A Request to 2012 Ordinands

If you are approaching priestly ordination in mid-2012 and are considering approaching the Saint Bede Studio for ordination vestments, PLEASE contact us without further delay. A request left too late may result in disappointment all 'round.

A Blessed Christmas

To all friends, customers and readers of this Blog, sincere wishes for a Blessed Christmas.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill be made low; the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain; and the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.
Isaiah 40:4-5.

Michael Sternbeck
The Saint Bede Studio.

Festal Vestments

A returning customer commissioned the Studio to prepare a Solemn Mass set for Greater Days.  A chasuble, cope, dalmatic and tunic were made from a splendid Renaissance-style silk damask in silver and gold, ornamented with a silk damask of burgundy and gold, outlined with a narrow galloon.  All the vestments were fully lined in cherry-red cotton.

The ornamentation of the chasuble (see below) was in the traditional Roman style of the TAU.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Chasuble in the Borromeon form

Pontifical Mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne

In the beautiful setting of the Sacred Chapel of Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, well-known Liturgist and auxiliary bishop of Melbourne, the Most Reverend Peter Elliott, offered Pontifical Low Mass in the Usus Antiquior on Wednesday 14th December: a ferial day in Advent.  The Bishop was assisted by Chaplains to the Latin Mass Apostolate in Melbourne, Fathers Colin Marshall and Glen Tattersall.




Some photographs taken on the occasion by Dr Chris Steward are included.  Other photographs can be viewed here.

Click on the images for an enlarged view. 

Papal Mitres - part 3

Amongst the many remarkable features of Benedict XVI's Pontificate is the rather singular distinction of having used more mitres as Pope than all of his predecessors of the last 200 hundred years put together!  This is the third in a series of posts about those Papal mitres which I find pleasing, together with a description of them.

The mitres of Pope Benedict fall (almost) into two categories: those used during the tenure of Marini the First (Piero Marini) and those used during the tenure of Marini the Second (Guido Marini).

The third in our series, shewn above, is part of the Marini the First range and was worn on Ash Wednesday at the Roman Basilica of Santa Sabina in the years 2006 and 2007 and on three other occasions in those same years.  This mitre is a very inventive adaptation of the mediaeval mitre.  A similar mitre was used by Pope John Paul II.

As we know, the most common form of ornamentation for the mitre, as it developed in Tradition, was for a decorative band to be run around the crown of the head.  This band was called the circulus.  Another band extended at right angles to the circulus, forming an upside-down "T".  This vertical ornamentation was called the titulus.  Often, the circulus and titulus were lavishly embroidered.

Returning to the mitre of this post, it is made from a silver fabric and its circulus and titulus are formed from a beautifully-conceived cross-hatching of violet and silver braids, all done by hand.  The shape and height of the mitre are very well proportioned, according to the manner of the early mediaeval period and well-suited to the stature of its wearer, Pope Benedict.  The lining of the mitre is a beautiful light shade of violet.

On two of the afore-mentioned occasions, the Pope was given a cope to wear, matching the mitre (adjacent photographs).   Like the mitre, the cope's orphrey is formed from a  cross-hatching of violet and silver braids, on a silver background.  The decoration is beautiful and striking.  Unhappily the fabric of the cope is a glittery affair, metallic threads being interwoven with the violet ground fabric: quite unsuited to the Sacred Liturgy. A very ample chasuble (also shewn in an adjacent photograph) in a similar style was also used by Pope Benedict.  A similar chasuble and cope had been used in the latter years of the reign of Pope John Paul II.  From a distance, both chasuble and cope have a very fine appearance.

Ash Wednesday, 2006 at Santa Sabina.

One last thing must be commented on. The mitre under discussion presents a very attractive way of ornamenting a mitre for the Penitential Seasons: one recalls horrific examples of bishops wearing violet or purple mitres of the most tasteless variety. Nevertheless, the Ceremonial of Bishops appoints that on Ash Wednesday the simplex mitre is to be worn. It is noteworthy that upon becoming Papal Master of Ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini replaced the mitre featured in this post with a simplex mitre for subsequent celebrations of Ash Wednesday at Santa Sabina.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Gaudete Sunday in Melbourne

Some years ago, the Studio made a Solemn Mass set in Rose for the Latin Mass Community at S' Aloysius church, Caulfield North (Archdiocese of Melbourne).  We are pleased to include here two photographs taken at the Gaudete Sunday Mass by intrepid photographer Dr Chris Steward.  The celebrant and preacher was Father Colin Marshall.





Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Rosa Mystica in Germany

Soaring Gothic Interior of the Frankfurt Cathedral

In 2010, a priest resident in Germany, commissioned the Studio to make a vestment for use on Gaudete and Laetare Sundays.  The Rosa Mystica chasuble, shewn below, has been used in the venerable Cathedral Parish of Frankfurt-am-Main.  The chasuble is made from a damask, ornamented with a Gothic foliage braid, and lined in grey cotton.

Father Stenger at the High Altar of the Frankfurt Cathedral

Father Marc Stenger has very kindly sent a photograph for inclusion in this post of himself at the magnificent High altar of the Frankfurt Cathedral, wearing the Rosa Mystica chasuble.  Thank you Father.

Splendid setting of the Frankfurt Cathedral

Choir of the Frankfurt Cathedral

Other photographs of the Cathedral are also included, which are taken from the Flickr collections of Frankartculinary and Mbell1975.

At left is shewn a Studio photograph of the Rosa Mystica chasuble.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Refashioned vestments

Sometimes, the Studio undertakes work on already existing chasubles, which might be either in disrepair or in need of aesthetic revitalisation.

One such was a Marian chasuble, made some years ago for an Australian priest.  Sewn from an attractive ivory jacquard, its impact was lessened by a rather unrelieved ornament formed from a very dark blue orphrey (almost navy), outlined with upholstery cord.

The orphrey was removed and parts of it were cut-up into small diamonds.  Upon each of these diamonds was applied a quatrefoil formed from a foliated Cross in the colours of Royal Blue and ivory. The column orphrey itself was replaced with dupion silk in a mediaeval blue colour, and the diamonds with their appliques were stitched to the dupion orphrey, front and back.

As a finishing touch, the orphreys were outlined with a narrow galloon in deep blue and ivory.

The result is shewn in the photograph: to the greater Glory of God and in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Another Approach to Violet Vestments

We are pleased to post a description of a set of vestments for the Penitential Seasons, which was a gift to a young priest of the Diocese of Richmond (USA).

These vestments are made from an Indigo-violet dupion silk and fully lined in dupion silk of crimson colour.

The vestments are ornamented with a new braid specially produced for the Saint Bede Studio.  This braid is derived from orphrey braids designed by AWN Pugin.  In 2012, further Puginesque braids will be manufactured for the exclusive use of the Studio.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Priestly Ordinations 2011 - part 8

The last in this series of Ordination vestments features a set of vestments prepared for a young man who was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Diocese of Ballarat (Vic) in September.

Please pray for Father John Corrigan and all newly-ordained priests.

The ordinand asked for a chasuble in a Puginesque style.  A Renaissance-foliage silk damask in ivory and gold was chosen for the vestments, ornamented with braids in crimson and gold, outlined with a narrow galloon.  The chasuble was fully lined in gold-coloured taffeta.

Ut in omnibus Deus glorificetur.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Father Corrigan pictured during the Ordination Mass

Violets are Blue

Two shades of "violet".

I often read here and there vigorous assertions about the "correct" colour of vestments to be used during Lent and Advent.  Curious as to the history of these colours in Liturgical use,  I researched and posted an article a few years ago on this Blog about use of penitential colours for the Seasons of Advent, Lent &c.  If you have wondered what colour the Church recommends for these Seasons, you will find the article illuminating.  That post may be read here and here, so there is no need to rehearse its findings.

The photograph above depicts two different shades of the colour "violet".  Violet is a blue-tinged colour: it is quite distinct from the colour purple, a shade of which is used as the choir dress for bishops and lesser prelates.

The darker of the two colours may more properly be described as indigo.

Contrasts

Contrasts

These engravings were taken from Teaching Truth by Signs and Ceremonies, by the Rev'd James Meagher, New York, 1885 (left) and Vestments and Vesture, by Dom E A Roulin OSB, Edinburgh, 1930 (right).

Vestments for Advent

Adjacent is a set of vestments completed by the Studio for a priest of the Archdiocese of Sydney.  The chasuble is in the Borromeon form and decorated in the Roman style.  Father wished to have vestments for the Penitential seasons which were dark in colour and had no form of gold ornament upon them.

After some consideration, a scheme which consisted of darker and lighter shades of violet, outlined in a galloon of black and silver was adopted.  Diamond-shaped medallions were also applied to the orphrey to give it more presence.

Because the Penitential seasons in Australia correspond with the extremes of summer, the vestment was made from dupion silk and lined in grey-coloured taffeta.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam.


Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Christ the King

A young priest from the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton (UK) recently commissioned the Studio to make a set of Festal vestments for the most solemn days.  A cloth gold brocade was chosen and the chasuble was made-up in the Gothic Revival style.  Because the fabric is so lavish, it was decided to ornament the chasuble simply with outline braids (as shewn).

