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CNS story:

Each Catholic has the "weighty charge" of living the Gospel and unfolding "its implications for the issues and circumstances of our time," said Archbishop Wuerl in his homily during the Mass celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

"God’s wisdom must impact on the life of society. The wisdom of God is a thread that needs to be woven through that fabric in order to create a truly good and just society," he said.

"This aspect of ministry will bring the church into relationship with many in the cultural, educational, social service and political world," he said.

During his entrance procession, the archbishop shook hands with Democratic Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry of Massachusetts, seated side by side in the third row along the center aisle.

WaPo and WaTimes stories will be posted as they appear.

On June 29, Archbishop Wuerl, along with other new archbishops, will be in Rome (on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul) to receive the pallium from Pope Benedict: here’s a CNS article on the pallium, but that focuses on the "new" design of the papal pallium and how it’s impacted the design of other papal liturgical vestments:


Msgr. Crispino Valenziano, another liturgist and Vatican consultant, presented the new papal pallium design to the press shortly after Pope Benedict’s election and said it was part of the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council.

With more of a focus on the pallium, Pope Benedict also needed new chasubles, so a whole new collection was designed. Instead of having one strong central image, they are dotted with ancient symbols such as bees, shells and flames for Pentecost.

When Pope Benedict approved his new pallium, he also said a discussion would be held about changing the pallium given to archbishops, Father Maggiani said, but that discussion has not begun.

"Personally, I hope that in the future the archbishops will have a pallium like the pope’s," the priest said. "When archbishops wear that small pallium, it looks like a collar or something. No one knows what it is."

However, even if the archbishop’s pallium one day will resemble the one worn by the pope, it is unlikely to be identical.

An archbishop’s pallium is made from the wool of lambs blessed by the pope on the feast of St. Agnes.

The pope’s pallium is made of the wool of both lambs and sheep to reflect Jesus telling Peter, "Feed my lambs" and "Feed my sheep."

Jay Anderson observes what an interesting feast this is on which to install a new Archbishop in the seat of our nation’s government.

ht

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