Since the 1970's, it is well enough known that there has been some "aversion" to the liturgical colour black. Speaking personally, I think there are plenty of very good and sound reasons (both pastorally and theologically) for it's use, and as such I'…
Black or White For Requiems: A Via Media For the Present Time
Since the 1970's, it is well enough known that there has been some "aversion" to the liturgical colour black. Speaking personally, I think there are plenty of very good and sound reasons (both pastorally and theologically) for it's use, and as such I'…
Jacques Maritain on Sacred Art
Some Reflections Upon Religious Art written by Jacques Maritain
Allow me to put before you today some very brief and very simple reflections. You will, no doubt, consider them too simple, but still I hope that they are inspired by good sense.
What I should like to examine w…
The Ecclesiastical Heraldry of Giuseppe Quattrociocchi
On at least two occasions I have specifically addressed the matter of ecclesiastical heraldry, the first in a more general consideration of the tradition of ecclesiastical heraldry and the second in relation the vestments in particular . Today I wished to feature the work o…
Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa
Amid the corn and soybeans in the heartland of America is one of the most interesting little shrines on the American continent. It is the creation of the Rev. P.M Dobberstein, a Catholic priest in West Bend, Iowa. Here an estimated 100,000 people flock each year to see a…
The Iconography of San Clemente
[The following is a piece that I originally had written for NLM nearly a decade ago. It was written by Dino Marcantonio of Marcantonio Architects on the subject of one of my favourite Roman churches: the Basilica of San Clemente. Enjoy. -- SRT.] by Dino Marcantonio (original…
A Rare Eighteenth Century Silver Set from Cardinal Fesch
Vestments made from cloth of gold are of course, reasonably common and a look at many collections of 19th and early 20th century vestments will turn up numerous examples. What is far less common, however, are silver vestments -- so uncommon in fact that many may not know t…
Prelatial Dress of the Religious Orders: The Benedictines
Back in mid-July I introduced a new series, "Prelatial Dress of the Religious Orders," which began to take us through the unique traditional dress of prelates who belonged to religious orders and how it differed by comparison to the usual schema we are all accust…
A Fifteenth Century Chasuble from Cologne
Just a quick article today to share a piece of interest coming from the Schnütgen Museum in Germany. It is of a chasuble made from a Florentine textile from 1475 and an embroidered orphrey that dates from approximately the same period.
Suffice it to say, the chasuble would…
New Rose Chasuble from Garry South of Holy Threads
Those who have been reading LAJ since its advent may remember Garry South of Holy Threads (see: Garry South: Strategist by Day, Vestment Designer by Night ) and for those who have not (or at least cannot recall) you may wish to visit that article to get some of his interest…
Sacristy Tips: The Cleaning of Sacristy Silver
Brother Brady Bonnici, OCD, from St.Theresa's in Cospicua Malta shared the following tips about how he goes about cleaning the silver candlesticks in their church:
First, I prepare a bucket of water, some brushes, a silver duster and silver bath liquid . (I don't us…
The Antependium of Pizzighettone: Gift of the King of France
The antependium of Pizzighettone, as it is known, was a gift of the French king, Francois (1494-1547), who was known to be a great patron of the arts. During the Italian wars of that period, he spent time in Pizzighettone, a captivity of sorts, and he developed a close fri…
All Hallows Eve (Halloween) in the Traditional, Pre-1955 Liturgical Books
Halloween is a liturgical holiday. Anyone would be forgiven for not knowing that, because almost nobody keeps it that way anymore—to such a degree that some Catholics are of the opinion that we should wash our hands of the whole business. But Halloween has always belonged p…
The Holy Face Crucifix in the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows in Chicago
In one of the side chapels of Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago, hangs a gorgeous copy of one of the most revered crucifixes of Medieval Europe. A notable artistic prototype with singular history and vestiges of mysterious Jerusalem origins, the Holy Face of Lucca is…
Before and After: Immaculate Conception in Kenton, Ohio
Today I wished to share a quick 'before and after' from the parish of Immaculate Conception in Kenton, Ohio, by William Heyer Architect . This is a reasonably modest renovation compared to some of those we have shown in the past, but one which certainly has certain…
Considerations of Candles and Their Proportions in Relation to the Altar
In previous articles I have mentioned the importance of the predella , the ciborium magnum , the antenpendium , and the principle of "verticality" in helping to draw focus to that which is the centre of a church: the high altar. Tying into this latter point, today …
Contemporary Traditional: A Green Cope in the Italian Tradition
It was only a few weeks ago that I featured Sacra Domus Aurea as part of LAJ's 'bespoke' vestment designers series , but in the short time since then they have been putting out some amazing work that I would like to showcase while still 'fresh.'
As I ha…
The Dies Irae Sequence
One of the most revered and beloved of chant sequences is the Dies Irae, which is sung on All Souls Day and for Requiem Masses in general. This revered bit of liturgical poetry has come to us in various English translations . Here are a few examples of just first two opening…
Before and After: St Mary’s Church in Marion, Ohio
The architectural firm of William Heyer Architect recently completed a renovation project at St. Mary's Church in Marion, Ohio . The project came within the context of a gothic revival church that had undergone post-conciliar revisions but which still retained the bone…
Selection of Vestments from the Diocesan Museum of Trent
The following is a small selection of vestments that may be found at the Museo Diocesano Tridentino (the diocesan museum of Trent) in Italy that came by way of Nicola de Grandi of Milan. As with other such pieces, the focus here is simply to show some of the various design…
Introducing Jasper and Scheer Liturgical Art
It has been too long since we last featured a painter, so today I wanted to turn readers' attention to Jasper & Scheer Liturgical Art who describe themselves and their mission accordingly:
Jasper Artisan's Guild is committed to the beauty and sanctity of the Ca…
Eighteenth Century Vestments from Stift Klosterneuberg in Austria
The Augustinian Monastery of Klosterneuberg in Lower Austria has one of the finest collections of vestments on display anywhere. In fact, many of our readers may well remember an article published here on their well known Art Nouveau set . Today I wanted to turn your attent…
