The Tonsure of Peter, of Paul, and of John

The practice of the tonsure is one that fascinates me. Early on, there arose the custom of monastics and/or clergy wearing a certain haircut that involved shaved heads. It was suppressed by Rome after Vatican 2. As far as I know, it was forgotten or lost in the East. I'd be glad to stand corrected, but I think the only Eastern Orthodox tonsure is the one that is conferred on adults just prior to baptism (and it's only a snip). I don't think Orthodox clergy or monastics where a tonsure.

In antiquity, there were three different versions, each which claimed Apostolic origin - one in tradition with St Paul, another with St John and another with St Peter.

The "Pauline" or Eastern tonsure claimed the authority of St. Paul the Apostle and consisted of shaving the whole head.

When Theodore of Tarsus was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury in 668, he had to grow out his Eastern tonsure (on the sides) in order to conform to the Roman tonsure.

The "Petrine" or Roman tonsure is the one with which we are familiar. It is a bald spot on the top of the head - typical male pattern baldness. In some places it was only the size of a silver dollar and hardly noticeable. Of course, St Peter is the authority invoked for this style.

The third tonsure style is the most obscure style. The Celtic Church had the custom of appealing to St John for their customs that differed with Roman custom (e.g. dating Easter, tonsure, etc.) They claimed that they received from St John. It was a triangle consisting of a straight line across the back of the head from ear to ear. From each ear the shaved pattern went up toward the forehead and met in a point. Thus from above, you'd see a triangle pointing toward the face.

The "Johannine/Triangle/Celtic tonsure was actually a much greater source of tension between Roman and Celtic Christians since it was the most notable day to day difference observed by all men, all the time. The Roman Catholics claimed St Peter and said that their circular tuft around the head represented the crown of the thorns. The Romans went further by stating that the triangle tonsure was Gnostic and created by Simon the Magician!

The triangular Celtic tonsure was condemned by the fourth Council of Toledo. Some scholars have suggested that the "triangle" tonsure is the ancient Antiochene tonsure that was strangely preserved only in Celtic areas. Who knows.

My own personal theory is that tonsure in general represents the the bald head of wisdom and old age. A priest is a presbyter - the Greek word for an old man.

Da Vinci Code, Meet Mormonism

I literally can't believe my eyes. There is a teaching in Mormonism that describes Christ as being married to Mary Magdalene and other women.

Granted the Mormon doctrine of sealings (eternal marriages), it is not surprising that they would depict Christ in such an arrangement.

On October 6, 1854, Latter Day Saint "Apostle" Orson Hyde stated:

"We say it was Jesus Christ who was married [at Cana], to be brought into the relation whereby he could see his seed, before he was crucified" (Journal of Discourses 2:82).

On March 18, 1855 "Apostle" Hyde said:

"I discover that some of the Eastern papers represent me as a great blasphemer, because I said, in my lecture on Marriage, at our last Conference, that Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee, that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives, and that he begat children" (Journal of Discourses 2:210).

Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt agreed with his contemporary when he wrote, "Now it would be natural for a husband in the resurrection to appear first to his own dear wives, and afterwards show himself to his other friends. If all the acts of Jesus were written, we no doubt should learn that these beloved women were His wives" (The Seer, p.159).

On page 172 of the same book, Pratt wrote, "We have now clearly shown that God, the Father had a plurality of wives, one or more being in eternity, by whom He begat our spirits as well as the spirit of Jesus His First Born... We have also proved most clearly that the Son followed the example of his Father, and became the great Bridegroom to whom kings' daughters and many honorable Wives to be married."

In a letter dated in 1963, the man who would become the tenth LDS President [highest LDS officer], Joseph Fielding Smith, answered the question "Was Christ married?" with the words:

"Yes! But do not preach it! The Lord advised us not to cast pearls before swine!"

Full article from Mormon Research Ministry.

Info Site on the Blessed Mother's (Empty) Tomb

This is a good site with Patristic sources concerning the Assumption of Our Lady and pictures of the Holy Sepulcher of the Holy Mother of Our Lord Christ.

Anglicanism's Who's Who

Prof. William Tighe with an excellent description of various Anglican bodies and sub-groups and movements over at Pontifications.

Origin of Holy Water

The custon of holy water goes back to the Old Testament where the Jews made ritual ablutions to prepare for worship. The ministerial priests always had symbolic washings with water to prepare for worship in God’s temple.

The Catholic Church believes the use of blessed water goes back to the Apostles and in particular to the Apostle Matthias, the replacement Apostle for Judas Iscariot. The earliest written documentation of Holy Water by Christians is in the 300s AD in the Apostolic Constitutions, which was thought to be written by St Clement of Rome. Here's the portion from the Constitutions:

XXIX. Concerning the water and the oil, I Matthias make a constitution. Let the bishop bless the water, or the oil. But if he be not there, let the presbyter bless it, the deacon standing by. But if the bishop be present, let the presbyter and deacon stand by, and let him say thus: O Lord of hosts, the God of powers, the creator of the waters, and the supplier of oil, who art compassionate, and a lover of mankind, who hast given water for drink and for cleansing, and oil to give man a cheerful and joyful countenance; do Thou now also sanctify this water and this oil through Thy Christ, in the name of him or her that has offered them, and grant them a power to restore health, to drive away diseases, to banish demons, and to disperse all snares through Christ our hope, with whom glory, honour, and worship be to Thee, and to the Holy Ghost, for ever. Amen.

My World Series Prophecy

We're down to the final four.

NL: St Louis Cardinals vs. Mets.

AL: Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland.

My prophecy. Tigers vs. the Mets in the World Series. Tigers win it.

Canterbury Cathedral Falling Down

Canterbury Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, is falling down. Outward sign of inward reality? They need $50 million to keep it up.

Hat tip to the Shrine of the Holy Whapping.

St Jerome's Priesthood

I remember reading somewhere that St Jerome was ordained a priest but that he never once celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Can someone verify this for me?

St Bruno's Carthusian Nuns (and Their Maniples)

Today is the memorial of St Bruno, founder of the Carthusians. Interesting fact about Carthusian nuns and the maniple:

"The nun is invested with a crown, ring, stole and maniple, the last being worn on the right arm. These ornaments the nun only wears again on the day of her monastic jubilee, and after her death on her bier. It is a consecrated nun who sings the Epistle at the conventual Mass, though without wearing the maniple. At Matins, if no priest be present, a nun assumes the stole and reads the Gospel."

From the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Why is Catholicism Centered in Rome, Not Jerusalem?

Ever wondered why Catholicism is Roman Catholicism and why the Pope is the Bishop of Rome? There is a biblical reason why Catholicism is centered in Rome and not Jeruslaem.

Listen to this week's K Street Catholic Podcast for the answer.

Archbishop Wuerl Has Entered the Conclave

Archbishop Wuerl of Washington DC has not yet been named a Cardinal of the Roman Church. However, he has been permitted to enter the papal conclave. In 1978, Wuerl was present at the conclave that elected Cardinal Karol Wojtyla as Pope John Paul II.

Why?

He served as secretary to John Cardinal Wright who was confined to a wheelchair with severe arthritis. As Wright's secretary and attendant, he was allowed to enter the conclave.