Record of the Week: The Ceremonies of Holy Week

Our record for this Holy Week is a lecture given by Archbishop Lynch describing the blessing of the Holy Oils.

Holy Week is the week of preparation before Easter Sunday, recounting Christ’s final days on earth.
On Holy Thursday, we remember and celebrate Jesus’ gift of the Eucharist. It is the night when we renew our mandate to serve one another. One Holy Thursday tradition is the washing of the feet, which first took place at the Last Supper.

Chrism Mass and the blessing of holy oils to be used by parishes throughout the year has traditionally been celebrated on Holy Thursday. Our Archdiocesan Chrism Mass is now celebrated on the Tuesday of Holy Week at St. Michael's Cathedral. 

 L AA12.67, Archbishop Lynch Fonds

 

 

You can learn more about the significance of Holy Week and Easter Weekend on our website.



Record of the Week: Lenten Regulations, 1928

In honour of the beginning of Lent, our Record of the Week is a list of Lenten Regulations issued by Archbishop McNeil in 1928.

During Lent, Catholics prepare for Easter through penance, fasting, prayer and almsgiving. These traditions can be traced back to as early as the fourth century, however how they are practiced has undoubtedly changed to reflect local needs and contemporary issues.

The regulations below specify exactly who must fast, when fasting is to be observed, and what must be abstained from, in the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Toronto.


MN AH17.08a

Archbishop McNeil Fonds

 It is interesting to compare these to the Regulations Bishop de Charbonnel issued in 1855. Reading the two side by side, there appears to be a shift in the scope of the regulations. For example, Rule 10a of the Archbishop McNeil regulations suggests some new ways the pious can observe Lent:

"Avoiding all public amusements, such as theatres, moving picture shows, dances, etc." 

You can learn more about how we observe Lent and the Easter season today through the Archdiocese of Toronto's website.

Record of the Week: Archbishop Walsh's episcopal ring?

Provenance is a fundamental organizing principle in archives. It refers to the individual, family, or organizational body that created or accumulated material in a collection. The principle of provenance dictates that records of the same origins be kept together to preserve their context, rather than grouping items of various origins together by subject (the way books are catalogued) or medium (as artworks may be).

As provenance is intrinsic to our profession, it is very frustrating to be faced with an item whose previous owner cannot be identified. With textual records, there are often clues, but an artifact without accompanying documentation can be a real mystery.

Last year, custodianship of some of our former bishops' rings was transferred from the Chancery Office to the Archives. Unfortunately, it was not clear as to which of our bishops these rings had belonged.

A Roman Catholic bishop receives an episcopal ring when he is consecrated. Aside from those personally purchased or gifted, bishops' rings belong to the Church. The ordinary of a See inherits the previous bishop's ring collection, which is held in trust. A bishop may be buried with a ring that he owned, but all those belonging to the Church must be returned upon his death. Bishops may also choose an episcopal ring formerly worn by a predecessor, which can further obscure its provenance.

Accession 2016-047

Rose gold episcopal ring with a large amethyst, flanked on either shoulder with a mitre, cross and crozier.
On the gemstone is etched a dove holding a branch embellished with tiny diamonds.

Accession 2016-047

Inside the band is engraved: Nov. 10-1867 and Nov. 10-1890

From this tradition, we can conclude that the episcopal rings transferred to the archives were likely worn by a bishop that retired or died in Toronto. One of the rings in question has two dates engraved on the band: "Nov. 10-1867 and Nov. 10-1890". The former is a significant date to only one of our ordinaries: Archbishop John Walsh was consecrated bishop on that day, after being appointed Bishop of Sandwich (i.e. Windsor), the former seat of the Diocese of London, Ontario.

Case closed? Not quite.

Most Reverend Walsh was appointed Archbishop of Toronto on August 13, 1889 (coincidentally, 128 years ago today) and installed here on November 27, 1889. Therefore, the second date seems to have little significance to Archbishop Walsh. The word "and" in the engraving suggests (at least to me) that the dates refer to the same person rather than a subsequent wearer.  In any case, November 10, 1890 does not pertain to any of our other bishops.

