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…
A Eucharistic Canopy from the Mid-Nineteenth Century
The use of canopies in a Catholic ceremonial context is itself linked to the Judeo-Christian imperative to cover over (or to use Old Testament terminology, to "tent") that which is considered symbolically important. Traditionally altars were required to be covered…
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…
The 'New Springtime'? -- Green Shoots of Life In the Churches, But Not of the Sort Predicted (Or: Some Abandoned Churches of Italy)
There is something both sad and poignant about abandoned churches. While churchmen in the 1960's and 1970's confidently predicted (in retrospect, naively so) a "new springtime for the Church" resulting from modernizations, in reality what we have seen take…
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…
The Ottoman Cope of the Basilica of Gandino
On February 21, 2021, our friend and colleague Lucas Viar wrote an article on the sixteenth century Condestable cope -- a vestment in the possession of Burgos Cathedral in Spain and a very good example of the use of a Moorish, Islamic-influenced textile within vestment desi…
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…
The Cappa Parva of Mons. Petrus Canisius Jean van Lierde: Prefect of the Papal Sacristy
In old photos of papal liturgies the figure of the Dutch Augustinian Monsignor Pietro C. van Lierde, OSA (1907-1995) stands out. He is often seen, vested in black and holding a tall lit candle. Bishop van Lierde was an Augustinian friar ordained in 1931, a member of the Ord…
A Processional Cross from the Year 1545
Today I thought we'd take a quick look at a processional cross that was made in the year 1545. This particular cross is gilded in silver and includes decoration on both the front and back sides. On the front side we find a typical, traditional crucifixion setting, with …
The Curious Zucchetto of Pope Pius VI
Most everyone has seen a zucchetto (whether they know it or not). It is the skullcap worn by popes and prelates, as well as by some other clerics, monastics and mendicants. The official name for this item of vesture is actually a "pileolus." The custom of wearing o…
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…
The Papal Court: Prince Assistants to the Papal Throne (Principe Assistente al Soglio Pontificio)
The man in the impressive uniform here is Principe Aspreno II Colonna (1916-1987), Prince of Paliano (a town east of Rome) and First Prince Assistant to the Papal Throne. He was the last of two Princes who held the hereditary role of "Prince Assistant to the Papal Thro…
The Reredos of St Joseph's Church, Stanley, Durham
Few things can be more beautiful than a well crafted, carved wooden reredos, especially in the gothic style and the reredos of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Stanley in the United Kingdom is certainly no exception to this. While the rest of the church is fairly typica…
The Sixteenth Century Marian Cope of Joan de Terès, Archbishop of Tarragona, Spain
The month of May is the month of Mary, and what better time to share this splendid cope, dated to the period of 1587-1603. We know that dating in part because we know for whom it was commissioned: Joan de Terès, Archbishop of Tarragona, Spain. The overall shape of the cope …
Santa Maria Reina de la Familia by Estudio Urbano (Cayalá, Guatemala)
In 2022 this beautiful new church of Santa María Reina de la Familia (Holy Mary Queen of the Family) was dedicated in Ciudad Cayalá, a new urban quarter of Guatemala. It was 14 years in the making from the first sketch in 2008 to the final completion. Needless to say, the d…
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…
The Remains of the Basilica of Santa Maria Antiqua in the Roman Forum
Since we spent some time showing you the old basilica of "Snnta Maria Nova" (now known as Santa Francesca Romana), we may as well show you the other side of that coin (so to speak): Santa Maria Antiqua -- or "Old St. Mary's" as we would tend to say i…
