One of the most beautiful and unique Gothic Revival churches in North America is the church of the Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul, Minnesota. This Neo-Gothic structure with English Tudor motif is one of many noteworthy churches in Minnesota, a land with a rich landscape …
The Church of the Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul, Minnesota
One of the most beautiful and unique Gothic Revival churches in North America is the church of the Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul, Minnesota. This Neo-Gothic structure with English Tudor motif is one of many noteworthy churches in Minnesota, a land with a rich landscape …
Tradition Meets Technology at the New Monastery of the Carmelites of Wyoming
Adherence to tradition needn't mean utter avoidance of modernity and technology and in this particular story we learn of how the Carmelites of Wyoming (famed for their Mystic Monk Coffee ) have learned and utilized technology in a way that is helping bring traditional de…
Armorial Liturgical Book Bindings
Just a brief photo-post today to share a few examples of armorial, liturgical bookbinding -- or, put more simply, liturgical books that have ecclesiastical arms incorporated into their design. These bindings have always had a particular interest for many and they are certa…
Introducing the Work of Benedicamus
Continuing on with our considerations of late of new vestment work, I recently came across a Polish vestment maker, Benedicamus , whose work has caught my attention. There are a number of pieces I will feature from them but for today I wanted to focus on a green Roman set …
New Red Conical Chasuble from Paramentica
We seem to have a sudden influx of red vestments coming from the bespoke vestment makers and this one is no different, a red conical chasuble coming from Paramentica . The timing for these offerings are, of course, opportune if any parish, priest or monastic/religious commu…
One More From Altarworthy
A few days ago I presented some work from the vestment maker, Altarworthy , which showed a unique design approach that included a painted scene on the central orphrey of the chasuble. Today, I thought I'd share another vestment this same company recently released, this …
The Mantum of the Popes: Three Lesser Seen Examples
"I nvestio te de-papatu Romano ut pr sis urbi et orbi." I invest you with the Roman papacy, that you rule over the city and the world. In the Middle Ages, with these words the Roman Pontiff had the mantum bestowed up him, being just one of various symbols of papal…
The Ravenna Mosaic Company at St. Michael the Archangel in Frederickton, Montana
A few months back I was quite struck by the beauty of the follow mosaic work, taken from St. Michael the Archangel in Fredricktown, Montana. This particular mosaic work was executed by the Ravenna Mosaic Company of Madison, specifically Arno Heuduck whose work can also be …
Altarworthy and Jasper Artisans Guild Vestment Collaboration
It is very rare anymore that one might feature something relatively 'novel' in approach, yet still distinctly traditional. However, there is a burgeoning group of liturgical artists out there who are keen to re-approach the tradition, yet also to somehow make it th…
10-Step Process for Teaching Liturgical Arts in the Family
Parents and grandparents, ignite your child's imagination in the area of sacred liturgy and liturgical arts. Time is short. I have always said the education of Catholic children in this area is paramount and oft ignored.
This crucial parenting obligation can best be …
The Stational Liturgies of the Roman Church
Each year, but at Lent in particular, one will run into various mentions of the "stations" or "stational churches." These references provide a wonderful remembrance of the liturgy as it was expressed in Rome, particularly in relation to the Pope, and fu…
18th Century Lenten Veils from the Former Benedictine Abbey of Irsee, Bavaria
Continuing with our consideration of some of the unique traditions found within Lent, many of our readers will already be familiar with the concept of the Lenten veil ( velum quadrigesimale ). Various examples have come out online over the years, however, one of those most s…
The Ash Grey Lenten Vestments of the Rite of Lyon
Being Ash Wednesday, it seemed like a good opportunity to feature one of the unique traditions of the Lyonese rite ( ritus Lugdunensis ), the so-called "ashen" vestments used in the same for the ferial days of the Lenten season, from Ash Wednesday up until Holy Thu…
A Tour of the London Oratory: Chapel of the Sacred Heart
Nearest to the narthex, to the left as one faces toward the high altar, is the chapel of the Sacred Heart. This particular chapel was decorated by Geoffrey Webb, author of the excellent work, The Liturgical Altar , though the altar itself was designed by Hubert Gribble -- w…
Incense Review: Evergreen
Incense Variety: Evergreen Type: Athonite Dominant Scent Classification: Woodsy Dry note: Evergreen Burn Note: This incense has very strong notes of pine and evergreen generally, and just behind that in the background, a little bit of cedar specifically. Now when I say this is …
A Tour of the London Oratory: St. Joseph's Chapel
Continuing on with our tour of the London Oratory, next to the chapel of the Seven Dolours is the chapel of St. Joseph, which is the largest of the side chapels in the London Oratory, designed by the architect John Joseph Scoles who also designed the associated Oratorian h…
Liturgical Details: The Uncapped Thurible
One of the (now) distinctive features of the Ambrosian rite is the "uncapped" thurible -- a thurible, or censer, without the decorative top (or cap) that covers the burning coals and incense within. Here is an example of just such a thurible taken from within the …
Pontifical Sandals of Pope John XXIII
In a previous article on the subject, we covered off the history of pontifical sandals . Today I wished to share just a few images of some of the sandals worn by Pope John XXIII, taken from the excellent book, Il Papa e le sue Vesti . Nainfa, in his standard English languag…
A Tour of the London Oratory: Chapel of the Seven Dolours of the Blessed Virgin Mary
As we continue with our architectural tour of the London Oratory, we now turn back to the other side of the nave, nearest to the side altar of St. Philip Neri, next to which is the chapel of the Seven Dolours of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Dramatic and Catechetical Quality of the Traditional Church Orderings
Historically within the Latin rite there are two predominant church orderings one tends to think of in relation to the altar and sanctuary. The first is the ancient basilica arrangement with the ciborium magnum set over a freestanding altar -- which, in its most historical…
