In another continuation of our ever popular 'before and after' series, we turn to the parish church of St Mary of the Assumption located in Lancaster, Ohio . The project was executed by William Heyer Architect who are based out of Columbus, Ohio -- and longtime LAJ …
Before and After: St. Mary of the Assumption in Lancaster, Ohio
In another continuation of our ever popular 'before and after' series, we turn to the parish church of St Mary of the Assumption located in Lancaster, Ohio . The project was executed by William Heyer Architect who are based out of Columbus, Ohio -- and longtime LAJ …
Pope St. Pius X's Gift to His Childhood Parish in Riese Pio X
Recently while on pilgrimage in the North of Italy I had the privilege to visit - for the second time in my life - the home town of Pope St. Pius X. This small little village is called today Riese Pio X (formerly known as Riese). It is located in the middle of nowhere in…
Red Pontifical Set from Faenza-Modigliana (1700-1750)
The following pieces are taken from a pontifical set from the diocese of Faenza-Modigliana in northern part of Italy and are dated to sometime in the first half of the 18th century. The set includes all the component parts for a pontifical set, including the gremial, and …
TLM Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Z: Highlights of the Missale Votivum Terrae Sanctae of 1898
Over the centuries countless Latin Rite pilgrims have made the journey to the Holy Land to walk in the footsteps of Christ while praying special Votive Masses at the holy sites associated with the life of Our Blessed Lord. Pictured here above is the Votive Mass of Christm…
Tassels on Dalmatics and Tunics - Some Historical and Stylistic Considerations
The topic of tassels on dalmatics and tunicles is one of those subjects that arises from time to time often accompanied by questions such as, "What is their purpose? How are they to be worn?" From any research I've done on this subject, very little is documen…
Custom Gammarelli Vestment with Baroque Coat-of-Arms
Recently while attending an FSSP Confirmation I was impressed to see this new green set of Roman vestments at the church of St. Anthony in Calgary, Canada. In an age when many ecclesiastical vestments have ceased to reflect the intense mystery, august splendor and importa…
Other Modern: Christ the King Church (Kristus Konungen) in Gothenburg, Sweden
Touching back upon our occasional series, The Other Modern , which focuses upon modern styles of liturgical art and architecture that are characterized by some deeper connection with the classical tradition (or to put it another way, "modernity" rather than "…
A Rare Sight: The Silver Chasuble
It is always interesting to see contemporary styles and techniques that embrace ancient canons of composition and elegance. I have so say how impressed I was to be shown this unique silver chasuble, depicted on a Norbertine priest in California. This work is the creation…
A Pontifical Requiem Mass in Kentucky
It has been a little while since we have done a pure photo-post and one of our readers has sent in the following a few days ago:
On October 26, The Most Rev. Roger J. Foys of the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky celebrated a Requiem Mass and Entombment for +Camillus Paul Mae…
The Subdued Joy of Gaudete Sunday
Gaudete in Domino! Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, is upon us. Also known as "Rejoice" Sunday, this word is taken from the opening words of the Introit [my translation]: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be…
Blessings for the Nativity and the Christmas Tree
Christmas in our family and among our aunts and uncles in the suburbs of Philadelphia was an intriguing fusion. Each of our relatives’ houses had a prominent and very American Christmas tree in the living room, decked out in ornaments and lights. But beneath the trees there…
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Method for Teaching the Sacred Liturgy
With the steady patience of a mother and father, the spirit of the Christian worshipper must be taught in the household of the Church to kids from the earliest age. This is a lifelong intellectual pursuit that begins ideally in pre-school. Those redeemed by the blood of …
16th-17th Century Pontifical Vestments from the Sistine Chapel
On a recent visit to the Sistine Chapel I came across this rather splendid set of vestments. The set is, not surprisingly, a solemn pontifical set, complete with chasuble, cope, dalmatic and tunicle -- and also an antependium. Regrettably, very little information was prov…
Before and After: All Saints FSSP Parish in Minneapolis
On August 15, 1916, the Church of All Saints in Northeast Minneapolis came into being by decree of Archbishop John Ireland of the Diocese of St. Paul. The parish was carved out for the Polish-speaking community in the historically Catholic neighborhood located on the uppe…
Some Contemporary Marian-Inspired Vestments in Blue and in White
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary frequently brings up the matter of the privilege of liturgical blue. Blue, as a liturgical privilege, frequently turns up at this time in relation to Spain and her traditional colonies, though it historicall…
The Traditional (Pre-1917) Advent Fast in the USA
That Advent is a penitential season is generally well known, and many also know that it was, traditionally, a season for fasting—although the specifics of the fast are hazy for most modern Catholics, probably because it was removed as an obligation in 1917, effectively befo…
The Basilica of Santa Sabina: Origins and Transformations.
