Continuing on with our popular before and after series, we turn today to a project executed in part by Murals by Jericho who are located in Peoria, Illinois. They recently pursued work at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Demopolis, Alabama. They offer the following comm…
Before and After: St. Leo the Great, Demopolis, Alabama
Continuing on with our popular before and after series, we turn today to a project executed in part by Murals by Jericho who are located in Peoria, Illinois. They recently pursued work at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Demopolis, Alabama. They offer the following comm…
A Rare Glimpse: Painting and Reality
It is very rare that we get an opportunity to see and compare items like the vestments portrayed in historical paintings to the actual historical items but this is one of those occasions. The following painting comes from 1656, painted by the Florentine artist Orazio Fidani…
A Newly Carved Tintinnabulum and Umbraculum
One of the rarer bits of liturgica that one might come across is the tintinnabulum and umbraculum, found only within basilicas. The rather strange sounding name comes with reference to the bell that grace these symbols; symbols intended to reflect the fact that the church t…
Book Review: "Death Comes for the Cathedrals" by Marcel Proust (With New Translation by Dr. John Pepino)
In the history of the Church, episodes of storm or frost are only too common which destroy the blossom in our orchards and blight their rich promise of fruit. To anyone who has traveled through Europe and seen the cathedrals -- today empty shells with no congregation or cl…
Belmont Abbey Basilica Renovation (1964-1965)
The Abbey Basilica of Maryhelp in Belmont, North Carolina is a modified Gothic Revival structure influenced by Chartres Cathedral, the high point and model of the French Gothic. It is an important Catholic landmark in the American south, dedicated to Our Lady under the ve…
A New Renaissance Style Triptych
A LBL Oberammergau in Germany recently revealed a northern Renaissance style triptych that they produced that will be used as the altarpiece for an altar designed by McCrery Architects in the United States. The triptych is comprised of relief carvings (hand carved) that have…
A Nineteenth Century Cope from the Cathedral of Seville
Before we leave the season of Advent, I'be been meaning to share this violet cope which comes from the nineteenth century and is located in the Cathedral of Seville in Spain. The cope is comprised of a dark purple silk that has been ornamented with beautiful, spirallin…
The Lindau Gospels Treasure in New York
The Morgan Library in New York is currently hosting an exciting exhibition titled “Imperial Splendor: The Art of the Book in the Holy Roman Empire ca. 800 - 1500” featuring manuscripts and few important examples of early Medieval metalwork – principally precious book bindin…
Noble Simplicity Versus Post-Conciliar Sanctuary Clutter
Recently I spoke again about the noble simplicity of the traditional Catholic sanctuary order. I thought I would take a slightly different approach this time and show a sanctuary that is not atypical for the post-conciliar era. I am purposefully not identifying the particul…
New Masterpiece Polyptych for Diocese of Charlotte's Seminary
Love, veneration, and praise for Christ the Son of Man has also implied over the centuries praise for His mother. Next to her Son, she is the chief actor in the tragedy and triumph of the greatest story ever told, the Incarnation of the Son of God and His work of Redemptio…
A Brief Survey of the Old Testament in Sacred and Liturgical Art in Different Mediums
While we tend not to think of it as much as we ought, the great figures and stories of the Old Testament have always had a notable place in the Church, including within the liturgical arts. Whether we are talking about painting, sculpture, mosaics or vestments, they are the…
Some Views of the Patriarchal Basilica of St. Mark's in Venice
The basilica of St. Mark's in Venice will need little introduction to many of our readers. The basilica is the seat of the Patriarch of Venice (though at one time, believe it or not, it was the 'chapel' to the doge of Venice), construction being begun in the ele…
New Altar Cards in the Medieval Tradition
The liturgical tradition of the Church is a powerful thing. Throughout history it has shaped and influenced the culture around it in a process that has been symbiotic, adopting what is good from it on the one hand, but also forming the culture around it on the other. The li…
Liturgical Variations: The Placement of the Deacon's Stole in the Ambrosian Rite
To Catholics of the Roman rite, an Ambrosian rite deacon, with their distinctive manner of wearing the stole and dalmatic, might seem a rather strange sight. Frequently when photographs of such are shown questions arise as to what is taking place and why. You'll note th…
Another Case Study in the Noble Beauty and Simplicity of the Traditional Sanctuary
In the past we have shown various mock ups that demonstrate the noble beauty and simplicity of the traditional sanctuary order. The purpose behind this exercise is to give people a glimpse into just how much of an impact is frequently felt by the multiplication of objects i…
The Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva: What Is, What Was and What Might Have Been
In a city replete with ornamental baroque (and the occasional medieval Romanesque) facades, the present, rather simple rectangular facade of the thirteenth century papal basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (so named because it was thought to sit over the old Roman temple …
The Ambrosian Rite's Unique Liturgical Colour: Morello
Continuing on with our considerations of some of the more unique colours in the liturgical palette, we have in the past covered the ashen grey of the rite of Lyon, and more recently the Spanish Cerulean blue privilege; today we turn our attention to the Ambrosian rite and &…
