Monday 29 December 2014

Priestly Ordinations 2014 : 15

Each year, the Saint Bede Studio has the privilege of preparing sacred vestments for Ordinands. Happily, this year has been no exception : indeed the number of requests for such vestments has been more than double previous years.

This post concerns Father Paul Buchanan, of the Diocese of Charlotte (North Carolina) USA, who was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood by the Most Rev'd Peter Jugis in the church of Saint Mark, Huntersville on 28th June.

Father Buchanan commissioned red vestments for the celebration of his First Holy Mass on 29th June. The chasuble was a modification of the chasuble of S' Thomas Becket (preserved at Sens Cathedral), without attempting to be an exact replica of it. Posts describing Saint Thomas' chasuble can be viewed here and here.

The vestments are made from an English silk damask, which is fully lined in blue taffeta. A narrow braid, designed by the Studio in an early mediaeval style, was used to ornament the vestments in the distinctive manner.

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

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com


Father Buchanan pictured after his First Holy Mass.



Father Buchanan (at right) concelebrating with the Bishop at the
Ordination Mass.


Father Buchanan giving his Priestly Blessing to his Bishop.
Note that the vestments being worn in these two photographs
were not made by the Saint Bede Studio.

Thursday 25 December 2014

Christmas Greetings

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.

Saturday 20 December 2014

Penitential Vestments


The Studio has recently completed this chasuble in the Borromeon form for a young priest from California.

It is made from an ecclesiastical brocade from USA in a deep shade of violet. To ornament this chasuble, our customer asked for some of the Studio's braids in colours of red and gold, made up into the TAU. The vestments were lined in a burgundy shade of cotton.

Please click on the image for an enlarged view.



Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Thursday 18 December 2014

Readers from Spain

Are you a reader of this Blog living in Spain? If so, perhaps you would be willing to help the Saint Bede Studio with an enquiry.

Contact : stbede62@gmail.com


¿Vive usted en España? ¿Es usted un lector de este Blog? Usted puede ser capaz de ayudarnos con una pequeña investigación. Gracias.

Contáctenos : stbede62@gmail.com

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Anglophone Missals of the "Interim Rite" 1964 - 1969 : 1

Fifty 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 Mass. New liturgical books which reflected these alterations were required.

Over the course of the next year on this Blog we will be examining 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 titlepage, 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 of 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.


Thursday 11 December 2014

Mitres for Australian Bishops

Recently, the Saint Bede Studio has completed mitres for three Australian bishops.

At left is shewn a mitre of 15th century proportions, made from an English ecclesiastical brocade and which is ornamented with a braid designed by AWN Pugin. This mitre was lined in dupion silk of a deep purple colour.

Below is a less ornate mitre, made in the proportions of the 13th century. This mitre is made from linen and is ornamented with a braid of the Studio's own design, but based upon actual mediaeval ornament. The lining of this mitre is of dupion silk, in a very subdued shade of green.



The mitre below is a more contemporary style, made from silk damask of ivory and straw colour and ornamented with a familiar commercial braid. The mitre is lined in dupion silk in a shade of deep red.



Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Sunday 7 December 2014

New Subsidiary Blog :
Liturgy and Architecture

A new Blog has now been commenced, which is intended to be a different facet of the work of The Saint Bede Studio.

http://liturgyandarchitecture.blogspot.com.au/

On the new Blog will be presented observations on Catholic architecture, particularly as it pertains to the Sacred Liturgy and its aesthetics. Sometimes posts will be presented of the Studio's own work in this area.

Restoration and re-ordering work that is going on unabated in our churches worldwide will also be discussed here (not all of it favourably, of course), in addition to images of new churches which are to be found on the cornucopia of the world-wide web.


Saturday 6 December 2014

Priestly Ordinations 2014 : 11 UPDATED

Mediaeval vestments
Each year, the Saint Bede Studio has the privilege of preparing sacred vestments for Ordinands. Happily, this year has been no exception : indeed the number of requests for such vestments has been more than double previous years.

This post concerns Father Liam Boyle, of the Diocese of Raphoe (Country Donegal, Ireland), who was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood by the Most Rev'd Philip Boyce in the Cathedral of Saints Eunan and Columba, Letterkenny on 7th September.

Green chasuble of Pope Benedict.
Father Boyle commissioned vestments for his First Holy Mass. At Father Boyle's request, the design for the chasuble was based on an distinctive set of green vestments made for Pope Benedict (see adjacent photograph). Father Boyle's chasuble was made from a beautiful ecclesiastical brocade in ivory and gold and was ornamented simply with a braid in the colours of royal blue, crimson, gold and white. The vestments were lined in a royal blue coloured taffeta.

We are pleased to include two photographs kindly sent to us by Father Boyle of his First Holy Mass celebrated on the Feast of the Blessed Virgin's Nativity.





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

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com



The Ordinand during the Litany of the Saints.



The Letterkenny Cathedral.


Thursday 4 December 2014

The Albe

The importance of a graceful albe in clothing the ministers of the altar cannot be overestimated.  Frequently albes are seen about our altars which are dirty or ragged, or too short: all very unseemly. Assuredly, moreover, there never was a chasuble or dalmatic whose appearance has not been cheapened by the excessive use of lace.

A beautiful vestment can only be fully appreciated when worn with a well-presented albe.

There are several different styles of albe presently available commercially, but the style made by the Saint Bede Studio is that style which was common throughout the Mediaeval period and through into the Renaissance.

It has no fastening at the neck, but a circular yoke, which goes over the head quite easily.  Its sitting away from the neck is a real an advantage in keeping the neckline clean.  These albes are well-gathered at the yoke and fall in graceful folds, rather than being stretched over the wearer in a skimpy manner.

Their sleeves are close-fitting, as albes have traditionally had. Too frequently now we see the modern albe with cuffs injudiciously wide : both ungainly in appearance and inconvenient when ministering at the altar.

Whenever possible, albes made by the Saint Bede Studio are of pure linen, although the weight of the linen we use varies according to our customer's needs.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com