The present appearance of the church is that envisioned and materialized by architect Antonio Munoz, who was successively superintendent for monuments and inspector general of antiquities and fine arts of Rome. Munoz’s goal was to restore the basilica to what he believed w…
Saving Catholic Artistic Heritage: Via Matris at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago
"Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter is smitten with a great wound” (Jer 14:17)
Pilgrims who visit the Basilica of Our Lady Sorrows and the National Shrine of St. Peregine in Chicago can have a special joy of p…
Altar Statues of the Cathedral of Monreale by Luigi Valadier
For those fortunate enough to find themselves in Rome during the next couple of months, the Villa Borghese hosts, until February 2nd, the exhibition Luigi Valadier: Splendor in eighteenth century Rome . The same spectacular pieces were displayed last year at the Frick Colle…
Teaching Kids the Roman Rite: My Book of the Church's Year
It brings great joy to know that this wonderful childrens' book has been re-printed and is available in time for Christmas shoppers. I highly recommend this treasure for kids of all ages. It was originally published in 1948 and this facsimile edition was published in…
Introducing Daprato-Rigali Studios
Today I wished to introduce our readers to Daprato-Rigali Studios , a Chicago based firm that has been in operation since 1860, originally founded by four Italian brothers -- the Daprato's -- originally as a statuary company. Eventually, a young intern, John Rigali, wou…
Titular Feast of the Basilica of the Nativity of Mary in Senglea, Malta
Today, before we leave the Basilica of the Nativity of Mary in Senglea, Malta, I thought our readers would enjoy the following views of the basilica festally adorned for its titular feast. Some of the festal traditions you will note here include the dressing of all the alt…
Sacristy Tour: The Basilica of the Nativity of Mary, Senglea, Malta
One of our readers kindly sent in the following photos which give a wonderful inside look at the sacristy of the Basilica of the Nativity of Mary in Senglea, Malta. The church was originally built in 1580 and declared a "collegiata insignis" by Pope Pius VI in 1…
Varieties of Violacea V
With Advent coming quickly upon us this weekend, I thought I would continue a tradition of previous years by showing some different examples of violet vestments taken from the past few centuries.
If you pay attention to the details and centuries that go with them, you will…
Before and After: St. Francis of Assisi in Grapevine, Texas
We are quite pleased to so quickly be able to present another of our ever popular "before and after" series in such a short timeframe, this time looking at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Grapevine, Texas.
