History & Traditions
Types of Catholic Crosses and Crucifixes: Names and Meanings
Latin, Greek, Tau, papal — and crucifixes from altar to wall. A practical guide to the types of Catholic crosses and cru...
History & Traditions
Historical context for liturgical practices and sacred objects
History & Traditions
History & Traditions
The San Damiano Cross: Meaning, History, and Prayer
The icon cross before which St. Francis of Assisi heard the call to rebuild the Church — what the San Damiano Cross show...
History & Traditions
The Tau Cross: Meaning, History, and Who Wears It
The T-shaped cross of the Franciscan tradition — its biblical roots, why St. Francis made it his seal, who wears it toda...
History & Traditions
Fiddleback Chasuble: Why It's Called That and How It Differs from a Roman Chasuble
Why is it called a fiddleback? How is it different from a Roman or Gothic chasuble? The history and anatomy of the most...
History & Traditions
What Does the Chasuble Symbolize? The Yoke of Christ Explained
Why is the chasuble called the "yoke of Christ"? The symbolism of the Mass vestment, the vesting prayers, and what each...
History & Traditions
Latin Mass Vestments: The Complete List (Traditional Roman Rite)
Amice, alb, cincture, maniple, stole, chasuble — the full list of Traditional Latin Mass vestments, in vesting order, an...
History & Traditions
History of the Cope: From Rain Cloak to Cappa Magna
How a hooded rain cloak became the Church's vestment of processions and Benediction — the history of the cope from the 6...
History & Traditions
Antique and Used Reliquaries: What to Check Before You Buy
A practical checklist for antique and used reliquaries: authentication, seals, gilding, glass, hinges, repairs, lead pai...
History & Traditions
Famous Reliquaries in History and What They Teach Us
From the Shrine of the Three Kings to St Foy at Conques and the Sainte-Chapelle: the famous reliquaries that shaped sacr...
History & Traditions
Types of Reliquaries: Chasse, Theca, Arm and Cross Reliquaries
A guide to the main types of Catholic reliquaries — chasse, theca, feretory, arm, cross, capsule and ostensorium-style —...
History & Traditions
How to Pronounce "Ciborium" (and What the Word Means)
Ciborium is pronounced sih-BOR-ee-um (/sɪˈbɔːriəm/). The etymology from Greek kiborion, the plural ciboria, and the word...
History & Traditions
Who Are the Archangels? Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
Scripture names exactly three archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Learn who they are, where they appear in the Bi...
