Vestments in a Style of the Monastic Element of the 20th Century Liturgical Movement

There wasn't any singular style to the vestments of the 20th century Liturgical Movement of course, monastic or otherwise -- excepting insofar as it was generally true that the fuller forms of vestments were becoming more and more in evidence in the Latin rite during the 20th century. Part in parcel with that movement was the revival of the conical form of the chasuble and fuller forms of the dalmatic and tunicle; something which was particularly seen (though not exclusively seen) within the monastic context of the Liturgical Movement.

(Right: A conical chasuble in use in the late 1940's in Bruges, Belgium)

I mention all of this as recently some photos were sent into the NLM of the first Mass of one of the newly ordained Premonstratensian priests of St. Michael's Abbey in California, Fr. Claude Williams, O. Praem. I should be clear that the vestments were not specifically made for this ordination, nor Fr. Williams, but were designed and made by the CRNJ for the Fathers of the Abbey.

What particularly relates them to many of the conical vestments seen within the context of the Liturgical Movement is not only the ample cut of the chasuble, but also the pattern and style of the orphreys, and the dalmatic which is full and long in both the body and in the arms.

In my estimation, these vestments are quite superb and show the great dignity and potentiality that might be found within this form today -- and for both forms of the Roman liturgy at that.

Congratulations to Fr. Williams as well on his ordination.