Symbolism of Papal Coronation and Tiara

Symbolism of Papal Coronation and Tiara

I like saying that all people and we Catholics particularly need symbols. Our human nature requires symbols that help us to understand the things that are hard to be explain by words, especially those supernatural. That is why in our daily Catholic life we have many symbols that surround us: sign of the Cross that we do in the morning, holy pictures, church buildings, our beloved liturgy, which bring us every Sunday (or more often) from the Earth to half way to Heaven.

Palatine tiara

We, so called traditional Catholics, LOVE symbols, which sometimes remain a pure, esthetical gesture or thing. However, a symbol will make its role, if we, Catholic, make a minimum effort to understand the meaning which it brings. Otherwise, we become empty, vain and sentimental creature.

Triple tiara of Pope Pius VII from the year 1800
It was made from papier mache but
encrusted with precious stones and pearls.
Pope Benedict XV had these stripped
from the tiara as a donation to the care
of wounded in World War One

One of the symbols that is liked with the Papacy that teaches us what the office of the Pope really mean is the triple crown, or tiara.

Triple Tiara presented to Pope Pius VII
by Bonaparte in 1805.

This days Popes decide to put this symbol aside for their best known reasons. However, we must maintain the good understanding of this symbol, because it still remains the sign of the Pope and will be reintroduced for sure when the true Christianities will be rebuilt.

Tiara of gold made in 1835 for Pope Gregory XVI.

Tiara is of course nice and esthetical thing, but unfortunately from what I read in the internet, it is nothing more then thfor most Catholics.

Triple tiara presented to Pope Pius IX in 1854 by Queen Isabella II of Spain.
This tiara was used when Pope Pius defined the doctrine of the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Let's look what really the Church tells us about this symbol in the coronation rite:

Pater noster... V/. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem. R/. Sed libera nos a malo. V/. Cantemus Domino. R/. Gloriose enim magnificatus est. V/. Buccinate in neomenia tuba. R/. In insigni die solemnitatis vestrae. v/. Jubilate Deo, omnis terra. R/. Servite Domino in laetitia. V/. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. R/. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. V/. Dominus vobiscum. R/. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, dignitas sacerdotii et auctor regni, da gratiam famulo tuo Francisco Pontifici nostro, Ecclesiam tuam fructuose regenti, ut qui tua clementia pater regum et rector omnium fidelium constituitur et coronatur, salubri tua dispositione cuncta bene gubernentur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Most glorious of them all: the Triple Tiara in the Gothic Revival style
presented to Pope Pius IX in 1871 by the Ladies of the Belgian Court.

Accipe tiaram tribus coronis ornatam, et scias te esse Patrem Principum et Regum, Rectorem Orbis, in terra Vicarium Salvatoris Nostri Jesu Christi, cui est honor et gloria in sæcula sæculorum.

Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns and know that thou art Father of Princes and Kings, Ruler of the World, Vicar of Our Savior Jesus Christ in earth, to whom is honor and glory in the ages of ages.

Another splendid tiara in the neo-Gothic style.
Presented to Pope Leo XIII by the Catholics of Paris in 1887.

Here we have. With the symbol of tiara the Holy Mather Church teaches us that the Holy Father is:

Pater regum et rector omnium fidelium	Father of kings and ruler of all faithful
Pater Principum et Regum	Father of Princes and Kings
Rector Orbis	Ruler of the World
In terra Vicar Salvatoris Nostri Jesu Christi	Vicar of Our Savior Jesus Christ in earth

Triple Tiara presented to Pope Leo XIII in 1903
by the Catholics of Bologna.

Triple Tiara presented to Pope Pius XI in 1922
by the Faithful of the Archdiocese of Milan.

Triple Tiara presented to Pope John XXIII in 1959
by the Faithful of the Bergamo district of Italy.

The distinctive Triple Tiara of Pope Paul VI
made by artisans of the Archdiocese of Milan to the Pope's own design.
It is now on display in Washington DC.

http://te-igitur.blogspot.pt/