I used to hate my name, but I hated it even more
when the Nuns at Denver's Mt. Carmel Catholic Grade
School used it with impunity in ferreting out the
practical joker of the enitre class. It wasn't just the
name, I thought back then, but how everyone butchered the
spelling and its rather straightforward, Italian
pronunciation.
But what about the throngs of people who never
heard "that" name spoken in one breath before, like
ordering pasta with aglio, olio, and peperoncino (garlic,
olive oil and hot red pepper), strong enough to burn a
hole in your stomach, often followed with "agnello
all'arrabbiata" (angry lamb) that can be dangerous going
for those unaccustomed to such scorching dishes.
Even if people weren't Italian,
they could feel that they were fluent in Italiano
Abruzzo. And therein lies the surprising origin of this
grand, old name. La mia famiglia famosa! And here's how
it breaks down according to The Cardinals of the Holy
Roman Church Guide to documents and events (76
A.D.-2000).
Supernumerary Apostolic
protonotaries dress the same as Honorary Prelates. As an
additional privilege, they have the option of also using
a purple ferraiuolo or cape, a silk cape worn with the
black-trimmed-red cassock for non-liturgical events of
special solemnity (for instance, graduations and
commencements). In English-speaking countries, they
sometimes add the letters, "P.A." (for Protonotarius
Apostolicus) after their names. The Vestments of
Cardinals, Bishops, and lesser prelates are called the
"Ferraiolone."
For the Superior Prelates of the
Offices of the Roman Curia who have not episcopal rank:
for the Auditors of the Rota; for the Promotor General of
Justice and the Defender of the Bond of the Apostolic
Signatura, for the Apostolic Protonotaries "de numero"
and the four Clerics of the Camera, the purple cassock,
the purple mantelletta, the rochet, the red-trimmed black
cassock without cape, the purple sash with fringes of
silk at the two ends, the purple
"FERRAIUOLO"
(non-obligatory), and the red tuft on the biretta are all
retained.
The sash with tassels, coloured
hose and shoe-buckles are abolished.
For the Apostolic Protonotaries
Supernumerary and for the Prelates of Honour of His
Holiness, the purple mantellella, the sash with tassels,
coloured hose, shoe-buckles and the red tuft on the
biretta are all abolished.
But there are retained the purple
cassock, the red-trimmed black cassock without cape, and
the sash with fringes. When appropriate, the unpleated
surplice (cotta) can be worn over the purple cassock,
instead of the rochet.
The purple
"FERRAIUOLO",
although not obligatory, is retained for the
Supernumerary Apostolic Protonotaries, but not for the
Prelates of Honour.
For the Chaplains of His Holiness
the purple-trimmed. black cassock with purple sash is
retained, to be used also in sacred ceremonies.
The purple cassock, the
"mantellone" of the same colour, the sash with tassels
and the buckles on shoes are abolished.
Digitized
and marked up by Salvador Miranda (2000), from
L'Osservatore Romano, weekly English edition, II (April
17, 1969)
NOTE: The online "encyclopedia" Wikipedia
carries a different meaning other than the description
here. In it, it says, "The ferraiolo or ferraiuolo is
a type of cape traditionally worn by clergy in the Roman
Catholic Church on formal, non-liturgical occasions. It
is full length, worn over the shoulders, is tied in a bow
by narrow strips of cloth at the front and does not have
any 'trim' or piping on it..."
As with many other items of clerical clothing and
vestments, the ferraiolo originated as an item of
clothing for Roman citizens, originally being
knee-length.