Ut in omnibus Deus glorificetur.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Festal chasuble

A priest from Canada, a returning customer of the Studio, commissioned a chasuble to be made in the 16th century style for Festal days.

This S' Philip Neri style chasuble was made from an ivory-coloured ecclesiastical brocade and fully lined in gold dupion silk.  A renaissance-design brocade in gold and red was chosen to ornament the chasuble, outlined in a galloon of the same colours.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Priestly Ordinations 2011 - part 7

As an addendum to the previous post, adjacent is a studio photograph of the chasuble made for the Ordination of Father Morgan. The chasuble is made from a silver/gold silk damask and is ornamented with Puginesque braids in red and gold.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Priestly Ordinations 2011 - part 6

Continuing our series of Ordination vestments,  are sets  prepared for three young men who was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney in May by His Eminence Cardinal Pell. 

Fathers Peter Kwak, Emanuel Seo and Gregory Morgan had undertaken priestly studies at the Sydney Archdiocesan Seminary in Homebush.   Please pray for Fathers Kwak, Seo, Morgan and all newly-ordained priests.

The ordinands asked for vestments in the "Gothic Revival" style, but each chasuble was ornamented differently. 

The photograph at left depicts the scene inside Saint Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, during the Mass of Ordination.

The photograph below shews the newly-ordained emerging from the Cathedral after the Mass of Ordination.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Vestments a new priest needs for the Ordinary Form, part I

I am often asked what a newly-ordained priest needs in the way of vestments, so I am putting together a series of recommendations, based on my years of experience and observation.

Ideally, of course, a young priest for the needs of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite would own a set of vestments in the Liturgical colours of white, green, red and violet.  Of these, red is used least throughout the Liturgical year, so that the priority list of needs could become:

White vestments: chasuble, stole, chalice veil

Violet vestments: chasuble, stole, chalice veil

Green vestments: chasuble, stole, chalice veil.

Every priest ought to have available for his use a set of the above three colours.

Some additional points. 

For the various rituals of the Roman Rite, a priest ought to have available a cope in white and a cope in violet.

If it can be afforded, a priest should have two sets in different shades of the colours, white, violet and green.  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.

Saint Philip Neri vestments

A priest from the Archdiocese of New York commissioned the Saint Bede Studio for a set of vestments according to the style now referred to as Saint Philip Neri.  In this instance, the vestments were made from an English ecclesiastical brocade and lined in gold-coloured dupion silk.  The ornament, according to the traditional style of Rome, was formed simply from braids running in parallel lines.

Father James Ferreira is shewn in the adjacent photograph, wearing the vestments.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com


Click on the photograph for an enlarged view.

Jubilee Vestments

The Saint Bede Studio was commissioned to prepare a set of red vestments to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Ordination of a Sydney priest, Father Patrick Sharpe MSC.

A Renaissance-style Italian silk damask of cherry red and old gold was chosen for the design, which was ornamented with a pallium-style orphrey in red-silk. Appliques were added to the orphrey to provide highlights. The lining used for Father Sharpe's vestments was red silk taffeta.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Click on the photograph for a larger view.

Puginesque vestments

Pictured is the Saint Giles chasuble, a familar style to readers of this Blog. It is a simplified version of a design by A.W.N. Pugin.  A green brocade (Emerald green on a very dark base colour) is ornamented with a Puginesque braids in red and gold and lined in scarlet-red. The braids were produced exclusively for the Saint Bede Studio.

This chasuble was commissioned as a gift to a priest resident in the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Priestly Ordinations 2011 - part 5

Ordination Mass of Father Damian McCaughan

Continuing our series of Ordination vestments, is a set prepared for a young man who was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in St Malachy’s Church, Coleraine (Northern Ireland) on 3rd July by the Bishop of Down and Connor.

Father Damian McCaughan had undertaken priestly studies at the Pontifical Irish College, Rome.  Read a little more about Father McCaughan here.  Please pray for Father McCaughan and all newly-ordained priests. 

Ordination Mass of Father McCaughan

The ordinand asked for a chasuble in the Borromeon style.  A Renaissance-style silk damask in silver and gold was chosen for the vestments, ornamented with a silk damask of burgundy and gold, outlined with a narrow galloon. The ornamentation is in the traditional Roman style of the TAU. The chasuble was fully lined in cherry-red cotton.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Priestly Ordinations 2011 - part 4

The fourth in this series of Ordination vestments features sets of vestments  prepared for a young man who was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Diocese of Richmond (USA)  on 18th June.

