Cathedral's treasures tie the present to the past

Intermountain Catholic

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Monsignor Joseph Mayo, pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, displays a black cope, one of a set of pontifical vestments brought back from Europe in 1925 by the second Bishop of Salt Lake City, the Right Rev. Joseph S. Glass, C.M.

SALT LAKE CITY — When the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, welcomed visitors from throughout the United States to the Southwest Liturgical Conference, which was hosted by the Diocese of Salt Lake City Feb. 2-4, he wore an embroidered gold cope that was purchased 90 years ago by the Right Rev. Joseph S. Glass, C.M., second bishop of Salt Lake City.

The cope "has a lot of historical meaning to us in Salt Lake City," Bishop Wester said.

The cope is one of a complete set of pontifical vestments made by Fraefel & Co. of St. Gall, Switzerland. The company was established in 1883 by Arnold Fraefel to produce religious embroideries, it closed in 1983.

Bishop Glass brought the vestments back to Utah after his visit to Europe in 1924-25. While there, he made the first ad limina visit to Rome by a bishop from the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

Bishop Glass "was a man of refined tastes," said Monsignor Joseph Mayo, pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine. "He was a very polished man."

A historical photo (right) shows Bishop Glass wearing ornate vestments at his episcopal ordination in 1915. For use in his new diocese, "he wanted something similar," Msgr. Mayo said.

The set he purchased from Fraefel & Co. now is used by the Cathedral of the Madeleine. It includes vestments for priests and deacons in each color for the liturgical year: gold (white), purple, red and green, as well as black for events such as funerals. Humeral veils also are included.

"I like to use them when we have the major feasts because they add to the beauty of the celebration," said Msgr. Mayo. "It’s a special treat. You feel like you’re adding to the solemnity of the Mass."

Wearing the vestments, which Bishop Glass also wore, gives Msgr. Mayo a feeling that he’s linked to the past even though they are uncomfortable because they’re extremely heavy, he said. "When we decide to wear those, we’re part of a great tradition. It’s part of the patrimony of the Church."

The vestments were on public display at the Salt Lake Arts Center in the 1980s, and any time they’re worn they receive comments because of the craftsmanship, Msgr. Mayo said.

"That the Church, particularly here in Utah, has something that ornate, that valuable and well-preserved, shows the dedication and the identity of the Catholic community here in Utah," said Timothy Johnston, the diocesan liturgical director. "It preserves something about our tradition; it connects our past into our present."