A Wondrous Prayer : Suscipe Sancta Trinitas

In this week following the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, let us consider one of the prayers which did not survive the Missale Romanum final cut in 1969:

Accept, holy Trinity, this offering which we make to you in remembrance of the passion, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in honour of blessed Mary ever Virgin, of blessed John the Baptist, of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of those whose relics rest here, and of all the Saints. To them may it bring honour, and to us salvation; and may they, whose memory we keep on earth, be pleased to intercede for us in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen.

This beautiful prayer, intended to be recited quietly after the washing of the hands during the Preparation of Gifts or Offertory, is a summary of the things a Catholic should keep in mind when praying the Mass. It reminds us firstly that all our worship is offered to the One God, who is a Trinity of Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Secondly, in reflecting the Anamnesis after the consecration, the prayer insists on the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery that is re-presented for us in sacramental form: His Passion, Resurrection and Ascension. Finally, it asserts that a secondary end of the Mass is the honour of the Saints (that is, the victory of Christ in His members is being praised), and accordingly it begs their intercession for us on Earth. 

One can only wonder at the mentality which saw fit to excise this prayer from the Mass. If there was one prayer that ought to have been retained at the Offertory, this was the one. After washing his hands and before inviting the people to prayer (Pray, brethren), the celebrant bowed before the altar and quietly prayed the Suscipe Sancta Trinitas.

If you are a priest reading this, you might consider praying this prayer at the Offertory when you offer the Ordinary Form of the Roman Mass. If you pray it according to the rubrics of the 1962 Missale Romanum, (namely bowed and silently) no one in the pews will be disturbed by hearing a prayer recited which is not contained in the New Order of Mass.  Be daring.

How beautiful it would be if once again this prayer were recited at every Mass!  The Angels would rejoice.

The Season Per Annum 2025 : 7

In this post, we are pleased to present a glimpse of another set of green vestments, in the Gothic Revival style.

The Saint Bede Studio has made up this set a number of times over the years, it being an adaptation of a design for green vestments by AWN Pugin in the Gothic Revival style.

The set is constructed from a silk damask in a delightful shade of green. The vestments are lined in a shade of Royal Blue taffeta. 

The ornament is in the English style and is formed from an orphrey braid in colours of red and straw-gold upon blue.  This unique braid was designed by the Studio many years ago, based directly on the ornamental work of Pugin.  

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics. 

 

Click on the images for an enlarged view. 

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Enquiries.

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG 

The Season Per Annum 2025 : 6

In this post, we are pleased to present a glimpse of another set of green vestments, in the Gothic Revival style.

The Saint Bede Studio has made up this set many times over the years, it being an adaptation of a design for green vestments by AWN Pugin in the Gothic Revival style.

The set is constructed from ecclesiastical brocade with figured Crosses and quatrefoils in a bright shade green upon a black background.  This gives the set the appearance of a quite dark green. The vestments are lined in a shade of crimson-red taffeta. 

The ornament is in the English style and is formed from an orphrey braid in colours of straw-gold upon red.  This unique braid was designed by the Studio many years ago, based directly on the ornamental work of Pugin.  

This beautiful and distinctive set of vestments was commissioned by an ordinand in the USA.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics. 

 

Click on the images for an enlarged view. 

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Enquiries.

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG 

The Season Per Annum 2025 : 6

 

In this post is depicted a section of a set of vestments in a lovely shade of green.

These vestments are in the Studio's Saint Philip Neri style, which is the product of years of research into historical vestments and refinement of dimensions for comfortable use.  The Studio revived this more ample 16th century style of the Roman chasuble in 2007 and since then we have made many of them.  Beware of poorly-designed imitations!

The work of the Saint Bede Studio is distinctive for its artistic qualities and the pains taken with every detail, such as the alignment of ornaments.  Even a restrained set of vestments like this is striking for its combination of colours and fine workmanship.

In this instance, the choice was made to use a galloon in colours of black and gold to ornament the vestments : at first glance, an odd choice.  At close range, the contrast is distinctive; at a distance, black and gold merge with the surrounding green to produce an harmonious effect.

 

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Anglophone Missals of the << Interim Rite >> 1964 - 1969 : 1

More than sixty years ago, in 1964, as a consequence of the deliberations of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, culminating in the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, changes began to be introduced into the celebration of the Rite of the Roman Mass. New liturgical books which reflected these alterations were required.

We hope to examine on this blog the various iterations of the Roman Missal which were published between 1964 and 1969. These missals are often referred to as "Interim Rite" missals. Of necessity, these posts must be confined to Anglophone Interim Rite Missals.

The first of these Missals for the English-speaking world was published by the Catholic Book Publishing Company (New York) after May 1964, for the use of the Dioceses of the United States of America. Below are photographs from that Missal.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Missal handsomely-bound in red morocco leather and gold stamped.

The titlepage of the 1964 Missal.

