The burial chapel of Pedro Fernández de Velasco in the Burgos Cathedral, also known as the
Condestables' Chapel, preserves one of the best preserved examples of vestments tailored using Islamic textiles. The Chapel was completed in 1494, and as one can expect, the found…
Islamic textiles: The Condestable’s Cope
The burial chapel of Pedro Fernández de Velasco in the Burgos Cathedral, also known as the
Condestables' Chapel, preserves one of the best preserved examples of vestments tailored using Islamic textiles. The Chapel was completed in 1494, and as one can expect, the found…
Liturgical Colours of Lent in the Ambrosian Rite
The Ambrosian rite has always been of great interest to me, and as we are now within Lent it seemed an apropos time to revisit an old article written by my friend and colleague Nicola de Grandi, written back in 2010 for New Liturgical Movement. In his article he speaks to s…
The Tradition of the Japanese Madonna
In a previous article we touched upon the tradition of inculturation specifically in relation to Japanese and Chinese Madonnas -- Madonna images which have been given the particular characteristics and dress of those rich oriental cultures. This is a theme which has always …
Controversy Surrounding the Proposed Western Doors of the Cathedral of Burgos
Many
pilgrims to Compostela will likely have a very strong memory
of the Cathedral of Burgos. Many start their way here -- and for those who began
their journey from Saint Jean Pied de Port it is the first major gothic cathedral
they will encounter on their way. Its delicat…
Liturgica Obscura: The Curiosity of Bargello or Flame-Stitch Embroidery Work
Within the late 17th to mid-18th century there was a curious embroidery style known as "bargello" or flame-stitch. It was a style that was utilized for numerous objects, from clothing to furnishings, but examples of its use can be found in some vestment work from …
Una Voce Seville in Spain: A Sign of Hope and Promise
Photos: OC-Travel Before the COVID-19 epidemic, I was privileged to visit Una Voce Seville . I have to say what an immense joy it was to meet the local lay faithful who are behind this global movement to help preserve and foster the cause of the Extraordinary Form of the Rom…
"Bizarre" Silks of the Eighteenth Century
Within the latter part of the 17th century and spanning over into the earlier part of the 18th was a style of figured silk fabrics that came to be termed (in modern times) as "bizarre." Bizarre silks were characterized by their large patterns featuring stylized le…
Lost Altars of the Holy Land: Basilica of Gethsemane
When the unfortunate spirit of iconoclasm entered the Latin Church in the 1960's, many church sanctuaries were suddenly changed all over the world. Under the guise of the "spirit of Vatican II," a great many sanctuaries were deformed in the name of authentic …
Christ the King Chapel At Christendom College Taking Shape
Photos: Christendom College One of the last authentically Catholic colleges in the U.S. is Christendom College. For this reason I highly recommend traditional Catholic families send their kids here to study. Christendom is a trusted name that has made an enormous impact up…
New Book Highlights Treasury of Vestments in the Holy Land: Paramenti Sacri Dall'Europa Alla Terra Santa
Photos: Terra Sancta Museum As someone who has been fortunate to travel to the Holy Land many times, it has been my privilege to see from time to time a variety of rare and historical vestments that are on display for tourists and pilgrims alike at the Terra Sancta Museum in…
Missalette Notice: Benedictus - The Traditional Catholic Companion
You have asked for it and here it is. Our good friends at Sophia Institute Press after many months of careful planning and design, have launched BENEDICTUS . This is a monthly traditional Catholic companion for the EF that is the counterpart of MAGNIFICAT , a paperback edit…
Book Review: The Holy Bread of Eternal Life by Professor Peter Kwasniewski
I must say how genuinely impressed I was with reading The Holy Bread of Eternal Life by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski. In an age of commonplace liturgical impiety and abuse, this book offers such a breath of fresh air! In fact, I have been waiting for someone to write this same b…
Heraldry (Stemma, Arms) on Vestments: Historical Usages and Variations
As there has been an increase in both the interest in and use of stemma (arms) on vestments, it seemed like a good time to review how they were historically used in order to help inform their contemporary revival. Stemma on chasubles were done to signify either the ownershi…
Sink or Swim: Catholicism in Sixties Britain through John Ryan's Cartoons
The illustrations of John Ryan (1921-2009) are popularly known to many Catholics, especially to those of traditional inclinations, perhaps without evening knowing his name. John Ryan was the illustrator behind so many of the iconic illustrations that graced the covers and w…
Chasuble and Rochet of St. Francis de Sales
Saints are frequently considered very distant and remote figures. What do I mean? I mean that that at one and the same time we can both recognize familiar aspects of church history and tradition and yet concurrently feel that somehow what we see and experience is remote fro…
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Fort Collins, Colorado
G randa Liturgical Arts recently shared a project coming from within the context of the parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Fort Collins, Colorado. The parish in question had been using a multi-purpose hall as their church for some while but fortunately now have a proper c…
Prelatial Dress of the Religious Orders: The Camaldolese
Continuing on with our considerations of the traditional prelatial dress of prelates belonging to religious orders, today we turn to the Camaldolese. The Camaldolese (Ordo Camaldulensium) were founded by St. Romuald in Italy, founded upon his desire to renew the eremitical…
