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#238 – Dancing Mania

June 27, 2010 – 8:06 am

Throughout the Middle Ages, Catholics saw friends and neighbors afflicted with what they believed was the irresistible desire to dance. The cure for this strange ailment, they believed, was to be found in the intercession of the saints…and more dancing.

Links:

An article on the Dancing Plague from the Discovery Channel

“Rethinking the Dancing Mania” by Robert E. Bartholomew in Skeptical Inquirer Volume 24.4, July / August 2000 – the author explains the dancing mania as an expression of prohibited heretical/pagan beliefs

“A forgotten plague: making sense of dancing mania” by John Waller in The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9664, Pages 624 – 625, 21 February 2009 – the author finds an explanation for dancing mania in mass psychosis – for a fuller treatment see his The Dancing Plague. The Strange, True story of an Extraordinary Illness.

“The Dancing Plague: a public health conundrum” by LJ Donaldson, J Cavanagh, and J Rankin in Public Health 1997 Issue 4, p201-204 – the authors suggest a variety of causes for the dancing mania

The painting is The Pilgrimage of the Epileptics to the Church at Molenbeeck: Three groups of Epileptics going to the left by Pieter Breughel the Elder

SQPN’s Catholic New Media Celebration

Be sure to check out the CUTH blog for more on the history of the Catholic Church

Send e-mail questions and comments to catholicunderthehood@gmail.com or leave voice mail at 1 740 936 4354

To listen, just click on the link below:

podcasticon #238 – Dancing Mania

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Medieval History, Podcast, Spirituality, Women's History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – Paul VI announces that the bones of Saint Peter have been discovered

June 26, 2010 – 9:56 am

On 26 June 1968, Pope Paul VI announced that the bones of Saint Peter were discovered.

It was during the Papacy of Pius IX that a necropolis and a second-century victory monument was discovered unter the Basilica of St. Peter. This victory monument had been described in ancient sources as standing over the grave of St. Peter.

Below the monument some bones were discovered that some thought might be the bones of the Saint. However, it was later determined that the bones were those of a woman, two men and some animals. The bones of the two men were of people around fifty years of age which would make them too young to be St. Peter. Later, behind a buttressing wall covered with inscriptions dedicated to Peter, Christ, Mary and everlasting life was found a marble-lined repository that contained a box with bones thought to be those of a pope. Inside the box was a piece of red plaster with the words Petr(os) eni. The archeologist responsible for examining the box asserted that the inscription meant “Peter is here” and asked to have the bones analyzed.

It took six years to analyze the bones. When the conclusions of the examination were published, it was determined that the bones were of a man who died between the ages of 65-70, the man was 5’6 ½” tall, all the bones were present except the foot bones, the bones were covered with a gold and purple cloth.

The bones seemed to fit with the traditional understanding of St. Peter as someone who died around sixty years of age. Since St. Peter was crucified upside down with nails through his feet, that would explain the lack of foot bones with an otherwise complete skeleton – since normally the hands decompose faster than feet. The purple cloth had been placed on the bones of the skeleton, not the skin which indicated that the relics were considered particularly special.

Based upon this information, Paul VI announced to the world on 26 June 1968, that “very time-consuming and accurate studies” and ” the judgment of the talented and prudent people” had convinced him that the relics of St. Peter had been identified.

An informative series of articles on the excavations under the Basilica of St. Peter can be found here, here, here, here, and here. A visual visit to the tomb of St. Peter can be seen here.

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Early Church History, Papal History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – Pius IX approves the Red Scapular

June 25, 2010 – 8:37 am

On 25 June, Pius IX approved the Red Scapular of the Passion of Our Lord and the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary for use as a sacramental.

The scapular is made of red wool with one side bearing the image of the crucifix, instruments of the Passion and the words “Holy Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ Save Us.” The other side bears an image of a small cross above the Sacred Heart Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the words “Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, protect us.”

Sister Appoline Andriveau of the Sisters of Charity claimed that the devotion of the Red Scapular was revealed to her during a series of visions of Jesus and Mary in 1846. Sister Appoline said that she was promissed that those who wear the scapular faithfully and contemplated the Passion of Jesus Christ would grow in faith, hope, and charity.

Pope Pius IX, in approving the use of the Red Scapular, also granted with it various indulgences. Originally the Lazarist Order was responsible for blessing and investing someone with the Red Scapular, but now any priest can do so.

For more on scapulars and the Red Scapular

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Papal History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (1)

Today in Catholic History – Pope Clement VII confirms the Order of the Theatines

June 24, 2010 – 8:54 am

On 24 June 1524, Pope Clement VII approved the establishment of the Theatine Order in his Brief Exponi Nobis.

