This evening a Solemn Mass was offered at St. Mary Church, Greenwich, in the presence of the incorrupt heart of the Cure of Ars, St. John Vianney.

The church was standing room only.

The incorrupt heart of St. John Vianney in its reliquary on the altar

The schola performed Palestrina’s beautiful Missa Papae Marcelli

Fr. George Rutler was the homilist

This news and photos from Rodger Phillips of Sub Edge Farm in Farmington, CT:

“Father Gregoire Fluet gave the traditional Rogation Day blessing from the Rituale Romanum at Sub Edge Farm in Farmington on April 25. The ritual, invoking God’s protection, dates back to Pope Saint Gregory the Great (590) and has roots in ancient Roman customs. The farm hopes to make this an annual event.”

(Above) A wide angle view of the restored sanctuary.

UPDATE: This post now reflects additional information on the restoration from the pastor of Old St. Patrick’s, Msgr. Sakano.

Let me give you a  brief visual status report on the still-incomplete restoration of old St.Patrick’s cathedral. A picture in the New York Times had raised the specter of a brilliant, whitewashed interior. As you can see below, these fears have not been realized. The interior has been repainted but in a restrained cream or beige color. It is definitely brighter, however, than the olive drab of the prior color scheme. Msgr. Sakano informs us  that this new color scheme is derived from the remains of the original decoration that had been discovered.

(Below) The church prior to restoration.

(Above) The view towards the rear. The magnificent organ still seems to be under repair.

(above) The unrestored sanctuary; (below) as restored. The tabernacle has been returned to the center of the sanctuary and the painting of the Resurrection has disappeared. This resembles the pre-Vatican II condition. See our prior report showing the pre-restoration state of the cathedral including some pictures from pre-conciliar times.

Frank Mason, the noted Catholic artist and champion of art preservation, created the image of the Resurrection in 1970 for the sanctuary when St. Patrick’s was “restored” after the Council. The painting is now deposited  in the crypt where it will be installed permanently.

(Below) The prior location of the tabernacle (which depicts the original appearance of the facade of this church.) off to the side.

(Above) As restored – the crucifix is now suspended above the sanctuary and the painting of the statues has been restored.  When restoration work started it was discovered that the statues’ original paint had been largely preserved under the 1970 – era paint job.  With some touching up, that is what we see today. (Below) the prior condition.

(Above and below) The figures of the reredos as restored to their original colors. Msgr Sakano notes that for some reason there are only 10 apostles….

(above) A window pre-restoration; (below) restored.

(Above) I believe this image of a South American devotion used to reside in a chapel outside the main church; it is now in the sanctuary. (below) If I am not mistaken, some statues have migrated from the ground level of the nave or sanctuary and now, repainted, stand high above on the reredos.

At Holy Innocents parish, New York (Canon Jean -Marie Moreau, ICRSS, celebrant)

Photos from a reception for Manfred Honeck, music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony following his lecture “Faith in Music” at the Catholic Center at NYU. This event was sponsored by the Thomistic Institute and the Catholic Artists Society.

Traditional Mass on Easter Sunday at Regina Pacis Chapel, Maywood, NJ, Fr. Charez Gringco celebrant. Photos courtesy of the Bergen Latin Mass Group.

Vidi Aquam:

The Blessing of the Baptismal Water.

The Aspersion of the congregation.

(There were no baptisms this evening)

Administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation:

The Litany:

The Mass:

The preparation of the Sanctuary.

The unveiling of the Images.

(Above) Alleluia!

And a festive reception afterwards:

The new fire.

The deacon changes into the white dalmatic of joy.

Lumen Christi!

The Exsultet.

The Chanting of the Twelve Prophecies:

(Above)Procession to the Baptismal font.

St. Michael’s Russian Catholic Church

(Courtesy of Walter Petrovitz and Mauro Carrasco)