Vestments of the Santuario di Nostra Signora di Misericordio in Savona
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy ( Santuario di Nostra Signora della Misericordia ) is a Renaissance era church originally constructed in the mid 16th century, designed by Pace Antonio Somano with a later baroque facade added early on in the 17th century by Taddeo Carlone. …
Liturgical Notes on Candlemas - The Blessing of and Procession with Candles
The feast of the Presentation of Our Lord and Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called Candlemas and celebrated on February 2nd, takes place forty days after Christmas. It was at this time that the Mosaic law required that mothers 'bring to the temple a lamb…
The Art of Traditional Liturgical Bookbinding
Over the years I have heard various parties lament the state of contemporary bookbinding where liturgical books are concerned. "The bindings are simply not as qualitative as the older bindings" would be an adequate summation of the sentiment in question. Of course…
Of St. Agnes and Rome
January 21st saw the feast of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, commemorated and it is a feast that has particular importance within the Roman church. In fact, the Catholic Encyclopedia comments: "Of all the virgin martyrs of Rome none was held in such high honour by the p…
Before and After: Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Seton Hall
We have shown many very recent 'Before and After' projects, but I wanted to turn the clock back to the year 2008 when Granda Liturgical Arts and Evergreene Architectural Arts completed a renovation of the Immaculate Conception Chapel at Seton Hall University in New …
Contemporary Italian Woodcarvings of Some Early Saints and Martyrs
Mussner G. Vincenzo Ars Sacra has been quite active online of late, treating us to some of their excellent sculptural works and what caught my attention in particular where some of their projects which involve some of the earlier martyrs and saints coming from the first hal…
The Sacred Drama of the Traditional Liturgical Rites Compared with Their Modern Counterparts
Traditional Catholic liturgical rites have the benefit of having been formed over the course of centuries, even millenia, and with that has come the seasoned maturity of a very finely aged wine whose recipe has been honed over a long period of time. The contemporary liturgi…
Reconstructions of the Interior of St. Peter's Basilica as Built by the Emperor Constantine
There is always a great deal of interest into possible insights into the look and feel of the original St, Peter's Basilica in Rome that was constructed under the Emperor Constantine. There are, of course, various reconstructions or the odd period first hand depiction w…
Nineteenth Century France's Iconic Vestment Style Revived
Vestment design has seen many iterations over the centuries and two of the most popular styles, not simply for embroidered works but overall, remain the Italian tradition as represented through the 17th-19th centuries and the French tradition of the 19th century. We have fr…
Learning to Serve: A Book for New Altar Boys by St. Augustine Academy Press
Teaching liturgical arts to children has never been more important. I have been asked to review this fine book, Learning to Serve by Fr. Charles Carmody. Such a delightful little gem - written specifically for new altar boys who serve the Extraordinary Form of the Roman R…
New Carmelite Monastery of Jesus, Mary & Joseph in Fairfield, Pennsylvania
Many readers will be happy to know progress is being made with the construction of the new traditional Carmel in Fairfield, Pennsylvania (near the historic Catholic town of Emmitsburg, Maryland). The monastery is set up as a cloistered convent for Carmelite nuns, a foundat…
Liturgical Arts Alive and Well in Croatia
Photos: Tradicionalna Misa on Facebook Thankfully the liturgical arts are flourishing in Croatia, a venerable Catholic country that borders Italy. Croatia is the land of St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church, who was born there in the Roman province of Dalmatia (and buried in th…
Madonna and Child Statue in Vancouver Cathedral by Granda Liturgical Arts
Photos: OC-Travel The lady altar of Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver showcases an exquisite Spanish polychrome and gilded wood sculpture of the Madonna and Child that is definitely worth a mention. The statue is a creation from Granda in Spain, so impressive that for some…
Woodcarved Crozier in Neo-Gothic Style by Catholic Wood Carver Paul Sirba
Photo: OC-Travel As everyone knows, the crozier ( baculus pastoralis ) is a hooked staff carried by bishops and abbots, symbolic of their pastoral office. It was originally carried by shepherds to lead and direct the flock entrusted to their care and to rescue lost sheep by …
Italian Wall Tapestries for Church Furnishing and Decoration
Photos: OC-Travel Wall hangings can greatly enrich the interior decor of a church. As I have traveled Europe in recent years I have seen some amazing new tapestries for sale, made almost exclusively by computers that automate time-honored pattering in places like Flanders a…
Customs and Traditions: The Boy Bishop
The colorful medieval tradition of the boy bishop was once popular all over Europe and even in the Americas. Over the centuries, it was progressively abandoned until its revival in recent years. It's interpretation and symbolism are varied, but the best accepted theory …
King Richard's Workshop: Preview of Some Newly Carved Stations of the Cross
K ing Richard's Liturgical Design & Contracting recently unveiled a new set of carved Stations of the Cross they produced for a high school chapel within the United States. The final result is quite spectacular as I am sure you will agree. The final result is always…