The project was executed by Gardiner-Hall …
New Vestment Work: A Gold Cope from Sacra Domus Aurea
As always, I am interested in sharing the work of our supporters -- not simply because of their interest in and support of LAJ but also because LAJ believes in the mission and the quality of their work -- and today I wanted to share a bit of the recent work of Sacra Domus …
Before and After: Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Louisiana
Today I wished to share a project coming from Wisconsin based Conrad Schmitt Studios who recently completed a project for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The project included new mural work, decorative painting as well as conservation…
Variations in Form of the Advent Wreath
The season of Advent is now only days away and, as always, this particular season brings to mind the many customs that have developed around this time of the liturgical year, one of the most popular being the Advent wreath which originally arose in Germany in the 16th cent…
Bodley Inspired Gothic Revival
For those of you interested in vestments of a gothic revival nature you might be interested in this recent offering from Maris Stella Vestments , a bespoke designer based out of the United Kingdom. The set uses a green damask that was a design of the 19th century gothic re…
The Thanksgiving Mass and the Ordinariate
American Catholics have long felt a desire to liturgize the civil holiday of Thanksgiving. In the 1950s, the Rural Life Prayerbook suggested attending the Mass of the day and privately praying the Collect, Secret, and Postcommunion of the Votive Mass of Thanksgiving. Severa…
The Liturgical Scholar: Dr. Peter Kwasniewski
After a long winter the Catholic Church is again producing a new generation of intellectuals. It has been an enjoyable experience to watch the emergence of these great minds and loyal sons of the Church such as Dr. Roberto de Mattei, Gregory di Pippo, Fr. Z and Dr. Peter …
Iconographer Vladimir Grygorenko
While our focus here on LAJ has been substantially oriented toward the Latin rite, the liturgical arts of the Christian East have always been a matter of great interest and, as such, I was pleased to hear from Subdeacon Vladimir Grygorenko , a Ukrainian iconographer in the …
Venetian Lace Vestments of the Later 17th Century
The following vestment was made in Venice between 1670-695 and comes from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. What makes this particular chasuble of interest is that it utilizes lace, rather than embroidery or brocaded fabrics, as its means of prim…
The Draping of the Prie-Dieu of a Prelate in Roman Usage
In John Abel Nainfa's authoritative work, Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church According to Roman Etiquette , he discusses the broad use of heraldry where prelates are concerned, including its use on anything that "is fit to receive such a decoration -- his p…
Violet and Rose Chasubles from Piedmont
The following are a selection of vestments from the Piedmont, a northwestern region of Italy that borders France and Switzerland. Given that Advent is now quickly coming upon us, I wished to make the focus violet and rose chasubles, ranging from the later 17th century throu…
An Early Eighteenth Century Chasuble from the Cathedral of Seville
One of our readers send in the following photos and while I do not have a great deal of information to offer you about this particular chasuble, what I can tell you is that it comes from collection of Cathedral of Seville and dates from the first decade of the 18th century…
A New Reliquary for St. Bernadette by Granda Liturgical Arts
While most of the incorrupt body of the visionary of Lourdes is venerated at the Convent of St-Gildard in Nevers, when the body was examined in 1925 in anticipation of her beatification, some relics were taken to Lourdes. A magnificent neo-romanesque reliquary chasse was c…
Prelatial Dress of the Religious Orders: The Carmelites
In our previous instalments in our series on the Prelatial Dress of the Religious Orders , we looked at the Franciscans and Benedictines and today we turn our attention to the Carmelites. As in the case of the previous two religious orders, Carmelite prelates continued to …
Jouques Convent in France Deserves Praise
One popular more traditional convent in France that deserves more recognition is the Benedictine Abbey of Notre-Dame-de-la-Fidelite, also known as Jouques Abbey . Recently I had the pleasure to visit here while leading a group of pilgrims from the US, Canada and Australia.…
The Octave of All Saints in the Pre-1955 Roman Liturgical Books
In a recent article , I discussed the 1955 liturgical changes that abolished the Vigil of All Hallows Eve and downgraded the Triduum to -- as I’ve long conceived it anyway -- a pair of adjacent but jarringly different feasts.
Hallowtide was, in fact, truncated at both ends i…
Funeral embroidery from Old Castille
The occasion of the Feast of All Souls is an excellent opportunity to present a selection of magnificent historical textiles from Spain. Pastrana is a small village on the moors of Guadalajara. While today it may seem insignificant, during the 16th century it lived a perio…
