We'd like to turn your attention today to some new vestment work coming out of the American company, Altarworthy -- whom we have featured before. This set includes all of the parts that would be required for the celebration of a Solemn Mass in the usus antiquior (though at the time of publishing this, photographs were not available of all of those pieces I'm afraid).
This set, like the last we featured from this company, has taken its inspiration from the work of A.W.N. Pugin, and combines gold and blue silk damask in a wonderfully eye-catching and complimentary colour combination that makes it suitable for any festal occasion of the liturgical year, but especially Marian feasts.
The gold textile utilized is called "St. Hubert Brocatelle" and was designed by Sir J. Ninian Comper in the latter part of the 19th century.
Also of note is the fact that the set is entirely hand embroidered in metallic thread.
The priest who commissioned this set desired one that would compliment his church; that church includes both blue and gold highlights and also bears the symbolism of St. Mary and St. James. For this reason, one will see throughout the set symbols such as the scallop shell and cross of St. James as well as the fleur-de-lys. The blue silk damask further features thistles and the crown of thorns as a subtle reminder of Christ’s suffering and death.
This truly is a beautiful set that is worthy of the sacred liturgy. Many, of course, lament the fact that blue cannot be more widely permitted in the Latin rite as a liturgical colour, however it is solutions such as these that can help to ease that specific burden while more generally adding to the dignity of the sacred liturgy through expressions of noble beauty.
