Rome 2- Day 2 & 3: Cooking up vestments and victuals

Today I stopped in at Gammarelli to talk about the upcoming pontifical set of vestments in white and I saw a relatively inexpensive rose pianera.

They will make a matching cope and have it to us by Gaudete Sunday. Hopefully in the next year pontifical sets will follow in rose and in a far better black than we presently have.  I’ll start fundraising for that, don’t worry!

And here is a shot of a new fabric they made, based on some that a priest found.

And another.  I wish they’d have had this green before.  It’s great.  It reminds me of fabrics I saw in Venice.  It has griffons in it.

They are doing some good things and they are expanding. They remain very helpful and available.

Meanwhile, the fabric I chose for the white pontifical set and the trim to go with it.

On the other hand, this was in a window of a nearby shop.  No.  Just… no.

At least they have a scruple spoon.  I like the spoons from Leaflet better.

I dropped into Santa Maria sopra Minerva on the way back to the apartment.

The tomb of Leo X who decreed some good excommunications.

Tomorrow i’ll pick up this reliquary designed for a relic of the True Cross.  it will be wonderful for public veneration of the relic.

I’m so grateful to a donor who made this possible.

Later, past my old seminary and a view of my window from over a quarter of a century ago.

I did some shopping around the Campo at shops I know.  Here was something interesting!

My green grocer lady is still going strong!


In my short let apartment I have for cooking only a pot for water and a frying pan and a micro stove with those horrid heating elements under glass.  It’s so small that you can’t have both the pot and pan on at the same time.  But my various odd living circumstances over the years prepared me for these challenges.

Here is a pan of my own amatriciana.


Tonight I made a blazing arrabiatia followed by a roulade of chicken, prosciutto, rosemary and taleggio.  It’s nice not to have the option to prepare a meal at will without going out.

As I ate I suddenly felt dizzy.  I lasted for some time.  A bit late got texts from a friend here that there was an earthquake sort of between Assisi and Loreto.  That’s what I felt.

May God protect those people affected in that region.

Screen Shot 2016-10-26 at 23.50.15

UPDATE:

A priest wrote:

There is this one I saw in a local supply shop in Vancouver. Yikes!

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About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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18 Comments

  1. pannw says:

    Earthquakes…Apparently it was a 6.1 in Visso? It came after a 5.5 in Sellano. The news is that a bell tower that was damaged in the last one has fallen, and a church facade in Norcia has collapsed. I do hope the Monks haven’t suffered any more damage. So far, there are no reported fatalities, due to people leaving their homes after the first one, to sleep in cars, etc. The word ‘apocalyptic’ is being used and the pictures look it. Awful…

    Be safe, Father.

  2. Kathleen10 says:

    Time to come home perhaps.
    I read too, one of the mayors called it, as pannw said, “apocalyptic” and “violent”. He said he has experienced many earthquakes but this was different.
    With a glance the Lord shakes the very foundations.

  3. frjim4321 says:

    I hope those are big pieces of garlic in the arrabiatia.

    Nicely done.

  4. edm says:

    That chasuble found “nearby” is actually rather historic. The well-known manufacturer who produces it these days has re-issued copies of the original one. The story is that during the Second World War, when the studio had no orders, the patriarch of the family and president of the company assigned his staff to work on its embroidery as a means of keeping them employed,

  5. KAS says:

    If you are seeking beautiful fabrics, this company has lovely historical reproductions. There are some lovely griffins. http://www.sartor.cz

  6. abasham says:

    I actually rather like the “no” vestment, though it is a bit busy. I think I might like the fabric better without the orphrey, and the orphrey better on a plainer fabric.

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  8. Gabriel Syme says:

    Dear Fr Z,

    (Firstly I pray the earthquake mentioned was not too severe and that the locals are OK).

    Thank you for sharing these latest pictures and info about your day. I always enjoy seeing a day “through your eyes” when you travel.

    May I humbly suggest that you write a guide book about Rome, if you ever find the time?

