One of the interesting aspects to antique editions of the Caeremoniale Episcoporum (Ceremonial of Bishops) and frequently the Pontificale Romanum (Roman Pontifical) is the inclusion of illustrations that show the ceremonies in question. Not only can this be an insight into …
Pontifical Ceremonies as Seen Through a Seventeenth Century Caeremoniale Episcoporum
One of the interesting aspects to antique editions of the Caeremoniale Episcoporum (Ceremonial of Bishops) and frequently the Pontificale Romanum (Roman Pontifical) is the inclusion of illustrations that show the ceremonies in question. Not only can this be an insight into …
Resource: The Catholic Artists Directory
The Directory of Sacred Artists is an impressive initiative and invaluable resource that I really hope will grow and flourish. It serves its purpose, helping to get the word out, calling attention to Catholic artists who seek to showcase their work. The Directory is an exce…
Seventeenth Century Thurible and Boat of Archbishop Antonio Gigli
The following thurible, along with its matching boat, formed a prelatial set identified as belonging to the 17th century Italian prelate, Archbishop Luca Antonio Gigli of the diocese of Altari -- one of seven towns that was closely situated to Rome and under the immediate j…
Monastery Architect Jean-Louis Pagès
One of my favorite senior Catholic architects living today is Jean-Louis Pages of France. Jean-Louis is famous in his own right. For decades he has been building beautiful structures - some more modern and some more traditional - true architectural landmarks, structures b…
Two Repurposed Orphreys from France
It is well enough known that in the history of vestments, we will frequently find examples of earlier vestments which have been cut back. In addition to this, however, it is also common to see medieval and Renaissance orphreys which have been saved (no doubt from earlier ve…
An Eighteenth Century Side Altar Dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary
Recently I came across the following side altar dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary which is located in the diocese of Trent in Italy. The altar has as its centrepiece a beautiful statue of the Madonna and Child coming from workshops in Brescia -- the statue itself is dated…
Before and After: St. Leo the Great (Diocese of Birmingham, USA)
Another stunning transformation of an old church recently restored to its birthright. The above photo illustrates an enormous gap between two periods. The new look from the 2021 renovation speaks of the formative process of Christian culture, building a design that showc…
The Paschal Stylus (Stilus Paschalis) by Watts & Co of London
The stylus is an interesting instrument that is a rare liturgical sight. It has again been made available by our good friends at Watts & Co (incidentally, our favorite shop to visit when in London, England). The stylus became popular for a short time after the mid-195…
Solemnis: Manufactura Liturgica from Poland
All Saints FSSP parish in Minneapolis, USA, has recently acquired some new and very beautiful vestments made in silk damask by Solemnis in Poland. Solemnis is a family owned business located in a picturesque village near the Czech border. The family keeps busy with great …
Emerald and Gold -- New Embroidery Work from Sacra Domus Aurea
The embroidery revival continues apace over at Sacra Domus Aurea , this time with a beautiful emerald green silk offering that has been embroidered in yellow and white gold. It has long been my experience and observation that while we tend to think of embroidered vestments p…
A Reader's Private Chapel
It was a little more than a year ago that we published an article on Private Chapels Brought to Light by Social Distancing and recently one of our readers sent in some photos of their own private chapel which we thought would be of interest to share with our readers. Privat…
Altar Cards for the Requiem Mass
This is a newly completed set of altar cards with prayers for the Requiem Mass. The borders and illustrations I drew in ink on paper; the text is set in a typeface that I designed myself. I imitated the style of printed books from the 15th century, and from the 19th century…
The Saint Anne Parish Hymnal for English & Spanish Speaking Congregations
The St. Anne Hymnal is a compilation of simple traditional Catholic liturgical hymns that can be used throughout the year. It is especially designed for bi-lingual parish communities, as it includes hymns for both English and Spanish speaking congregations. The hymnal was…
New Baroque Frame Unveiled in Habsburg Tradition
Over recent decades parishioners at the church of Saint Agnes in St. Paul, Minnesota have developed a special devotion to the famous Divine Mercy image as well as the Diary of Saint Faustina and the Chaplet and Novena of Divine Mercy. For some years now this familiar image…
Before and After: Thomas Aquinas College Chapel in New England
More good news from Thomas Aquinas College (TAC), keepers of a great intellectual heritage as one of the world's premier Catholic liberal arts colleges. Their recently acquired New England campus chapel has gone through a significant renovation that gives it a distinct…
Paschal Candle for a Double Dominican Jubilee
2021 is a Jubilee year for the Dominican Order and for our English Dominican Province. For in 1221, our holy father Saint Dominic sent a band of preaching brothers to England, and they set out from the university town of Bologna to the university town of Oxford. On the day …
The Oratory of Saints Gregory & Augustine: An Archdiocesan "Latin Mass" Parish Success Story
The Oratory of Sts. Gregory and Augustine of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri is a unique parish community and a truly inspiring place to visit. It was formally established by Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke (later Cardinal) when he was Archbishop of St. Louis in 2007. …
Cathedra of the Manila Cathedral Restored
The post-World War II cathedra of the Cathedral of Manila was recently restored. The chair is a symbol of ecclesiastical dignity, rank and office. It is the seat at which the bishop officiates solemnly in his own diocese. The throne consists of three parts, namely, the p…
New Spanish Style Vestment Set from Pluriarte in Spain
The sacred arts are alive and well at the Cathedral of the Holy Rosary in downtown Vancouver, Canada. The following photos are from a sung Mass celebrated on the feast of the Annunciation. The Spanish style vestments show influences from the (Hispano) Mozarabic rite. The…
The Holy Sepulchre Chapel at Freiburg Münster
The Cathedral of the German city of Freiburg im Breisgau conserves a particularly interesting piece of medieval holy week heritage. Built around 1330, the Heiliggrabkapelle can be found on the epistle side of the Cathedral, within the last bay before
the transept. The exter…
The Napoleon III Pontifical Set
We have had the pleasure of presenting some of this set before, but today we are pleased to be able to provide some further details of the set than have previously been shown here or elsewhere. The set in question was a gift of the Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte III (1808-1873…
Good Friday Processions in Jerusalem: The Station of the Holy Women
Good Friday processions draw many Christians to the holiest shrine in the world, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Good Friday generally happens twice per year, with one Good Friday reserved for Catholics who follow the Gregorian calendar and another for the E…
The Penitential Symbolism of the Train and Cappa Magna
In today’s day and age, whenever one comes upon images of prelates using the Cappa Magna, the comments will commonly include words like luxury, pomp, magnificence, dignity, vanity… It seems that in our common imagination extra long pieces of clothing have become a symbol of…
The Ciborium Veil Seen on Holy Thursday
Sacred objects have always been veiled, evidenced in various cultures throughout the history of the world. From the most ancient times, in both the Latin and Eastern churches, ciboria have been veiled. This is a universal Catholic custom. In some ways the ciborium veil a…
