The Restoration of E.W. Pugin's Hoxton Church

The Restoration of E.W. Pugin's Hoxton Church The website IanVisits  (by way of the Pugin Society) brought to my attention a restoration which took place a few years ago at St. Monica's, Hoxton Square -- an Augustinian church designed and executed in the mid 1860's by Edward Welby Pugin, eldest son of A.W.N. Pug…

A Baldachin for Christ the King Parish in Paola, Malta

A Baldachin for Christ the King Parish in Paola, Malta Recently one of our priestly readers in Malta, Canon Marc Andrè Camilleri, contacted LAJ to share another project that is taking place at his parish, Christ the King in Paola, Malta. I say 'another' because his particular parish has an ambitious artistic programme …

Three Varieties of Processional Canopies

Three Varieties of Processional Canopies Continuing on with some of our considerations around Corpus Christi, aside from the monstrance in which the Blessed Sacrament is carried, one of the next most identifiable pieces of liturgical art that gains particular prominence at this time of liturgical year is the proc…

Photo Set: The Pontifical Mass of Cardinal Arinze at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane

Photo Set: The Pontifical Mass of Cardinal Arinze at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane Corpus Christi always presents various opportunities for articles and today I wished to share Corpus Christi from a church by the same name in London: Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane -- a parish which we have featured here before. For their titular feast, a Solemn Pontifical M…

Corpus Christi on the Côte d'Azur at La Chapelle de la Très-Sainte-Trinité et du Saint-Suaire

Corpus Christi on the Côte d'Azur at La Chapelle de la Très-Sainte-Trinité et du Saint-Suaire It is ever a special privilege to visit the apostolates of the Institute of Christ the King.  The Institute has a global reputation of maintaining the highest standards of reverence and piety for Mass and solemnities.    Each year I try to be somewhere special for the exte…

Early Eighteenth Century Designs for the Interior of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Early Eighteenth Century Designs for the Interior of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris Only recently I came across the following designs, all coming from the early 1700's, intended for various altars (as well as a choir screen) for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. When you look at the designs, you can certainly see the influence of the period in which they…

Our Lady of China by Rohn and Associates Design

Our Lady of China by Rohn and Associates Design Longtime readers will know that I have long been interested in historical examples of Catholic liturgical arts from the Orient. As such, it was with great interest that I received news of a new commission undertaken by Rohn and Associates Design Inc.  for a statue of Our La…

Other Modern: The High Altar of Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris

Other Modern: The High Altar of Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris One of our readers contacted us about a church they had only just visited in Paris; the church of St-Jean de Montmartre . Of particular interest to me was the high altar which has a very unique design. On the one hand it includes very traditional elements (ranging from goth…

Usus Antiquior at Santa Maria della Salute in Venice

Usus Antiquior at Santa Maria della Salute in Venice The following photos came to my attention by way of NLM  (and originate from the Italian blog,  Traditio Marciana ) through one of the photo posts over there for Pentecost. I couldn't resist sharing them here on LAJ as well as they bring a nice confluence of liturgical ar…

Excellence in the Christian East - Riza

Excellence in the Christian East - Riza It has been awhile since we've taken a detour "East" and, for a long while now, I have meant to introduce readers of LAJ to Riza , a maker of Byzantine vestments.  Riza is based out of Australia and have a strong focus on embroidery and beadwork. The beauty an…

The Traditional Penitential and Mourning Dress of Cardinals of the Roman Church

The Traditional Penitential and Mourning Dress of Cardinals of the Roman Church While there is an increasing awareness of traditional vesture such as the cappa magna and pontificals such as sandalia , gauntlets and so forth, one area that remains still relatively unknown to many today is the penitential and mourning dress of prelates. To help simplify …

Vestments for the Pentecost Octave

Vestments for the Pentecost Octave Continuing on with our meditations around Pentecost during the octave, this is a good opportunity to share a few odds and ends where red vestments are concerned -- particularly those with 'Pentecostal' imagery.  This first chasuble is one that is located in the Phi…

The 2019 Chartres Pilgrimage

The 2019 Chartres Pilgrimage As we sit within the Octave of Pentecost in the traditional Roman calendar, I cannot resist our annual opportunity to showcase some photos from the recent Chartres Pentecost Pilgrimage in France. Traditionally that pilgrimage begins at Notre Dame in Paris and ends up at No…

Tintoretto's Vision of Paradise

Tintoretto's Vision of Paradise This year marks several significant art anniversaries: Rembrandt, Da Vinci, and Tintoretto are all artists who are especially remembered in 2019. In the United States, The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC is hosting a splendid exhibition that honors Tintoretto. Amo…

Customs: The Shower of Rose Petals on the Feast of Pentecost

Customs: The Shower of Rose Petals on the Feast of Pentecost Yesterday, for the solemnity of Pentecost, a venerable custom was performed at the Pantheon, or Basilica of S. Maria ad Martyres. The Italians call this custom "la pioggia di petali di rosa" (or shower/rain of rose petals). While not exclusive to the Pantheon it …

The Spanish Mission Reredos of San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Spanish Mission Reredos of San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico S an Miguel Chapel (Misión de San Miguel) is Spanish mission church that dates back to the early 1600's, being the oldest known church in the continental USA.  While the chapel is generally of interest, it is the reredos which is of particular interest today, being anot…

Ceremonies of the Consecration of Churches: The Writing of the Latin and Greek Alphabets on the Church Pavement

Ceremonies of the Consecration of Churches: The Writing of the Latin and Greek Alphabets on the Church Pavement The traditional ceremonies associated with the consecration of churches have always spawned a great deal of interest, no doubt in part for their relative rarity, but also because of their particular antiquity, symbolism and majesty. Like the ceremonies of Holy Week, they l…

Some Works from the Museo del Tesoro del Duomo Vigevano

Some Works from the Museo del Tesoro del Duomo Vigevano Our good friend Nicola de Grandi tipped us off to a recent visit he made to the Museo del Tesoro del Duomo Vigevano where he took some photos of a unique early 18th century chasuble that bears the image of a sainted bishop.  Unfortunately I have little in the way of inform…

A Liturgical Rarity: Rose Pontifical Sandals

A Liturgical Rarity: Rose Pontifical Sandals By now many of our readers will be familiar with the pontifical sandal . As sandals are particular to the liturgical colour of the day, these are seen in white, red, green and violet. The only liturgical colour excluded is black.  Nainfa in Costume of Prelates comments acco…

The Beautiful Madonna of Wrocław

The Beautiful Madonna of Wrocław Quality in any of the liturgical arts is of paramount importance, but one area I have frequently touched upon in this regard is the area of sculpture -- quite likely because there have been so many examples of those that have been poorly and/or sentimentally done in this p…