To determine if the ring was ever worn by Walsh, we checked his official portraits taken in London and in Toronto. Unfortunately, it's not a match. The ring in the photos seems to have a large central stone encircled by a halo of small diamonds. The setting is lower than that of our mystery ring.

ARCAT Photographs Collection, PH 05/01P

Carte de visite portrait of Most Reverend Walsh, Bishop of Sandwich (and then London, when he move the seat of his See back there) by Frank Cooper, Artistic Photographer, Dundas St., London, Ontario [ca. 1880?]

ARCAT Photographs Collection, PH 05/02P

Carte de visite portrait of Most Reverend Walsh, Bishop of Sandwich, by Edy Bros. photographers, 214 Dundas St., London, Ontario [ca. 1870?]

ARCAT Photographs Collection, PH 05/13P

Portrait of Most Reverend John Walsh, Archbishop of Toronto, seated, and Apostolic Delegate to Canada, Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, who was a Monsignor at the time. Taken in Toronto, 1897. The sign under the chair states:

"Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year 1897, by Frederick Lyonde, at the Department of Agriculture"

The mystery ring is certainly larger and more ornate that the ring he is wearing in the portraits, which is probably the ring from his consecration gifted by the Toronto clergy. Most Reverend Walsh began his career in Toronto and was much respected by his fellow priests. According to the Jubilee Volume 1842-1892 of Archbishop Walsh and the Archdiocese of Toronto, the clergy presented "a mitre, crozier, pectoral cross and ring" to "their dearly beloved brother."

Though the photos do not confirm that our mystery ring belonged to Archbishop Walsh, they do not remove the possibility either. Bishops may own multiple episcopal rings, and they are a common gift. Fancier ones may be saved for special occasions rather than everyday use.

One could speculate that he was given this ring to mark his elevation to archbishop on the anniversary of his consecration date. November 10, 1890 would have marked the first anniversary of Walsh's consecration that he celebrated as Archbishop of Toronto. Although it would have been more appropriate to bestow an archbishop's ring on Walsh at his Installation Mass in 1889 (or, for that matter, in the Jubilee year of 1892 when the diocese turned 50 and Walsh celebrated 25 years of ordination), it is not completely outside the realm of possibility.

Until further information comes to light, that frustrating question mark will stand beside the issue of provenance.

To read about provenancial mysteries that we've actually solved, see these former posts:

Record of the Week: "the famous cameo ring"
Record of the Week: the mysterious Death Mask
Record of the Week: Cardinal McGuigan Gets the Key to the City

***We are also happy to announce this week that the short biographies of our former bishops and archbishops (which used to be hosted on ARCAT's now defunct website) have been migrated to the Archdiocese of Toronto's site. You can read more about Archbishop Walsh here.***

Record of the Week: Here's One For the Music Geeks

If you've ever attended a graduation ceremony, or even seen one on television, the writer of this week's highlighted document will be familiar to you. Sir Edward Elgar was a British composer whose Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D has been played at North American high school and university graduation ceremonies since 1905 when it was performed at Yale University:

Of course that's not the only thing that Elgar is known for. He was wildly popular with early 20th century audiences, and is now regarded as a preeminent figure in the pantheon of British composers. Elgar was a Catholic, and one of his masterpieces was The Dream of Gerontius, which was based on a poem by Cardinal Newman. 

In 1925 Elgar wrote a letter in reply to J. Campbell McInnes, a British singer who moved to Toronto in 1919. McInnes had written to Elgar to ask him to visit Toronto as part of his efforts to improve the state of local Church music. Unfortunately, there's no evidence to suggest that Elgar actually accepted the invitation, but we are pleased to have the signature of such an influential composer here in the archives: 

Letter from Sir Edward Elgar to J. Campbell McInnes

December 16, 1925

MN AS08.11
Archbishop McNeil Fonds

We have featured the signatures of many interesting historical figures in The Archivist's Pencil, but this one is special for certain music geeks amongst the archivists. 

