This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the Second Sunday in Passiontide, the last Sunday of Lent, and the beginning of Holy Week.
On this day, Christians celebrate the triumphal arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem one week before His resurrection. The faithful receive palm leaves which they use to participate in a ritual procession.
Here in the archives we have a wonderful series of photographs that show Cardinal Ambrozic celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in 2005. It's of course interesting to see the Cathedral before the renovation project, but these photographs also document some important Palm Sunday traditions:
The vestment colours for Palm Sunday are red and white, symbolizing the redemption in blood that Christ paid for the world.
Crosses, statues and images throughout the cathedral are veiled in the purple as a reminder of Lenten penitence for the two weeks of Passiontide.
Palm leaves and plants can be seen throughout the church. A cross made of palm leaves is hung from the pulpit, and potted palms decorate the front of the church.
Palm Sunday Mass at St. Michael's Cathedral. Photographed by Suzanne Scarsone, 2005.
ARCAT OPRC Accession 2005-040
The Gospel reading for Palm Sunday is always the passion narrative, however which Book of the Gospel is read depends on the liturgical year. Below are Cardinal Ambrozic's notes for his homily for the Passion Story from the Gospel of Luke (Year C of the Liturgical Calendar). This is the same Gospel that will be read this Sunday:
Palm Sunday - C (2004)
A few remarks about Luke's Passion story: 1) Jesus as Martyr: he is the just man (the remark of the man crucified with him) 2) Jesus' compassion: he is sorry for the Daughters of Jerusalem and their children. He is sorry for all of us knowing our weakness and sinfulness He forgives: "Today you will be with me in paradise," "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" 3) He is our model : we are to follow him. Simon carrying Jesus' cross behind Jesus. A book published on the suffering of the Catholics of Oriental rite: Ukraine, Romania.
"...Now we have the Internet. The content of what we wish to tell remains the same: Jesus Christ and his Church."
These were the words of Cardinal Ambrozic when the Archdiocese of Toronto officially launched its first website back in 1999.
March 12th of this week marked the 30th anniversary of the World Wide Web and Tim Berners-Lee first model of a hyperlinked, global information system. We thought it would be a fun opportunity to take a look back at the history of our online presence.
The Archdiocese of Toronto announced its website on December 16, 1999. In the press release announcing its launch, the Archdiocese described how archtoronto.org "offers visitors not only information on the parishes, social and other services, [but also] public statements and activities of the Archdiocesan community."
The screenshots of our past websites were all taken from The Internet Archive Wayback Machine. The Internet Archive has saved archtoronto.org 496 times between October 13, 1999 and March 15, 2019. You can learn more about how the Internet Archive works, and the services they provide, here.
September 6th and 8th, 1952 were big days for Canadians: CBC Television began broadcasting in Montreal and Toronto. Though some who lived close to the border had been watching American stations since the 1940s, this was the first time we had real networks of our own. Its popularity quickly exploded: by 1965, television sets were in 92% of households.
While Bishop of London, Cardinal Carter appeared on the Windsor television show Grey Scale.
March 11, 1977
PH 18G/01P
ARCAT Photograph Collection
Catholic leaders recognized the value of the medium for reaching out. In his 1957 encyclical letter Miranda Prorsus, Pope Pius XII called the development of television "an event of great importance in human history," and wrote,
"It is well known to Us with what deep interest vast numbers of spectators gaze at television programmes of Catholic events. It is obvious, of course, - as We declared a few years ago - that to be present at Mass portrayed by Television is not the same as being actually present at the Divine Sacrifice, as is of obligation on holy days. However, from religious ceremonies, as seen on Television, valuable fruits for the strengthening of the Faith and the renewal of fervour can be obtained by all those who, for some reason, are unable to be actually present; consequently, We are convinced that We may wholeheartedly commend programmes of this kind."
The television networks also recognized the value of providing religious programming. There are lots of examples in the archives of stations writing to the Bishops about their plans, including the following from CBC:
"Your Excellency:
"The first program for Christmas Day this year on your local CBC-TV station will be live coverage of the Midnight Mass from St. Basil's Seminary Chapel, Toronto.
