Monday, 2 December 2024

Liturgical Colours of Advent (Re-visited)

The Saint Bede Studio
At the beginning of this beautiful Season of Advent, we return to a commentary posted previously on the Saint Bede Studio blog concerning the liturgical colour proper to Advent.

It is often asserted by liturgical commentators and other internet experts, that there are "correct" colours for the vestments used during Lent and Advent.  Curious as to the history of these colours in Liturgical use, some years ago we researched and posted an article ( here and here ) about the use of penitential colours for the Seasons of Advent and Lent. If you have wondered what colour the Church recommends for these Seasons, you might find the article illuminating.

A short answer is that there is no particular shade of liturgical violet specified for Advent or Lent.
  
Adjacent is an historic work of art to illustrate the practice of our forebears. This work was painted by an artist known as The Master of Osservanza in the year 1440 and depicts a Low Mass being offered at a side chapel in the Siena Cathedral (Italy).

The following are some observations about this painting.  The chasuble being worn by the celebrant is violet: in other words, much the same colour as the flower "violets". It is a blue-ish colour, not purple and it is not too dark either.  But neither is it blue, as has been suggested in some commentaries.  

The chasuble is the full conical shape and is ornamented with a simple column-orphrey of dark fabric (possibly even black). Most likely, the front of the chasuble would have been decorated with the familiar "tau". The celebrant is wearing decorative apparels on his alb and amice, which match the colour of the chasuble's ornament. That is a very typical practice of the Mediaeval period. Note, too, the very full folds of the alb.

We see, also, that the boy (or young cleric) assisting the celebrant is wearing a full-length surplice, according to the style typically found in Renaissance Italy. Those who claim that such surplices are a "Church of England" garment should note this well.

Lastly, the altar itself. It is clothed in a dark antependium or altar frontal, ornamented with scarlet red. On the altar is a Crucifix and a single candle. Although it may seem peculiar that there is but a single candle instead of a pair, it might be remarked that not until the 16th century was it a usual practice to have a pair of candlesticks on an altar.  We might also note that the candle itself is a golden colour, rather than white.

Is this painting illustrating a Low Mass (as we would refer to it) celebrated in Advent or Lent?  That could not be claimed with certainty.  But the sombre nature of the vestments and altar clothing suggests a penitential character to the occasion.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Saturday, 30 November 2024

On the Feast of S' Andrew the Apostle

The Saint Bede Studio
On this Feast of the Apostle, Andrew and the last day of the Liturgical year, we are pleased to present these red vestments, in an ample Gothic style.  

The set is constructed from dupion silk in a rich shade of crimson-red.  There is a black cross-weave in the fabric giving the set the appearance of a darker and distinctive red. 

The ornament is in the English style and is formed from an orphrey braid in colours of red and straw-gold upon blue.  This braid, named Saint Chad, is one of the unique braids of the Saint Bede Studio and directly based on the work of Gothic Revival luminary AWN Pugin.  The use of a simple quatrefoil galloon in straw-gold upon blue outlines the chasuble.


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


Red vestments


 
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 



Sunday, 24 November 2024

The Month of the Holy Souls : 6

Funeral vestments
It is no secret that in many Catholic dioceses, there is an unease about wearing black vestments at funerals, despite what is set down in the General Instructions of the Roman Missal.  Frequently, there are in place outright prohibitions on the use of black vestments. 

This being the case, some years ago the Studio prepared a design for a set of vestments for use at funeral rites by those priests who would prefer not to use white vestments, but are not in a position to wear black.  Adjacent is an image of these vestments, which we call Lux Aeterna.

The vestments are very simple and deliberately so.  A subdued, but not dark shade of violet fabric has been used, avoiding the purple which is associated with Lent.  
The chasuble is ornamented with a column at the front and at the back.  This column is formed from two of the Studio's unique braids, both in the Gothic Revival style and in colours of black and platinum / grey.

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

Funeral vestments


Click on the images 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


Friday, 22 November 2024

The Maniple

One of the trickle-down effects of the ongoing climate of disfavour towards the old Roman Missal is that fewer maniples are being ordered by our customers.  Up until a year or so ago, almost every customer requested a maniple with the set of vestments.

Maniple


I was so disgusted by the repressive and ignorant motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, that I announced that all maniples would be provided to customers of the Saint Bede Studio at a discount.  Mostly these days, we make them free-of-charge.  I candidly admit, this was my small act of defiance against the draconian measures of the Vatican.