Dokumenton de la Semajno

Earlier this week marked the anniversary of the highly influential publication Unua Libro. On July 26, 1887, Dr. L.L. Zamenhoff published this volume, where he unveiled a newly constructed language that he promised was easy to learn and that he hoped would become a universal second language, free of linguistic prejudice. His ultimate goal was to contribute to peace and understanding between nations.

Today, Esperanto is the most widely spoken constructed language in the world. The language became known as Esperanto based on Zamenhof’s pseudonym, Doktoro Esperanto (“Doctor who hopes”). 

In honour of Unua Libro's 130th anniversary, our dokumenton de la semajno (record of the week) is a letter from F. Kaelble to Archbishop McNeil asking for an endorsement for the Catholic Esperanto Movement in Toronto in 1932.



 



"...the thing I have in mind is the formation of a Catholic Esperanto Association to bring the different country's in closer contact as far as Catholics are concerned."

October 23, 1932

MN AH21.97
Archbishop McNeil Fonds

Mr. Kaelble asks for the Archbishop’s blessing in forming a local Catholic Esperanto Association, and for the opportunity to talk to young Catholics about how Esperanto relates to their faith. As a member of Universala Esperanto-Asocio (Universal Esperanto Association) he believes that Esperanto could allow Catholics from around the world to share and discuss the Gospel regardless of their first language.

The religious potential that Mr. Kaelble saw in Esperanto was not unique. In fact, the Catholic Esperanto Movement is almost as old as the language itself. Father Alexandras Dambrauskas learned of the new language in 1887 when he was a student at the Ecclesiastical Academy of St. Petersburg. After reading Zamenhof’s booklet, he wrote his first postcard to the author in 1896.  The following is a rough translation of the original Esperanto text:

... Our Catholic Church is an immense family (...) But in a family there must also be a language comprehensible to all. (…) But Latin, being a language of priests, is no longer sufficient for all relations ... Lay Catholics are equally entitled to desire that the common father [the Pope] speaks to them in the commonly understood language . It can not therefore be French or Italian, or another of the [national] living languages, but only the [living] international language. (Source)

The 1900s proved to be formative years for the Catholic Esperanto Movement. Espero Katolika (Catholic Hope), a religious periodical written entirely in Esperanto, published its first edition in October 1903. The aforementioned Father Dambrauskas also published an early Catholic Esperanto work, “Versajxareto" (Little Book of Verse), in 1905.



Public Domain image, via Espero Katolika

The first page from the first edition of Espero Katolika, October 1903. This poem is in honour of Pope Pius X.

Pope Pius X bestowed the first papal blessing of the Catholic Esperanto Movement in 1906 after being presented with a bound edition of the Espero Katolika. His Holiness issued a second blessing of the Catholic Esperanto movement in 1910 following the creation of Internacia Katolika Unuiĝo Esperantista (IKUE, or The International Union of Catholic Esperantists).

Esperanto has also been included in the Urbi et Orbi papal address since April 3, 1994, when Pope John Paul II wished the audience "Felicxan Paskon en Kristo resurektinta" (a Happy Easter in Christ risen) for the first time. You can listen to Pope Benedict XVI say the traditional Easter Blessing in Esperanto here.

The Catholic Esperanto Movement shows no signs of slowing down. In recent years we can see how the internet has helped strengthen the Catholic Esperanto Movement. The IKUE and Espero Katolika both have online presences. The Vatican Radio, which has offered regular broadcasts in Esperanto since January 2, 1977, now offers programoj en esperanto (programs in Esperanto) online. Other Catholic Esperanto reference tools include an Esperanto translation of the Bible, and an overview of Catholic Esperanto history. 

If you're looking to learn the language, La Kanada Esperanto-Asocio (Canadian Esperanto Association) might have a club near you.

Record of the Week: The Pope Recovers

On this day in 1981, the Church and the world were shocked and saddened when Pope Saint John Paul II was shot while riding in an open vehicle through a crowded St. Peter's Square. It was just one in a spate of shootings at the time; John Lennon, Ronald Regan and Anwar Sadat were all victims within the same year.

