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Saturday, 25 October 2008

Meeting people in Rome

Near the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, there are several shops selling vestments and Church plate. Meeting priest friends there is almost inevitable and the other day was no exception. In addition, I made the acquaintance of a most affable priest from the Society of St Pius X, working in County Dublin, who kindly told me that he reads this blog. (Very good to meet you Father!)

Shop windows in Rome, like those in Oxford Street, tell something of changing fashions. For some time, Gammarelli has had Roman vestments displayed; but Barbiconi is now catching up fast with no fewer than three such vestments in one window:

Here is a closer view of that purple vestment:

Even De Ritis (which Fr Guy Nicholls and I used to refer to jokingly as "De Ritibus") has a roman vestment alongside the cowled polyester garments.

Notice that the Roman vestments are always arranged to display the back of the vestment whereas the modern ones are "facing the people" ;-)

BTW - in response to enquiries: yes I will post photos of the green vestments that arrived from Gammarelli's the other day. I will also make sure that photos are taken when they are first used (i.e. next week since tomorrow is the feast of Christ the King in the old calendar.)

10 comments:

Mac McLernon said...

The windows of change, eh Father?
;-)

(and yes, I will make sure that I take photos next weekend!!)

John the organist said...

I love your name for De Ritis, Yes it's like going into the ark there, and like the very old fashioned shops were once were,,,"are you being served". I got my cotta there,,, collected some others as well. The first one he offered me was lovely but far too priestly!!! Liz.

Fr. Jay Toborowsky said...

I like to think that "reading the windows" in that neighborhood behind the Pantheon is similar to reading the stock market forecasts. These craftsmen do wonderful work, but they are, above all, in business. They wouldn't be displaying such vestments if they hadn't already been selling for a while. They'll be the first to tell you that, for the past few years, they've seen a shift in the style (and color) of vestments that were being sought after and purchased.

fra A.R. said...

Fr., will you bless your new vestments before putting them on for mass? or do you think it is "ancient superstition" ;-))

Joe said...

The lay faithful have a slightly different take .... see the dialogue in the comments to this post: http://rccommentary2.blogspot.com/2008/10/final-message-from-synod-of-bishops.html

Tara said...

May I ask if the Father you bumped into is in Dublin, Ireland? Or another Dublin?

Fr Tim Finigan said...

Tara - it was Father Ramon Angles who is at the St Pius X Priory in
Dun Laoghaire. More information at the SSPX Ireland site.

Joe - sigh! Some of the laity I know go on holiday occasionally too.

Fr Tim Finigan said...

Fr a.r. - yes I must bless the vestments. Thank you for reminding me!

Tara said...

Thank you Fr Finnegan - I had no idea there was a SSPX priory in Dun Laoghaire & I've lived in the vicinity all my life!!

father said...

As you can see, dear Father, I do read and enjoy the blog. See you again in Rome soon, perhaps?

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