A Full Solemn Pontifical Mass Set From the Early Eighteenth Century

Full Solemn Pontifical Mass sets are generally a vestment aficionados dream come true for the simple reason that they not only include the most parts and pieces, they typically are made from the very best materials and highest quality embroideries, being amongst some of the greatest accomplishments of liturgical art generally, regardless of kind.

Today I am going to share just such a full set with you, dated to somewhere around the second quarter of the eighteenth century. This particular set bears the stemma of Pope Benedict XIII on them, finding their home in the Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva della Fonti in the Italian region of Puglia -- which is the very place that this pontiff also hailed from. 

We are fortunate that this set has come down to us,  quite in tact and also in an extremely good state of conservation. Not only do we have the chasuble and cope, dalmatic and tunicle, we also have the matching mitra pretiosa, pontifical gloves, sandals and even rare embroidered buskins -- and that is not even to mention the matching gremial, faldstool cover and veils.

So without further ado then, we will leave our commentary at that, and invite you to consider the beauty of the embroideries seen here, the quality of the materials, and the incredible craftsmanship in general -- all made to glorify God in the service of Divine Worship. 

Chasuble (front)

Dalmatic / Tunicle for the Deacon and Subdeacon

Cope for the Assistant Priest

Stole and maniple

Mitre

Pontifical gloves

Pontifical buskins

Pontifical sandal

Faldstool cover

Veil

Humeral veil

Detail of the Stemma of Benedict XIII

Chalice Veil

Gremial

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