Pope given last rites

[RACooper]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
By tradition, the cypress coffin signifies that the popes are human and are buried like common people. The lead coffin bears the name and coat-of-arms of the pope, and the dates of his pontificate. In it are placed not only the cypress coffin, but also copies of the documents of profound importance issued under the pope's seal. The broken seal of office is placed within the lead coffin by the Camerlengo prior to final closure. The last coffin is made of elm, the most precious of local woods available in Rome, which is used to signify the great dignity of the man being laid to his rest.

While it may sound a little odd, is it that different from the American practice of placing water-proof coffins in lead, water-proof vaults?

Technically the second coffin has to be made of metal... and in this case it won't be lead but zinc...

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by RACooper
Technically the second coffin has to be made of metal... and in this case it won't be lead but zinc...

Thanks for the clarification.

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
As I understand it, that is a Polish custom.

I have not heard for sure one way or the other, but the last news report I heard it didn't seem likely.

I thought the Vatican spokesman flat-out stated that they would not follow through with the tradition.

[RACooper]

Originally posted by KSigkid
I thought the Vatican spokesman flat-out stated that they would not follow through with the tradition.

Yeah... I always thought that tradition dictated that the Pope(s) be buried whole - so that they arise whole on the Day of Judgement - hence the fact that any tissue removed from John Paul II after the shooting (such as some intestine) was stored so that upon death his body could be made "whole" again...

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by RACooper
Yeah... I always thought that tradition dictated that the Pope(s) be buried whole - so that they arise whole on the Day of Judgement - hence the fact that any tissue removed from John Paul II after the shooting (such as some intestine) was stored so that upon death his body could be made "whole" again...

Sound like Vatican Urban Legend to me, given the long-standing and only recently relaxed requirement that all altars contain a relic of a saint -- meaning that saints' bodies were divied up all over the place. That's why the one report I heard that the heart might go to Poland on JPII's beatification makes some sense.

FYI -- the CNN story I read about this can be found here. On re-reading, I see that I misread: it was a Polich church official, not a Vatican one, who has done this speculating.

[adduncan]

KSigRC--

I can't reply to your PM because your box is full. If you're serious about a discussion, clean it out, please.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by adduncan
KSigRC--

I can't reply to your PM because your box is full. If you're serious about a discussion, clean it out, please.

Done.

[lifesaver]

Jesus. Katie Couric is narrating the Papal Funeral for NBC. WHO made the decision to let her do this? Especially after her comments at the Olympic opening games last year???? At least Bob Costas wasnt involved. I've said it before and I'll repeat it again, someone outta bitch slap the crap outta KC every time she thinks shes cute or *americas sweetheart*. (she was on the cover of a good housekeeping mag at the gym and I had to take it out of the display and throw it in the trash, lol)

See thread: http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...s&pagenumber=1

[lifesaver]

Also, can a catholic or somebody clarify for me (maybe the vatican uses a different numbering system then my good ole King James Version of the Bible (ya know how fond the catholics and english were of each other around that time) ) why they were calling it the 22nd psalm "The lord is my shepard.." when I remember it as being the 23rd Psalm (also looked it up on line). The graphics also identified it as 'psalm 22'

I dont get it..

[RACooper]

The King James Bible, and most Protestants use the Hebrew numbering of the Psalms, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches use the Greek numbering of the Psalms (based on Jerome's translation) - they become different around Psalm 10.

[MysticCat]

We're bummed. I set the VCR to record the funeral, but in my late night stupor set it to come on at 3:00 PM instead of 3:00 AM.

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

Originally posted by lifesaver
I can imagine what a raw human smells like.

After 3 days a deceased body in a locked dorm room smells like backed up sewage at 50 feet. (Source: me, lived 4 doors down from a dead guy for a week when I lived in the dorms)

My guess is the Pope's body was annointed with perfumes & incense while on display.

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by IowaStatePhiPsi
After 3 days a deceased body in a locked dorm room smells like backed up sewage at 50 feet. (Source: me, lived 4 doors down from a dead guy for a week when I lived in the dorms)

My guess is the Pope's body was annointed with perfumes & incense while on display.

Actually he was embalmed shortly after his death.

[ZTABullwinkle]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Actually he was embalmed shortly after his death.

That is what I would have thought....but all the reports out of the Vatican said he was "prepared" but not embalmed after death.

I know from what my mom is guessing...there was an air conditioner under the altar he was on for the last few days that kept his body "fresh."

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Actually he was embalmed shortly after his death.

Actually, most all reports say he WASN'T embalmed. Most notably slate.com has an entire article on how he wasnt embalmed at : http://slate.msn.com/id/2116395/