Since the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul traditionally was celebrated as an octave, it seems fitting to prolong our consideration of this important feast with another consideration of some liturgical art these two apostles were frequently found within. I am speaking here of t…
Italian Reliquary Busts and Statues of Ss. Peter and Paul
Since the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul traditionally was celebrated as an octave, it seems fitting to prolong our consideration of this important feast with another consideration of some liturgical art these two apostles were frequently found within. I am speaking here of t…
Thoughts and Vestments for the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul
One of the very most "Roman" of feast days is the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul -- June 29th. These two figures loom large not only in terms of the apostles, they also do so in relation to the Church in and of Rome; in fact, this day is still an annual public holida…
Neo-Gothic Revival in Florida
Not so very long ago we featured some gothic revival work coming out of Virginia, Syon abbey , and a similar project recently came to light, this time from a convent located in Florida. The monastery in question is that of the Sisters of St. Thomas Aquinas who are located i…
Obsequies of the Very Reverend Fr. Jonathan Robinson, Cong. Orat.
[The following is a guest submission coming from an Oratorian at the Toronto Oratory (who wishes to remain anonymous) detailing the recent funerary rites for the death of their founder and noted author, Fr. Jonathan Robinson.]
* * *
On the afternoon of Tuesday June 9th, the…
A Pentecost Inspired Cope from Watts and Co. of London
Watts & Co. of London have recently unveiled a new cope for Pentecost that includes a red brocade fabric that is based upon G.F. Bodley's own Pentecost-inspired embroidery . The hood features a blue, silk damask that has Marian symbolism, along with the dove, a symb…
Thomas Aquinas College Chapel: A Triumph in Church Architecture
After years in the faith-based travel industry I can say without equivocation the chapel at Thomas Aquinas College (TAC) in Santa Paula, California is a must-see for Catholics. On a sunny day walking toward the chapel under the shade of the Spanish mission arcade amid the…
American Heartland Neo-Gothic Cemetery Chapel in New Vienna, Iowa
Splendid seeing this cemetery chapel in the heartland of America. This is St. Boniface Cemetery in New Vienna, Iowa. Our good friend, Fr. Nick Radloff, was recently ordained and celebrated Holy Mass here amid the final resting place of some of his German ancestors. Such…
Andrew Stewart Jamieson: Artist and Illuminator
One of the most interesting and exciting artists and illuminators working today in a contemporary medieval style is Andrew Stewart Jamieson of Andrew Stewart Jamieson Art & Design . Andrew studied his craft at the Salisbury and Reigate art colleges in Britain and has wo…
Reprint of the St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book Now Available
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the much-loved St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book (Imprimatur 1920). This icon of preconciliar parish choir and organ music has thankfully been republished by Refuge of Sinners Publishing, Inc .
In its day the St. Gregory Hy…
Details of A.W.N. Pugin's Chapel for the Earls of Shrewsbury
The following shows the design for the high altar and other parts of St. Peter's Chapel, Alton Towers, Staffordshire, by A.W.N. Pugin. This was the family chapel of the Earls of Shrewsbury, the interior being designed by Pugin in the mid 19th century. Unfortunately th…
Four Continental Variations on "Roman" Vestments
Quite frequently when discussing vestments there are basic terms that are used to identify certain styles of vestments. One such example is speaking of a "Roman" style of vestment. But speaking of a "Roman" vestment is no more clear than talking about a…
Enameled Monstrance in the Mudejar Style by Granda
Last year the Granda workshop completed the construction of this spectacular 36” tall monstrance for Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ladera Ranch, California. Fr. Reynold Furrell, the founding pastor, had previously engaged Granda for the creation of the newly constructed …
A Contemporary Approach to Early Gothic Revival Vestment Design
One of the great struggles in the area of the gothic revival vestment design has been that, since its resurrection under such 19th century masters as G.F. Bodley and Sir Ninian Comper, not long after their own triumphs the old craftsmanship would give way to an era of indu…
Book Notice: Reclaiming Our Roman Catholic Birthright by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski
The great liturgical scholar Dr. Peter Kwasniewski has written yet another fine book on the theme of the Classical Roman Rite. His new work deserves mention, praise and far reach. Dr. Kwasniewski has become a renowned voice on the subject, while stating his case clearly …
Official Rome Church of the Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre: Sant'Onofrio on the Janiculum
Sant’Onofrio on the Janiculum Hill is the official Roman church and permanent spiritual center in Rome of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ), a papal order of knighthood that dates back to the year 1099.
The church is a rare example of a Renais…
The Visual and Symbolic Impact of the Spacing and Proportions of the Candlesticks and Cross as Seen in Two Papal Basilicas
One might be tempted to think that the horizontal spacing and vertical proportions of the altar candlesticks and cross are not particularly important to an altar and church so long as the traditional six (or "big six" as they are often colloquially referred) are …
The Pentecost Pontifical High Mass Set of Westminster Cathedral
As we are still within the Octave of Pentecost, I thought you may like to learn something of Westminster Cathedral's Pentecost set. In the late 1920s, Cardinal Bourne, Archbishop of Westminster, commissioned for the Cathedral, from A. E. Grosse of Belgium, a Pontifical …
Ecce Sacerdos Magnus: A Tribute to Fr. Jonathan Robinson, Cong. Orat. (1929-2020)
E cce sacerdos magnus . Yesterday, a great priest, Fr. Jonathan Robinson, cong.orat., died. While this familiar refrain, ecce sacerdos magnus , is typically applied to bishops, the words certainly apply to him in my own estimation:
Behold a great priest who in his days please…
The St. Louis of France Vestment from the Sacristy of Westminster Cathedral
First of all, my apologies for such a long absence. I would like to republish a short piece I wrote on a set of vestments found in Westminster Cathedral in London for the Friends of Westminster Cathedral -- an excellent organisation who do much to support the work of the s…
Chartres Pilgrimage 2020: Different Face, Same Spirit
One of the events that I look forward to covering each year is the annual Chartres Pentecost Pilgrimage hosted by Notre Dame de Chretiente (NDC). This year, due to the restrictions resulting from COVID-19, the pilgrimage has taken a very different form. Add to this the tra…
Basque Arts at San Vicente in Sada, Navarre in Northern Spain
Hearty congratulations to Fr. Pablo Santa Maria for completing his Canon Law studies at the Opus Dei University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. He just completed his studies and celebrated this Mass at San Vicente in Sada, Navarre, near Pamplona. He is a dear friend, a fi…
