Solemnities highlights liturgical, biblical, and spiritual significance for each of the Roman Catholic calendar’s 17 solemnities.
Written by three Catholic liturgical experts, Solemnities: Celebrating a Tapestry of Divine Beauty presents history, art, and reflections on the 17 greatest celebrations within the Catholic Church.
Designed to increase Catholics’ understanding and appreciation of the Church’s solemnities, this hardcover book seeks to bring these holy days to life in the hearts and homes of Catholics everywhere.
“As followers of Christ, observing these great solemnities should fill us with joy and hope,” write the coauthors. “The layout of this book seeks to demonstrate the glory of these sublime days. It is our sincere hope that this book be a source of prayer, beauty, and divine life for all who read it.”
Featuring historical background, scriptural references, sacred art, and cultural traditions for each celebration, Solemnities encourages readers to ground their lives in the liturgical calendar. The three coauthors have drawn on their specialties in the fields of sacred art, liturgical music, parish ministry, church architecture, and sacred worship to craft an heirloom book that can be treasured for years to come.
Coauthors Christopher Carstens and Denis McNamara appear each week on The Liturgy Guys podcast. This podcast seeks to “share the treasures of Liturgy with English-speaking Catholics all over the world.” Their new written work is an extension of this mission.
Solemnities: Celebrating a Tapestry of Divine Beauty is now available for preorder at AscensionPress.com/Solemnities.
About the Authors
Christopher Carstens is the director of the Office for Sacred Worship of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin. In addition, he is a visiting faculty member at the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois, the editor of the Adoremus Bulletin, and the author of two books on the sacred liturgy. Christopher is one of the voices on the popular podcast The Liturgy Guys.
Denis McNamara is an associate professor and executive director of the Center for Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in the history of art from Yale University and a doctorate in architectural history from the University of Virginia, where his research focused on the study of ecclesiastical architecture of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Denis is a co-host of The Liturgy Guys podcast.
Alexis Kazimira Kutarna earned a master’s degree in liturgy at the Liturgical Institute of the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. In addition, she holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in music, and she is currently a candidate for the doctorate in liturgical studies, with a concentration in Church music, from the University of Vienna. Currently, Alexis is the director of sacred music at Cathedral High School in Houston
- See the full bio for Christopher Carstens here.
- See the full bio for Denis McNamara here.
- See the full bio for Alexis Kazimira Kutarna here.
About Ascension
Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 24 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 10 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year podcast, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and Ascension Presents, which hosts the largest Catholic YouTube channel in English.
Media Contact
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