The Spanish Privilege: Cerulean Blue and the Immaculate Conception
Blue vestments are frequently a topic of very great interest -- so much so, one wonders why the Church doesn't simply permit this colour since it pretty clearly seems to be a development that is not only well situated with the precedent of custom but also the manifest d…
Two Unique Examples of Reversible Vestments
I am going to start at the outset by saying that reversible vestments are not something I generally promote. This isn't to say that they do not have their place.. Mainly, they can be useful options for military chaplains, chaplains of smaller missions -- situations, gen…
Customs and Traditions: Sinterklaas (The Feast of St. Nicholas)
Today is the Feast of St. Nicholas. In an all too rare bit of convergence, this is so in the calendars of the usus antiquior, usus recentior and the Byzantine liturgical calendar. Within Central and Northern Europe, particularly Holland, it is known as "Sinterklaas&qu…
The Tree of Jesse in Sacred Art
The season of Advent is synonymous with many things; Advent wreaths, Advent hymns and so on, but another symbol that is strongly associated with this liturgical season is that of the Tree of Jesse. This is manifest in the scriptural readings associated to this period of lit…
Other Modern: Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse de Lisieux, Normandy, France
The basilica of Sainte-Thérèse de Lisieux is located in Normandy, France, and it provides a very good case study in 'Other Modern' art and architecture. For those who have not been formally introduced to this concept of 'other modern' (or what it sometimes …
Renaissance Velvets in Vestments
Within the period we call the Renaissance -- which spans the 15th and 16th centuries -- precious silks and velvets were amongst the most coveted and precious items that one could own; this was true whether it be for sacred or profane uses. These textiles were used in everyt…
St. Agnes Convent Chapel Renovation by Noble Interiors, Inc.
The beautiful Saint Agnes Convent in St. Paul, Minnesota was built under the pastorship of Fr. John Gruden from 1951-1953. Fr. Gruden was an author and educator who put great faith in Catholic education and the immense contribution of resident teaching sisters in a parish …
Varieties of Violacea Found in the Sixteenth Century
With advent now upon us, it seemed like a good time to pick up on our "varieties of violacea" series, this time focusing on the 16th century. As we have noted in previous articles, the liturgical colour purple has seen various variations throughout its history. S…
Four Altar Candlesticks from the Sixteenth Century
One of the features of any traditionally oriented church that has the power to inspire both awe and attention are the candlesticks found upon the high altar. They are one of the manifestations of the liturgical arts which, while not gaining as much attention as some others,…
An Antependium for Good Friday
Awhile back I came across this interesting antependium from the Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane (located in London, England). As you will see, it is not of the textile variety, being instead comprised (so far as I can see at any rate) of painted details, likely set upon wood. …
Development in Vestment Design: An Example
Following upon our recent consideration of symbols in vestment designs, lest one think I am calling for immobilism in "the informal canon" of design, I thought I would show our readers an example of a vestment that has attempted to develop from the established des…
The American Transformation of the Advent Wreath
Two years ago, Shawn wrote an excellent article on Variations in Form of the Advent Wreath . To briefly summarize, the Advent wreath was native to Germany, where it seems to have begun life as a Lutheran devotion before being cautiously adopted by Catholics. By the time it a…
Symbols in Vestment Design: Some Design Considerations
In the medieval and renaissance period it was common to see embroidered panel scenes within the orphreys of the highest end vestments. Of course not all medieval and renaissance vestments would have had such images for, then as now, not everyone would have been able to affo…
What's in a Painting? A Small Window into the Liturgical and Catechetical Priorities of the Spanish Missions
Recently I came across the following painting which is located in the parish of San Pablo de Catcha, located in Cuzco, Peru. The painting depicts a Solemn Requiem Mass being offered for the Holy Souls -- the priest, deacon and subdeacon vested in black Spanish cut vestments…
The History and Forms of the Christian Altar: The Paleochristian and Early Medieval Forms
Altars are (or ought to be at least), architecturally and liturgically, the central focal point of the interior of our churches. Given their evident importance, it is no surprise that there can be much in the way of disagreement as to what the ideal form of the altar is. De…
Some Historic Churches of Québec
We spend a great deal of time here on LAJ focusing on the old churches of Europe so today I thought I would turn our readers' attention to some of the older churches of the New World -- specifically some of those found in the province of Québec in Canada. Québec is home…
Vestments of Cardinal Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini (Pope Benedict XIV)
Continuing on with our considerations of some of the liturgical articles of historical cardinals, we turn today to Cardinal Prospero Lambertini (1675-1758) who would go on to become Pope Benedict XIV. As a poper, Lambertini became, as Fr. George Rutler would say, A Faithful…
The "Parato Ciceri" - Paraments of Cardinal Carlo Stefano Anastasio Ciceri (1618 - 1694)
The seventeenth century Milanese born Cardinal, Carlo Ciceri, has left us an impressive series of paraments known as the "parato Ciceri" which is a full solemn Mass set in white, inclusive of a matching antependium. The cardinal in question was elevated to that r…
