What might have been? It's a question that comes up in almost every sphere of life and certainly this is no less the case with regard to the liturgical life of the Latin rite Church. In analyzing the Liturgical Movement I've often noted that there were some very goo…
What If the Liturgical Movement Had Stayed On Track?
What might have been? It's a question that comes up in almost every sphere of life and certainly this is no less the case with regard to the liturgical life of the Latin rite Church. In analyzing the Liturgical Movement I've often noted that there were some very goo…
Before and After: The Arrangement of the Papal Throne and Choir in Papal Masses Before and After the 1970's
We live in a curious time. Never before have there been so many people who can witnesses papal liturgical events precisely because of the advent of the wide broadcasting of these events through televsion, the internet and so on. Because of that, when we watch a Papal Mass o…
A Ciborium of the Seventeenth Century Style
The ciboria of the antique and medieval periods tend to shorter and made up angular geometry; rectangular, square, octagonal and so on. They tend to be very sober in their form as well as their decoration. As we move into the renaissance period and thereafter, no doubt in …
Counter-Reformation Churches of Rome: Santa Maria della Vittoria
Continuing on with our consideration of some of the great counter-reformation churches of Rome, we turn to Santa Maria della Vittoria which was built between 1608-1620 and dedicated to Our Lady of Victory.. As is typical of churches of this period, especially in Rome, its w…
Counter-Reformation Churches of Rome: Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù (The Gesù)
Continuing on with our consideration of some of the counter-reformation churches of Rome, we turn to the one which is said to have begun them all, the Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù (Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus), better known simply as the Gesù for short. The…
The Neoclassicism of the Liturgical Arts of Cardinal Antonio Rusconi (1743-1825)
Cardinal Antonio Rusconi (1743-1825) was born into a patrician family of Bologna where he was also educated in at the university in both canon and civil law. In 1765 he would go to Rome and would travel broadly within the papal states. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1…
Counter-Reformation Churches of Rome: Sant'Ignazio
If you take a very brief stroll from the Pantheon you will come across one of the great counter-reformation churches of Rome: Sant'Ignazio. Construction on Sant'Ignazio was begun in 1626 with the church finally being consecrated in 1722 -- though the first worship i…
Introducing the Architectural Firm, Franck and Lohsen
I wanted to bring our readers' attention to yet another worthwhile architectural firm, one of many that we try to feature here from time to time: Franck and Lohsen . As always, we'll let the firm first of all speak for and define itself. Here is what they have to say…
Counter-Reformation Churches of Rome: Santa Maria in Vallicella (Chiesa Nuova)
Rome is a city in which we find various periods where there have been explosions of art. The eighth and twelfth century were certainly two such periods and another was the counter-reformation. The counter-reformation period was one which saw a great deal of attention paid t…
The History and Development of the Mitre
The mitre is one of the most recognizable symbols of prelates of the Church, specifically of bishops up to the Roman pontiff himself -- though, traditionally, it must be noted that it was also utilized as a special privilege given to certain minor prelates such as select ca…
The Playfulness of Rococo Liturgical Architecture
As we have have discussed in another article, Baroque versus Rococo: What's the Difference? , Rococo is often lumped in with baroque art and architecture, they are in of point, two different movements, albeit closely related one's. The parallel one might think of her…
The History and Forms of the Christian Altar: The Renaissance through Nineteenth Century
In the first two instalments of this series we considered the paleochristian form of the altar, cube-like and fashioned in either tomb form or table form, covered by an architectural canopy called the ciborium magnum . As we noted in those articles, by the eighth or ninth ce…
Monumental Catafalque for Benedict XVI at FSSP in Urbe
The catafalque is a long-standing custom seen at Catholic funerals when the body of the deceased is not present, and at other high Masses of Requiem. It consists of a coffin-shaped frame of wood, covered with a black funeral pall (in some ways like a heavy blanket), setup a…
Funerary 'Obiit' Rendition of Benedict XVI's Arms by D'Azur ed D'Or of France
During the past several days of Requiem Masses celebrated throughout the Catholic world for the repose of the soul of Benedict XVI, this rendition of the arms of the deceased retired Pontiff has stood out, seen on various candles and catafalques, especially in Rome and at T…
Traditional Ceremonies Surrounding the Death of a Roman Pontiff
