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.

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

...six pairs of buskins,

Textiles Special Collection, TX.106a-f

Buskins are ceremonial liturgical stockings traditionally made of silk.  They are worn by the celebrant of a Pontifical Mass, which follows the Extraordinary Form. Buskins can be worn with episcopal sandals (low slipper-like footwear) or over regular socks and with dress shoes. They match the liturgical colour of the chasuble worn by the bishop or pope. These six pairs of buskins belonged to James Cardinal McGuigan.

five golden rings,

four photographs,

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

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

...five golden rings,

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.  

four photographs,

three 

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.

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

...four photographs,

Photographs Special Collection: PH0002/05P; PH65/331CP; PH24F/21P; PH31P/227AL(35)

While we have more than 6,000 photographs stored in the archives, these four represent significant 2014 anniversaries.  Our most common requests for photographs result from anniversary celebrations. Clockwise from top:

• All Saints Parish, Etobicoke, turned 50 years old this year. Photo of the church's ground breaking ceremony shows Rev. Martin O'Grady with a shovel while Auxiliary Bishop Francis Allen looks on.
• We marked 30 years since John Paul II visited the Archdiocese of Toronto during the first Papal Visit to Canada.  The Pope was also canonized this past year. Photo of the pontiff disembarking a military helicopter in Midland, Ontario.
• Msgr. Vincent Foy celebrated 75 years of ordination to the priesthood in June.  He is the first priest of the archdiocese to reach this milestone. Photographic portrait taken in 1964.
• The construction of St. Ann's Church, Toronto, was completed a century ago. The first Mass was celebrated by Archbishop McNeil on the feast of St. Ann, July 26, 1914. This photo was taken as part of an archdiocesan property survey in 1914. Piles of construction material and debris can be seen in front of the building.

three mitres,

two maniples,

and a pen used to vote at Conclave.