Sometimes, I think that bishops everywhere have had quiet conversations with their younger priests, along these lines :  "Father, it wouldn't do at all to own a maniple, let alone wearing one during Mass.  I encourage you to avoid such things."

Gentle Readers, it is very short-sighted not to order a maniple with your vestments.  At present, the maniple is not among the vestments required for Mass in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.  But will that always be the case?  Give that some thought.


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


Saturday, 16 November 2024

The Month of the Holy Souls : 5

The Saint Bede Studio
In this post, during the month of the Holy Souls, we are pleased to present a further set of black vestments.  The chasuble is in the Saint Philip Neri style, which was developed by the Studio and based on research into the style of 16th century vestments.
  
The liturgical colour of vestments which have been most rarely made by the Studio over the almost 25 years of our work is BLACK.  It is obvious that within the Church there is still an unease about wearing black vestments at funerals.  We will write more about this in a subsequent post.

These vestments were made from a black damask and were fully-lined in a grey shade of taffeta. The chasuble is ornamented very simply with a galloon of grey and silver forming the TAU ornament at the front of the chasuble and the column at the back.

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


Saint Philip Neri chasuble


Click on the images 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


Wednesday, 13 November 2024

The Season Per Annum : 23

In this post, we are pleased to present another set of green vestments, in the Gothic Revival style.  The set is constructed from a brocade in a shade of teal-green.  This gives the set the appearance of a darker and distinctive green. 

The ornament is in the English style and is formed from an orphrey braid in colours of green, white and straw-gold upon red.  This braid, named Saint Austin, is one of the unique braids of the Saint Bede Studio and directly based on the work of Gothic Revival luminary AWN Pugin.  


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


The Saint Bede Studio
 

Click on the image 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 



Monday, 11 November 2024

The Month of the Holy Souls : 4

The Saint Bede Studio
In this post, during the month of the Holy Souls, we are pleased to present a further set of black vestments.  The liturgical colour of vestments which have been most rarely made by the Saint Bede Studio over the almost 25 years of our work is BLACK.  It is obvious that within the Church there is still an unease about wearing black vestments at funerals.  We will write more about this in a subsequent post.

These vestments were made from black dupion silk and were fully-lined in taffeta of a rust-red shade. The chasuble is ornamented very simply with a galloon of black and rust-red knotwork upon a taup-coloured base.

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


The Saint Bede Studio


The chasuble is in the Studio's Saint Cuthbert style, being a very ample chasuble with a narrow, stylised Y orphrey.  

Click on the images 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


Friday, 8 November 2024

The Month of the Holy Souls : 3

In this post, during the month of the Holy Souls, we are pleased to present a further set of black vestments.  The liturgical colour of vestments which have been most rarely made by the Saint Bede Studio over the almost 25 years of our work is BLACK.  It is obvious that within the Church there is still an unease about wearing black vestments at funerals.  We will write more about this in a subsequent post.

These vestments were made from a black damask and were fully-lined in taffeta of crimson-red. The chasuble is ornamented very simply with a galloon of burgundy and gold outlining the TAU ornament at the front of the chasuble and the column at the back.

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


Black vestments


The chasuble is in the Studio's Saint Philip Neri style.  

Click on the images 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

Wednesday, 6 November 2024

The Month of the Holy Souls : 2

Black vestments
In this post, during the month of the Holy Souls, we are pleased to present a further set of black vestments.  The liturgical colour of vestments which have been most rarely made by the Saint Bede Studio over the almost 25 years of our work is BLACK.  It is obvious that within the Church there is still an unease about wearing black vestments at funerals.  We will write more about this in a subsequent post.

These vestments were made from a black brocade and were fully-lined in taffeta of a dark grey. The chasuble is ornamented with a brocade in colours of slate grey upon black. A galloon of black and silver outlines the TAU ornament at the front of the chasuble and the column at the back.

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



The Saint Bede Studio


The chasuble is in the Studio's Saint Philip Neri style.  

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

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


Black vestments


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

Saturday, 2 November 2024

The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed

The Saint Bede Studio
In this post, marking All Souls' Day, we are pleased to present this dignified set of black vestments.  These vestments were made from a black brocade and are fully-lined in taffeta of a coppery shade, the chasuble is ornamented with a brocade in colours of gold upon black. A galloon of black and straw-gold outlines the TAU ornament at the front of the chasuble and the column at the back.

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


Black vestments


The chasuble is in the Studio's Borromeon style, but which we call Absolve.  Several similar vestments have been made to this unique design.  

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

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


Black vestments


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