The Theatines were founded by Saint Cajetan, Paolo Consiglieri, Bonifacio da Colle, and Giovanni Pietro Carafa and named after the Italian city Chieti/Theate where Carafa was Bishop. The order was consecrated to the Cross and Saint Cajetan and the other Theatines will make their profession before the pope on September 14th – the Feast of the Holy Cross.

The main charism of the Theatines was to encourage both clergy and laity in the practice of virtue. One of the reasons for the establishment of the Theatines was in response to the attacks of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.

The Theatines accomplished much good work with their oratories and missions and include in their number one pope – Paul IV. However, the mid-late 19th century suppression of religious orders struck the Theatines particularly harshly. The Theatines vow of poverty prohibited them from owning any property and so was left with very little when their order was disolved many parts of Europe.

There are also Theatine Sisters and it was through Venerable Ursula Benincasa, who founded the Order of Theatine Nuns, that the devotion of the Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception was established.

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Papal History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – Bishop Karol Wotyła ordains Stanisław Dziwisz

June 23, 2010 – 1:35 pm

On 23 June 1963, Stanisław Dziwisz was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Krakow by Bishop Karol Wojtyła.

He will serve briefly as a parish priest before becoming the personal secretary of Wojtyła in October 1966 – a position he will hold until the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005. On 3 June 2005, Dziwisz will become the Archbishop of Krakow and a cardinal on the 24 March 2006.

George Weigel will describe the relationship between Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Dziwisz as “that which every father wants from a son: love and duty without fear or synchophany. Dziwisz brought complete loyalty, utter discretion, sharp judgement, a puckish sense of humor, and indefatigability to the job.”

Today in Catholic History – Condemnation of Galileo

June 22, 2010 – 6:37 am

On 22 June 1633, Galileo was condemned by the Roman Inquisition.

In 1616, the Roman Inquisition had acted against Galileo for these reasons : holding the doctrine that the sun is at the center of the universe and immovable and that the earth moves; teaching and writing about this belief to others; for publishing a book presenting this doctrine and for expressing a doctrine which was contrary to the true sense and authority of Holy Scripture.

He was ordered to abandon this doctrine and to no longer teach it. All books which presented this doctrine were to be prohibited. Galileo agreed with the Inquisition’s decisions and did not discuss these ideas for sixteen years.

But in 1632, he published a book, “Dialogue of Galileo Galilei on the Great World System,” which the Inquisition deemed violated Galileo’s earlier promise. Therefore, the Inquisition ordered that Galileo was to formally reject the doctrine that the sun was immovable and the center of the universe and that the earth moved, the offending book was to be prohibited, he was placed under house imprisonment, and each week for three years was to repeat the seven penitential Psalms.

On 31 October 1992, Pope John Paul II apologized for the condemnation of Galileo.

The text of the condemnation of Galileo

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Papal History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (2)

Today in Catholic History – Charles I Answers the Nineteen Propositions

June 21, 2010 – 9:05 am

On 21 June 1642, Charles I presented his response to the Nineteen Propositions which had been submitted to him by the English Parliament. While the Propositions are mostly known for their demands for limitations upon the power of the King, they also contain demands regarding the treatment of Catholics in England.

The Propositions demanded that the present laws against Jesuits, Catholic priests, and those who refused to attend Anglican services. They also demanded that the votes of Catholics in the House of Lords be removed and that the children of Catholic receive a Protestant education. Moreover they demanded that King Charles I formalize an alliance with the Dutch “in order to defend them from the Pope and his followers”.

While Charles I, in his Answer to the Nineteen Propositions, will reject those proposals which he believed illegitimately limited his power, he will not reject those propositions directed against Catholics. Indeed he will support them and offer to strengthen their enforcement.

The conflict between Charles I and the English Parliament as demonstrated in the Nineteen Propositions and Charles I’s response will eventually lead to the English Civil War.

The Nineteen Propositions and Charles I’ Answer to the Nineteen Propositions

By sbeshonertor | Posted in British History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – Synod of Diamper

June 20, 2010 – 7:49 am

On 20 June 1599, the Synod of Diamper began in Udayamperoor/Diamper in Kerala, India] under the leadership of Archbishop Aleixi de Menezes.*

When the Portuguese encountered the Thomas Christians after the arrival of explorer Vasco de Gama in 1498, the Thomas Christians were part of the Assyrian Church of the East or Chaldean Church.* As a result of Portuguese missionary activity many Thomas Christians were influenced by the rituals and practices of the Roman Catholic Church and in 1552 a group of Thomas Christians entered into communion with the Pope.

