Gammarelli Named Official Vestment Atelier of the Gebetsliga
The Emperor Karl League of Prayer USA / Canada is pleased to announce a new partnership with Rome’s prestigious Ditta Annibale Gammarelli as the official vestment atelier of the Gebetsliga.
Over the past decade, Clergy League Members and Shrines to Blessed Karl have grown across the United States, Canada, and globally, with an ongoing call for sacred vestments that celebrate their connection to Blessed Karl and the Gebetsliga—the official promoter of Emperor Karl’s Cause for Canonization. To meet this growing demand, the Gebetsliga is pleased to partner with Gammarelli. New, ready-to-ship vestments will now be available exclusively in the Gebetsliga online store. Hand-tailored and crafted using exceptional fabrics with metallic details, each vestment will feature the Coat of Arms of the Gebetsliga.
Below: Violet Gebetsliga Chasuble by Gammarelli
Gammarelli was founded in 1798 by Giovanni Antonio Gammarelli under Pope Pius VI as a tailor for the Roman clergy. Today, led by the sixth generation under Stefano Paolo, Maximilian, and Lorenzo, the Gammarelli tailoring shop continues to be celebrated as the benchmark in liturgical dress. From vestments and shoes, to hats and accessories, all garments are hand-made with the same scrupulous attention to details that, over time, has enlivened the lives of countless priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes.
Below: Archival Photographs of Ditta Annibale Gammarelli
Known affectionately as “Tailor to the Pope,” Gammarelli has furnished three white cassocks—small, medium, and large—for Papal Conclaves since the late 18th century. They have served as clothier to Popes Pius VI, Pius VII, Leo XII, Pius VIII, Gregory XVI, Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X, Benedict XV, Pius XI, Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. Gammarelli is celebrated as a paradigm of quality and refinement, synonymous world-over with quality, sacred vestments.
Below: Present-day Photographs of Ditta Annibale Gammarelli
The partnership underscores Blessed Karl’s devotion to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. From equipping priests with Mass sets during wartime to having his sons trained as altar servers, Blessed Karl found daily spiritual nourishment in the Mass and Eucharist. During the Emperor’s fatal illness, Holy Mass was regularly celebrated in the drawing room adjacent to his sick room. At first, the door was left ajar so that he could follow the masses without losing privacy or risk infecting others, but he soon requested that the door be left wide open saying, “I do so want to see the altar!” Later, as Karl lay dying, the the priest held the host before Karl’s eyes as he uttered his final words: “Thy Will be done, Jesus, Jesus, come!”
Below: Gebetsliga Archival Photographs
Vestments Now Available!
Gebetsliga Vestments by Gammarelli are available exclusively in our online store. Special orders are available by emailing the Gebetsliga Creative Director, Fr. Jordan Hainsey.