In Toronto, Catholics and people from other faiths came together to pray for the Pope's recovery. His importance as a leader and advocate for peace was widely recognized.

Cardinal Carter considered Pope Saint John Paul a friend. In a letter dated June 8th, 1981, he wrote,

"You burst upon the scene of history like a meteor. Your charisma appears to be exactly what a tired world required. And we observed with admiration, and even awe, the impact which you were making on all parts of the world and in all realms of thought even among people who are far from sharing in our religious convictions. The concept of your being eliminated by this thoughtless act appeared to me to be intolerable. But I must confess that in all humility I offered myself in your place. I immediately decreed a public Mass in my Cathedral in thanksgiving for your salvation and in petition for your prompt and perfect reestablishment. I preached myself and one of the things which I said and which seems to have been very much appreciated by the gathering, which included the Greek and Anglican hierarchy, was that you were such a man that there could be no doubt that when you took the See of Peter you also offered your life in all its dimensions. And I said, "This is a very dangerous thing to say to the Lord because sometimes He takes us at our word. therefore the Pope was ready and is ready to die for the Church." This is a form of martyrdom and it is not underneath your capacity. The willingness after all is the real baptism of blood."

In reply, the Pope sent the letter below:

Signed letter from Pope Saint John Paul II.

September 18, 1981
Cardinal Carter Fonds

The Pope recovered fully, and went on to lead an exceptional Papacy for 24 more years. After this incident however, his security was taken more seriously (he was previously one of the most accessible Popes in history), and his 'Popemobile' was fitted with bulletproof glass.

Pope Saint John Paul II set an amazing example for us in 1983 when he visited his shooter in prison and personally forgave him. Although the shooter was sentenced to life in prison, he was pardoned by the Italian president at the Pope's request in 2000.

Record of the Week: Happy Easter!

This week's Record of the Week is a 1960s photo from St. Ann's Parish in Penetanguishene. We wish you a blessed and happy Easter!

St. Ann's Parish, Penetanguishene, Early 1960s
PH 0170/26CP

Record of the Week: Cardinal Carter's Pallium

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.

Record of the Week: Insulin is Discovered at the University of Toronto

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.

Diabetes has been known to exist since ancient times; the first recorded mention of a disorder with its characteristics was in 1552 BC. Today's diabetics are able to live with the disease, but that wasn't always the case. Until the 20th century, diabetes was a death sentence. Life could be prolonged for a few years through diet and exercise, but ultimately nothing could be done.

In 1920, Dr. Frederick Banting, who lived in London, Ontario at the time, became interested in the relationship between the pancreas and diabetes. He brought his ideas to Professor John Macleod at the University of Toronto. Over the next few years, he worked with Charles Best and Dr. James Collip, which led to the discovery and refinement of insulin. The first human patient to be treated was a 14 year old boy, who received insulin at the beginning of 1922, and by October 1923 insulin was made widely available. Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 1923 for their miraculous treatment, which for the first time allowed diabetics to live a normal life.

News of the discovery spread quickly. In October 1922, before the widespread availability of insulin, Archbishop McNeil received a letter from Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia. He appealed to Archbishop McNeil to use his influence to persuade Banting to send a supply of insulin for his auxiliary bishop, Rev. M.J. Crane, who was quite ill:

MN AD57.001

"The newspapers of Philadelphia have lately informed the public that Dr. Banting, of the University of Toronto, has discovered a treatment for diabetes, the medicine to be used in the treatment being called "insulin." 

"It is stated that, for some months to come, a sufficient quantity of this medicine for the public at large will not be available.

"No doubt, however, a sufficient amount for an individual treatment could be secured if the proper influence were brought to bear upon Dr. Banting.

"Rt. Rev. Bishop M.J. Crane, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, is suffering from diabetes, and both he and I would consider it a great favor if Your Grace, by your influence, could prevail upon Dr. Banting to send to Bishop Crane a sufficient quantity of "insulin" for the treatment and cure of his case."

