The Patriarchal Basilica of St. Mary Major has dominated the city of Rome for sixteen centuries. It is a universal pilgrim destination and a Marian temple par excellence . A global place of prayer an worship, it is a unique portal to the past. Of all the major basilicas in R…
The 'Hall of Popes' Vestments at Santa Maria Maggiore
The Patriarchal Basilica of St. Mary Major has dominated the city of Rome for sixteen centuries. It is a universal pilgrim destination and a Marian temple par excellence . A global place of prayer an worship, it is a unique portal to the past. Of all the major basilicas in R…
The Impressive Treasures of the Museo Diocesano di Livorno
Think 'Tuscany' and most will tend to think of the city of Florence but don't tell that the Livornese. Livorno is the third most populous city in the region. It is the capital city of the province of Livorno and a historically important port city that has had a …
Spanish Colonial Style Retablos and More: The Wood Iron Factory's Efforts at St. Augustine's Cathedral in Tucson, Arizona
Situated in Tucson, Arizona, the Cathedral of St. Augustine is a beautiful, Spanish colonial baroque style structure. In fact, while we are focused in particular today on the excellent work of The Wood Iron Factory , a San Diego based company specializing in architectural an…
The Custom of Veiling Sacred Images for Passiontide
In many parishes across the Catholic world the custom or practice of veiling the crucifix and sacred images for Passiontide (the last two weeks of Lent), is making a comeback. This is a welcome sign of the renewal of the Church, with many people asking the right questions a…
The Return of the Spanish Biretta
The Spanish biretta is a nice touch and always a bonus to see. It is a custom that was born in Spain and later carried to her colonies. These images show this style of biretta, courtesy of our good friends from the Institute of the Good Shepherd in Columbia (Istituto del B…
Rome's Famed Barberini Bees Revived - A New Bespoke Work by the Atelier Sacra Domus Aurea
Maffeo Barbarini, who is better known to Catholic history as Pope Urban VIII, reigned as Roman Pontiff from the years 1623-1644. If one looks around Rome one of the most iconic symbols that one can routinely find in the Eternal City, along with "S.P.Q.R." or Romul…
Historical Chasubles for Good Friday
Being as it is once again Good Friday, most all liturgically oriented minds are focused on the Triduum and, today especially, the Passion and Death of Christ. As such, it seemed like a good day to feature some chasubles that are especially apropos to the day.
Keeping Liturgical Time: Examples of Vestments for Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is an interesting time of the liturgical year for reason that we have been living now in penitential purple for weeks, we are surrounded by muted images which have been covered over by the veils of Passiontide, and now, after this long period of penitential …
Good Friday 'Recumbent Christ' Altar of Repose at Assumption Church
One of the warmest and most vivid memories of my childhood took place on Good Friday mornings when I would rise early and go with my father and grandfather and brother to the church of the Assumption in downtown St. Paul. In silence, we entered the dark church and made our …