"The service, celebrated by Reverend Eugene R. Malley, will commence at 12:01 a.m. on Christmas Day and will include prayers and Christmas carols sung by the Basilian Seminarian choir directed by Reverend George Vander Zanden.
"The gospel and certain prayers of the Mass will be illustrated by paintings and drawings appropriate to the theme.
"Perhaps you would like to inform your parish priests about this program.
"Sincerely,
Dillwyn Hatton
Information Services"
December 14, 1961
PO CM01.03a
Archbishop Pocock Fonds
"Canadians at Worship
MEETING PLACE
"As the Fall returns and the pace of life quickens, our MEETING PLACE returns too, with worship from churches and synagogues across Canada.
"The response we receive from viewers has been tremendously encouraging. Some tell of the pleasure they receive from particular hymns, prayers, sermons. Others say they pick up new ideas for their own church, from watching others.
"We don't intend MEETING PLACE as a substitute for worship in a community. But for instance, I know of an elderly couple who cannot get out to church. Once a week, they put on their Sunday best - she chooses her Sunday hat - and they go down to the living room to be part of MEETING PLACE.
"We try to make MEETING PLACE as complete an experience as possible. I hope it succeeds as well for you.
"Donald Henderson
CBC Television"
[1974-1980]
PO CM01.88
Archbishop Pocock Fonds
In the 1970s, the Archdiocese of Toronto helped to fund The Church Today, which aired on Global, CHCH, and CFTO, was hosted by Fr. Martin Foley, C.Ss.R, and focussed on issues of importance to Catholics. Archbishop Pocock established a Governing Board for Radio and Television which produced various TV spots on topics such as Family Life and Racism.
"Start your weekend with The Church Today"
[1970s]
OC13.AV03
The Church Today Fonds
In 1987, the Archdiocese started The Sunday Mass for a Television Community, bringing mass into the homes of those who couldn't get to a church. The program ran until this year when it was taken over by the Daily TV Mass, which is produced by the National Catholic Broadcasting Council.
The Sunday Mass for a Television Community
[1980s]
AW18 ARCAT Artwork Collection
The Archbishops of Toronto have had to become experts in being in front of the camera. The archdiocesan Office of Public Relations and Communications provides ongoing training for the bishops, priests, and lay staff so that they can be comfortable and communicate the Catholic message clearly.
Cardinal Carter filming an interview with CTV's Sandie Rinaldo.
June 15, 1992
PH 31C/1398CP
ARCAT Photograph Collection
Cardinal Ambrozic on the Bruce Trail with a crew filming the documentary God's Dominion: In the Name of the Father.
May, 1992
PH 31C/1192CP
ARCAT Photograph Collection
Cardinal Collins speaks to news crews at St. Michael's Cathedral on the day of Pope Benedict XVI's retirement.
February 11, 2013
Courtesy of the Office of Public Relations and Communications
This week, we'd thought we'd feature a few interesting chasubles that are in ARCAT's collection. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the chasuble, it is the liturgical vestment that is worn over other vestments, such as an alb, an amice, and a stole. Chasubles in the "Roman" style have a fiddleback shape in the front, whereas more contemporary chasubles are oval-shaped with a round hole in the middle for the head to pass through.
Chasubles come in many different colours, and some of them are very decorated with embroidery and needlework. Some are used for daily use, whereas others are for specific occasions. Below you will find five examples from here in the Archives.
This is a contemporary chasuble that was worn by Cardinal Ambrozic during a World Youth Day event in 2002. It is embroidered with grapes, wheat sheaves, leaves, and a cross.
Textile Artifact TX.25a
Closeup of the detail on Textile Artifact TX.25a
This funeral chasuble is made of heavy grey wool with grey darker trim. The purple felt applique contains embroidery.
Textile Artifact TX.50a
Closeup of the detail on Textile Artifact TX.50a
Donated by St. Joseph's Convent in 1988, this reversible chasuble was part of the Mass Kit used by the C.S.J. in teaching school children about liturgical objects.
