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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lepanto
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
View attachment 5142

Saint Wendelin, Fostoria, OH

Notice the cupolas from the former Church structure. Now we have protection from the rain, better access to parking and dropping off, a gathering space, a large room for Fellowship with Kitchen, a long wide hall with offices, bathrooms and library and coat hanging for everyone. Handicap accessable! The attached convent for more rooms for activities and a over the top organ in the worship space.

Both our Parish and the one I posted from Tiffin, OH are in a county with higher unemployment than the Parish in the next county. But we have a refurbishment (St. Mary’s) and a new Church structure (here.) My county has had consolidations, and there are other refurbished Churches in our county which repainted (brought back) the old murals. Notably All Saints, formerly Saint Boniface, which now also includes 2 chapels, which were formerly Parish Churches: Saint Nicholas and Saint Peters. Masses are held at the chapels. I know that the interiors could be called beautiful; they date back to the early 1800s.

PS Steady stream of converts at St. Wendelin, amazing huh! I consider that anyone who dislikes this Church structure is likely envious. People come from other Parishes, sometimes, to attend. It is favored by the Priests, it is active, and we have 2 Priests, not too long ago 3. Bishop Baker’s hometown, but the not during the time of the new building. It is very practical. The gardeners are very busy with a multitude of flowers, a new outdoor statue of the Holy Family donated. Humorously, the maker of the stained class goofed on a major window - the Resurrection, and, that bugs me.
 
Well said. I’d like to add another comment, a famous story about building the great Cathedrals of Europe:
One day a man showed up on the construction site of one of the great cathedrals and saw a builder carving a tiny bird into a beam that would eventually be covered over by the roof. Puzzled, the man asked the worker, “Why are you putting so much time and effort into something no one will ever see?” It is reported that the builder replied, “Because God sees.”

The concept of “less is more” is rhetorically sound, that lavish ornamentation distracts from the sacrifice on Calvary re-presented on the altar, that anything which does not immediately serve the liturgy immedialy distracts from the liturgy. But here’s where the rhetoric ends: how can lavish beauty dedicated to the Lord detract from the Lord?

If a person sees side-altars as unused furniture, then they’re worthless. But if a person recognizes side-altars as small tributes to Calvary’s hill, then they serve to glorify Jesus Christ.

If a person sees the statues of the saints as old-fashioned decoration, then they’re worthless. But if a person models their lives after the saints-- people who dedicated their lives to following Christ under the direction of the Holy Spirit, then the statues are literal models for how to follow Him.

If you see the High Altar as a sign of keeping Christ away from the laity, then the High Altar is nearly offensive. If you see the High Altar as a grand throne for Christ the King, then the thought of a nasty three-piece bronze blob of a tabernacle at the Taj Mahony as patently offenseive.

What end does a church’s beauty serve? Does it serve to make us “feel like we’re in heaven”? Then I say that’s hooey. The Holy Sacrafice of the Mass is not about feelings. It’s about Christ! Our churches, while they certainly need to have a horizontal component, should serve a vertical component. Take care of yourself actually trying to get to heaven, then you’ll have that feeling like you’re there.

I can wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Especially considering the Cistercian lifestyle. I also love the Trappist’s simple minimalism. Of course it should be noted that those buildings were constructed with a different audience in mind that even the parish churches of the same era. They were built to comply to a monastic lifestyle that you don’t find among hoi polloi.
Tsk, tsk. Do I discern the fragrance of elitism? O goody. Yes: Cistercian architecture was totally directed toward Cistercian life; these were not parish churches. Most of them were as far away from cities as they could get.
 
I also liked this more simple chapel at the Capucian cloister also in Salzburg. It sits far up on a hill, very serene and spiritually edifying.

i45.photobucket.com/albums/f91/duchess_1800/Salzburg%202004/070_70.jpg

And this… I don’t remember the name, but I was quite taken by it.

i45.photobucket.com/albums/f91/duchess_1800/Salzburg%202004/018_18-1.jpg

This was my favorite in all of Paris - St. Gervais (Couperin’s church - one of my favorite French composers especially for the organ.)
“Little”, white and bright.
i45.photobucket.com/albums/f91/duchess_1800/Paris%20March%202004/013_13-1.jpg

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St_Germain_Paris.jpg

This was my husband’s favorite church in Paris - St. Etienne-du-Mont
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:DSC_7095–Saint-Etienne-du-.jpg

fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Saint-%C3%89tienne_rood_screen.jpg

s45.photobucket.com/albums/f91/duchess_1800/Paris%20March%202004/?action=view&current=033_33.jpg
 
Cistercian architecture rejected stained glass and statues also. Hm. Great cloisters:
I think you’re intentionally missing the point. Cistercian architecture is well suited to Cistercian worship.

Consider the way that the American Carthusians live in this delightful concrete box in Vermont:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

It’s appropriate to Carthusian worship. But a diocesean parish serves SIGNIFICANTLY different norms of worship.
 
