Friday, September 17, 2010

The London Oratory "Vested" for Newman's Beatification

The following photos were taken recently of the London Oratory church, which, in celebration of the soon to be beatified John Henry Cardinal Newman, has been bedecked with Roman style festal hangings inside and out -- a tradition we have spoken of before (see here and here) and one which I am always delighted to see. (For the reasons why, see the aforementioned posts.)

Here is the facade:





Similar festal hangings are also to be found beside the outdoor statue of Cardinal Newman which can be seen beside the Oratory church, just off Brompton Road.

Moving inside, you can not only see some of the red hangings which are to be found inside the church, do also take note of the image of Newman (and that of St. Philip Neri) to be found to either side of the high altar.



The new Newman altar is also ready within the church we are told.

* * *

While we are on the subject of the London Oratory, those in the London area may be interested in an exhibition which will be taking place in St. Wilfrid's Hall from September 19th to 24th.

The exhibition has been organized by the Friends of the London Oratory and the Associazione Arca Petrina Onlus and is made up of 33 rare hand-coloured engravings, illustrated by Salvatore Busuttil (1837-1839), showing a Papal Corpus Christi Procession in the reign of Pope Gregory XVI.

The exhibition also includes other drawings of Busuttil, further prints of Papal Rome, and a series of original costumes from the Papal court. Some personal effects of Pope Gregory XVI will also be on display.

An exhibition catalogue will be available for £10. This includes 33 full-page colour reproductions of the procession plates, 7 further full-page colour plates of the members of the Pontifical Household, and 59 smaller colour reproductions illustrating members of the various religious orders, the dress of the people, and the uniforms of the papal guard. The text is in Italian and it is 173pp. in length.

The exhibition will take place, as mentioned, in St Wilfrid's Hall, the London Oratory, from 19th-24th of September, open from 10am-5pm each day. Entry is free.

The London Oratory is always worth a visit of course, but for both of these reasons, it would seem to be a particularly good time to make a pilgrimage to the church.

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