Musings of an Old Curmudgeon: The Price of Humility: The Destruction of a Massive Doorway from the Early 17th Century in Saint Mary Major

27 April 2025

The Price of Humility: The Destruction of a Massive Doorway from the Early 17th Century in Saint Mary Major

I have a dear friend whose nickname for Francis was "Humble Frank" because of his overweening, sinful pride in bragging about how "humble" he was.

From Rorate Cæli

One needs lots of destruction to fit humility in. Performative humility, that is.

With so many crypts and modest places to be interred in Rome, the humblest pope ever, possibly one of the humblest men ever to inhabit the earth, had a massive and beautiful doorway, including all surrounding precious inlaid stones, destroyed in order to place his humble gigantic tomb.

(Click for larger view)

The beautiful passage made of ancient material, dating from the pontificate of Paul VI Borghese (1605-1621) -- the great patron of beauty who, among other works, put the finishing touches on the Vatican Basilica -- was replaced by a box with all the charm of a modern airport latrine.

Anyway, fake humility has its price. It is very, very expensive and destructive.

[Image from Silere Non Possum]

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