The Terra Sancta Museum in the Holy Land is filled with precious treasures beyond measure donated from Europe and the world beyond. While the worldly eye will look at these objects purely in terms of their monetary value, a spiritual and liturgical eye does not see this; it…
A Mid-Eighteenth Century Neopolitan Ostensorium
The Terra Sancta Museum in the Holy Land is filled with precious treasures beyond measure donated from Europe and the world beyond. While the worldly eye will look at these objects purely in terms of their monetary value, a spiritual and liturgical eye does not see this; it…
Shrewsbury Cathedral Conservators Uncover Hidden Gothic Revival Paintings and Tiles
Readers of LAJ know only too well the story of the mid 20th century when much that was beautiful in the realm of liturgical art was dispensed with or covered over in the name of noble simplicity. Of course, embedded within this was a mistaken notion which mistook simplicity…
Madonnelle: The Marian Shrines of the Streets of Rome
Any pilgrim to the Eternal City will have no doubt noticed the Marian shrines which can be found throughout the city, not attached to churches but rather found in the streets of Rome. To Romans these are known as "Madonnelle" and come in various forms, shapes and …
Islamic textiles: The Condestable’s Cope
The burial chapel of Pedro Fernández de Velasco in the Burgos Cathedral, also known as the
Condestables' Chapel, preserves one of the best preserved examples of vestments tailored using Islamic textiles. The Chapel was completed in 1494, and as one can expect, the found…
Liturgical Colours of Lent in the Ambrosian Rite
The Ambrosian rite has always been of great interest to me, and as we are now within Lent it seemed an apropos time to revisit an old article written by my friend and colleague Nicola de Grandi, written back in 2010 for New Liturgical Movement. In his article he speaks to s…
The Tradition of the Japanese Madonna
In a previous article we touched upon the tradition of inculturation specifically in relation to Japanese and Chinese Madonnas -- Madonna images which have been given the particular characteristics and dress of those rich oriental cultures. This is a theme which has always …
Controversy Surrounding the Proposed Western Doors of the Cathedral of Burgos
Many
pilgrims to Compostela will likely have a very strong memory
of the Cathedral of Burgos. Many start their way here -- and for those who began
their journey from Saint Jean Pied de Port it is the first major gothic cathedral
they will encounter on their way. Its delicat…
Liturgica Obscura: The Curiosity of Bargello or Flame-Stitch Embroidery Work
Within the late 17th to mid-18th century there was a curious embroidery style known as "bargello" or flame-stitch. It was a style that was utilized for numerous objects, from clothing to furnishings, but examples of its use can be found in some vestment work from …
Una Voce Seville in Spain: A Sign of Hope and Promise
Photos: OC-Travel Before the COVID-19 epidemic, I was privileged to visit Una Voce Seville . I have to say what an immense joy it was to meet the local lay faithful who are behind this global movement to help preserve and foster the cause of the Extraordinary Form of the Rom…
"Bizarre" Silks of the Eighteenth Century
Within the latter part of the 17th century and spanning over into the earlier part of the 18th was a style of figured silk fabrics that came to be termed (in modern times) as "bizarre." Bizarre silks were characterized by their large patterns featuring stylized le…
Lost Altars of the Holy Land: Basilica of Gethsemane
When the unfortunate spirit of iconoclasm entered the Latin Church in the 1960's, many church sanctuaries were suddenly changed all over the world. Under the guise of the "spirit of Vatican II," a great many sanctuaries were deformed in the name of authentic …
Christ the King Chapel At Christendom College Taking Shape
Photos: Christendom College One of the last authentically Catholic colleges in the U.S. is Christendom College. For this reason I highly recommend traditional Catholic families send their kids here to study. Christendom is a trusted name that has made an enormous impact up…
New Book Highlights Treasury of Vestments in the Holy Land: Paramenti Sacri Dall'Europa Alla Terra Santa
Photos: Terra Sancta Museum As someone who has been fortunate to travel to the Holy Land many times, it has been my privilege to see from time to time a variety of rare and historical vestments that are on display for tourists and pilgrims alike at the Terra Sancta Museum in…
Missalette Notice: Benedictus - The Traditional Catholic Companion
You have asked for it and here it is. Our good friends at Sophia Institute Press after many months of careful planning and design, have launched BENEDICTUS . This is a monthly traditional Catholic companion for the EF that is the counterpart of MAGNIFICAT , a paperback edit…
Book Review: The Holy Bread of Eternal Life by Professor Peter Kwasniewski
I must say how genuinely impressed I was with reading The Holy Bread of Eternal Life by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski. In an age of commonplace liturgical impiety and abuse, this book offers such a breath of fresh air! In fact, I have been waiting for someone to write this same b…
Heraldry (Stemma, Arms) on Vestments: Historical Usages and Variations
As there has been an increase in both the interest in and use of stemma (arms) on vestments, it seemed like a good time to review how they were historically used in order to help inform their contemporary revival. Stemma on chasubles were done to signify either the ownershi…
Sink or Swim: Catholicism in Sixties Britain through John Ryan's Cartoons
The illustrations of John Ryan (1921-2009) are popularly known to many Catholics, especially to those of traditional inclinations, perhaps without evening knowing his name. John Ryan was the illustrator behind so many of the iconic illustrations that graced the covers and w…
Chasuble and Rochet of St. Francis de Sales
Saints are frequently considered very distant and remote figures. What do I mean? I mean that that at one and the same time we can both recognize familiar aspects of church history and tradition and yet concurrently feel that somehow what we see and experience is remote fro…
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Fort Collins, Colorado
G randa Liturgical Arts recently shared a project coming from within the context of the parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Fort Collins, Colorado. The parish in question had been using a multi-purpose hall as their church for some while but fortunately now have a proper c…
