One of Rome's best kept secrets is the Abbey of Santa Maria of Grottaferrata. I was privileged to visit and stay here as a guest while my friend (a TAC graduate) was the porter here several years ago. My visit coincided with the death of one of the monks who had walke…
The Abbey of Santa Maria di Grottaferrata
One of Rome's best kept secrets is the Abbey of Santa Maria of Grottaferrata. I was privileged to visit and stay here as a guest while my friend (a TAC graduate) was the porter here several years ago. My visit coincided with the death of one of the monks who had walke…
Before and After: The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Frequently our 'before and after' series looks at a situation where a modernized church had been transformed into something more traditional, but every once in a while we like to feature situations where there was already a fairly classical design. Such is the case …
A Proposed University Chapel Design from McCrery Architects
M cCrery Architects , based out of Washington, D.C., recently shared with LAJ news of a design project which they did in 2016 in relation to a proposed chapel design for the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio (a design which, while never implemented, is worth explo…
Altars for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
Many will of course be at least casually aware of the fact that traditionally side altars are 'thematic.' For example, an altar to Our Lady, another to St. Joseph and so on. However, lost in the sanitized piety of the later nineteenth century onward however, is one …
Illustrations of Purgatory and Memento Mori in Antique Requiem Missals
As we continue on in November, the month of the Holy Souls, let's pause and take a look at some of the more unique historical title pages found within the missal of the Requiem Mass. By way of explanation, while the full-fledged edition of the Missale Romanum carries th…
Memento Mori Vestments for All Souls Day
Over the years we've shown some very interesting vestments for All Souls Day (not to mention other liturgical objects such as candlesticks, missal cushions, covers and processional banners ) and we have even made a case for why we believe this tradition is important to r…
The Nature of the Association of Vestments Symbols and Colours
Often times, people have come up with this notion that when symbols or images are to be used on a vestment, there are some sort of rules around which symbols can be used with which colours. It is understood of course that the symbol of the crucifixion, or Eucharistic symbol…
The Capuchin Crypt in Rome
With today being Halloween, or in other words, the vigil of All Saints Day, what better time to soak in a little memento mori as our minds turn toward All Saints and All Souls. In the past we've shown many a 'bone chapel' (or ossuary) but today we are going to l…
The Art of Statue Restoration with E.A Hayes Studio
How right Plato was when he wrote that at the sight of beauty the human soul grows wings. The beauty of statues inspires awe and raises our minds to heavenly ascents. So many times in my travels I have seen a statue in need of restoration or I have had someone ask me whe…
Floriated Vestments Depicted in Sacred Art
Floriated vestments -- by which I mean, vestments with brightly coloured floral patterns -- are one of those things that people seem to either love or hate. For some -- frequently, in my experience, those coming from the rather more 'stiff' and 'sober' Anglo…
Liturgical Practice of Covers for the Lectionary
I took this photo in the sacristy of Westminster Cathedral in London. It is impressive to see this venerable custom maintained, of covering the Gospel & Epistle book for Solemn Mass. This tradition has been cultivated in both the Latin and Greek Churches, as an extra …
Minor Roman Basilicas: Santi Cosma e Damiano
In another article here, we discussed the contributions of Pope St. Paschal I to the ecclesiastical art of the Eternal City, rooted in Rome's own venerable tradition, and there we discussed some of the important mosaics he left to us. In that article we mentioned the ch…
Two Chasubles of Cardinal Enrico EnrÃquez (+1756)
Cardinal Enrico Enriquez (1701-1756) was the Apostolic Nuncio to Spain for the years 1744-1753 and in 1753 was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XIV and given the title of cardinal-priest of Sant'Eusebio. The follow two chasubles date from his time as a cardinal, thus…
The Legacy of Romanitas as Seen in the Artistic and Architectural Legacy of Pope St. Paschal I (817-824)
If you were to ask the question, "which popes most impacted ecclesiastical Rome artistically?" one's mind naturally turns toward the baroque period with all the baroque facades found throughout the city, frequently bearing the name of baroque era pontiffs like…
The Paleochristian Revival of the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century
While the gothic revival is well enough known -- the movement by which late medieval forms and styles were re-adopted -- something one seldom seems to hear spoken of is what I am going to call the "paleochristian revival." After the centuries moved forward and th…
A Cope of Venerable Cesare Cardinal Baronius
The church of Santa Maria in Vallicella, or what is better known as Chiesa Nuova, contains many treasures of liturgical art, not the least of which is a cope of Venerable Cesare Cardinal Baronius, the erudite Oratorian, antiquarian and scholar of ecclesiastical history. In …
Unique Feature of Vesting Prayers in Decorative Window (University of St. Thomas)