October 19th, 1922

Our counterparts in Philadelphia were generous enough to send us Archbishop McNeil's reply:

"The news of this diabetes cure was broadcasted too soon, and one result is that Dr. Banting gets letters at the rate of about 1000 per week. Dr. Loudon saw him about the Bishop's case ... It seems the medicine does all that is claimed for it. The difficulty is to get enough of it. I beg that the diagnosis of the Bishop's present condition be sent to my address. Dr. Banting will make time for it."

24 October 1922

From the Papers of Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty, 80.4136. Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center.

Cardinal Dougherty's Reply:

MN AD57.002

"You will notice, from Dr. Webster's letter, that the Bishop has a severe case of diabetes which is apt to result fatally in the near future, unless something be done for him.

I appreciate very highly what Your Grace has already done; and if possible I shall be still more grateful if Your Grace prevail upon Dr. Banting to send the medicine at the earliest convenience.

October 30th, 1922

The story has an uplifting ending. Our Philadelphian counterparts also sent us Bishop Crane's update to Cardinal Dougherty:

My Dear Cardinal,

I am comfortably located here - have a private room with running water - expect a room with a bath in a few days - I am very fortunate in having Dr. Banting himself for my physician.They have only thirteen patients in the Diabetic clinic. Four of these whom I met are from the States. I met a young man here from Toronto who came about six weeks ago and he learned when admitted that they had over six hundred afflictions from Toronto alone. At present they are only able to make sufficient extract to treat thirteen. I am now on observation. They give you a certain amount of food, some of which contains sugar to see what percentage goes into the blood. I got my first record today - 270 milligrams. The test I had in the early part of August was 400. The percentage of sugar in the urine was less than 2 per cent. In August I had 6 per cent. This I consider very encouraging. It spells improvement. I called on Archbishop McNeil on Wed[nesday] but he was out of town. I have not been out of the hospital since. He is treating my feet which were very sore and he advised me to keep off them for a few days. Everybody is most kind and courteous. Thanking you again my dear friend for helping me to get this good treatment and praying God to spare you for many years. 

I am yours gratefully, +MJ Crane 

November 18, 1922

From the Papers of Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty, 80.4136. Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center.

Because of the intercession of Cardinal Dougherty and Archbishop McNeil, Bishop Crane was among the first patients to receive the landmark treatment. It has been almost 100 years and insulin, which was discovered here in our city, has saved the lives of millions of people around the world.

Lettuce know if you'll turnip for the harvest!

It's pumpkin spice harvest time in Ontario!

It was not so long ago that parts of urban and suburban Toronto were used for agricultural purposes. When St. Augustine's Seminary opened in 1913 on the Scarborough Bluffs, the seminarians and faculty lived off the land:

"[T]he seminary grounds also included a farm with cows, pigs, and hens, which in the first three decades served as the principal source of the Seminary's food supply. An apple orchard stood north of the original Seminary building, and in the earliest years a vineyard was cultivated in order to provide Mass wine." *

St. Augustine's Seminary Photograph Collection, PH26S/83P

The orchard was located just north of the seminary building (ca.1920),
where Blessed Cardinal Newman Catholic High School now stands.

St. Augustine's Seminary Photograph Collection

The farm on the seminary grounds, including vineyards (right) for producing mass wine, ca. 1920.

St. Augustine's Seminary Photograph Collection

Loading the hay wagon on the seminary farm.

Celebrate the harvest season with a visit to St. Peter's Parish Fall Fair in Toronto this weekend (Saturday, October 3 - Sunday, October 4).


*Booth, Karen Marshall, ed. The people cry - "Send us priests": The first seventy-five years of St. Augustine's Seminary of Toronto, 1913-1988 (Toronto: Metro Press, 1988), vol. 1, p.11.

Record of the Week: Reign of Queen Elizabeth II

Tomorrow, Queen Elizabeth II will become the longest serving monarch in British history, supplanting her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years 216 days.

