Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday 19 January 2021

Old St Peter’s in Rome


Yesterday was and is the traditional day of the Feast of the Chair of St Peter at Rome, and said to be the day on which the Prince of the Apostles first presided liturgically in Rome. In the Novus Ordo this feast is now celebrated as the Chair of Peter on February 22nd, the traditional feast of the Chsir of St Peter at Antioch.

No doubt with this in mind The Liturgical Arts Journal website has an interesting article about the Constantinian basilica of St Peter with a series of reconstructions of the building. This was the building which along with the Lateran basilica as well as other Roman churches hosted Papal liturgies for over a millennium as wee, from that of Charlemagne in 800 Imperial coronations. 

The post also has a link to an earlier article on the site about the remains of the original tomb of St Peter beneath the present High Altar and baldacchino of Pope Urban VIII and the early development of what became the Vatican basilica. The two articles are accompanied by excellent illustrations and can be accessed at Reconstructions of the Interior of St. Peter's Basilica as Built by the Emperor Constantine


2 comments:

Maureen said...

Thanks for posting this! Great article.

Matthew Reynolds said...

A very informative article. A real reminder as to how Holy Mother Church has over time by the working of The Holy Ghost stayed the same & yet developed too. An excellent day to pray for the Church hierarchy to return to the Traditions & Teachings of Jesus. And so it was good to pray the pre-55 Office ( or most of it) for SSPX & FSSP as well as for the intentions of Pope Francis. As always this blog is like excellent Christmas cake - rich, satisfying & to be savoured a little each day to derive maximum pleasure & satisfaction from.