The Twenty-Six Mediæval Cathedrals Of England (Part Seven).

Decorated Gothic Style.

Exeter Cathedral’s Fan-Vaulted Ceiling.

Photo: 3 August 2006.

Source: Own work.

Author: Wanner-Laufer

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,

unless stated otherwise.

Four other Churches are associated with this tradition:

Saint John the Baptist Church, Chester;

Old Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London;

Bath Abbey;

The destroyed Benedictine Abbey of Coventry.

The Collegiate Church of Saint John the Baptist, Chester, was raised to Cathedral status in 1075, but became a Co-Cathedral in 1102, when the See was removed to Coventry.

The current building was probably begun around the time of the See’s removal. Saint Paul’s, London, a Cathedral with a Secular Chapter, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was replaced by the present Cathedral in the Baroque Style, designed by Christopher Wren.

Peterborough Cathedral.

An Anglo-Norman Romanesque treasure.

Available on YouTube

HERE

Bath Abbey was Co-Cathedral of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, along with Wells Cathedral. Although a large Church, architecturally it does not fit the Cathedral tradition, but has much in common with King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, and Saint George’s Chapel, Windsor.

The Abbey Church at Coventry, was Co-Cathedral with Lichfield Cathedral and Saint John the Baptist, Chester, in the Diocese of Lichfield, but was destroyed at The Dissolution Of The Monasteries.

The large Parish Church of Saint Michael’s, Coventry, became Coventry Cathedral in 1918. It was bombed during World War II, leaving intact only its Spire, regarded as one of the finest in England.

Perpendicular Style of architecture.

The Choir of York Minster.

Photo: 10 August 2005 (original upload date).

Source: Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.

Author: Bala Amavasai at en.wikipedia

(Wikimedia Commons)

The new Coventry Cathedral, designed by Sir Basil Spence, was Consecrated in 1962 and adjoins the shell of the ancient Church.[2][4][10]

Cathedrals are places where the Christian rituals particular to a Bishop, especially Ordination and Enthronement, can be performed, and are structured and furnished for these purposes.

Each Cathedral contains the Seat of the local Bishop, often literally a large Throne. The Bishop’s Throne is located towards the East End of the Cathedral, near The High Altar, which is the main focus of Worship.

In the Early Medieval period, the Altar always contained, or was associated with, the Relics of a Saint. [Editor: Catholic Churches continue this practice, even today]

Seats are provided for the significant Clergy of the Cathedral: The Dean; Precentor; Sacristan; Archdeacon; Canons.

PART EIGHT FOLLOWS.

Saint Fabian (Pope And Martyr). Saint Sebastian (Martyr). Feast Day 20 January. Red Vestments.

The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.

Artist: Il Sodoma (1477–1549).

Date: 1525.

Collection: Uffizi Gallery

Source: The Yorck Project (2002)

10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei (DVD-ROM), distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. ISBN: 3936122202.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Fabian.

Artist: Pietro Perugino (1448–1523).

Date: 1481.

Source: Vittoria Garibaldi:

Perugino. Silvana, Milano 2004.

ISBN 88-8215-813-6

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from “The Liturgical Year”.
By: Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.

   Volume 3.
   Christmas.
   Book II.

Feast Day 20 January.

Two great Martyrs divide between them the honours of this twentieth day of January; one, a Pontiff of The Church of Rome, and the other a member of that Mother-Church.

Fabian received the crown of Martyrdom in 250 A.D. under the persecution of Emperor Decius; the persecution of Emperor Diocletian crowned Sebastian in 288 A.D.

We will consider the merits of these two champions of Christ separately.

Saint Fabian.

Saint Fabian, like Saint Clement and Saint Antherus, two of his predecessors, was extremely zealous in seeing that “The Acts Of The Martyrs” were carefully drawn up.

This zeal was no doubt exercised by the Clergy in the case of our holy Pontiff, himself, and his sufferings and Martyrdom were carefully registered; but all these interesting particulars have been lost , in common with an immense number of other precious Acts, which were condemned to the flames, by the Imperial Edicts, during the persecution under Diocletian.

Nothing is now known of the life of Fabian, save a few of his actions as Pope; but we may have some idea of his virtues by the praise given him by Saint Cyprian, who, in a letter written to Saint Cornelius, the immediate successor of Saint Fabian, calls him an incomparable man.

The Bishop of Carthage extols the purity and holiness 

of life of the holy Pontiff, who so peaceably governed 

The Church amidst all the storms which then assailed her.