After her uncle King Edward VIII abdicated, Elizabeth unexpectedly became second-in-line to the throne. The queen's reign began on February 6, 1952 when her father, King George VI, died. Elizabeth II's coronation took place on June 2, 1953 and was the first to be aired on television.

At the time of Her Majesty's accession, James Cardinal McGuigan was the Archbishop of Toronto. As the senior cardinal and ranking prelate of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada, His Eminence sent words of sympathy and acknowledgement to the new Queen of Canada. In the archives, we have the monarch's brief response, sent via telegraph:

Cardinal McGuigan finds, MGPO06.99

Telegram, 10 February 1952

"Buckingham Palace London

LTF Cardinal McGuigan Toronto

I am sincerels (sic) grateful for your kind message please assure all those for whom you speak that I deeply value their kindness and sympathy

Elizabeth R"

The queen signs official documents "Elizabeth R". The "R'' stands for regina, which is Latin for queen.

Record of the Week: Forwarding the Cause of Br. André

Saint André Bessette, C.S.C., is one of our country's most beloved saints. Commonly referred to as Brother André, he was a  member of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The French-Canadian was known for his strong personal devotion to St. Joseph, in whose name he administered to the sick. Br. André died in 1937 in the famous St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.

Photographs Collection, Holy Cross Brothers (C.S.C.), PH27H/01P

Portrait of Brother André Bessette, C.S.C [ca. 1920]

Tomorrow marks the 33rd anniversary of Br. André's beatification. We were surprised to find that our own Cardinal McGuigan played a small part in this first step towards sainthood. The Archbishop of Toronto was asked by the Vice-Postulator* to write to Pope Pius XII "asking him to introduce the cause of this Servant of God." Cardinal McGuigan complied with this request in 1946, although Br. André was not made Blessed until May 23, 1982. He was finally canonized in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.

*A postulator is one who is charged with furthering a cause for sainthood - making a judicial case for beatification and then canonization of an individual by gathering evidence of miraculous events attributed to the holy person. Postulators often authorize the issuing of relics of the venerable person.

James Cardinal McGuigan fonds, MG DA32.49 (a)

"June 5, 1946...therfore, as Vice Postulator of his Cause, I respectfully would ask your Eminence if you would be kind enough to write a postulatory letter to His Holiness, Pope Pius XII asking him to introduce the Cause of the servant of God."

As the note on the top suggests, Fr. Egan was probably charged with drafting the actual letter.

James Cardinal McGuigan fonds, MG DA32.49 (c)

"Brother Andre was universally acclaimed as a miracle worker. His ability to read the consciences of the pilgrims and convert even the most hardened sinner was one of his greatest gifts."

Record of the Week: Stations of the Cross

Good Friday observances usually include the Stations of Cross because they encourage the faithful to reflect, pray and mediate on the events of Christ's Passion.  Most famous, perhaps, is the televised Way of the Cross through the ancient Roman Colosseum that the Pope traces as part of his annual Good Friday devotions.

We are all familiar with Stations of the Cross found in every church and chapel - tableaux usually mounted on the walls in a sequential circuit around the walls of the nave.  So ubiquitous are these Stations that we might not give very much thought to their history. Did you know...?

• The Stations probably evolved from the Way of the Cross or Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.  This was the path that pilgrims were encouraged to follow during their pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

• The development of the Via Dolorosa is often attributed to the Franciscans, after they were granted administration of the Christian holy sites in Jerusalem in 1342.

• In the 15th and 16th centuries, seeking to replicate the Way of the Cross for pilgrims in Europe, the Franciscans laid out similar shrines or meditation stations along pilgrimage routes on the Continent.

• The number of stations along these routes varied between 7 and 30.

• In 1686, Pope Innocent XI granted the Franciscans the right to erect stations within their churches.  Following that, the right was extended to all churches, as long as the Stations were erected by Franciscans and with the Bishop's permission. At this time the number of Stations was fixed at fourteen.

