On feast of St. Rita and the commemoration of 125th anniversary of her canonization. a decorative rose was crafted by Catholic craftsmen to adorn her image in the Augustinian church in Valletta Malta. Gabriel Farrugia, the director of music within the church, also happens t…
A Golden Rose Crafted for the 125th Anniversary of St. Rita of Cascia's Canonization
On feast of St. Rita and the commemoration of 125th anniversary of her canonization. a decorative rose was crafted by Catholic craftsmen to adorn her image in the Augustinian church in Valletta Malta. Gabriel Farrugia, the director of music within the church, also happens t…
The Tradition of Decorative Textiles in the Contemporary Work of Fabrizio Diomedi
The Italian artist Fabrizio Diomedi is perhaps best known amongst our readership for his decorative work at the Benedictine Monastery of Norcia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, but of course he has pursued many other commissions as well. An aspect of his work that I perso…
The Evolution of Hagia Sophia: The Exterior
Today marks a melancholic day within Christendom. Why is because today, in the year 1453, was the fateful day when Constantinople would ultimately fall to the Ottoman empire, and with it came crashing down the historical Eastern Roman empire, thus effectively marking the e…
Before and After: St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
In another instalment in our "before and after" series, today we have feature a project coming from the firm of Cram & Ferguson Architects , based out of Concord, Massachusetts. This particular firm is particularly (though not exclusively) connected to the goth…
Teresian Vestments?
Before we leave the month of May, a month so traditionally associated with Mary and the flowers of springtime, let's take a look at one more floriated set of vestments. This particular set was made in the Venetian region of Friuli sometime in the eighteenth century and…
Italian and Gothic: Two Stunning Designs in Contemporary Vestment Work
The Italy-based atelier Sacra Domus Aurea has established a reputation for itself in the creation of beautifully embroidered designs in contemporary vestment work; designs heavily rooted in the Italian tradition in particular, as well as the French and, more recently, gothi…
Italian Heraldist Marco Foppoli on the Challenges of Contemporary Approaches to Papal Heraldry
About the Author: Marco Foppoli is a well known professional and international heraldic artist. In his thirty-year career he has designed coats of arms for royals, public institutions, and countless bishops, cardinals of the Catholic Church. He collaborates with the Preside…
Forgotten Churches of Rome: Chiesa di Santa Rita da Cascia alle Vergini
When you think of the city of Rome and its churches we have a natural -- and understandable -- tendency to focus on, first of all, the papal/patriarchal basilicas like St. Peter's, St. Paul's, etc. The from there, we tend to shift next to some of the minor basilica…
Antique Phelonia (Chasubles) From the Russian Tradition
Awhile back we shared some general examples of antique vestments in the Eastern tradition. There we had noted that, unlike their Latin rite counterparts, it seemed that examples of antique vestments in the Christian East were far more difficult to come by. I suspect this i…
The Remarkable Carved Angel Hammerbeam Roof of St Agnes Church in Cawston, Norfolk
Norfolk in the United Kingdom is justly famed for its beautiful medieval churches, a number of which still retain pre-Reformation features like painted rood screens. Today, however, we are not going to look at a rood, but rather at a roof -- yes, you read that correctly. Chu…
Vestments from the Cathedral of Beauvais
The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre in Beauvais, France has a beautiful set of red velvet vestments within its treasury that showcase some of the great beauty of the French vestment tradition. Velvet was, of course, of particular popularity within France, as were vestments covered …
Martin Earle's Prize Winning Altarpiece of Saints and Blesseds of Cumbria
Martin Earle is a British artist that we have featured here on LAJ before. His work falls into the the Byzantine as well as Western medieval tradition. Recently the Catholic Art Institute awarded its 2024 Sacred Art Prize and this particular work earned the prize for secon…
Before and After: Sacred Heart Church in Peoria, Illinois
Today we are going to look at a project which happened a few years back, but which is particularly striking. The project planning actually began back in 2005 and came in relation to the church's one hundredth anniversary preparations. This particular project involved t…
A 17th Century Altarpiece Saved From the French Revolution (Now To Be 'Saved' From a 1960's Whitewashing)
Located within the French town of Buschwiller, which itself is located right near the border with Germany, is the parish church of St. Martin, and within that parish is an altarpiece that has had quite a journey in its history. The altarpiece's 'life' began in 1…
Fit For Spring: Venetian Paraments from ca. 1690-1710
One of my favourite things at this time of the year, a period of time which finds nature springing back to colour and life, a time too when we find ourselves in the month of Mary (symbolized as she is by so many flowers), is to feature sacred vestments of the same sort. Typ…
Papal Kneeler of Pope Pius IX
This papal kneeler is one of a few oversized Baroque kneelers that have been used for countless papal ceremonies over the years in St. Peter's Basilica. It was also utilized during the last Council, easily recognizable in old photos. To see it in person is an experience…