There is an interesting circumstance related of him by Eusebius. After the death of Saint Antherus, the people and Clergy of Rome assembled together for the election of the new Pontiff.

Heaven marked out the successor of Saint Peter; a dove was seen to rest on the venerable head of Fabian, and he was unanimously chosen. This reminds us of the event in Our Lord’s life, which we celebrated a few days back, when, standing in The River Jordan, the dove came down from Heaven, and showed Him to the people as The Son of God.

Fabian was the depositary of the power of regeneration, which Jesus by His Baptism gave to the element of water; Fabian zealously propagated the Faith of his Divine Master, and among the Bishops he Consecrated “for divers places”, one or more were sent by him into these Western parts of Europe.

Saint Sebastian.

At the head of her list of heroes, after the two glorious Apostles, Peter and Paul, who form her chief glory, Rome puts her two most valiant Martyrs, Laurence and Sebastian, and her two most illustrious Virgins, Cecily and Agnes.

Of these four, two are given us by The Calendar of Christmas-Tide as attendants in The Court of The Infant Jesus at Bethlehem.

Laurence and Cecily come later in the year, when other mysteries are brought before us by the Liturgy; but Christmas calls forth Sebastian and Agnes.

Today, it is the brave soldier of The Prætorian Guard, Sebastian, who stands by the Crib; tomorrow, we shall see Agnes, gentle as a lamb, yet fearless as a lion, inviting us to love the sweet Babe Whom she chose for her spouse.

The chivalrous spirit of Sebastian reminds us of the great Arch-Deacon; both of them, one in the Sanctuary and the other in the World, defied the tortures of death. Burnt on one side, Laurence bids the tyrant to roast the other side; Sebastian, pierced with his arrows, waits till the gaping wounds are closed, and then runs to his persecutor, Diocletian, asking for a second Martyrdom. But, today, we must forget Laurence in order to think of Sebastian.

We must picture a young soldier, who tears himself away from all the ties of his home at Milan, because the persecution there was too tame, whereas at Rome it was at its fiercest.

He reaches Rome and is admitted into the prisons and encourages to Martyrdom such as had been shaken by the tears of those who were dear to them.

Some of the gaolers, converted by witnessing his Faith and his Miracles, become Martyrs themselves; and one of the Roman magistrates asks to be instructed in a Religion which can produce such men as this Sebastian.

He has won the esteem of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian Hercules for his fidelity and courage as a soldier; they have loaded him with favours; and this gives him an influence in Rome which he so zealously turns to the advantage of the Christian Religion,  that the holy Pope Caius calls him “The Defender of The Church”.

After sending innumerable Martyrs to Heaven, Sebastian, at length, wins the crown he had so ardently desired. He incurs the displeasure of Diocletian by confessing himself a Christian; the Heavenly King, for Whose sake alone he had put on the helmet and soldier’s cloak, was to him above all Emperors and Princes.

He is handed over the archers of Mauritania, who strip him, bind him, and wound him from head to foot with their arrows. They left him for dead, but a pious woman, named Irene, took care of him, and his wounds were healed. Sebastian again approaches the Emperor, who orders him to be beaten to death in the Circus, near the Imperial Palace.

“Alma Redemptoris Mater” And “Christus Factus Est”. Composed By: Felice Anerio (1560 - 1614).

“Alma Redemptoris Mater”.

Composed By: Felice Anerio (1560 - 1614).

Available on YouTube

HERE

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,

unless stated otherwise.

Felice Anerio (1560 – 1614) was an Italian composer of the Late-Renaissance and Early-Baroque eras, and a member of the Roman School of composers.

He was the older brother of another important, and somewhat more progressive composer of the same period, Giovanni Francesco Anerio.

“Christus Factus Est”.

Composed By: Felice Anerio (1560 - 1614).

Sung By: Platinum Consort.

Available on YouTube

HERE

Pope Saint Fabian And Saint Sebastian. Martyrs. Feast Day, Today, 20 January. Red Vestments.

Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Pope Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian.
   Martyrs.
   Feast Day 20 January.

Double.

Red Vestments.

AND

Pope Saint Fabian (236 A.D. - 250 A.D.)

wears an anachronistic Papal Tiara

Artist: Giovanni di Paolo (1403–1482).

Date: Mid-15th-Century.

Current location: National Gallery, London.

Source/Photographer: The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei.

DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN3936122202.

Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.

Saint Sebastian of Avla.

Captain of The The Prætorian Guard.

Roman Soldier, Healer and Martyr.