Front and back of Textile Artifact TX12.a
This is an example of a wartime Chaplain's chasuble. It is a reversible set.
Textile Artifact TX.49a
Reversible side of Textile Artifact TX.49a
This chasuble from the early 20th century was removed from St. Margaret's Parish, Midland, after a fire in the 1980s. Though a bit stained, the chasuble and its detail are still impressive.
Here in the archives, we have lots of photos of our bishops that show their work and careers. But they were more than just their jobs; they were humans who had friendships. Because we all need friends to...
Chill on the beach with:
Cardinal Carter relaxes with a friend on the beach in Cancun, Mexico.
1970s
PH 18F/174CP
Share a good meal:
Cardinal Carter and friends, including Cardinal Flahiff (right of Carter), enjoy a meal in Rome at the restaurant where Fettuccine Alfredo was invented.
1970s
PH 18R/03P
Meet the Pope with:
Cardinal Ambrozic and friends enjoy an audience with Pope Saint John Paul II.
February 21, 1998
PH 19C/147P
Be awed by creation with:
Cardinal Ambrozic (centre) with friends.
1948
PH 19F/01P
Check out ancient history with:
Cardinal Ambrozic sitting with a friend in front of the Coliseum in Rome.
February, 1998
PH 19C/130CP
Pose for posterity with:
Archbishop Pocock and a friend.
1960s
PH 14F/16CP
Blow out your birthday candles with:
Cardinal Carter celebrates his 87th birthday with friends.
March, 1999
PH 18B/10CP
We can do all these things alone, but aren't they more fun with friends?
Monday is Family Day in Ontario. It's been eight years since we first observed this statutory holiday.
To celebrate, we offer you some family photos of our former bishops and archbishops of Toronto.
Enjoy your holiday and your family!
Photographs Special Collection, PH09F-01P and PH09F/16P
Left photo: James C. Cardinal McGuigan as a Monsignor with his mother, Anne, and his sister, Mother St. George, C.N.D. (Gertrude), ca. 1927. He was serving as Vicar General in Edmonton at the time.
Right photo: James C. Cardinal McGuigan with his parents, Annie Monaghan and George H. McGuigan, ca. 1946. The Archbishop of Toronto's choir dress is hand coloured in red, indicating that he has been made a cardinal.
Photographs Special Collection, PH11/07P
Studio family portrait shows Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto Francis V. Allen as a toddler, held by his mother Martha, with older brother Edward and maternal aunt Annie Malcolm, ca. 1911. Edward was the only sibling who did not enter religious life.
Photographs Special Collection, PH11-13P
All seven Allen siblings, including Edward (in the suit), Murray (centre) and Francis (right). Three of the four sisters were members of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Photographs Special Collection, PH14F/06P
Archbishop Philip Pocock as a young boy attending a family wedding. He is pictured in the front row, right, ca. 1912.
Photographs Special Collection, PH14F/03P and PH14F/04P
Left photo: Young Philip Pocock, holding a cat, with brother Rev. John H. Pocock and one of his sisters, ca. 1915. There were eight children in the family.
Right photo: Archbishop Pocock, as a young priest, with his parents Stephen and Sarah, ca. 1930
Photographs Special Collection, PH18F/162P G. Emmett Cardinal Carter as a young priest (right). Photographed with his siblings Rev. Alexander Carter and Sister Mary Lenore Carter, s.p., and Sister Mary Bibiana, s.p. (Sister Lenore's companion) at Fourteen Island Lake, ca. 1940s.
Photographs Special Collection, PH18F/163P
Rev. Carter with his mother Minnie at Fourteen Island Lake, 1946.
Photographs Special Collection, PH19F/02P
Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic (top) as a young man posing with his parents and six siblings. The family came to Canada from Slovenia in 1948 around the time this photo was taken.
Yesterday Catholics celebrated the Feast of St. Agnes. From as far back as the tenth century, there has been a tradition of the Pope blessing two lambs, as shown in the video below which is from last year's ceremony:
The wool from these lambs is later used to create the pallia, which are episcopal vestments reserved for metropolitan archbishops and the Pope. The pallium is symbolic of the Good Shepherd, and of the authority of the archbishop in his jurisdiction. It is worn in his own territory; only one prelate will be wearing a pallium at a time. If the pope is in an archbishop's territory, he will be the one wearing a pallium, since his territory is universal.
