As Christmas approaches, it seems strange to write that we have need of some good news!
Good news has come, however, from the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrier, of Chémeré-le-Roi, France, a traditional group of Dominicans. They recently completed a new altar for their convent of St. Thomas Aquinas and it was solemnly consecrated. A three-year project.
AMAZING craftsmanship born of great love and devotion went into the making of this altar.
They sent me a link to photo and to a video, which I share to cheer everyone up.
English text about the altar HERE
Photos of the Consecration HERE Terrific details of the altar. For example:
The altar is dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
Here you see her also with her protective mantle over the male and female Dominican family. This was a common medieval depiction of Mary, which continued will into the baroque period. I have in mind for example, the great version by Caravaggio in Naples. The Germans called this a “Schutzmantelmadonna”. The Italians call this theme “Madonna della Misericordia” and the French similarly, “Notre-Dame de la Merci”. It is an image that I often invoke in my more earnest moments of writing and, indeed, every night as I go to bed.
The opening of the altar…
This is how we do it, in case you were wondering. This is how we resist.
In more modern, pop, terms, what does one say?
It is the way.
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Just shows that it can still be done! It’s magnificent.
Made with Love, even if it sounds cheesy.
Who are the two saints on either side of Mary.
Stunning! The Order under Our Lady’s clock goes back to a dream of St. Dominic.
This Fraternity is not Dominican however.
This may have been answered already. The saint at Our Lady’s right is St. Jude Thaddeus (club and image of Our Lord), while the Saint at her left is St. Simon the Zealot (saw). Both Apostles were martyred together and are celebrated together on October 28. Dominicans were largely involved in the revival of devotion to St. Jude and remain so. The Fraternity is based on Dominican spirituality and says Mass in the Dominican rite.
Magnificent new altar of the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrier, of Chémeré-le-Roi, France, a traditional group of Dominicans.
The splendor of this Dominican Altar reminded me the Dostoyevsky ‘s enigmatic remark “ Beauty will save the world ” In his 1970 Noble lecture Solzhenitsyn (commented on Dostoyevsky) remark by adding:(I paraphrase )…If in the old trinity Truth, Goodness and Beauty, the first two have been crushed, cut down or not permitted to grow , then unpredictable and surprising, Beauty will be able to fulfill the task of all three.