• Of these fourteen accepted stations, only eight are clearly founded in Scripture. Stations 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 are not described in the Gospels.

• To provide a version more closely aligned with the Bible, Pope John Paul II introduced a new form of devotion, the Scriptural Way of the Cross, in 1991.

• Minimal requirements for the Stations are fourteen wooden crosses and numerals; pictures alone do not suffice.  For example, during outdoor Good Friday processions (and when the Pope processes around the Colosseum tonight), the Stations are said without any images - just temporary crosses to mark the way.

• The devotion is also shared by Anglican and Lutheran denominations.

At the Archives, we have photographs of any least one station from each of our churches. Today, we've pulled together a full set from fourteen different parishes that exemplify the wide range of style, material, size and subject matter of the Stations of the Cross found across our Archdiocese:

1986 Parish Photographic Survey, Slide Collection, PH78 #163

I. Jesus is condemned to death
St. Paschal Baylon Church, Thornhill

2008 ARCAT Cultural Heritage Inventory Pilot Project, #084C002

II. Jesus carries his cross
St. Mary's Church, Toronto

1986 Parish Photographic Survey, Slide Collection, PH78 #49

III. Jesus falls the first time
Our Lady Queen of the World, Richmond Hill

2008 ARCAT Cultural Heritage Inventory Pilot Project, #121C004

IV. Jesus meets his mother
St. Clare of Assisi Church, Woodbridge

These Stations, painted on tiles, were created by an artist from Assisi in Italy, hometown of the parish's patroness.

1986 Parish Photographic Survey, Slide Collection, PH78 #25

V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross
Holy Spirit Church, Scarborough

2008 ARCAT Cultural Heritage Inventory Pilot Project, #062C006

VI. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
St. Fidelis Church, Toronto

These Stations were made in Tanzania.

1992 Archdiocesan Sesquicentennial Calendar Project, PH76/48T

VII. Jesus falls the second time
Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, Motherhouse Chapel at Morrow Park

These marble Stations, carved in a neoclassic style, uniquely feature a female figure in each vignette, which was specifically commissioned by the religious community of Sisters.

Photographs Collection, PH0093/50CP

VIII. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
St. Paul's Basilica, Toronto

1986 Parish Photographic Survey, Slide Collection, PH78 #7

IX. Jesus falls the third time
Blessed Trinity Church, Toronto

Photographs Collection, PH78-154/18CP

X. Jesus is stripped of his garments
St. Mary Immaculate Church, Richmond Hill

Photographs Collection, PH0055/18CP

XI: Jesus is nailed to the cross
St. Clare's Church

1986 Parish Photographic Survey, Slide Collection, PH78 #139

XII. Jesus dies on the cross
St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Toronto

Photographs Collection, PH0072-15PXIII.

Jesus is taken down from the cross
St. John Bosco, Toronto

1986 Parish Photographic Survey, Slide Collection, PH78 #22

XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb
Holy Name Church, Toronto

Record of The Week: A Cloth Shrouded in Mystery

Over the past few weeks, many parishes around the archdiocese have been hosting sindonological researcher Walter Pezzo for a reflection on the Passion of Jesus and the spiritual value of the Shroud of Turin. 

The shroud, which is believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus, has been the subject of study and debate especially in the last century. In 1898, a photographer named Secondo Pia was allowed to photograph the shroud while it was on display in the Turin cathedral. The photograph revealed the image of a man with wounds consistent with crucifixion. After that, the scientific and historical study of the shroud (sindonology) exploded. 

The Catholic Church does not officially recognize the shroud as authentic, but respects it as a symbol. It was recently announced that Pope Francis will make a pilgrimage to Turin to visit the shroud while it is on display in June. 

Below is a lithograph copy of Pia's photograph with a prayer in Latin which was found in the Archbishop Walsh Fonds. 

W AA03.16Archbishop Walsh Fonds
"The Holy Shroud of Our Lord Jesus Christ"

There is still one more chance to catch Mr. Pezzo's presentation at Holy Spirit Parish in Barrie on Monday, March 30th at 7:00 pm. 

