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

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Guyonthestreet said:
: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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My apologies. I posted the wrong photo and then deleted it within a couple of minutes of my initial posting. I haven’t found any interior shots on the net.

Paul
 
Here is what I believe to be the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower in San Antonio, Texas.

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San Antonio does have its share of beautiful churches. This is one of several.
 
T700 said:
My apologies. I posted the wrong photo and then deleted it within a couple of minutes of my initial posting. I haven’t found any interior shots on the net.

Paul
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👍 For a minute there I thought I was imagining things. Thanks. 👍
 
This is a picture of Our Lady of the Atonement, an Anglican-use Catholic parish in San Antonio. From what I understand, Mother Angelica’s order has set up shop there.



Like I said, San Antonio has a plethora of beautiful churches.
 
Here’s the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, Africa.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/cote-d-ivoire/images/basilica/resized/ext-cc-john-spier.jpg

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/...ca/resized/view-from-inside-cc-john-spier.jpg

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/cote-d-ivoire/images/basilica/resized/interior-wp-pd.jpg

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/cote-d-ivoire/images/basilica/resized/interior-cc-john-spier.jpg

Pax_Vobiscum_57, that photo of Notre Dame in Montreal is beautiful! A lot of churches would look great with accented lighting.

Our Lady of Sorrows in Chicago is also nice.

 
This is Corpus Christi Cathedral. We used to be a part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. I had gone there a couple of times. The crypt is magnifcent.



The Blessed Sacrament chapel is also beautful.

The Cathedral sits on a bluff and you could see the Gulf of Mexico. It is a magnificent view.
 
I know that I posted a picture of one of the side areas of the New Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis, but, here is the picture that I was seeking:



I know that I have gotten quite excited, but, there is a richness in these buildings that we just need to see, even if it is via the websites.
 
Here is the other gem that I visited while I was at St. Louis. It is about two blocks away from the Hyatt at Union Station and I was able to get to Mass there (at 7AM in the cold) and I really enjoyed it.



Attending Mass there was a really prayerful experience. The art really helped give a sense of the divine.
 
benedictgal said:
It is St. Joseph’s, affectionately known as St. Joske’s (after the store that is now Dillard’s). They wanted to tear down the church to build the store, but, the church held out. In fact, the River Center Mall hugs right around it.
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Thanks for the info --benedictgal. When I see churches like the ones on this thread —I thank our Lord and Lady --that the wreckovations did not hit them.
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all for the beautiful photos and links!

You have no idea how your contribution to this thread has lifted my soul closer to God. I am in awe at all this beauty, even it it’s just on the internet. Stepping into these churches is like placing one step in heaven.

Thank you all!
:blessyou:
 
JPUSC said:
Here’s a modern church in the Archdiocese of Rome that I actually think looks nice. Sure, it’s a little plain, but it is aesthetically pleasing.

http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek05/tw0107/0107arch_8jubilee_b.jpg

Cathedral of Brasilia in Brazil looks amazing.

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/75/20475-004-D3DDC4E1.jpg
I must admit, I find nothing aesthetically pleasing. They pale in comparison to the awe inspiring and soul lifting Churches in this thread, such as the Texas ones. What do you find pleasing about the first one? I wouldn’t have know it was a Church if not for the crucifix - it looks like a big plain auditorium. Same with the second one - it looks like another big auditorium meant for a show. I find it modernist and protestant looking - and there are no pews!
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Lepanto said:
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all for the beautiful photos and links!

You have no idea how your contribution to this thread **has lifted my soul closer to God. I am in awe at all this beauty, even it it’s just on the internet. Stepping into these churches is like placing one step in heaven. **

Thank you all!
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:blessyou:
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I agree – and I also thank all who provided the photos.

If I remember right --there should be 1 or maybe 2 other threads with more photos of beautiful churches.
 
Lepanto said:
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all for the beautiful photos and links!

You have no idea how your contribution to this thread has lifted my soul closer to God. I am in awe at all this beauty, even it it’s just on the internet. **Stepping into these churches is like placing one step in heaven. **

Thank you all!
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:blessyou:
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Seconded! Lex orandi, Lex credendi.
 
franklinf said:
JPUSC;4752106 said:
I must admit, I find nothing aesthetically pleasing. They pale in comparison to the awe inspiring and soul lifting Churches in this thread,
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I guess its a case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder. I find those other building edifying and awesome in the truest sense of the words, but for me personally they are far too ‘‘busy’’. Seriously, I do think some of them, in the right lighting, could induce an epileptic seizure. I stress this is only my opinion, but they are way to distrating. I do not deny the beauty and craftsmanship and extrodinary skill that went into building them. That too is truely awesome. But if I want to go to a church to pray, I dont want anything distracting me. I dont need statues, mosaics, murals or anything else. I want to be just seated quietly, with my God. No fuss, no drama, no epileptic fits.
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Benedictgal,

Thank you so much for the wonderful photos. It makes me want to travel just to see those beautiful churches. Maybe a trip to San Antonio is in order. What an encouragement after reading about some of the recent blunders in Catholic architecture.

As someone who converted from Episcopalian, I’ve had a really hard time understanding why we Catholics, who have the living God on our altars, choose such meaningless architecture (not to mention liturgical language and music) when the Episcopalians, who have virtually abandoned traditional Christian belief, still value beauty in their buildings (and, to some degree, in their liturgy and music).

Seeing threads like this remind me that there is hope for a restoration of goodness, truth and beauty in the American church.
 
You are most welcome. There is a brand new shrine in the United States dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is in Wisconsin and it was dedicated by Archbishop Raymond Burke last year. Here is what the altar looks like:

http://www.overheardinthesacristy.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/olg-shrine1.jpg

Here is another view:

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/cont...um_23/midsize_photo48921b8b9fe8e228722924.jpg

It helps that this was the brainchild, if you will, of Archbishop Burke. It is a Romanesque-style church and it is truly magnificent. I got to watch the dedication on TV and it was impressive.
 
benedictgal said:
It helps that this was the brainchild, if you will, of Archbishop Burke. It is a Romanesque-style church and it is truly magnificent. I got to watch the dedication on TV and it was impressive.
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That gives me hope that American church architecture is finally starting to reflect our ancient tradition as it once did. This is simply magnificent. Perhaps somebody will build a church like that in the Pacific Northwest.
 
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