As a young college student I would sometimes find my way to the basement of our university chapel to pray. There I discovered this unique window displaying the vesting prayers. I imagine it was once part of a crypt chapel sacristy that existed according to the original p…
Another Case Study in the Restoration of a Classical Sanctuary Ordering
Today I wished to share a digital comparison of the current sanctuary of Groenmarktkerk, Haarlem and what it would look like if it were restored to a more classical ordering -- which we have done here digitally as an approximation. As I have frequently noted in previous arti…
Liturgical Arts Shine in Africa at Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes (Archdiocese of Libreville, Gabon)
For years I have been following the exciting developments from the wonderful French-speaking mission parish of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes in the African city of Libreville, in Gabon. This community is a foreign mission effort under the auspices of the Institute of Christ the K…
The Martyrology as Seen in the Frescoes of Ss. Nereo e Achilleo
In the past we've discussed the person of Cardinal Baronius and some of his activities in relation to undertaking a revised edition of the Martyrologium Romanum in the sixteenth century to bring it into alignment with the then new Gregorian calendar reform. At that time…
Michelangelo's Magnificent Dome of the Vatican Basilica
My first time in Rome I recall striking up a conversation with a young couple on the Ponte Sant'Angelo. When they said they were from Minneapolis, it piqued my interest. I was from there, too. I asked what brought them to Rome. They looked at each other, then at St.…
Embossed Embroidery from the Late Nineteenth or Early Twentieth Century
Today I thought I would share a chasuble that, regrettably I have virtually no information on and, even more regrettably, only this one photo of which isn't of the highest quality. Despite that, it presents an example of a kind of work that was prominent within France i…
Beacon of Liturgical Arts: Assumption Grotto in Detroit
One of our favorite churches to visit is Assumption Grotto in Detroit. It has a national reputation as an oasis of liturgical arts and sacred liturgy. It is a centre of Marian devotion. Many have come here to revivify their faith. A truly universal Church is a Church wh…
Death and Resurrection: Combining Memento Mori with Symbols of Christian Hope
With All Souls and the month of the Holy Souls fast approaching, I thought I would take a moment to feature a contemporary vestment work that includes memento mori , but with a twist. While many Catholics have no objections to their use (and in fact, if the interest shown on…
A Rare Glimpse: Hacienda Private House Chapel in Mexico
In Spanish America many haciendas in the Mexican countryside have private house chapels. Pictured here is an example, set up in a converted room. Mass is celebrated early before the heat of the day sets in, occasionally offered by a priest in the family. This is a worthy…
The Other Modern: 1953 Coronation Cope by Watts & Co.
The animal we call "the other modern" is a reference to modernity which still maintains its inspiration and connections to the tradition, while also giving a certain nod to modernity in terms of its design. "Modernity" is one of those odd creatures of co…
Irish Vestments: the Royal School of Needlework of Dublin, Ireland
This wonderful vestment set is kept at the National Shrine of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota. It is an excellent example of the Irish embroidery school of the late nineteenth century. The matching set was purchased by Archbishop John Ireland at the Chicago World's Fai…
Polychrome Marbles in Church Decoration
Marble revetments are one of the most appealing aspects of church decoration in many of the most historic churches of Christendom, whether we are talking about one of the many historic basilicas of Rome, or Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. So first off, what is a "reve…
On Roman Transennae (Latticework) and Its Potential For Our Time
One of the more endearing features of classical architecture that has regrettably all too seldom survived is an architectural element which is known by various names. Sometimes it is referred to as simply as "transenna," other times "lattice" or latticew…
The Papal Falda
The papal falda ( fibria ) was a papal vestment that formed a long skirt with a train that extended beneath the hem of the alb. There was a longer and even a shorter falda corta ( fimbria minori ) version (worn with the rochet for the creation of cardinals). Popes wore this f…
Minor Roman Churches: Santa Barbara dei Librai
Rome is a city known for its momentous churches, but it is also a city of chapels and smaller churches and one of the quainter ones is the church of Santa Barbara dei Librai located near Campo de' Fiori. History buffs may find it of interest that the church sits adjacen…
The Spanish Cut Chasuble
After living many years in Rome and being accustomed to seeing differing versions of the Roman style chasuble, it is always interesting for me to see the slim Spanish versions. This example is from the baroque city of Zarazoga in northeast Spain, probably from around the 1…
Lampada Over the Centuries - Some Examples
One of the elements found within churches that are at one at the same time both readily noticed and at the same time readily ignored are "lampada" -- or, to sound slightly less exotic, lamps. That might sound like a contradiction of course; how can something be b…
The St. Louis Cathedral: Monumental Display of Mosaics (Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri)
