One of the most historic churches in America is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (in Conewago Township, Pennsylvania, Diocese of Harrisburg). Declared a minor basilica in 1962, this former Jesuit church built in Federal-style architecture is said to be the oldest s…
Restoration of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hanover, Pennsylvania by Canning Liturgical Arts
One of the most historic churches in America is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (in Conewago Township, Pennsylvania, Diocese of Harrisburg). Declared a minor basilica in 1962, this former Jesuit church built in Federal-style architecture is said to be the oldest s…
Before and After: San Joselito Chapel in Norwalk, Connecticut
Many of our "Before and After" speak quite well for themselves, and today's example coming from Canning Liturgical Arts is certainly no exception -- in fact, it might be an iconic example. Speaking of such, over the years we have commented on how colour and de…
Michaelmas Day Window at St. Michael's Abbey in Silverado, California
Many thanks to G Photography and Films for the wonderful images of the annual celebration of Michaelmas Day at St. Michael's Abbey in Orange County, California. The new abbey church was designed by the French architect Jean-Louis Pagès, who drew his inspiration from a 1…
Further Examples of Coverings for Liturgical Books
We have spoken here before of the lost art of the liturgical book coverings and today I am pleased to be able to present a few more examples, all taken from the diocese of Savona in Liguria. Liturgical book coverings function much in the way antependia do insofar as they &#…
Dominican Rite Altar Cards
Recently I was privileged to attend Mass at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. It was good news to hear the ancient Dominican Rite is flourishing and continues to make a comeback on this side of the pond. I was further impressed to see these very interesting…
Before and After: Ss. Cyril and Methodius in East Helena, Montana
[Steve Baker, the principal architect at Baker Architects LLC provided LAJ with the following guest article featuring a renovation project their firm completed in the Autumn of 2023 at Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church located in East Helena, Montana.]
A Brief History of Liturgical Colours
To understand the evolution of liturgical colours, one first has to understand some basics about the evolution of sacred vestments themselves. Vestments originate from Roman civil dress and in paleochristian times this was simply attached to the notion of reserving one's…
A Florentine Cope From the Sixteenth Century
With the great feast of Pentecost now upon us, what better time to show this elegant, ornamental red cope. This particular cope is Florentine in manufacture and is dated to the sixteenth century; specifically the last quarter of the sixteenth century, sitting somewhere betw…
A New Marian Crown Crafted in Malta
With today being the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, we'd like to share today a new ornamental crown that has been designed for the same by the Maltese artist, Gabriel Farrugia. First, some background about the artist.
The Clementine Chapel of the Vatican Basilica (La Clementina)
One of my favorite places to visit in the Christian world is the Clementine Chapel of the Vatican Basilica. Here visitors are immersed in the gilded Baroque splendor of the basement crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, where the Blessed Apostle Peter is buried. This chapel is…
Apparelled Amice from Solemnis in Poland
Apparel on an amice or alb is a rare sight in most parts of the world. It brings to mind the vestments of the Middle-Ages, still seen today in some places such as England, Spain or Australia. For many Catholics it is most commonly seen in the Anglican Ordinariate, with infl…
The Corporal of the Rite of Lyon
The Archdiocese of Lyon, the Prima Sedes Galliarum , has a very ancient particular liturgy, the Rite of Lyon ( Rite Lyonnais ). This immemorial rite, a variant of the Roman Rite, dates from around the Carolingian period (8th-9th century). It comes in direct line from Rome. Thi…