On the reverse of the title-page, the Imprimatur of Cardinal Spellman of New York is shewn.
It also makes reference to the translation of the Scriptures which the Bishops determined for use.

In publishing this Missal, the Bishops Conference of the United States obtained a decree from the now infamous Consilium, signed by Cardinal Lercaro and Father Annibale Bugnini CM and dated 1st May 1964. The decree defined the specific changes to the celebration of the Mass which were permitted. The English language was permitted to be included in the following parts of the Mass (shewn in the photograph below) : the proclamation of the Epistle and Gospel; in the chants of the Ordinary of the Mass, namely the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei; in the Lord's Prayer; in the formula Ecce Agnus Dei before the Communion of the Faithful; in the chants of the Proper of the Mass, namely the Introit, Gradual etc., Offertorium and Communio; in acclamations, Greetings and Dialogues between the celebrant and the faithful. Lastly in the "Common Prayer" or prayers of the Faithful.

First part of the decree of the "Consilium" : May 1964.

This Missal, however, is a curiosity: it was published before the decisions regarding revisions to the rite of Mass were published at the beginning of 1965. Consequently, ritually it contains no changes from the celebration of Mass according to the 1962 typical edition of the Missale Romanum. All it admits of is the inclusion of the English language. It permits English for the use of the "Common Prayer" (General Intercessions), but no reference to these prayers is made in the rubrics of the Order of Mass. But one thing worthy of note : where these vernacular admissions are printed, no alternative in Latin is shewn. It seems that when the Consilium used the words in its decree " Linguam anglicanam adhibere licet ", it was more a requirement than a permission.

The first page of the Proper of the Seasons
shewing the Introit and Epistle in English,
but the Collect still entirely in Latin.

The next photographs are a selection of the pages of the Order of Mass.

The Prayers at the foot of the Altar : still entirely in Latin.

Pages shewing the Kyrie and Gloria, given only in English.
Compare the translation with the present translation for the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

One of the prefaces :
The Preface itself and its introductory dialogue are entirely in Latin;
the Sanctus given only in English.

Pages shewing the Communion Rite :
The Lord's Prayer and Agnus Dei given in English,
everything else in Latin.

The concluding prayers of the Mass remain unaltered
from the 1962 edition of the Missale Romanum and all its predecessors.

Pages shewing the Rite of Burial, including English for chants and orations,
but the antiphon remaining in Latin with its Gregorian notation.

The Season Per Annum 2025 : 5

In this post is shewn a simple set of green vestments orna-mented with a column at the front and the back.  The columns are decorated with one of the Studio's unique braids Sancte Deus in colours of Royal blue and ivory upon a green background.  

This set of vestments is in the style we have called Saint Anselm; it is not elaborate, but neither is it just thrown-together.  It is well-designed and of dignified appearance.  Note that the column is made from a green-coloured dupion silk, which complements the colour of the braid.  We also find that the column is not of exaggerated width, but of substantial appearance.  The shape of the neckline, coming to a shallow "V" at the front, but rounded at the back is elegant but sturdy and lacking the awful fold over collars which are all-too-frequently attached to chasubles.

There is much to be said for vestments of simple dignity.  These vestments are well-made and will be serviceable for a number of years if treated respectfully.

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

What range of vestments does a young priest need?

The Saint Bede Studio is often asked what a newly-ordained priest needs in the way of vestments, so I present these recommendations, based on years of experience and observation.  

This is the first post.

Ideally, of course, a young priest would own a set of vestments in the Liturgical colours of white, green, red and violet.  Every priest ought to have a set available in these colours.  

He needs a chasuble, stole and chalice veil.  Whatever about liturgical requirements or permissions, it is unseemly to dispense with the chalice veil for the celebration of Mass.

Some additional points :

If it can be afforded, a priest should have two sets in different shades of the liturgical colours.  A congregation often appreciates seeing some variety in the vestments that are used.  Remember, it is the congregation which is looking at the vestments during Mass, not the priest wearing them.

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

The Season Per Annum 2025 : 4

In this post is depicted a section of a Gothic chasuble made from a lovely shade of green moiré taffeta and ornamented with the Studio's English Rose orphrey braid.  This braid is in the colours of green, red and white upon a black background.  

This distinctive colour scheme is notable for the absence of gold.  The vestments are not elaborate, but well-made and will be serviceable for many years.  

There is much to be said in favour of vestments of simple dignity, eschewing the principle "too much is never enough."

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Studio Facebook Page

 

Did you know that the Saint Bede Studio has its own FACEBOOK page?

You may find it at this link.

AMDG

Attention to detail : Fringing

 

In this post are depicted stoles from two sets vestments, one made from ivory silk damask, and the other green brocade.

We draw your attention to the elegant fringes, which harmonise with the colour of the vestments, the lining and the ornamentation.  

At the Saint Bede Studio, we take great care to ornament our stoles and maniples with attractive and substantial fringes : not just gold for every liturgical colour!  

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG