via www.youtube.com
The Pope was visiting Spain at Santiago de Compostela, one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in the world. At the beautiful Cathedral over the tomb of St. James the Apostle the Botafumiero was witnessed by the Pope. Just the coolest thing ever: why do I say that? Well just watch. The great censor is swung the length of the cathedral and even priests, cardinals, and the Pope who see many beautiful liturgical ceremonies are awed. You have to watch at least five minutes of the video to get the full effect, namely, Roman Catholic Liturgy putting in practice Psalm 141--"My prayers rise like incense..."
The blog, Whispers in the Loggia, adds the following: In one of the great spectacles of Christendom, yesterday's PopeStop at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (homily) saw the unleashing of the botafumeiro -- the Spanish shrine's famous 5-foot-tall mega-thurible, suspended from its ceiling and said to reach top speeds approaching 70 kilometers an hour (42mph) as it swings across the sanctuary, peaking at an arc of some 200 feet....
As Rocco de Palma, Author of Whispers, notes, this particular thurible or censor has been used since 1851, but folks still remember the time in 1128 when a precursor of the present censor went sailing out of one of the Cathedral's great windows in an accident of truly epic proportions.
Sometimes it is just cool to be Catholic.
Comments