Fatima's new 9000-people church

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lepanto
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Guess I can scratch that one off the list of places I would like to go one day.

Holy Mary! What have they done?

What kind of a Crucifix is that anyway? Even the goofy one we have at my parish is a bit nicer than that one.
 
“It has the discrete charm of East German architecture…”

OK, now I’m wondering if he really meant “discreet charm” and meant it in an ironic way.
In this case, perhaps “discrete” really makes more sense.
 
Hellisreal said:
Guess I can scratch that one off the list of places I would like to go one day.
Click to expand...
Don’t do that! It is truly a moving experience.

I was fortunate enough to be chosen to carry the statue during the evening procession last year!👍
 
EDIT To the non-Catholic visiting Fatima, it would be clear to them just by the visuals of the old basillica and the new one that it appears as if two differant faiths are present. One was built for the glory of God and to honor our Lady, the other an abomination to celebrate ecumenism and to discourage “fanaticism” of pilgrims EDIT
 
JimG said:
“It has the discrete charm of East German architecture…”

OK, now I’m wondering if he really meant “discreet charm” and meant it in an ironic way.
In this case, perhaps “discrete” really makes more sense.
Click to expand...
I think “concrete” is the term needed here…
 
I a an artist, and I love that sort of thing. That, however, is entirely inappropriate and in the worst possible taste… philosophical ideas about representational imagery do not always work out well in reality…
 
The inside is better than the outside.

I think it looks more like an aircraft carrier than anything Klingon or Vulcan.
 
Is that supposed to be a Catholic Church? Doesn’t look like one to me.

Look at the old Cathedrals and Churches. Look at the Vatican. That is beauty. The High Altars. The Statues of Christ, the Virgin and the Saints. The stained glass windows. The crucifixes with the corpus. The central tabernacle. The Stations of the Cross and the paintings. Those were Churches. They expressed Catholic belief perfectly.

Compare those with the Church at Fatima.

A stranger wouldn’t even know that this was a Catholic Church.
 
EddieArent said:
EDIT To the non-Catholic visiting Fatima, it would be clear to them just by the visuals of the old basillica and the new one that it appears as if two differant faiths are present. One was built for the glory of God and to honor our Lady, the other an abomination to celebrate ecumenism and to discourage “fanaticism” of pilgrims EDIT
Click to expand...
40.png
RPConover:
philosophical ideas about representational imagery do not always work out well in reality…
Click to expand...
I put these quotes together because I think the second explains the misunderstanding had by the first. If you ever read explanations for churches in the style of the one in the OP, you will see that they almost always have very orthodox and praise-worthy meaning behind it. It is for the glory of God and not to do what Eddie claims it is trying to do.

The problem in these cases is, as RP points out, the good meaning that the architect is trying to convey is completely lost on the average person. They just don’t work to evoke those praiseworthy sentiments and truths they intend to evoke–in fact, they often do the opposite.😦

For example, I’m sure that crucifix by the John Paul II statue is suppose to represent certain truths like how Christ emptied Himself for our salvation, but instead it just looks like a stick-figure that someone threw together without much time, care, or effort.
 
I think the crucifix? if that is what it is supposed to be says it all.

Unbelievable totally unbelievable.
 
I though that Mary requested that a ‘chapel’ be built on the spot of her appearance.

It seems they built a bombshelter instead.
 
It’s round which reminded me of God’s never ending love, I realize it might look a bit odd at first but we should take the time and read and understand why it was built the way it was. We should approach it with some charity. It is a holy place after all.

Did anyone read about the Architect and his reasons for this designs? I found this on their site:

“In my work I try to respond to all the issues that make up architectural design. In this respect I do not pick and choose what by chance interests me most. I do believe very strongly that architecture is a synthesis of art and technique and that even in the most humble matters one can find inspiration for the most inspiring of creations. Sustainability and bioclimatic ecological design is an important factor in our work.Another beautiful aspect of architectural design is the importance of details. It has been said that God is in the detail. So I try to extend the first broad conceptual strokes right up to the last detail.”

**“How would you like this work of yours in Fatima to be remembered?
**I would be more than happy if the new Church comes to be loved by everyone who will enter into its large interior. If everyone finds in this space, a space of calm and serenity, a space that will help to bring people together to be able to worship and have a feeling of completeness. I will also be happy if people come to recognize that the Church fits into its surroundings not by trying to impose itself, even though it is so large, but by projecting a low profile of a humble presence of simplicity.”
 
Brendan said:
I though that Mary requested that a ‘chapel’ be built on the spot of her appearance.

It seems they built a bombshelter instead.
Click to expand...
Perhaps the shape is reminiscent of the vision?
At the last apparition, on October 13, with about 70,000 people present, the Lady said to them that she was the “Lady of the Rosary” and that a chapel was to be built there in her honor. After the apparition all present witnessed the miracle promised to the three children in July and September :the sun, resembling a silver disc, could be gazed at without difficulty and, whirling on itself like a wheel of fire, it seemed about to fall upon the earth.
Click to expand...
 
Maybe I missed it because the pix don’t show all the nooks and crannies of the church’s interior, but where is a statue/painting/mosaic/something that represents Our Lady of Fatima? Or isn’t the church about her? I didn’t catch the name of the new church, either. :confused:
 
People with good intentions can do some horrible stuff.

I went to an art show which had some art about love, it had canvasses with finger painted hearts. Something my 6year old could do yet the artist was an adult, who was very proud of his expression of art.

When art\architecture needs to be explained it detracts from the meaning and is not appropriate for a Catholic Church. Vatican II specified quite clearly how art should edify and foster the formation of the religious faithful.
ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/V2LITUR.HTM
Read this with an understanding of how Churches looked in the time of writing and how the liturgy was conducted.

When art needs to be explained it is not fostering formation but confusing people. When buildings need explanation, when religious art is removed and when it is difficult to distinguish the focus, the architect\artists have failed. They would need to be replaced or redo the work properly.

I know of a Church of religious science in my town that looks similar to this, except it looks more Christian.

God Bless
Scylla
 
That is one ugly building. Sorry- it is.
What are our children going to think when they look at that thing?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top