Artist: Il Sodoma (1477–1549).

Date: 1525.

Current location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy.

Source/Photographer: The Yorck Project:

10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei.

DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN3936122202.

Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The two great Roman Martyrs, Fabian and Sebastian, made manifest, the first in 250 A.D. in The Persecution of Decius, the second in 284 A.D. in that of Diocletian, The Divine Power of Christ "Who operated Wonders in them" (Gradual). The ancient Martyrologies unite their names.

The appearance of The Holy Ghost, in the form of a Dove, had attested The Divinity of Jesus on The Day of His Baptism. It was also a Dove, hovering above Fabian, that pointed him out to The Church as Vicar of Jesus Christ.

Saint Sebastian, an Officer of The Imperial Household and Commander of a Cohort, encouraged his brothers-in-arms, subjected to torments on account of their Faith. Diocletian ordered him to be pierced with arrows. Sebastian, having escaped death, reappeared before the Emperor and reproached him with his crimes. He was condemned to be flogged to death.

Like the Martyrs mentioned in the Epistle, these two Saints "were found perfect in the testimony they bore of their Faith in Jesus Christ," for "it is for the cause of The Son of Man that they suffered persecution" (Gospel), Numerous cures were wrought by Saint Sebastian or, rather, by the virtue of Christ which was in him (Gospel and Communion).

Let us in our weakness have recourse (Collect) to the powerful protection of these glorious Martyrs.

Mass: Intret in conspéctu.

Pope Saint Fabian (236 A.D. - 250 A.D.).

“The Mass Of The Foundation Of The Trinitarian Order”.

Artist: Juan Carreño de Miranda.

Illustration: LOUVRE

THE SAINT ANDREW DAILY MISSAL

THE SAINT ANDREW DAILY MISSAL

Available (in U.K.) from

CENACLE CATHOLIC BOOKS

HERE

Available (in U.S.A.) from

ST. BONAVENTURE PUBLICATIONS

HERE

Available (in Ireland) from

SILVERSTREAM PRIORY

HERE

Herewith, German Nomenclature For Religious Establishments. In Case You Were Wondering !!!

The unfinished Cologne Cathedral in 1855. 

The Mediæval Crane was still in place, while 

construction for the Nave had been resumed in 1814.

Bau des Doms, Köln, 1855 Salzpapier.

Photo: 1855.

Source: 

http://www.muenchner-stadtmuseum.de

Author: Johannes Franciscus Michiels.

(Wikimedia Commons)

English: 

Maulbronn Monastery, Germany.

Deutsch: 

Klosters Maulbronn, Deutschland.

Photo: 18 August 2017.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

Author: H. Zell.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from Copilot.

German Religious terminology is a whole eco-system, and, once you see how the pieces fit, the language becomes much clearer.

Kloster.

A Kloster is the most general term: A Monastery.

Characteristics.

• A Community of Monks or Nuns.

• Members live under a Monastic Rule (e.g., Benedictine, Cistercian, etc).

• The building complex is called Kloster, regardless of size or rank.

• Can be led by:

• An Abt/Äbtissin (if it’s an Abtei);

• Or, a Prior/Prioress (if it’s a Priory).

Think of Kloster as the umbrella term for Monastic life.

English: 

Maria Laach Abbey, a perfect example of Rhineland Romanesque; built mainly between 1130 and 1156.

Deutsch: 

Klosterkirche der Abtei Maria Laach.

Polski: 

Opactwo Maria Laach - wodok na kościół.

Photo: 16 September 2007.

Source: Own work transferred from de.wikipedia

(Original text: selbst fotografiert) Benton, Janetta 

Rebold (2002) Art of the Middle Ages, World of Art, 

Thames & Hudson, pp. 114–115 ISBN: 978-0-500-20350-7.

This File is licensed under the

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

Attribution: Goldi64.

Author: Goldi64 at German Wikipedia

(Wikimedia Commons)

Domstift.

A Domstift is a Cathedral Chapter — a Community of Canons attached to a Cathedral (Dom).

Characteristics.

• Members are Domherren (Canons), often Clergy of high status.

• Historically powerful: They elected Bishops, managed Cathedral lands, and advised Rulers.

• Not Monastic; Canons did not take Monastic Vows.

• The Church is a Dom, but the Institution is the Domstift.

So a Domstift is a Stift specifically tied to a Cathedral.

Weltenburg Abbey High Altar.

