Thursday, 27 September 2007

Cardinal in the House


Parish life is full of the unexpected - and especially when the parish priest is away, as he is at present (leading a pilgrimage in Spain).
Last night, for example, I was called to give the sacraments to a dying parishioner - always a great privilege but not a very common event here since the local hospital has a full-time priest chaplain.

Then this evening, on returning to my room after Mass, who should I find wandering around the presbytery but a member of the Sacred College! No, not the Archbishop of Westminster but his opposite number in Lagos, Nigeria: H.E. Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie. He is visiting the Nigerian Chaplain, who is my next-door neighbour, and it now appears that he will celebrate Mass here on Sunday. I was actually thinking about getting a supply priest to help me with the parish's six Masses, but I wasn't expecting a Prince of the Church to help out!

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7 Comments:

Blogger M.J. said...

Don't you like how God's always full of surprises? LOL.

1:13 am  
Blogger Antonia said...

Father, I've never met a Cardinal before. I wonder, what is the right way of greeting a cardinal? And do priests greet a cardinal the same way as laity?

7:11 am  
Blogger Fr Nicholas said...

You address a Cardinal as 'Your Eminence' and, as with bishops, it is customary to kiss his ring - though some Cardinals (and bishops) don't like it.

9:22 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

God is good!

11:02 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kissing the ring of office, yes, but you wouldn't kneel at the same time as for the local bishop with jurisdiction, would you?
Or is a Cardinal seen as representative of the Holy Father in this regard and therefore to kneel for as well?

2:47 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

(In the voice of Monty Python)

No one expects the Roman College of Cardinals!

mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

6:01 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A Cardinal has juristiction everywhere outside of Rome (and there in his Titular Church).
A Nuncio/Apostolic Delgate/Legate has jurisdiction throughout the teritory of his Nunciature.
An Archbishop throughout his Province.
A Bishop (but not an Auxiliary) throughout his Diocese.

12:27 am  

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