    It could be aimed chiefly at Catholics, but would have much broader appeal due to your excellent local knowledge. It could cover (for example):

    – the most beautiful / significant / important churches to visit
    – how to easily find/check mass times
    – your recommendations for the best restaurants
    – your recommendations for local wines and dishes to try
    – local info about customs / festivals (chiefly about the faith)
    – your favourite places of interest / museums / markets etc (chiefly about the faith)
    – quirky local info (what that easily-missed symbol or plaque in the street means etc)
    – how to visit on a budget (if Church institutions have guests rooms for use, or where to get a cheap cup of coffee etc)

    It could be an e-book or paperback.

    I am sure it would be a resounding success; you must have plentiful material from these blog posts already, which could form the basis for such a book.

    I know people can always check the blog for such info, but it would be useful to have a handy compilation source, plus it would likely generate a wider audience and a source of useful income!

  9. Father, could you come to our parish and give the pastor some fashion advice? Our new pastor apparently doesn’t own any of his own vestments and picks out the ugliest vestments in the sacristy to use at Mass. Green polyester is so 1970’s, but then his homilies are straight from that era as well.

  10. Suburbanbanshee says:

    In case people are wondering… like most of the bestiary animals, griffins have both good and bad allegorical meanings. As the fusion of lion and eagle, a single griffin can represent Christ as King of Heaven and Earth. Multiple griffins represent the saints, who live on earth but have their minds on heaven.

    Also, griffins lay emerald eggs and guard gold in their nests, so they look very nice on Ordinary Time vestments of green and gold.

  11. LarryW2LJ says:

    Earthquakes in Italy, now ….. recently. I dunno, is God trying to tell us something? Are we listening? Maybe He doesn’t like some of the “messin’ around” that’s been going on? Maybe I’m just be too ol’ time Biblical?

    In any event, be safe, Fr.

  12. fishonthehill says:

    That “no” vestment I believe is representative of the Arts and Crafts Movement… early 20th century, a quick google image search shows another one with a Marian theme… works in some churches. That children of the world stole looks bleccch. Nice green! Griffons usually used in arts and crafts style. Happy travels and God’s speed.

  13. robtbrown says:

    The Minerva is my favorite church in Rome.

  14. un-ionized says:

    That yikes one is called Children of the World.

  15. Venerator Sti Lot says:

    I enjoyed It’s a Small World (attraction and song) at the 1964 World’s Fair, but never knew of a liturgical – transposition? – until now (though is it my old eyes failing to pick out the pueri Hebraeorum?). The rather detailed Wikipedia article which includes, “It is argued that this song is the single most performed and most translated piece of music on Earth”, does not, however, note liturgical use of the song… a lacuna? (in reporting or liturgical exploitation?).

  16. a catechist says:

    That ‘Children of the World’ chausable is quite commonly worn for children’s Masses in the U.S. Midwest, especially among priests of a certain age. Banners of the fabric are available, too — guess how I know? Faugh! I’m actually quite sympathetic to the very-embroidered vestment of Christ the King. It’s better for kids. It’s a good idea in a church with all the art of a Frigidaire. Or where Mass for Catholic school kids is in the gymnasium (where at least, thank God, a nice traditional altar is wheeled out for Mass). Give’em Christ crowned and worshipped by angels over ‘Children of the World’ any day.

  17. defreitas says:

    Just a question about the cross reliquary in this post. Is this a one off example in a shop or do they have others available for purchase? This is exactly the same as the cross reliquary we lost in the fire at Saint Elias Ukrainian Catholic Church in Brampton, Canada. I would dearly like to re-acquire a new example to replace our loss. I have access to one here in Toronto but would have to have it copied from scratch. Please let me know. Jose.

  18. Lucas Whittaker says:

    Related to the cooking situation in your current small apartment: My wife and I had to remain living in a good-friend’s walk-out basement for three and one half years due to health problems and related surgeries. The point being that our means of cooking was a single George Foreman Grill and a microwave. I learned even to bake cookies on that little electric grill. It would seem that such circumstances offer the opportunity to become more creative when preparing meals: a creativity that pays off once you can return to a larger kitchen.

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