Record of the Week: "Dom Bosco est mort"

Tomorrow is the the feast day of St. John Bosco and the anniversary of his death. This year marks 200 years since his birth in northern Italy, in a hamlet outside of Turin.

As a priest, Don (Father) Bosco founded the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales (the Salesian Fathers), and co-founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (the Salesian Sisters). He was canonized in 1934 by Pope Pius XI and given the title "Father and Teacher of Youth."  Youth ministry is the primary vocation of the Salesian orders.

Archbishop of Toronto John Lynch was sent the announcement of Don Bosco's death, issued from the Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales in Turin, 31 January 1888: 

Archbishop Lynch fonds, LAH33.78

"It is with a breaking heart, eyes full of tears and a trembling hand, that I convey to you the painful news, the most painful news I have ever announced or will ever have to announce: our good loving father in Jesus Christ, our founder, friend, advisor, guide of our lives, Dom Bosco, is dead." [translated from French]

Archbishop Lynch fonds, LAH33.78

"...With the support and advice of my confreres, I am certain the Pious Society of Saint Francis de Sales, supported by the arm of God, strong with the protection of Mary Help of Christians and the generous charity of Salesian cooperators, will continue the works created by its revered and lamented founder, in particular the Christian education of the poor and dispossessed youth and foreign Missions...

"...we no longer have our good Father among us, but we will meet him again in Heaven if we apply his advice, and if we walk faithfully in his footsteps.

"Believe me, even in pain and in sorrow..."  [translated from French]

To the modern reader, the announcement may seem overly sentimental. However, the heartfelt language is indicative of the steadfast devotion of Don Bosco's followers and his reputation as an inspirational, holy man.

The author, Rev. Michel Rua, states, "I am certain the Pious Society of Saint Francis de Sales...will continue the works created by its revered and lamented founder."  In this archdiocese, Don Bosco's legacy continues to guide the Salesian Fathers at the parish of St. Benedict in Etobicoke. Read more in this article from The Catholic Register.

Join His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins at he celebrates the Solemn Mass for the Feast of St. John Bosco at St. Paul's Basilica (83 Power St., Toronto), Saturday, January 31 at 10 a.m.

Record of the Week: A letter from the firing line

Today is Remembrance Day and we have chosen a record from the First World War to commemorate 100 years since the beginning of that great conflict.

ARCAT has a series of letters written to Archbishop Neil McNeil from a Toronto soldier with the 3rd Division of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. Gunner Gilbert Sim had been studying for the priesthood before enlisting in 1915.  Periodically, Sim wrote to the archbishop of the conditions in the trenches, asking for His Grace's remembrance and blessing:

"August 1916...I am now at the firing line.  I have had many adventures since leaving Toronto but my heart ever turns to that fair city to which I feel I belong.  Day and night a constant stream of troops, wagons, and timbers are moving up the line. It is very sad to see the beautiful  churches all blown to ruins.  Of course I cannot write much.  I beg your Grace will remember me.  I am learning lessons in the very hard school in which I find myself..."
First World War, FWGC02.04

After being in action during the Battle of Arras, the storming of Vimy Ridge, and the taking of Passchendaele, Sim wrote of his desire to be discharged.  He wanted to continue his clerical studies in order to return to the front as a military chaplain.

You can see Gilbert Sim's personnel records on the Library and Archives Canada website, and search the digitized records of soldiers of the First World War.

Archbishop Neil McNeil was the ordinary of Toronto during the Great War and he is known for defending the Pope's neutral position.  McNeil is also credited with delivering one of the war's shortest patriotic speeches to a Toronto regiment about to be deployed.  At the non-denominational meeting he simply said:

“You are tired and anxious to spend these last hours with your friends and I will not keep you long.

If I were a young man I would be going with you. But I am an old man and must stay home.

Keep yourselves physically fit to fight and spiritually fit to die. God bless you.”*

*Boyle, George. Pioneer in Purple (Montreal: Palm Publishers, 1951), pp. 139-40.