Photo: 1 July 2012.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

Author: Mattana

(Wikimedia Commons)

English: Lady Chapel, Kelheim Kloster, Weltenburg.

Deutsch: Kelheim Kloster Weltenburg. Frauenbergkapelle.

Photo: 8 March 2011.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

Author: Holz85

(Wikimedia Commons)

Stiftskirche.

A Stiftskirche is the Church belonging to a Stift.

Characteristics.

• The building used by the Canons or Canonesses of a Stift.

• Not necessarily a Cathedral.

• Often large and richly endowed.

A Stiftskirche is to a Stift what a Cathedral is to a Bishopric.

English: Benedictine Monastery Church, 

Ettal, Bavaria, Germany.

Deutsch: Klosterkirche von Ettal.

Photo: 19 September 2025.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the 

Creative Commons Attribution 

3.0 Germany licence.

Author: User:Mateus2019

(Wikimedia Commons)

Stift (expanded).

As mentioned earlier, a Stift is a Foundation with a Religious purpose, but not necessarily Monastic.

Types of Stifte.

• Domstift — Cathedral Chapter.

• Kollegiatstift — Collegiate Chapter (Canons living communally).

• Fräuleinstift — a Foundation for noblewomen (Canonesses), often without strict Vows.

• Hochstift — a Territory ruled by a Prince-Bishop (the Stift became a State).

A Stift is about organisation and property, not Monastic discipline.

The former Imperial Abbey of Zwiefalten in 1890. Most Imperial Abbeys belonged to the Benedictine Order.

Zwiefalten, Ort und Kloster.

Photo: 1890.

Source: Eingescannt aus: Wolfgang Hesse: Ansichten aus Schwaben; Kunst, Land und Leute in Aufnahmen der ersten Tübinger Lichtbildner und des Fotografen Paul Sinner (1838 - 1925); Verlag Gebr. Metz, Tübingen, 1989.

Author: Paul Sinner (1838–1925).

(Wikimedia Commons)

Abtei (expanded).

An Abtei is a full Monastery with the rank of an Abbey.

Characteristics.

• Always Monastic.

• Led by an Abt or Äbtissin.

• Often part of an Order (Benedictine, Cistercian, Premonstratensian, etc).

• Higher status than a simple Kloster.

Every Abtei is a Kloster, but not every Kloster is an Abtei.

Consider carefully. Read. Remember. Digest.

Questions will be asked.

“Oh, Dear. Perkins (Chauffeur) Has Gone Into His Yellow Mood, Again.”

1916 AMERICAN LAFRANCE SPEEDSTER.

Illustration: HYMAN LTD

“Bogurodzica” (Mother Of God). Polish Hymn To Jesus And The Blessed Virgin Mary. Szczęść Boże Polsce.

BOGURODZICA.

Bogurodzica 🙏 

Bogurodzica dziewica, 

Bogiem sławiena Maryja. 

U twego syna, Gospodzina, 

matko zwolena, Maryja ! 

Zyszczy nam, spuści nam. 

Kyrie eleison. 

Twego dziela Krzciciela, Bożycze, 

Usłysz głosy, napełń myśli człowiecze. 

Słysz modlitwę, jąż nosimy, 

A dać raczy, jenoż prosimy: 

A na świecie zbożny pobyt, 

Po żywocie rajski przebyt. Kyrie eleison. 

PIEŚŃ BOGURODZICA ODŚPIEWANA PRZEZ KILKU TYSIĘCZNĄ GRUPĘ MĘŻCZYZN podczas pierwszego Ogólnopolskiego spotkania Wojowników Maryi w tym roku

Wojownicy Maryi, ks. Dominik Chmielewski SDB.

Available on YouTube

HERE

“Be Like The Kettle And Sing”. Sung By: Vera Lynn. Plus, “Adagio For Strings”. Composer: Tomaso Albinoni.

“Be Like The Kettle And Sing”.

Sung by: Vera Lynn.

Available on YouTube

HERE

“Adagio For Strings”.

Composer: Tomaso Albinoni.

Available on YouTube

HERE

Dunstable Priory. (Part Four).

Print of Dunstable Priory.

Published 24 December 1819.

Longman & Lackington & Co

and Joseph Harding, London.

Illustration: THE VIRTUAL LIBRARY

Text from Wikipedia — the free encyclopædia,

unless stated otherwise.

Dunstable Priory.

Augustinian Priories.

Available on YouTube

HERE

In 1274, a long and expensive Suit was begun between the Prior and Convent of Dunstable and Eudo la Zouche, who had become Lord of Houghton and Eaton Bray by his marriage with Millicent de Cantelow. 