In 1992 my mother brought me to see the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis , dedicated to the victorious Christ and St. Louis IX, King of France, patron saint of the city. It was an unforgettable experience. Since that visit this mighty fortress has captured my imagination and…
Envisioning Old St. Peter's: The Interior from the Time of Constantine through the Renaissance
In a previous article we considered what the exterior of Old St. Peter's was like and today we will turn our attention to the interior of the same. In many regards, to envision the interior of the old Constantinian basilica, just as with the exterior, we should first b…
Spanish Liturgical Tradition of the "Scruple" Spoon
I took these photos in a sacristy in Madrid, Spain staffed by the Institute of Christ the King. The spoon (buscar) caught my eye, an old Spanish custom that was used to place the drop of water in the chalice during the Offertory. In English the spoon is called a "scr…
Minor Roman Basilicas: San Silvestro in Capite
For pilgrims of Rome, the main churches one sets out to see are usually fairly obvious, with St. Peter's reigning topmost of course, followed by the other major basilicas like St. Paul's, St. Mary Major and the Lateran archbasilica. Even amongst the minor basilicas,…
Gold Mitre (Mitra Auphrygiata) of Pope St. Pius V
A few years ago I was privileged to visit the truly impressive Vatican Splendors exhibit in California. Looking back at the images, I thought it opportune to share these photos of the gold cloth miter of Pius V that dates from the year 1566. The orphreyed miter (in Latin,…
Minor Roman Churches: San Cesareo de Appia
The Roman church San Cesareo de Appia (also known as San Cesario in Palatio) is -- as you might have guessed already -- located on the ancient Appian Way (Via Appia) on the site of what was around the second or third century, originally a Roman bath. The patron saint of th…
Ordination and First Mass of Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong
Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong has shared a few precious photos of his Ordination and First Mass on social media. Readers will recognize the Servant of God Fr. Carlo Braga, SDB in the images (known as "the Little Don Bosco of China"). Cardinal Zen was born in …
The Empress Helena and the Finding of the True Cross
September 14th marks the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and with that it seemed like a good day to give some consideration to St. Helena, Empress and mother of Constantine, as well as to the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome. The former because it i…
The Roman Style Cotta Griccia
A handful of readers have reached out to ask if we can provide crisp images of the wonderful cotta griccia alla Romana . Following are several photos I took in Rome that help reveal the different patterns evidenced on the same cotta. It is a fascinating sight to behold. I …
Lost Roman Customs: The Illuminated Cross in St. Peter's on Holy Thursday and Good Friday
One of the lost customs of Holy Week in the Vatican was the custom of illuminating a grand cross within St. Peter's Basilica. This particular custom was captured in an etching which was done by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in the 18th century. As you will see in this det…
Liturgical Notes on the Traditional Requirement for Green Sanctuary Carpeting on Solemn Occasions
Until the latter half of the twentieth century, Rome was generally known for its conservatism -- which is to say, its preservation of its own rich tradition and history. In many instances, these customs and traditions came to be lost in many places, but were held onto in Ro…
Book Review: Ministers of Christ - Recovering the Roles of Clergy and Laity in an Age of Confusion
Dr. Peter Kwasniewski has written yet another outstanding book entitled Ministers of Christ (Crisis Publications, 2021). This solid book comes highly recommended and in my opinion should be required reading in every minor and major seminary to help address the storm cloud …
The Paleochristian Art of the Roman Catacombs
Rome is famously known for its catacombs and in point of fact there are some forty catacombs to be found around the Eternal City. These catacombs are all underground and could be easily missed by pilgrims as it requires venturing "outside the walls" -- for reason …
Cathedral Liturgy in Savannah, Georgia
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia is the mother church of the Diocese of Savannah. It is also an iconic symbol of the French Gothic in the American South. Recently I was privileged to visit here for Sunday Mass. The grandeur of the ornate interio…
Ornamental, Polychrome Marble Altars of the 17th and 18th Centuries
In the modern era we've become accustomed to seeing altars that are rather monochromatic in form -- perhaps accented by gold, but otherwise usually found in white, grey or, wood painted white or stained. It would be easy to assume this is the only form altars take Howe…
From the Vatican Basilica: Alb of Blessed Pius IX
This antique alb (camice) of Pope Pius IX caught my attention in the Treasury Museum of St. Peter's Basilica. I naturally thought readers might like to see it and so here are a few images. It probably dates from sometime around the 1870s or even before. The cuffs are…
The Spanish Missions in California: Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
The Spanish Missions in present-day California are a subject of interest to many though for many outside of that region of the world it is more familiar in name that anything more tangible. By way of background, the Spanish missions were comprised of twenty one outposts -- …
