Back in the 1980's, comedian Don Novello wrote a number of spoof letters to famous personages under the pseudonym of Lazlo Toth. To Generallissimo Francisco Franco, he wrote: "You're not just a General. You're a Generallissimo!"
Cardinal Ray Burke of St. Louis, recently bounced from an important post in the Vatican by Pope Francis, may be seen here in all his "cardinalissimo splendor."
I am reminded of a remark I once read on a Catholic blog in a comments section following a flattering post on Cardinal Burke replete with photos of Burke in all his scarlet glory. The comment was to the effect that the cappa magna was a medieval train designed to dignify a prelate on horseback, specifically by covering the horse's ass. In Burke's case, the commenter observed, the cappa magna was an example of a relic still serving its original purpose.
I also remember a photo of Burke in a broad red hat with suitable decorations that looked like something the late Queen Mother might have worn at Ascot.
Posted by: Hypatia | December 29, 2013 at 05:01 PM