Embroidered Chalice Pall in Style of the 12th-Century St Albans Psalter
A student from Pontifex University’s Master of Sacred Arts program has just sent me this example of her work. Kathryn Laffrey, who lives in Michigan, has created this for a chalice pall and has based the design on an image in the St Albans Psalter. The St Albans Psalter was produced in the 12th century in a late Romanesque/early Gothic style in for the Abbey of St Albans in southern England. Kathryn’s image is approx. 5”x5”, the pall will be 6.5”x6.5”
Here is the recently completed embroidery
Here is the original in the St Alban’s Psalter upon which it is based.
I asked about the inscription and this is what she told me.
The inscription is Confitemini domino the Latin opening phrase of Psalm 105 (Give praise to the LORD). At first, I choose this to pay tribute to the initial “C” inspiration from the St Albans Psalter, also for Ps 105. But after reading through the psalm a few times it spoke strongly of God’s saving power and it made me think of our “source and summit”. I was greatly missing the Eucharistic presence during this time of “lockdown” and this helped me to see Him right here, with me.
Traditionally, chalice palls are given as gifts to priests to celebrate ordination or anniversaries of ordination. Anyone who wishes to contact Kathryn about this can do so at thelaffreys@charter.net