This is one of the oldest Catholic churches in London. I attended mass here in this little, unassuming church while studying there. I’m forever grateful to the “angel” who brought me there my first Sunday in London. It was such a wonderful, spiritual place and one of the first places which opened my eyes to what was lost in terms of liturgical music back where I’m from. And it has such an incredible history.

St. Etheldreda’s

stetheldreda.com/images/scan0011_big.jpg
volokh.com/sasha/etheleast.JPG
farm4.static.flickr.com

stetheldreda.com/
stetheldreda.com/home.html
stetheldreda.com/history.html
stetheldreda.com/masses.html
stetheldreda.com/gallery.html
 
This is one of the oldest Catholic churches in London. I attended mass here in this little, unassuming church while studying there. I’m forever grateful to the “angel” who brought me there my first Sunday in London. It was such a wonderful, spiritual place and one of the first places which opened my eyes to what was lost in terms of liturgical music back where I’m from. And it has such an incredible history.

St. Etheldreda’s

stetheldreda.com/images/scan0011_big.jpg
volokh.com/sasha/etheleast.JPG
farm4.static.flickr.com

stetheldreda.com/
stetheldreda.com/home.html
stetheldreda.com/history.html
stetheldreda.com/masses.html
stetheldreda.com/gallery.html
That looks beautiful, and the music must be amazing.
 
I spent half my childhood in this rural parish. It is still near and dear to my heart and was always a place to pray almost every day as I would make sure most of my hikes through the woods and fields would stop near this parish. It’s not as majestic as other churches I’ve been in, but it is just as beautiful.

tiogaweb.com/church/st_patrick/st_patrick_photos/

Then my parish where I was married and have spent much of my time. They recently got rid of these two side altars which were total eyesores and replaced with a beautiful Mary altar on one side and an equally beautiful St. Joseph altar on the other from a church that was closed. The chapel is being renovated as well. It’s not heavily “touristed” like other cathedrals, but I think that is why I love it more than those. It doesn’t take on the air of a tourist attraction, thank goodness. It’s just a small parish with a very large church and lots of Catholic visitors from all over on Sundays.

stjudeliturgicalarts.com/resources/LiturgicalArts/images/layout/Case1_Images/Case1-Photo2_Large.jpg

stjudeliturgicalarts.com/resources/LiturgicalArts/images/layout/Case1_Images/Case1-Summary_Large.jpg

This was taken before the tabernacle shrine was installed:
stjudeliturgicalarts.com/resources/LiturgicalArts/images/layout/Case1_Images/Case1-Photo3_Large.jpg

flickr.com/photos/8430189@N06/2594503275

You can see the choir loft in this:
newliturgicalmovement.org/2006/03/dvd-review-first-solemn-mass-of.html
 
That looks beautiful, and the music must be amazing.
Yes, it really was. It transported me spiritually and was the first time I realized (at the tender age of 19 - I’m sorry 20) that Wow! Catholic churches still do music like this DURING mass. It was very difficult for me to go back to my Newman Center masses when I finished my semester there and came back to the States. I think the website has a popup of some of the choral music that you can listen to.
 
Of course, I could not ignore my Salesian roots. So, here is a magnifcent picture of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, Italy:

Create your own social network with the best community website builder - NING

Even though I have a strained relationship with the nuns, I am still devoted to Mary under this title.
I am absolutely in awe of so many of the churches people have posted on here. I will have to say I was particularly struck by this one; taking nothing away from the others. Then I saw it was a church in Turin, whence came my Italian great-grandmother.
 
St. Mary Major is one of the great basilicas in Rome. If you’re ever in the Eternal City, go!

And the pastor is, um, American.
He was my bishop once, and I always liked him. I’m glad he has this parish.
 
Got a question. I am becoming Catholic, at easter vigil and all of the 3 parishes in the area were i live do not have this, but in some of the pictures on this thread there is… almost like a little wall with a gate, Separating were the people sit and where the alters are, what is this for?
 
This church is very unusual and beautiful. I hope to come see it someday as I live in Washington. Where in Seattle is it?
It’s near the University, right by the freeway. If you drive to the U district, you will see a huge green spire (you can’t miss it, it is on a hill and is also very tall). There’s also a website with the address:


=)
 
Got a question. I am becoming Catholic, at easter vigil and all of the 3 parishes in the area were i live do not have this, but in some of the pictures on this thread there is… almost like a little wall with a gate, Separating were the people sit and where the alters are, what is this for?
This is called the Communion rail. this was the line of demarcation between the sanctuary where the sacrifice is being offered to where the faithful sit. Only the clergy, ministers (like alcolytes, etc) and altar boys could enter this sacred space. It is kind of like the temple area of ancient Israel. There was the Holy of Holies where only the priest could enter.

Think of it as though you were walking into a courtroom. There is a railing that divides the judge, the attorneys, the plaintiff and the defendent, as well as the jury from the people.

This is also where the faithful receive Holy Communion when the
Extraordinary Form of the Mass is celebrated. The faithful can also receive Holy Communion while kneeling during the Ordinary Form of the Mass (but, that is another thread).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top