William Godfrey (second from left) is certainly one of the gentlest Cardinals one could have met. As Archbishop, he could often be found in his Cathedral – which he treated as his parish church – hearing confessions, speaking to parishioners and directing visitors without the airs and graces of a Cardinal; in the same way as our present Pope could be found dressed down in Rome as a Cardinal, Godfrey walked around his domain dressed as a humble priest.
Godfrey, unusually, was ten years older than his predecessor and was the last Archbishop of Westminster to be born in the nineteenth century. He was born in Liverpool, and trained for the priesthood of that diocese in Ushaw. He also taught at this seminary, and was soon moved to the English College as Rector, succeeding Arthur Hinsley. While in Rome, he was charged with additional responsibilities, serving as the first Apostolic Delegate to Britain (and its European colonies) since the Mary I was queen. This renewal of diplomatic ties was renewed due to the imminent war on the horizon. Godfrey was chosen as he was already Apostolic Visitor to the English seminaries and his previous position as papal legate to the king’s recent coronation.
In 1938, he established the nunciature in Wimbledon, and left is position as rector in Rome. After working with the Polish government-in-exile for most of the war, he translated Vatican documents and Papal addresses for the non-Latin and Italian speakers.
After 15 years in the nunciature (he was replaced by an American), and became Archbishop of his home city, Liverpool, remaining there for three years. During this brief period, however, he visited every parish community, and approved scaled-down designs for the new Cathedral, designed to outshine the Anglican one.
However, before he could break the ground, he found himself once more in London as Archbishop of Westminster from the end of 1956 after Griffin’s death, and was also appointed Exarch of the Ukrainians. Having longer in this city than the previous one, Godfrey was able to establish an administration and policy, overseeing an expansion of parishes and Catholic schools, and took a great interest in everyday concerns – he even urged dog-owners to include their pets in Lenten fasts, and just before Crufts, argued that dogs would enjoy their life without being pampered. It was not until the election of John XXIII however, that he donned once again the watered silk, but this time as a Cardinal. His Poodle letter was written when he had been given the red hat.
Godfrey lived long enough to see the opening of the great second ecumenical council of the Vatican, and was commended on his flawless, poetic Latin in the plenary session. His area of interest was primarily liturgical, arguing against the reception of the chalice by the laity because of lipstick (about which he was proven correct), and that the Church should proceed to use more Latin in its liturgy, not less. He refuted the application of political terms in the Church (such as conservative and liberal), and held that a Catholic should uphold doctrine if he was to remain a Catholic, for Church teaching was infallible.
In 1963, he died of a heart attack, and was suffering from cancer at the time. This anonymous, silent Cardinal, as his successor called him, was not known for his oratory or writings, but for his personal holiness and commitment to Christ and His Church. Being an example of personal holiness is perhaps the most difficult goal to accomplish, but Cardinal Godfrey succeeded.
Godfrey, unusually, was ten years older than his predecessor and was the last Archbishop of Westminster to be born in the nineteenth century. He was born in Liverpool, and trained for the priesthood of that diocese in Ushaw. He also taught at this seminary, and was soon moved to the English College as Rector, succeeding Arthur Hinsley. While in Rome, he was charged with additional responsibilities, serving as the first Apostolic Delegate to Britain (and its European colonies) since the Mary I was queen. This renewal of diplomatic ties was renewed due to the imminent war on the horizon. Godfrey was chosen as he was already Apostolic Visitor to the English seminaries and his previous position as papal legate to the king’s recent coronation.
In 1938, he established the nunciature in Wimbledon, and left is position as rector in Rome. After working with the Polish government-in-exile for most of the war, he translated Vatican documents and Papal addresses for the non-Latin and Italian speakers.
After 15 years in the nunciature (he was replaced by an American), and became Archbishop of his home city, Liverpool, remaining there for three years. During this brief period, however, he visited every parish community, and approved scaled-down designs for the new Cathedral, designed to outshine the Anglican one.
However, before he could break the ground, he found himself once more in London as Archbishop of Westminster from the end of 1956 after Griffin’s death, and was also appointed Exarch of the Ukrainians. Having longer in this city than the previous one, Godfrey was able to establish an administration and policy, overseeing an expansion of parishes and Catholic schools, and took a great interest in everyday concerns – he even urged dog-owners to include their pets in Lenten fasts, and just before Crufts, argued that dogs would enjoy their life without being pampered. It was not until the election of John XXIII however, that he donned once again the watered silk, but this time as a Cardinal. His Poodle letter was written when he had been given the red hat.
Godfrey lived long enough to see the opening of the great second ecumenical council of the Vatican, and was commended on his flawless, poetic Latin in the plenary session. His area of interest was primarily liturgical, arguing against the reception of the chalice by the laity because of lipstick (about which he was proven correct), and that the Church should proceed to use more Latin in its liturgy, not less. He refuted the application of political terms in the Church (such as conservative and liberal), and held that a Catholic should uphold doctrine if he was to remain a Catholic, for Church teaching was infallible.
In 1963, he died of a heart attack, and was suffering from cancer at the time. This anonymous, silent Cardinal, as his successor called him, was not known for his oratory or writings, but for his personal holiness and commitment to Christ and His Church. Being an example of personal holiness is perhaps the most difficult goal to accomplish, but Cardinal Godfrey succeeded.
0 comments:
Post a Comment