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!
Don't you like how God's always full of surprises? LOL.
ReplyDeleteFather, 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?
ReplyDeleteYou 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.
ReplyDeleteGod is good!
ReplyDeleteKissing the ring of office, yes, but you wouldn't kneel at the same time as for the local bishop with jurisdiction, would you?
ReplyDeleteOr is a Cardinal seen as representative of the Holy Father in this regard and therefore to kneel for as well?
(In the voice of Monty Python)
ReplyDeleteNo one expects the Roman College of Cardinals!
mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!
A Cardinal has juristiction everywhere outside of Rome (and there in his Titular Church).
ReplyDeleteA 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.