The See of Milan is the largest archdiocese in Europe and has the largest amount of priests. It has also long maintained its own rite or usage of the Roman Rite known as the Ambrosian Rite. This is still used today in the greater part of the diocesan territory of the old Du…
The Ancient Ambrosian Rite in Milan
The See of Milan is the largest archdiocese in Europe and has the largest amount of priests. It has also long maintained its own rite or usage of the Roman Rite known as the Ambrosian Rite. This is still used today in the greater part of the diocesan territory of the old Du…
The Rochet of St. Alphonsus Liguori
A very rare liturgical artifact on display in Rome is the old rochet of St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787). This relic lends some important clues as to the style of his time, what was seen in Italy just after the late Baroque period, following the Renaissance period.
The Renaissance Baptismal Font of the Duomo of Viterbo
Baptismal fonts don't get the attention they deserve. In the parlance of Christendom, it is through this Sacrament that one enters into the Christian fold and for that reason, baptismal fonts are traditionally placed in a prominent location. In the case of many larger c…
The Custom of Dust Coverings (Vesperale) for Altars
A common custom in some places is to cover the altar with a vesperale (or "vesperal cloth"), a felt dust covering when Mass is not being celebrated. Not required, just an extra touch. The altar server takes the cover off before Mass and returns it after. Dust cove…
A New Cope by Paramentica Vestments
Recently in California at the Fons et Culmen Sacred Liturgy Summit a new silk cope was unveiled for Pontifical Vespers. The liturgy was held in the chapel of St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California. The feast day was St. Irenaeus. The celebrant was Dom Benedict…
Ars Comacina and the Tradition of Cantù Lace in Lombardy, Italy
Classic "Cantù" lace ( pizzo di Cantù ) is never not stunning. Historically, it has been based on Baroque flower patterns with scrolling branches or thick coils. There is no substitute. It is distinct and elegant in appearance. Decorated with various ground stitches…
From Venice To Jerusalem: A Late Seventeenth Century Set of Paraments
The collections of the Terra Sancta Museum are, it goes without saying, impressive. The Custodia of the Holy Land was, after all, gifted with many precious objects of liturgical art over the centuries including many precious sets of vestments. Many of these objects were the…
Two Enamelled Icons of St. Michael the Archangel from Constantinople
Many Byzantine treasures can today be found in the treasury of the Basilica of San Marco in Venice. It is a bit of mixed blessing. On the one hand, we can rightly lament the loss of that once great Christian city and what a jewel of Christendom it must have been, while on t…
A Survey of Some Recent Work of the Atelier Sacra Domus Aurea
The atelier Sacra Domus Aurea has been busy over the past year and so it seemed like we should take a few moments to feature some of their most recent works, coming in different forms and different liturgical colours, but each of them strike me as very good examples of cont…
Sant'Alfonso di Liguori: Home of the Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
One of Rome's newest churches is Sant'Alfonso di Liguori all'Esquilino, on the famous pilgrim road called the Via Merulana. It was completed in 1859 in the immensely popular Gothic Revival style, making it a rare example of the Neo-Gothic in Rome and one of the …
