One of the most accomplished ecclesiastical artists of any age is the 19th/20th century English artist, Sir Ninian Comper. In fact, I consider his sculptural works to be masterpieces, not just of the modern age, but of absolutely any age.
Dr. Allan Baron, whom many of you …
Comper's Masterpiece at Wymondham, Norfolk
One of the most accomplished ecclesiastical artists of any age is the 19th/20th century English artist, Sir Ninian Comper. In fact, I consider his sculptural works to be masterpieces, not just of the modern age, but of absolutely any age.
Dr. Allan Baron, whom many of you …
The Modern Roman Missal Traditionally Typeset and Laid Out
Have you ever wondered what a modern Roman missal would look like if it was traditionally typeset in the tradition of the Latin rite missals of old? Being one who is quite interested in book binding and typography I was and when the new English translation of the Missale R…
Spanish Vestments from New Spain
Vestments from Spain and her territories are a wonder to behold anywhere in the world. It is very rare to still see a sacristy full of them. I took these photos in the sacristy of my favorite chapel in the Americas, the Capilla del Rosario (Holy Rosary Chapel) at the Domi…
Invention and Exaltation
Three years ago on September 14th, I delivered a lecture, Invention and Exaltation at Franciscan University of Steubenville, in which I discussed the tasks of the religious artist in light of the two feasts of the Holy Cross, and the cult of relics in general. A revised ve…
Renaissance of Teaching Sacred Liturgy to Children
Parents everywhere want the best education for their children. We can never underestimate the obligation to educate our Catholic children from the youngest age in the ways of our Faith. One common observation I hear from serious Catholic parents who chat over coffee after…
Metalwork and Porcelain from the Imperial Treasury of Vienna
Continuing on with our consideration of some reader submissions from the Imperial Treasury of Vienna, we move away from textiles for a moment to consider some other manifestations of the liturgical arts, beginning with a very unique set of altar card frames, altar cross, c…
Requiem Vestments from the Imperial Treasury, Vienna
We have already featured some of the vestments found in the collection of the Imperial Treasury of Vienna and LAJ is pleased to be able to show you some more thanks to a kind submission by one of our readers.
Today I wish to specifically focus on two black sets. Both sets…
Altar and Sacrifice
In my online 'travels' I frequently come across new projects, sanctuary arrangements, renovations and restorations. Having long been an advocate of ad orientem , the ciborium magnum (and other forms of canopying the altar, not to mention the reredos), I am often on …
The Imperative of the Imperium: A Response to 'The End of the Imperial Episcopate'
Recently on social media I penned a quick response to some ideas put out by Fr. Jay Scott Newman in his article, The End of the Imperial Episcopate , which was published online by First Things on August 20th. This response gained some interest from various quarters and, to …
Curiosities of the Ancient Papal Mass: The Purse of Ancient Papal Jules
Continuing on with our previous considerations of some the unique elements related to the papal liturgy according to the usus antiquior , I wanted to turn readers attention today to a particularly rare item: a money purse that was used at the conclusion of the solemn form o…
A Curious Marian Chasuble
I wanted to share an interesting looking chasuble I ran into some while ago. I really know nothing about it, but the design struck me as quite unique. It would appear as though this vestment was designed for this particular cut of chasuble (rather than being a cut back fro…
Beauty: An Essential Element of the Sacred Liturgy
Very often people are heard to fret and to worry about beauty in our churches and in the sacred liturgy. This seems to particularly be case with generations that were brought up in and through the 1970's when perhaps this was a particularly strong theme. (By comparison…
50th Anniversary of Healey Willan
[Being a great fan of Healey Willan's sacred music, I asked Fr. Scott Haynes, SJC, if he could provide LAJ readers with an update on the progress of the Healey Willan Society. It follows here. -- SRT]
* * * The English-Canadian composer Healey Willan had a life long love…
Napoleon III Requiem Mass Set, Clonfert, Co. Galway
The Clonfert Diocese in Loughrea County, Galway, on the West Coast of Ireland is the home to some very interesting liturgical treasures. One set of vestments that are particularly of interest is a black solemn Mass set that was donated by Napoleon Bonaparte to Fr. William M…
Modern Saints and Blesseds in Sculpture
Talk to most any sculptor and carver and I suspect they will tell you that the most difficult saints and blesseds to sculpt are not the saints of centuries ago of whom no photographic images exist, it is rather the moderns who are visible in photographs, videos and the lik…
Templates for New Ecclesiastical Architecture: St. Anthony's in South Huntington
It was almost a decade ago that I first made note of the, then, newly constructed chapel of St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York. Given how much time has passed since then, and given that we have an entirely new generation of readers within that tim…
Putting an End to Pizza Box Forms of "Inculturation"
I am pretty sure that I could replicate typical post-conciliar approach to inculturation by stopping random strangers on the street and asking what one could do to make a Mass feel more…. fill in the blank . African? " Drums ." Afro-American? " Gospel music."…
The Museum Terra Sancta: An Interview with the Director of the Cultural Heritage of the Holy Land
The following is an interview with Brother Stéphane Milovitch, OFM, superior of the Franciscan monastery of St. Savior in Jerusalem, about his role in caring for the patrimony of the Holy Sepulcher. He tells us about some the most striking pieces from the collection, and th…
Before and After: St. Columban Church in Chillicothe, Missouri
Continuing on with our 'Before and After' series, I wished to share a restoration with you today that was executed by one of our LAJ partners, Conrad Schmitt Studios . The restoration in question was of St. Columban Church in Chillicothe, Missouri. By way of a bit …
The Great Lectern of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris
An LAJ reader sends in the following photos and information the great lectern, or "grand lutrin" of Notre Dame de Paris:
The grand lutrin of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is a lectern of 1868. It is part of Notre-Dame’s treasury and was included in the list of n…