However, the Portuguese hierarchy in India wanted to bring the Thomas Christians into closer jurisdiction of the Latin hierarchy and replace the Assyrian/Chaldean liturgy with that of the Roman Catholic Church. Many of the local customs were condemned as heretical and many of the liturgical books of the Thomas Christians were ordered corrected or were burnt.

The Archbishop summoned all priests to the Synod of Diamper under pain of excommunication. 130 priests and 660 laymen met at the Synod which lasted until 26 June 1599. The Synod, presided by the Archbishop of Goa, condemned the Chaldean Patriarch who was in communion with Rome to be a heretic and a schismatic, Thomas Christians were not to accept any bishop except one immediately chosen by Rome, and the Latinization/adoption of Roman Catholic traditions and practices was confirmed.

More recently, the studies of Bishop Jonas Thaliath has demonstrated that the Synod of Diamper was invalid on the grounds that the Synod was convoked without the proper authority from Rome and did not follow Canon Law.

The effect of the Synod was to provide a greater push toward the further Latinization of the Thomas Christians and to separate them from their historic ties to the Chaldean Church. As the Catholic Encyclopedia notes, “The only case in which an ancient Eastern rite has been willfully romanized is that of the Uniat Malabar Christians, where it was not Roman authority but the misguided zeal of Alexius de Menezes, Archbishop of Goa, and his Portuguese advisers at the Synod of Diamper (1599) which spoiled the old Malabar Rite.”

Moreover, hostility from the Thomas Christians to the Portuguese treatment led to the Koonan Kurishu Satyam (Koonan Cross Oath) in 1653. At which some of the Thomas Christians swore that they would not obey the Portuguese bishops or the Jesuit missionaries. This will lead to a split among the Thomas Christians between the Syro Malabar Catholic Church which followed the Synod of Diamper and the Syriac Orthodox which did not.

The history of the Syro-Malabar Church

*The native Christians of India called themselves Thomas Christians because there tradition states that they were evangelized by Thomas the Apostle.

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Eastern Catholic, Indian History, Jesuit History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (4)

#237 – Peter’s Pence

June 19, 2010 – 9:09 pm

Every year the the Catholic Church asks Catholics to aid those in need through Peter’s Pence. This collection has changed somewhat since its 8th century beginnings but still seeks to help the poor.

Links:
Vatican website on Peter’s Pence with information on contributing on-line
In the United States, you can also send contributions to:

Peter’s Pence Collection
The Apostolic Nunciature
3339 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008

The USCCB’s website with more information on this year’s Peter’s Pence collection

Sources for this episode –

Rupert Klieber. “Efforts and Difficulties in Financing the Holy See by Means of Peter’s Pence. Can Ultramontanism be quantified?” in The Papacy and the New World Order. Vatican Diplomacy, Catholic Opinion and International Politics at the Time of Leo XIII. ed. Vincent Viane. Leuven University Press. 2005. pp. 287-302

John F. Pollard. Money and the Rise of the Modern Papacy. Financing the Vatican, 1850-1950. Cambridge University Press Cambridge 2005

SQPN’s Catholic New Media Celebration

Be sure to check out the CUTH blog for more on the history of the Catholic Church

Send e-mail questions and comments to catholicunderthehood@gmail.com or leave voice mail at 1 740 936 4354

To listen, just click on the link below:

podcasticon #237 – Peter’s Pence

By sbeshonertor | Posted in British History, Papal History, Podcast | Comments (1)

Today in Catholic History – The Nicene Creed

June 19, 2010 – 12:54 pm

On 19 June 325, the delegates at the Council of Nicea agreed to a statement of belief which has come to be known as the Nicene Creed. This statement expresses the core doctrine and dogmas of the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches. One tradition states that the Nicene Creed was originally formulated by Saint Athanasius.

One of the primary reasons for the Nicene Creed was to deal with the Arian heresy which denied that Son was truly divine as the Father is divine. Therefore, the Nicene Creed includes phrases which emphasis an equality between the Son and the Father – “begotten not made”, “true God from true God”, “light from light”, “one in being with the Father”.

The Nicene Creed is different the from the modified Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed recited every Sunday and solemnity in the Roman Catholic Church. For example, the Nicene Creed expresses the words “I believe in the Holy Spirit”, whereas the Constantinopolitan Creed adds the words “who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.” Later the Roman Catholic Church also added the filioque or the words “and the Son” to the Constantinopolitan Creed i.e. “who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who together with the Father….”*

For more on the Nicene Creed and how it compares with the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed

*While this addition has caused a great deal of controversy between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, interestingly enough it was originally added to deal with the Arian heresy in Spain – stressing that the Spirit proceeded from the Son as the Spirit proceeded from the Father was a way of emphasizing that the Son was equal in divinity to the Father.

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)