Swords of Papal Knights, Palatine Guard, Members of the Papal Court
Swords have long been a staple at papal liturgies. They are part of the formal dress of courtiers and security forces of the popes. As such, they are often de rigueur , required by etiquette and fashion. Those who carry the sword are not necessarily armigerous. Sometimes suc…
Tapestries of Papal Liturgies
The splendid papal liturgies celebrated publicly before the reform of the 1960s were few and far between. They were big and rare events. One thing that stood out were the precious tapestries that went on display for these liturgical events, sometimes a background the papal …
Echoes of the Papal Court: Cameriere di Spada a Cappa (Lay Version)
Some readers have asked for images of the Cameriere di Spade e Cappa, a lay position in the Papal Court abolished in the late 1960s. This role was part of the Papal Court, by extension, part of the Roman Curia. The Curia has been since the end of the 11th century the highes…
The Caudatario: The Carrier of the Train of a Cappa Magna
At Solemn Pontifical Masses for Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church there is a tradition of the caudatari, or "carrier of the strascico (portatore dello strascico) , holding the dragging edge of the cappa magana of the prelate. The person in this role generally is the la…
The Papal Blessing Benedictio Coram Populo: Urbi et Orbi
The papal blessing known as the Benedictio Coram Populo, or more commonly as the Urbi et Orbi (to the city [of Rome] and to the world) blessing, is pronounced by the popes on certain solemn occasions such as the Election of a Roman Pontiff, New Years Day or on other special…
Before and After: Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hays, Kansas
Conrad Schmitt Studios, based out of Wisconsin, recently shared news of a beautiful project they undertook at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays, Kansas that effectively functions as both a "before and after" as well as a tutorial on something we like to disc…
Paul the Silentiary's Description of the Altar, Ciborium and Balustrade of Hagia Sophia in A.D. 563
Today I wanted to share a description of the altar, ciborium and chancel screen of the great Eastern Roman church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. This particular description was written in the year 563 by Paul the Silentiary, a Byzantine courtier in the service of the Em…
Mary's Chapel: An Award-Winning Private Chapel in the United States
Private family chapels seem to always raise a great deal of interest, but seldom to we get to share such projects, including on so ambitious as this, from the contemporary, new world. Today we can remedy that, sharing a project by O'Brien and Keane Architecture which …
Exploring An Unseen Space of the Sistine Chapel: The Cantoria
If you look at the Sistine Chapel, naturally one's attention is drawn the work of Michelangelo, in particular the fresco of the Last Judgement. From there, we gaze upward at the ceiling frescoes, we observe the high altar and the balustrade and the cosmatesque pavement.…
Before and After: St. Paul of the Cross in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
By way of Rugo Stone , I came across an interesting 'before and after' project they, as well as O'Brien & Keane Architecture , were involved with at the Passionist monastery of St. Paul of the Cross in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This particular monastery was f…
St. Jude Church in Peoria, Illinois
I always enjoy an opportunity to feature the work of some of our collaborators, especially long term collaborators like Murals by Jericho , but additionally new-found partners such as Rugo Stone . It is no secret that, speaking personally for a moment, I always like to high…
Two Easter-Themed Copes from Eighteenth Century France
Continuing on with some Easter themed considerations during this the octave of Easter, and also continuing on with our consideration of vestments in the French tradition, today I wanted to draw our readers attention to two different copes. Both of these copes are comprised …
The Studio of St. Luke's Paschal Candle Based on an Antique, Baroque Chasuble
Rave Bandong of the Studio of Saint Luke recently sent us some interesting photos of a Paschal Candle they recently completed painting. Now Paschal candles are out there everywhere of course, but what stood out to me about this particular commission, which they title Ad Reg…
The Renaissance Easter Cope of St. Catherine's Church in Hoogstraten, Belgium
The golden cope of St. Catherine's Church in Hoogstraten , Belgium is representative of both the character and elegance of the world of Renaissance vestment work. The vestments of this period were characterized by lush silks and silk velvets (reds and golds were particul…
A Selection of Festal Easter Chasubles in the Nineteenth Century French Tradition
With us now basking in the festal season of Easter, I can think of no better time to share a series of Easter themed vestments coming from the nineteenth century French tradition that I have collected over the years. Most of these designs contain an image of the Agnus Dei,…
A Rare Example of Art Deco Vestment Work
For much of its existence, the shape of Catholic liturgical art has been characterized by creating a balance between continuity and innovation. What do I mean by this? What I mean is that unlike the Eastern churches, art within the Western church has tended to develop in a …
Some Examples of the Urn or Capsula of the Paschal Triduum
Many years ago, April 2018, we wrote an article on the "urn" or "capsula" for the Blessed Sacrament that is traditionally used on the 'altar' of repose on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. We're not going to re-cover what was already covered in …
