invocations and 247 Chemins de Croix.
• "A bouquet of flowers for our new Cardinal," offered to Cardinal Ambrozic from school children.
• A spiritual bouquet from the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood to His Eminence Cardinal McGuigan on the 25th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.
• A trifold spiritual bouquet for Auxiliary Bishop Francis Allen's Silver Jubilee.
• A spiritual bouquet for new elevated Cardinal Ambrozic from school children.  Composed of individual hearts on which each student stated their choice of prayer and a good deed performed on the Cardinal's behalf.
• From the Sisters of the Precious Blood in London, a spiritual bouquet for then Archbishop McGuigan upon his installation to the See of Toronto.

seven papal bulls,

six pairs of buskins,

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

On the seventh day of Christmas, ARCAT stored for me…

...seven papal bulls,

Papal Bulls, PB.03a&b, PB.04a&b, PB.05, PB.06, PB.08,

A papal bull is a particular type of decree uniquely issued by the Pope.  The document gets its name from the attached authenticating seal, or bulla.  (Bullire means "to boil" in Latin, referring to the process of softening the metal in order for it to take the impression of the mould.) The distinctive seals are made of lead and feature the images of saints Peter and Paul on one side, and the name of the issuing pontiff on the reverse.  

All papal bulls begin with the issuing Pope's name and the Papal title episcopus servus servorum Dei, meaning "bishop, servant of the servants of God." In the unrolled bull above, the name Pius X can be seen in the top left and on the seal. Papal bulls are usually written on parchment. They can be delightfully medieval looking, with gilding and meticulously formed calligraphy.

Most of the papal bulls we have in the archives are declarations of episcopal appointments.  Four of the seven are shown in their original mailing tubes with Vatican Post issued stamps. 

Detail of the bulla (seal).

The seals are cast over the cord that is threaded through the document to authenticate it. They are made from lead. Apostles Paul and Peter, Fathers of the Church, are depicted on the left and right of the cross, respectively. The Pope's name (e.g. Pius Papa X) is on the reverse. 

six pairs of buskins,

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.