Baptism in Medieval Italy

It has been called to my attention that over at the "Pray Tell" blog, posted a link to my "2013 Aquinas Lecture" at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley CA back in March.  There were a number of interesting and insightful comments by readers there.

As the topic of the Baptismal Liturgy would probably also interest our readers here, I provide here the link to it here: The Aquinas Lecture, 2013.

I am sure that after viewing it, a good number of readers will want to comment.

Pope Francis and St. Francis of Assisi

I do ask our readers to forgive what seems like a self-promotion on something non-liturgical.  But there is much discussion in the secular and religious press about what the new pope meant by his choice of his name Francis, especially as this reflects on his views on liturgy. Indeed, today I have gotten many e-messages and phone calls about our new pope's name. I have now spoken to, among others, The Times of London, Irish National Radio, etc., and, finally, I refused to appear on Pier Morgan Live this evening to talk about this topic.

This notoriety is mostly because I published, some nine months ago a new biography of St. Francis, that was named one of the eleven "Favorite Books of 2012" of Newsweek, was subject to a (silly) review in The New Yorker, and given the "honorable mention" by the America Association of Publishers in the category "Biography and Autobiography for 2012." So now I am an expert on what the pope's choice of name means! Welcome to the world of the secular media!

My own answer to what St. Francis's real teachings mean for liturgy, especially for his devotion to the Eucharist, and what our new Holy Father might learn from them, can be found in the life of  St. Francis that I wrote for a popular audience while using the best historical principles in Francis of Assisi: A New Biography; Do not trust what you hear in the secular mass media. You may well hear abbreviated, "summarized," and "he said," versions of my understanding of the historical Francis in the press, radio, etc.

Do not trust them, just read the book.

And God bless our new pope!

Portable Altar Cards for the Dominican Rite

I am pleased to announce that The Society for the Preservation of Roman Catholic Heritage has sent me a sample set of their new portable altar cards for the Dominican Rite.  They have also upgraded their previously published set of portable cards for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.  Here is a photo of the new cover for the Roman Rite cards:

The Dominican Rite set has a white leatherette cover printed with a decorative gold cross. Here are images of the text of the middle card for the Dominican Rite:

And here are the two side cards:

The Roman Cards can be ordered here. The Dominican cards are not yet up on the SPORCH site. They may be ordered by sending an email inquiry to sporch3@aol.com or by writing to their address:

Society for the Preservation of Roman Catholic Heritage
Box 147
Englewood, Ohio 45322

The current list price is $69.00. A discount is available for bulk orders.

Fr. Joseph P. Kenny, O.P., RIP

I received news today that Fr. Joseph P. Kenny, 77, a missionary to Africa for nearly 50 years and a well-known online promoter of Dominican Chant, died of cancer on January 28, 2013 in Washington DC. A native of Chicago, Fr. Kenney left for Nigeria at the request of the Holy See for a resource person knowledgeable in Arabic and Islam, since there was a need for greater understanding and peace between  Christian and Muslim communities of that country.

After working in northern Nigeria, he taught subjects on Islamic philosophy and theology for 22 years at the University of Ibadan, where he served as Chairman of the Department of Religious Studies. He also helped develop the Dominican Institute in Ibadan, where he taught courses on philosophy, theology, and communications for hundreds of lay students and seminarians.

Sadly, Fr. Kenney's music site, linked on the left sidebar, seems to have gone off line.  His contribution to the promotion of our music will be greatly missed.  Please keep this fine priest musician and missionary in your prayers.

Domnican Studies of the Western Dominican Province Reflect on the Liturgy of the Hours

The students of the Western Dominican Province has done a very nice video in which they reflect on the spirituality of the choral office and what it means for them.  The stained glass is that of the chapel of our house of studies, Saint Albert the Great Priory in Oakland CA.  Enjoy!

On Line Image of Pre-Humbert Dominican Rite Missal MS

Readers might be interested to hear that the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, France, has recently put up a black and white scan of Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, MS Lat. 8884, which contains portions of a Pre-1256 Dominican Missal. The image to the left is not of the Paris MS, but of a similar Dominican Missal MS in the Dominican monastery of Lausanne.

This Missal predates the reforms by Humbert of Romans that created the standard Dominican Rite in use till the present.  Those interested in the Pre-Humbert Dominican Rite may consult William Bonniwell, History of the Dominican Liturgy (New York: Wagner, 1944), pp. 29ff.   This book can be downloaded in PDF format on the left sidebar of Dominican Liturgy.

The Paris MS is available for viewing here.

Solemn Requiem Vestments, Blessed Sacrament Priory, Seattle WA

Blessed Sacrament Priory, the Western Dominican Province community in Seattle WA has recently received their newly commissioned vestments for Dominican Rite Solemn High Requiem Mass. The set includes, along with the usual chasuble, dalmatics, soles, maniples, bruse, veil, and cope (For the Absolution at the Catafalque), as well as the humeral veil and the mappa (placed over the knees of the priest, deacon, and subdeacon when seated at the sedilla).

Here follow images of some of the principal parts of the set.  There is a extensive photo collection of the vestments on Facebook here.

The Chasuble

One of the two Dalmatics

The Cope

Detail of the Chasuble

Burse, Veil, Maniple.

Here is the humeral veil over the subdeacon's dalmatic on the right,

and the deacon's dalmatic and stole on the left

And finally, the Mappa

A nice collection of photos showing the vestments in use at the Solemn High Dominican Requiem of All Souls at Blessed Sacrament this November can be viewed here, courtesy of Pat Bucy.

The priory and parish is to be congratulated on the care that was used in designing these vestments.  It is my understanding that much of the work was done by Fr. Boniface Willard, O.P., who was ordained two years ago.