Late Gothic Altarpieces: Pfarrkirche Gampern, Austria
For the past months, we've been exploring some impressive late gothic altarpieces found in Central Europe -- this would include countries like Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and so on. Today we are continuing on with that exercise, turning this time to Pfarrkirch…
The Sedia Gestatoria of Pius IX Donated by the Catholics of Naples
Over the years more than one version of the sedia gestatoria was created. That being said, the most popular version was possibly this one that belonged to Blessed Pius IX. It was donated to him in 1871 by the clergy and people of Naples in the 26th year of his pontificate. …
Festal and Floral: Further Examples of Polychrome Floral Motifs in Vestment Work
It seems that I cannot let an Easter season (or spring or summer season generally) go by without taking an opportunity to once again promote a specific type of vestment design which I find both approrpiately 'seasonal' in look and feel, and certainly festal in natu…
Traveling Burse by Benedicamus
In Europe it is more common to see this item, what I call a "traveling burse," a small bag to hold a pyx for sick call visits. It is a small hand-sewn bag, sometimes made of leftover vestment materials, that clergy use to carry Communion hosts. The bag is simple…
More Vestments in Art
On a couple of previous of occasions, we've featured some details taken from historical artworks that feature interesting liturgical details, in particular sacred vestments (the most common liturgical feature to turn up in such works, rather than the liturgy itself). T…
The Description of Hagia Sophia written by Paul the Silentiary in A.D. 563
What was the impact and impression that Hagia Sophia had shortly after the Emperor Justinian constructed it? One hears stories of emissaries to Constantinople being converted by the great beauty of the church and her liturgical rites of course, but for a more detailed impre…
The Imperial Marbles of Hagia Sophia
> In a previous article we covered the topic of some of the extant mosaics of the great church of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia. Today, I thought we would take another look at what was at one time the great jewel of the city of Constantinople, a city that was at one time c…
The Palatine Guard of Honor
In these photos is the uniform of the Colonel Commander of the Palatine Guard. The Palatine Guard walked in papal processions as a guard of honor, enhancing the splendor of the liturgical services of the Roman Pontiffs. The members of the Guard were volunteers, Roman men of…
A Detailed Look at the Twelfth Century Mosaics of the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome
When attempting to look at apsidal mosaics, triumphal arch mosaics, it can be easy to lose the trees for the forest -- yes, you read that correctly and I inverted it purposefully. What I mean to say is this. These types of mosaics, unless they focus in solely on a monument…
Venetian Vestments from the 1400's
This particular set of vestments dates from the 1400's, though the orphreys are earlier in their origins, and were manufactured in Venice. The chasuble is rather unique in shape insofar as it is effectively a longer form of the "Roman" chasuble measuring 55&qu…
The Byzantine Church of San Pietro in Otranto
One of the things easily forgotten about Italy is that the modern state of Italy is just that -- modern. Previously in its history, what we know as the state of Italy today was a conglomeration of city-states (Florence, Venice, the Papal States, the Kingdom of Sicily, etc.)…
The Construction of a Solemn Liturgical Occasion in St. Peter's Basilica in 1900
Many of our readers will be familiar with scenes of canonizations from the Vatican prior to the 1970's. They include the Roman tradition of red festal hangings, suspended chandeliers, and all the majesty and solemnity that counter-reformation Catholicism could muster, s…
The Late Gothic Altarpiece of the Master of Ravenden in Jakobskirche, Rabenden, Germany
The late gothic altarpieces of Central Europe have always been one of my favourite types of altarpiece. They are generally filled with colour and life, they are ornamental (rather like gingerbread tracery on Victorian era home) and in many ways these qualities remind me of …
A Solemn Set of Vestments in Rose from 1725-1750
For one reason or another, rose coloured vestments always have a great deal of interest surrounding them. These days, people tend to think of only limited shades of this colour, but in historical reality, there was quite a variety ranging from light pinks, orangey-pinks, co…
Contemporary Vestment Work: A Distinctive Set of Gothic Revival Vestments
I thought I would take a brief moment to share a set of vestments I have been intending to share for some while now, coming from Altarworthy , a proprietor of sacred vestments based out of the Pacific Northwest in the United States. Altarworthy has a particular, but not excl…
Proposals for the Altar of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe
Recently on social media we shared some images of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe located in Ravenna. The photos in question showed the high altar of the basilica both with and without a ciborium over the altar. These images spurred on a great deal of conversa…
The Chapel of the Crucifix in the Duomo of Monreale in Palermo, Sicily
The Duomo of Monreale is renowned for its beauty. In fact, one might even say it is overwhelming in its beauty. However, what one mainly thinks of when talking about this great cathedral is the Italo-Byzantine art of the main cathedral. However, there are other gems to be …