The following excerpt comes in translation, taken from the works of a notable nineteenth century liturgist, Msgr. Xavier Barbier de Montault, describing the traditional ceremonies that accompanied the death of a pope. Such rites are of course, infrequent, and they have also…
Four Vestments on Epiphany Featuring the Adoration of the Magi
Epiphany is associated with events that denote the revelation of the Incarnation. In the Eastern church, this is represented primarily by the Baptism of Christ, whereas in the Latin West, it is represented by way of the Adoration of the Magi -- or Three Kings -- whom symbol…
Minor Roman Basilicas: Santa Maria in Cosmedin
One of the more imposing facades of the minor basilicas in Rome surely must be that of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, located in the old Greek quarter of the city. In great part this is due to its impressively tall Romanesque belltower -- the tallest medieval example in all of Ro…
The Romanesque Altar and Ciborium of the Abbey of San Clemente al Vomano
While certainly not the oldest example of a ciborium in existence by any stretch, the ciborium found in the abbatial church of San Clemente al Vomano is noteworthy for reason that this mid-twelfth century example is a particularly fine medieval example, remaining in tact de…
Exceptions from the Rule: Coloured Mitres
The history of the mitre as a garment dates back to Roman times, originally as a non-liturgical headdress for the pope. This garment was called the "camelaucum" and is the predessor to both the mitre and the papal tiara. The mitre, taken in in its present form as …
Nigra Sum Sed Formosa Filiae Ierusalem: The Black Madonna
"Nigra sum sed formosa, filiae Ieruselam" -- these words come from the Song of Solomon and are used within Vespers of the Blessed Virgin amongst other places. In fact, some of the most renowned composers of the Catholic liturgical tradition have made compositions …
Catholic Ecclesiastical Architect: E.L. Masqueray
My favorite Catholic architect is the Franco-American Emmanuel Louis Masqueray (1861-1917). In his day he was one of the most noted architects in the country. When I was a boy my father drove me by his grave at Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota. We got out of the c…
Traditions of the Solemn Papal Mass: Canonization Candles
In a previous article, A Brief Inquiry Into the Roman Custom of Painted Candles , we more generally touched upon the tradition of painted candles that can be frequently seen in Roman churches, especially prior to the post-conciliar period. Many of us are familiar with this c…
The Orsini Mitres (Pope Benedict XIII)
Cardinal Vincenzo Maria Orsini, later Pope Benedict XIII (1724-1730), was a Dominican friar, Cardinal and Pope who considered his religious vocation and spiritual responsibilities as a shepherd as his main priority, as opposed to being an 'ecclesiastical administrator.&…
Vestments of Cardinal Gian Carlo Bandi, Nephew of Pope Pius VI
Today we are looking at two copies and chasubles which are dated in manufacture to the second half of the eighteenth century. These vestments were made for Cardinal Gian Carlo Bandi (1709-1784). a nephew of Pope Pius VI, assistant to the papal throne and elevated to the ran…
Dom Lambert Beauduin's 1914 Programme for (Genuine) Liturgical Restoration
Dom Lambert Beauduin, OSB (1873–1960) was one of the important figures of the early Liturgical Movement and in 1914 he wrote La Piété de l'Eglise (published in English translation as Liturgy the Life of the Church ) where he detailed his proposal for a programme for the …
Book Review: The Once and Future Roman Rite by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski
Dr. Peter Kwasnieski has been widely praised as one of the most important theologians and historians of Catholic liturgy in our time. His recent book, The Once and Future Roman Rite ( TAN Books , 2022), is being called his magnum opus . Indeed, in my estimation, the book is th…
Paleochristian Baptismal Pools from Roman Tunisia
The topic of baptismal fonts ins't something you typically see addressed -- which is rather odd when you think about it as it is the critical "entry level" sacrament that inducts one into the Christian life. Of course, over the centuries and even by rite, one…
An "Everyday" Solemn Mass Set from Renaissance Florence
Over the years we have shown many examples of ornate vestments from various periods of church history ranging from medieval to modern times. These frequently have included ornate embroideries, prelatial stemma and so forth. Of course, while these are representative of the h…
The Altar and Its Canopy: The Tester
Unbeknownst to many, a canopy over a high altar was at one time considered obligatory (though it was a rule that was not always observed suffice it to say). The reason for this is that the canopy over the altar, whether a true and proper ciborium magnum with its canopy supp…
The Oratorian Church of Santo Tomas y de San Felipe Neri in Valencia, Spain
Perhaps due to an overabundance of greyish or creamish hued gothic revival structures that are found in many part of the English speaking world (not to mention the cool, clinical tones of modernistic churches), I always find myself drawn with a great deal more interest to f…
