St. Mary's Cathedral, Tokyo

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I just saw images of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Tokyo. When I first saw the pictures, my first impression was or probably I was sure that it was some protestant church. I was really shocked to know that it is actually the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo!

And if I was surprised at the exterior, I was even more surprised to look at the inside of the Church. It looks to bare. No statues at all and not even a crucifix at the altar, just a cross.

Isn’t that there are certain rules or even guidelines that one should follow in constructing a Catholic church?

I mean, if one who didn’t know it was a cathedral would look at it for the first time, he would certainly say that it is not a cathedral. It looks much more like a conference center of some sorts. And I did see a noticeable lack of crosses in the exterior of the cathedral, just a single one at the top of the bell tower.

And also I was just wondering about the name. Who is the St. Mary that the name is referring to? Honestly, part of the reason why I thought it was a protestant church is the name St. Mary’s. Because if this Mary refers to the Virgin Mary, they should probably have used one of Mary’s titles such as the Immaculate Conception or something.

Yes, Mary is a saint but Catholics consider Mary the Queen of all Saints so I think only Protestants refer to her as “St. Mary.” We give Mary much more veneration than all the saints.

Any thoughts about this?

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10720085.jpg

http://v14.nonxt6.c.bigcache.google...otos/original/20005012.jpg?redirect_counter=1



http://mallorea.student.utwente.nl/~jorg/Photos/Japan/Post4/StMarysCathedral/IMG_9263.JPG
 
Yeah, and where’s the tabernacle in the photos? I can’t seem to find it in the center-front of the cathedral where it’s supposed to be…
 
Beautiful cathedral. I don’t know if there’s rules concerning the interior design of a church, and if there were what can one really ever so about it, but there are rules about posting gigantic images on the forum, which one can do something about, such as not doing it. 😉
 
I kind of like it. But yeah, where is the tabernacle? Maybe it’s off to the side. And I don’t think there has to be a crucifix above the alter, I believe I’ve seen other churches that just have the cross. But I could be wrong.

Also, I’ve seen plenty of Catholic churches just called St. Mary. In fact, there’s one not too far from my house. I don’t think it’s a Protestant way of referring to her.
 
What a beautiful Cathedral! And the interior is likewise very inspiring - - impressive.

Remember, the traditional Gothic style is not a part of Oriental history . . . if this church used the pagoda style, would it not still be reverent and valid?

Regarding the tabernacle and host etc, it does not need to be located proximal to the alter. Many churches including mine have a distinct room or chaplet for the blessed sacrament.

And please, smaller pics . .
 
If anything… it is often the case that large Cathedrals which are tourist attractions will have the tabernacle in a separate chapel.

I think this qualifies as a tourist attraction.
 
  1. It is a beautiful building. I don’t think churches were built in Japan during the Gothic period. I think neo-gothic is over-rated.
  2. It is the norm, rather than the exception, for the Blessed Sacrament to be reserved in a chapel in cathedrals rather than on the high altar.
  3. I know of many Catholic churches which have one of our Lady’s titles but which are often called “St. Mary’s”. My childhood parish was the Immaculate Conception but we called it St. Mary’s.
 
Senecus said:
What a beautiful Cathedral! And the interior is likewise very inspiring - - impressive.

Remember, the traditional Gothic style is not a part of Oriental history . . . if this church used the pagoda style, would it not still be reverent and valid?
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It’s really very ugly and modernist. Would you say, by the way, that the styles of Frank Lloyd Wright and other post-1940’s architects are part of “Oriental History”? Architectural modernism, deconstructivism, and a thousand other degenerate ideas are entirely American or European by invention. Inferring or calling this monstrosity part of oriental culture is an insult to the beauty of pagodas and Japanese temples. No one would object if a pagoda style was made into a Catholic Church, but this thing is generic, vague, ugly, faceless garbage.
Matthew_Holford said:
  1. It is a beautiful building. I don’t think churches were built in Japan during the Gothic period. I think neo-gothic is over-rated.
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I don’t think it particularly matters what happened in Japan in the Gothic period. We’re here, now, and we should use styles that are awe-inspiring and beautiful, not trash tins and rubbish bins. My faith is actually weakened slightly by the gall of Christians in constructing such a heap fit for seagulls to perch on. 😦
 
pjcsisabel said:
And also I was just wondering about the name. Who is the St. Mary that the name is referring to? Honestly, part of the reason why I thought it was a protestant church is the name St. Mary’s. Because if this Mary refers to the Virgin Mary, they should probably have used one of Mary’s titles such as the Immaculate Conception or something.

Yes, Mary is a saint but Catholics consider Mary the Queen of all Saints so I think only Protestants refer to her as “St. Mary.” We give Mary much more veneration than all the saints.
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Most Protestants would not refer to her as “St. Mary”! Generally it would be simply “Mary” or “Mary, mother of Jesus” to clarify. And most Protestants only talk about her at Christmas. (Anglicans are a significant exception to all this.)

Although in English we don’t usually refer to her as “St. Mary,” that is an accurate term and a not uncommon place name. The cathedral in Covington, Kentucky is St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. One of the four Papal Basilicas in Rome is the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
 
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