The wearing of the pallium originated in early Christianity. Originally a Greek garment which was much larger and worn for warmth, Christians began wearing it as a symbol of their loyalty to the Church. It was adopted by the clergy, and was eventually given as a gift by the Pope. Over the centuries, its use was restricted to only the highest-ranking bishops, and its shape changed so that it was symbolic rather than functional.
When a new metropolitan bishop is named, he must request the pallium from the Pope within three months. Last year, Pope Francis made a change so that new metropolitans are invested with their pallia in their own sees rather than in Rome, although they are still present for the blessing of the pallia on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. This practice serves to provide more involvement for the people of the local Church in the new archbishop's initiation.
ARCAT has a pallium which belonged to Cardinal Carter. It is rare for a pallium to be in an archives because they are usually buried with their owner when he passes away. However, this pallium was damaged and replaced by a new one, which was buried with Caridnal Carter.
TX 107a: Cardinal Carter's Pallium
The pallium is a white woolen circle with two two stems that hang down in front and back. It is embroidered with six crosses.
TX 107b: The pallium folded in its case.
The pallium is held in place by three jewelled pins:
AF 355: Three pallium pins
This set belonged to Cardinal Carter to replace the set below.
AF 356: Three pallium pins This set originally belonged to Cardinal McGuigan. When Archbishop Pocock received his Toronto pallium he used these pins, as did Cardinal Carter until he replaced them with the yellow set above. You can see this set in the photo below.
PH 18P/30CP: Cardinal Carter wearing his pallium at a large event.
Cardinal Ambrozic receiving his pallium from Pope St. John Paul II on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29, 1990.
PH 19P/01CP
Cardinal Ambrozic wearing his pallium in St. Michael's Cathedral, ca. 2006.
Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Relations and Communications.
For more information about the pallium and other vestments and traditions of the Church, read The Church Visible, by James-Charles Noonan Jr.
Artifacts Special Collection, AF.362, AF.103, AF.354, 2014-004, AF.095
We decided not to get too creative with the lyrics today!
Bishops' rings are considered collective property of the Church. ARCAT stores episcopal rings for the current archbishop, who inherits the previous ordinary's ring collection, in trust, on behalf of the Church. Clockwise from top:
Cardinal’s ring, belonged to G. Emmett Cardinal Carter. Crucifixion scene, with the Madonna and St. John depicted at the foot of the Cross. When a bishop is elevated to the Sacred College of Cardinals, he receives a Cardinal's ring from the Pope, which replaces his Bishop's ring. All cardinals elevated under the same pontificate receive identical rings; this is the design issued by Pope John Paul II.
Second Vatican Council ring, given to Most. Rev. Philip Pocock while he was Co-adjutor Archbishop of Toronto. Gift from Pope Paul VI in 1965 to all the prelates who had attended the ecumenical council. The ring is pointed at the top like a mitre. Depicted are three arched niches: Christ in the centre; St. Peter on the left; St. Paul on the right.
Episcopal ring, belonged to James Cardinal McGuigan. This large amethyst ring was given to the Cardinal by the Basilian Fathers after he was elevated to the Sacred College of Cardinals in 1946. His coat of arms can be seen on the side, in rose gold.
Bishop's ring, belonged to Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic. The stone is a garnet. Engraved and enameled around the stone are the Greek words "ΚΥΡΙΟΣ ΙΗΣΟΥΣ" meaning Jesus is Lord.This is considered one of the earliest professions of faith in Jesus Christ and was adopted as Cardinal Ambrozic's personal motto. The Latin translation, Jesus est Dominus, appears on his coat of arms.
Bishop's ring, belonged to Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto, Pearse Lacey, and Bishop Kidd of London before him. It is unusual because it has a shell cameo of the Madonna rather than a gem stone. We received this ring after Bishop Lacey died in April of this year. The ring's history was described in a previous post.
