My favorite Catholic architect is the Franco-American Emmanuel Louis Masqueray (1861-1917). In his day he was one of the most noted architects in the country. When I was a boy my father drove me by his grave at Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota. We got out of the c…
Catholic Ecclesiastical Architect: E.L. Masqueray
My favorite Catholic architect is the Franco-American Emmanuel Louis Masqueray (1861-1917). In his day he was one of the most noted architects in the country. When I was a boy my father drove me by his grave at Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota. We got out of the c…
Traditions of the Solemn Papal Mass: Canonization Candles
In a previous article, A Brief Inquiry Into the Roman Custom of Painted Candles , we more generally touched upon the tradition of painted candles that can be frequently seen in Roman churches, especially prior to the post-conciliar period. Many of us are familiar with this c…
The Orsini Mitres (Pope Benedict XIII)
Cardinal Vincenzo Maria Orsini, later Pope Benedict XIII (1724-1730), was a Dominican friar, Cardinal and Pope who considered his religious vocation and spiritual responsibilities as a shepherd as his main priority, as opposed to being an 'ecclesiastical administrator.&…
Vestments of Cardinal Gian Carlo Bandi, Nephew of Pope Pius VI
Today we are looking at two copies and chasubles which are dated in manufacture to the second half of the eighteenth century. These vestments were made for Cardinal Gian Carlo Bandi (1709-1784). a nephew of Pope Pius VI, assistant to the papal throne and elevated to the ran…
Dom Lambert Beauduin's 1914 Programme for (Genuine) Liturgical Restoration
Dom Lambert Beauduin, OSB (1873–1960) was one of the important figures of the early Liturgical Movement and in 1914 he wrote La Piété de l'Eglise (published in English translation as Liturgy the Life of the Church ) where he detailed his proposal for a programme for the …
Book Review: The Once and Future Roman Rite by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski
Dr. Peter Kwasnieski has been widely praised as one of the most important theologians and historians of Catholic liturgy in our time. His recent book, The Once and Future Roman Rite ( TAN Books , 2022), is being called his magnum opus . Indeed, in my estimation, the book is th…
Paleochristian Baptismal Pools from Roman Tunisia
The topic of baptismal fonts ins't something you typically see addressed -- which is rather odd when you think about it as it is the critical "entry level" sacrament that inducts one into the Christian life. Of course, over the centuries and even by rite, one…
An "Everyday" Solemn Mass Set from Renaissance Florence
Over the years we have shown many examples of ornate vestments from various periods of church history ranging from medieval to modern times. These frequently have included ornate embroideries, prelatial stemma and so forth. Of course, while these are representative of the h…
The Altar and Its Canopy: The Tester
Unbeknownst to many, a canopy over a high altar was at one time considered obligatory (though it was a rule that was not always observed suffice it to say). The reason for this is that the canopy over the altar, whether a true and proper ciborium magnum with its canopy supp…
The Oratorian Church of Santo Tomas y de San Felipe Neri in Valencia, Spain
Perhaps due to an overabundance of greyish or creamish hued gothic revival structures that are found in many part of the English speaking world (not to mention the cool, clinical tones of modernistic churches), I always find myself drawn with a great deal more interest to f…
The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Brompton Oratory)
The renowned Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary , also known as the Brompton Oratory, is one of my favorite places to visit every time I find myself in the UK. It is an internationally recognized parish with a vibrant school in a posh neighborhood of London - a community…
An Antependium of the Duomo di Grosseto Featuring St. Lawrence (1703-1710)
This particular antependium was produced in Tuscany in the early part of the 18th century, from 1703-1710. What came to my attention in this particular frontal's instance was the central image depicting St. Lawrence, the Roman deacon and martyr. In view of that, it seem…
Minor Roman Basilicas: San Saba
Continuing on with our considerations of some of the lesser seen minor basilicas in Rome -- lesser seen but really should be seen in other words -- we turn today to the basilica of San Saba which is situated close to the Aurelian Walls next to the Aventine and Caelian Hills…
A Papal Mantum of Pope Benedict XV
Frequently when we see vestments worn by the popes of yesteryear, it is very easy to look at them, remark on their quality and beauty and then move along, not really having any further information or insight into their particular provenance (and frequently not even a closer…
Marian Offerings from Altarworthy Vestments
With today being the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, it seemed a good time to feature a couple of contemporary vestment offerings from Altarworthy which feature Marian imagery. Earlier this year they introduced a gothic revival piece that included as its central image an i…
Minor Roman Basilicas: San Nicola in Carcere
The minor Roman basilica of San Nicola in Carcere is one of the more obvious examples of the use of 'spoila' in Roman churches. Here this is most prominently seen on the two outer walls of the basilica that line the nave. There you will see two rows of columns that …
Mitre and Chasuble of Pope Pius IX Used at the First Vatican Council in 1869
This particular mitre is one of those that is more frequently than others taken out of the papal sacristy and put into proper liturgical use. In modern times it was worn at least once by John Paul II and Benedict XVI has worn in on multiple occasions. The mitre itself date…
Choir of the Cathedral of S. Alessandro Martire in Bergamo
One of the aspects of ecclesiastical art that seldom gets the sort of attention it really deserves are the carved choir stalls that one might often find in the churches of Europe or the larger one's of North America. In places such as Italy, one frequently finds them b…
St. Raphael’s Cathedral: A Proposal by Michael Bursch
St. Raphael’s Cathedral: A Thesis Proposal by Michael Bursch In 2005, the stately, old cathedral of Madison, Wisconsin burned to the ground overnight from a case of arson. Ever since, the diocese has needed a new cathedral.
