The Two Babylons - Chapter V Rites and Ceremonies III. The Clothing and Crowning of Images - Alexander Hislop - 1858

Alexander Hislop

In the Church of Rome, the clothing and crowning of images form no insignificant part of the ceremonial. The sacred images are not represented, like ordinary statues, with the garments formed of the same material as themselves, but they have garments put on them from time to time, like ordinary mortals of living flesh and blood. Great expense is often lavished on their drapery; and those who present to them splendid robes are believed thereby to gain their signal favour, and to lay up a large stock of merit for themselves. Thus, in September, 1852, we find the duke and Duchess of Montpensier celebrated in the Tablet, not only for their charity in "giving 3000 reals in alms to the poor," but especially, and above all, for their piety in "presenting the Virgin with a magnificent dress of tissue of gold, with white lace and a silver crown." - Information Supplied By: Herbert W Armstrong Library