Father Brian Capuano offered his Mass of Thanksgiving in S' Benedict's Church, Richmond (see adjacent photographs).

Please pray for Father Capuano and all newly-ordained priests.

Saint Benedict's Church Richmond VA (1928)

The ordinand asked for a chasuble in the Borromeon style.  A Renaissance-foliage silk damask in ivory was chosen for the vestments, ornamented with a silk damask of burgundy and gold, outlined with a narrow galloon. The ornamentation is in the traditional Roman style of the TAU. The chasuble was fully lined in cherry-red cotton.

In addition, a cope, humeral veil and dalmatic were prepared to complement the chasuble.  Made from the same fabrics, these are shewn below.  The hood of the cope is also in the style of the 16th century, typically Roman in shape, but pre-dating the exaggerated dimensions found in copes of the later Baroque period.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

Affording costly vestments

Good-quality vestments, especially if they are handmade and use silk fabrics, are quite costly.  Indeed, they always have been.  Once, I read on a website (I can't remember where it was), a strategy for being able to afford a vestment which seems too expensive.  It may be useful for readers.  It goes something like this...

Father had his heart set on a particular set of vestments, but didn't have the money to purchase them.  The Parish had many commitments and could not justify making such a purchase.  But the Parish did buy them and then they were put on display in the Church, with this sign:

These new vestments were recently purchased.  When we have raised enough money to pay for them, they will be used at the Altar.  Until then, they are only for display.

It didn't take too long for the money to be raised for the vestments to be used for Mass and more besides; in fact, enough for another set to be purchased!  The Parish loves the vestments and loves to see Father wearing them for Mass.

Mass on the Feast of S' Lawrence

I couldn't resist putting up this post about a Mass held this evening in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, on the Feast of Saint Lawrence.  Thanks to Dr Chris Steward for the photographs.  This Mass was celebrated at the magnificent Sacred Heart altar, one of the many remarkable features of this noble church, designed by the renowned Gothic Revival architect William Wardell.  The Borromeon-style vestments used at this Mass had been made some years previously by the Studio and look rather well in the setting!

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Prayers at the Foot of the Altar

Reading of the Gospel

At the Offertory

Papal Mitres: part 2

Amongst the many remarkable features of Benedict XVI's Pontificate is the rather singular distinction of having used more mitres as Pope as all of his predecessors of the last 200 hundred years put together!  This is the second in a series of posts about the Papal mitres which I find pleasing, together with a description of them.

The mitres of Pope Benedict fall (almost) into two categories: those used during the tenure of Marini the First (Piero Marini) and those used during the tenure of Marini the Second (Guido Marini).  

The second in our series, shewn above, is part of the Marini the First range and was worn at Vespers in the Basilica of Saint Paul-without-the Walls in January 2008.  This mitre is a very inventive adaptation of the mediaeval mitre.  A similar mitre was used by Pope John Paul II.

As we know, the most common form of ornamentation for the mitre, as it developed in Tradition, was for a decorative band to be run around the crown of the head.  This band was called the circulus.  Another band extended at right angles to the circulus, forming an upside-down "T".  This vertical ornamentation was called the titulus.  Often, the circulus and titulus were lavishly embroidered.  During the mediaeval period, that area of the mitre on the left and the right of the titulus, which forms almost a triangular shape, came also to be decorated, often will geometrical medallions studded with jewels.  For the purposes of our description, let us call these areas of the mitre quadrants.

Returning to the mitre of this post, it is made from a gold fabric and its circulus and titulus are formed from a beautifully-conceived cross-hatching of golden braids.  This would have been sufficient to create a worthy mitre.  But the designer of this mitre took a bold step and ornamented the quadrants of the mitre, not with embroidery and jewels, but with an applique of black and gold silk damask, carefully enhanced with further gold braiding.  The shape and height of the mitre are very well proportioned, according to the manner of the early mediaeval period and well-suited to the stature of its wearer, Pope Benedict.

On that occasion, the Pope was given to wear a cope matching the mitre (adjacent photograph).  This cope is made from a magnificent straw-coloured silk damask.  Like the mitre, the cope's orphrey is formed from a  cross-hatching of golden braids, broken up with squares of the same black and gold silk damask.  The decoration is beautiful and striking.  There is nothing about this  Italian-made mitre and cope which makes it incongruous with the Baroque style of Catholic Rome.

Noteworthy, also, is the magnificent Morse, or clasp used to hold the cope together.  Obviously a modern work, but beautifully conceived and ornamented. Unhappily, a clearer image was not available.