Whether the daily Mass-goer or the simple passerby, …
A Brief Review of the History, Function and Forms of the Prelatial Faldstool
One of the benefits of being a site with a 'speciality' (i.e. liturgical art) is that we get to focus on traditional objects of liturgical art that seldom get much if any attention, and today that object is the "faldstool." So what is the faldstool? Well, …
The Formale
The formale , or rationale , is an object you might have seen on various occasions, whether illustrated in art or are seen in papal Masses, but you may not have taken note of it before. Put at its most simple, it is a decorative metallic piece that is thought to have originat…
Liturgical Art as Visible Signs of Continuity
The following photos of Pope Benedict XVI tend to be some of the most popular online due to the particular choice of sacred vestments that the pontiff selected to wear for this particular liturgical occasion. No doubt the reason for this is twofold. The first reason is quit…
Counter-Reformation Churches of Rome: Sant'Andrea della Valle
In our consideration of some of the Roman basilicas and churches that are certainly worth your time on any visit to Rome, we'll take a slightly different turn in this article from the medieval basilicas we have been looking at to date and consider a church that is thoro…
Before and After: St. Joseph's in Leavenworth, Kansas
It has long been our contention that a little bit of colour and pattern can go a very long way in terms of beautifying a church -- and by the same token, its removal and/or absence can also go a long way in making a church rather more mundane that it might actually need to …
Three Titular Cardinals of San Lorenzo in Lucina and Their Violet Vestments
With Advent now upon us, a season of penitential coloured vestments, let's take a look at three exquisite samples of some antique violet vestments coming from the 1600's and 1700's, each belonging to a cardinal of the Roman church. The first example was made in …
Baroque Theatricality and Vestments as Seen in the Altar of St. Ignatius in the Gesù in Rome
Within the Roman church of the Holy Name of Jesus (affectionately known simply as the "Gesù") is contained a spectacular sculpture of one of the founders of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola -- the Spanish priest who lived from 1491 to 1556. If you'…
The Iconic 'A Griccia' Motif in Renaissance Vestments
The "a griccia" motif is perhaps one of the most notable and recognizable patterns found in Renaissance textiles. The Italian word itself can refer to something folded/wrinkled (as in the "cotta griccia" for example) or something curled or whimsical -- w…
The Chapel of the Martyrs of the Cathedral of Otranto
Ossuary chapels -- or what are sometimes more simply and popularly referred to as "bone chapels" == are always of interest to a great many of our readers and today I thought we'd share another, this time coming from Otranto, a coastal town located right on the…
St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr, and Her Basilica in Rome
With it being the feast of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians no less, it seemed an apropos day to take a look at her shrine church in Rome, the beautiful basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. Along with San Paolo fuori le mura, it has, in my estimation…
Festal Venetian Hangings
Venice is of course a port city that was a hub of trade coming from both the orient as well as the middle east and as such, it was a place where many influences were to be found and it was also the entry point of many products which would come to have an influence throughou…
The History and Forms of the Christian Altar: The Later Medieval Form
Previously in this series, we touched upon the Paleochristian and Early Medieval forms of the altar. In this next instalment we shall treat of the later medieval forms that developed from this arrangement. As we noted in the previous article, the earliest form of the altar…
Batchelder Tiles: Our Lady of Victory Chapel
The chapel of Our Lady of Victory at the University of St. Catherine (St. Paul, Minnesota) makes a sure impression on all who see it in person. Built in 1923 and consecrated in 1958, the chapel has an inviting Medieval feel that gives visitors a genuine sense of belonging.…
Vestments and Pontificals of Cardinal Vincenzo Maria Orsini
Cardinal Vincenzo Maria Orsini -- who would later become Pope Benedict XIII, reigning from 1724-1730 -- was a member of the Orsini family, one of the pre-eminent families of the Italian nobility, a family that would become particularly influential in Rome during the Renaiss…
Showcasing One of the Largest Vestment Collections in the United States
One of the largest and most impressive parochial collections of antique vestments in the US is kept at the church of Saint Agnes in St. Paul, Minnesota. By the time the 1960s came around, a great many beautiful and elaborate vestments were being discarded in the name of ch…
Paintings of the Old Sacristy of the Gesù in Rome
One of the major counter-reformation churches in Rome, located just off the Piazza Venezia in the heart of the city is the Gesù -- the main church of the Jesuits which is more fully named the Chiesa di Sanctissimo Nome di Gesù . It is said to be one of the first churches spe…
Our Lady of Walsingham Shrine: The Slipper Chapel at England's Nazareth
Before the Protestant Reformation the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk, England was one of the most visited shrines in the Catholic world. In England it was second only to Canterbury in the ranks of importance for English pilgrims. Under royal patronage its pro…
Minor Roman Basilicas: San Stefano Rotondo and "The Suffering of the Martyrs"
The basilica of San Stefano Rotondo is more properly called San Stefano al Monte Celio and as the names indicate, it is a church in the round located on the Caelian hill of Rome and is dedicated to the very first Christian martyr, the deacon St. Stephen -- whose remains wer…
