Medieval Inspired Work From Atelier Sirio

Medieval Inspired Work From Atelier Sirio By way of follow up to the last post, here are a few more that caught my eye, coming from  Atelier Sirio  in Italy. When it comes to the fuller form of vestments, one of the styles that is particularly appealing is the conical form as well as some of the truncated forms of it…

Ready Made Vestments - What's Available

Ready Made Vestments - What's Available One of the things that LAJ both desires to do -- and has been asked to do -- is provide practical options for parishes and clergy today in the realm of the liturgical arts. Historical examples are important as a means of cultivating good liturgical taste and knowledge of hi…

Early Roman Basilica Influence in South Carolina

Early Roman Basilica Influence in South Carolina We haven't dipped much into new church architecture yet and I can think of no better way to start than by featuring St. Mary, Help of Christians, in Aiken, South Carolina. The church in question was designed by  McCrery Architects  who will no doubt be familiar to many o…

Accenting the Liturgical Rites: Thoughts on the Tasteful Arrangement of Flowers in Churches

Accenting the Liturgical Rites: Thoughts on the Tasteful Arrangement of Flowers in Churches There are two times during the liturgical year when my mind specifically turns to the matter of floral arrangement in our sanctuaries: Christmas and Easter.  This is hardly a surprise because those are the two times that most parishes in the Catholic world still make a poi…

Come thou redeemer of the earth

Come thou redeemer of the earth One of my favourite hymns of all time is St. Ambrose's Veni, redemptor gentium, or, more specifically J. M. Neale's translation of it: Come thou redeemer of the earth, sung to the tune Praetorius . You can listen to it here . The image of its writing is a romantic one:…

O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster. O Emmanuel! King of Peace! thou enterest to-day the city of thy predilection, the city in which thou hast placed thy Temple, - Jerusalem. A few years hence, a…

O Rex Gentium

O Rex Gentium O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. O King of Nations! thou art approaching still nigher to Bethlehem, where thou art to be born. The journey is almost over, and thy august Mother, consol…

The Art of the Crosier

The Art of the Crosier On Gaudete, "rosaceus," Sunday, Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke sung Pontifical High Mass at the Church of All Saints (FSSP) in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA).  Present in choir were both the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis as well as his aux…

O Oriens

O Oriens O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Jesus, divine Sun! thou art coming to snatch us from eternal night: blessed for ever be thy infinite goodness! But thou puttest our faith to the test, before showing…

Varieties of Violacea

Varieties of Violacea There has been such a positive response to our recent rose vestments posting both here and on the LAJ  Facebook page  that it is admittedly rather tempting to publish further photos of the same. However, we shall exercise a little restraint and look to Lent and  Laetare  for t…

O Clavis

O Clavis O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O  Jesus, Son of David! heir to his throne and his power! thou art now passing over, in thy way to Bethle…

Devotional Wampum: Art and Prayer

Devotional Wampum: Art and Prayer Wampum is an American Indian bead made from the shells of the quahog, or hard-shelled clam, and the channeled whelk of the Atlantic coast. It came in two basic colors: white and purple, although beads were sometimes painted in other colors such as red. It required painstak…

Book Review: The History of the International Una Voce Movement

Book Review: The History of the International Una Voce Movement By all accounts, the usus antiquior has played no small role in the development and maintenance of the arts, liturgical and otherwise.  Indeed, the Church's ancient liturgical practices are an important part of a living tradition to be cherished and coveted in the mode…

O Adonai

O Adonai Today, as well as Our Lady's Expectation, is the antiphon, O Adonai: O Sovereign Lord! O Adonaï! come and redeem us, not by thy power, but by thy humility. Heretofore, thou didst show thyself to Moses thy servant in the midst of a mysterious flame; thou didst give thy la…

Shades of Rosacea: On the Liturgical Colour Rose

Shades of Rosacea: On the Liturgical Colour Rose Since there are so few opportunities to speak about rose coloured vestments during the course of the liturgical year, you will forgive me if I spend just a little more time on them today, focused on some historical examples but also in view of providing ideas for vestment …