In 1918, Catholic prelate receives magnificent and fitting reception

  I have been reading a couple of interesting books lately.  Both of them provide insights into the magnificence in the Church, particularly as shown in two of her members, one a priest and one an Archbishop. 

    Today, I will share a description of the arrival of a new Archbishop in Philadelphia many years ago.  The book where this is described is titled, "The Irish Americans" by Jay P. Dolan. 

    The new Archbishop was, Archbishop Dennis Daugherty. The time frame is July of 1918.  The Archbishop arrived by train to the peal of all of the bells in the city.  Archbishop Daugherty traveled from the train station by motorcade to the Cathedral. 

    Here is a description of the motorcade.  His open limousine was accompanied by seventy five automobiles, fifty brass bands and a lengthy police escort.  Thousands upon thousands lined the streets to get a glimpse of their new Archbishop.  As many who could, broke through the police barricades ran up to his limousine to greet his excellency and, if possible, kiss his ring.

    After ceremonies at the Cathedral, Archbishop Daugherty attended a marvelous reception. 

    Who was there to greet him?  The governor of Pennsylvania, the state attorney general, the mayor and a host of dignitaries attended the reception to pay their respects to the new Archbishop.

    Today some would say that was excessive.  I would disagree.  Contrary to the egalitarian spirit of contemporary man, Catholics at that time and even temporal leaders understood who an Archbishop was.  An Archbishop is a descendant of the apostles and a member of the sacred magisterium of the Church. 

    The enthusiastic reverence shown to Archbishop Daugherty was entirely proportional to who he was.  As a result of the tremendous respect that he commanded, I am sure that when he spoke to temporal leaders they listened.  Sadly today, the respect shown for our prelates has greatly diminished and correspondingly temporal society does not treat our Catholic prelates with the deference they are entitled to.  In some cases they are even mocked and ridiculed.

    I hope that this golden event as it was described helps us to love the Church more and more.

    Tomorrow, I will write about another book that describes a Catholic chaplain during the Vietnam war.  His glory, while not of the same type, reflects another marvelous facet of the diamond that is the Church.