The beautiful church thread: please post photos / links to beautiful Catholic churches!

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Guyonthestreet said:
This I like - plain bright simple. Nothing to distract you from worshiping God.
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Well, the absence of art certainly is inimical to the Catholic tradition in both the East and the West. Catholic practice has always been to use all five senses in the liturgy…artwork, bells, incense, etc. An Eastern Catholic church, for example, can’t “function” without iconography.

Only in the Reformation era were churches stripped of their artwork, and this church is one designed with that mindset. This is not the “noble simplicity” that Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium called for. This is more like “simple desolation.”
 
Here is what St. Mary’s Cathedral in Austin, Texas, looks like from the inside:



It is also the oldest church in Austin.
 
This is what our cathedral, San Agustin, looks like from the outside:



Unfortunately, I do not have interiors, but the statuary is beautiful.
 
Lepanto said:
Well, the absence of art certainly is inimical to the Catholic tradition in both the East and the West. Catholic practice has always been to use all five senses in the liturgy…artwork, bells, incense, etc. An Eastern Catholic church, for example, can’t “function” without iconography.

Only in the Reformation era were churches stripped of their artwork, and this church is one designed with that mindset. This is not the “noble simplicity” that Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium called for. This is more like “simple desolation.”
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I have have just discovered orthodox chant. It is the most simple and beautiful music I think Ive heard. No musical instruments - just the human voice worshiping God. Then I saw the inside of an orthodox church and my eyeballs exploded. If I had epilepsy, I’d have had a fit. Just way to busy an environment to be ‘‘prayerful’’ - to me that is. Clearly millions of orthodox disagree with me 😃
 
Guyonthestreet said:
I disagree. I think that is hideous.
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[Regarding a picture of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in the Philippines]

Taste is locally formed. My wife, born in the Southern Philippines is a Catholic who thinks this is one of the most beautiful edifices she’s ever seen. Of course, she likes balut, so her tastes are suspect.

One other thing to consider. This shrine is deep in the heart of the Muslim territory of Mindanao; about 20 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro City. For it to have been built is nothing short of a miracle and it serves as a great, visual testimony.

Paul
 
I also got to visit the Old Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, which is beautiful. Here is a picture of the interior:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

The exterior is small, but, boy, when I walked into the cathedral, my jaw dropped.
 
JPUSC said:
How is it hideous? It’s a statue of Christ.
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Just because it is a statue of Christ does not mean it is automnatically something of beauty.

It is man made. It is a statue. And, in my opinion, it is hideous.
 
Guyonthestreet said:
Just because it is a statue of Christ does not mean it is automnatically something of beauty.

It is man made. It is a statue. And, in my opinion, it is hideous.
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I don’t know if you are a Catholic or not, but according to the Diary of Saint Faustina, Jesus will grant special protection and mercy to any city that venerates the Image and any home that displays it.

In the original Divine Mercy image, Jesus told St. Faustina that it is not that important if the picture be beautiful. The true beauty would be the blessing, he, Jesus, would bestow to the people by the means of this painting.

I think it is beautiful how the rays emit from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel - the true source of mercy, hope and forgiveness for the whole world.
 
JPUSC said:
I don’t know if you are a Catholic or not, but according to the Diary of Saint Faustina, Jesus will grant special protection and mercy to any city that venerates the Image and any home that displays it.

In the original Divine Mercy image, Jesus told St. Faustina that it is not that important if the picture be beautiful. The true beauty would be the blessing, he, Jesus, would bestow to the people by the means of this painting.

I think it is beautiful how the rays emit from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel - the true source of mercy, hope and forgiveness for the whole world.
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I understand the sentimment. However, in my opinion, the architect could have done a much better job, and created something that was functional, edifying, AND beautiful. He or she failed on 2 of the 3 counts in my opinion. The inside is much better though, granted.
 
Guyonthestreet said:
I understand the sentimment. However, in my opinion, the architect could have done a much better job, and created something that was functional, edifying, AND beautiful. He or she failed on 2 of the 3 counts in my opinion. The inside is much better though, granted.
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How does the inside look like? I haven’t been able to find pictures.
 
Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa, Oklahoma is currently under a major restoration project. It is really looking nice. I tried posting an image but they are so big it wouldn’t take on here. Just click on the link below and scroll down and you can see the inside of the cathedral. The link below is a blog of what is currently going on with the project. They are working on the spires and the chapel right now. 👍

Scroll down to Thursday, May 01, 2008 for a good picture of the altar.

Current events.

Main website for Holy Family.
 
JPUSC said:
How does the inside look like? I haven’t been able to find pictures.
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:confused: Ok, Im confused now. I thought T700 put a picture of the inside up but Ive gone back to his post and its not there :confused:
 
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