Eudo refused to recognise the Rights of the Prior (established not only by Charter but by long custom) to a gallows and prison in Houghton; he released one of his men from the prison and overthrew the gallows. 

Under the next Prior, William le Breton, the gallows were restored; but Eudo still refused to recognise the prison as the Prior’s Right, and presently erected a gallows of his own. 

The dispute went on for some years, and, after the death of Eudo, was continued by his wife, Millicent, until 1289, when it was finally decided in favour of the Prior.

Dunstable Priory.

Recent Investigations.

Available on YouTube

HERE

In 1286, the Priory had to trim its trees and hedges along the King’s Highway, pursuant to the Statute of Winchester, to curb the activities of highwaymen.[8] 

It was just at this time that the King was asking for subsidies for his Welsh Wars. By an accumulation of misfortune, in the same Winter, the Outer Walls of the Priory had collapsed in the wet weather, and their Hay Ricks had been destroyed by fire; and the Tithes due to the Hospitallers from North Marston Church were in such long arrears that a new arrangement had to be made to pay them off. 

In 1295, the Priory at Bradbourne was so Poor that all the wool produced there had to be granted to the support of the three Brethren who served the Church and Chapels. 

The later pages of the annals are a long story of poverty and struggle to get clear of debt.[6]

PART FIVE FOLLOWS.

Lambach Abbey, Austria.

Lambach Abbey Organ.

Illustration: LAMBACH ABBEY

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,

unless stated otherwise.

Lambach Abbey (German: Stift Lambach) is a Benedictine Monastery, in Lambach, in the Wels-Land district of Upper Austria, Austria.

A Monastery was founded in Lambach about 1040 by Count Arnold II of Lambach-Wels. His son, Bishop Adalbero of Würzburg (later Canonised), changed the Monastery into a Benedictine Abbey in 1056, which it has been ever since.

During the 17th-Century and 18th-Century, a great deal of work in the Baroque Style was carried out, much of it by the Carlone family. Lambach escaped the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Emperor Joseph II in the 1780s.

Easter Organ Tour Through Lambach Abbey.

Österliche Orgelreise durch das Stift Lambach.

P. Prior Johannes Rupertsberger OSB informiert über Orgeln, deren Geschichte und Bedeutung für den Gottesdienst im Allgemeinen. Er begleitet uns zu den zwei Orgel der Stiftskirche. Neben seinem herzlichen Ostergruß schenkt er uns auch eine Hörprobe der Chororgel.

Available On YouTube

HERE

English: Lambach Abbey.

Deutsch: Gesamtanlage Stift Lambach.

Photo: 3 July 2013.

Source: Own work.

Author: Thomas Ledl

(Wikimedia Commons)

In 1897, Adolf Hitler lived in the town of Lambach with his parents and attended the Monastery school, where he saw the hakenkreuz used in decorative carving on the stone and woodwork of the building.

He later used it as a symbol for the Nazi Party, placing it in a White circle with a Red background for use as a flag.[1]

Between Easter Sunday and 31 October, guided tours are offered every day at 1400 hrs. The tour includes entrance to the Romanesque frescoes, the Baroque theatre, the library and the Baroque Church.

Festive Masses at Lambach Abbey.

Available on YouTube

HERE

The Abbey has preserved much of cultural interest. It contains the oldest extant Romanesque frescoes in Southern Germany and Austria, and the former Abbey tavern, now a pharmacy, with a beautiful Baroque façade.

The Abbey’s Baroque theatre has also been restored to working order and the Summer refectory from the Early-18th-Century by Carlo Antonio Carlone has been converted into a concert hall.

The Ambulatory by Diego Carlone from the same period, is of great magnificence. An unexpected feature is the set of Baroque dwarves in the Monastery garden (see also Gleink Abbey).

The Abbey Church was also refurbished in the Baroque Style, with an Organ by Christoph Egedacher, and contains the tomb of Saint Adelbero.

English: Lambach Abbey.

Deutsch: Stift Lambach.

Available on YouTube

HERE

The Abbey also possesses the Mediæval Saint Adelbero’s Chalice, although it is rarely on view to the public, besides a large collection of Sacred Art. The library was constructed about 1691 and contains approximately 50,000 volumes, as well as archive material.

Since 1625, the Abbey has belonged to the Austrian Congregation, which now forms part of the Benedictine Confederation.

The Web-Site of Lambach Abbey can be accessed HERE