The San Fancisco cathedral

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When I was in San Francisco two weeks ago I visited the Catholic Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Ascension, which surprised me very much, and I am still trying to decide what I think of it. I wonder if anyone else here has seen it and would like to give an opinion about it.
 
I’m sorry to say that I didn’t take photos of the inside, though too in fact it is has such enormous space inside it would be hard to take a representative photo. I will look for photos tomorrow though.
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Elzee:
can you post some pictures?
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mspencer:
When I was in San Francisco two weeks ago I visited the Catholic Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Ascension, which surprised me very much, and I am still trying to decide what I think of it. I wonder if anyone else here has seen it and would like to give an opinion about it.
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It’s VERY modern. It’s often referred to as the “Maytag Building” because its spire looks a great deal like a rotor from an old Maytag washer.

While many no doubt hate the building, it’s SO modern in every imaginable way that I sorta like it. The holy water font is very cool.
 
Dude! The great Agitator! The Maytag Building! The Cathedral of St. Maytag!

Actually, I really like the building as a whole. My first impression when I walked into it was, “Wow. This building gives glory to God!”
The pipe organ is awesome too. Looks like it came straight from a Final Fantasy video game.

Unfortunately, I don’t like it as a church. The building naturally draws you too stare straight up, where the altar is a tiny speck way up at the front. When you’re in there, the mass is a speck going on at the side, it seems like. The building draws attention away from it. To that regard, it fails miserably as a church.

That’s my 2 cents.
Josh
 
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threej_lc:
Actually, I really like the building as a whole. My first impression when I walked into it was, “Wow. This building gives glory to God!”
The pipe organ is awesome too. Looks like it came straight from a Final Fantasy video game.

Unfortunately, I don’t like it as a church. The building naturally draws you too stare straight up, where the altar is a tiny speck way up at the front. When you’re in there, the mass is a speck going on at the side, it seems like. The building draws attention away from it. To that regard, it fails miserably as a church.
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Amen; the building is an architectural marvel, but is simply unfitting to be a church, let alone a Cathedral.
 
I attended a Catholic High School close by the Cathedral. On special occasions and Holy Days of Obligation we would attend Mass there. I always got the feeling that I was in a large cave. It didn’t seem like a church to me at all. Its architecture is much too severe and its decoration is sparce. It seems more like a Protestant church rather than a Catholic one. That’s just my opinion, but it’s never changed and I’m 46 now.
 
I must say, it looks really cool to me. Its modern witout any doubt, but it seems slightly different than some other hideous stuff I’ve seen. I’ve never been to mass there though, so I have to take your opinions on its functionability. It does look cool though.🙂
 
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pm1853:
I must say, it looks really cool to me. Its modern witout any doubt, but it seems slightly different than some other hideous stuff I’ve seen. I’ve never been to mass there though, so I have to take your opinions on its functionability. It does look cool though.🙂
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I have been to Mass there and I was overwhelmed by the acoustic integrity contained therein. The Cantor positioned himself in front of one of the buttresses (columns?) and, without amplification, was able to be heard and understood throughout the worship space. “How do I know?,” you ask? Well, I questioned some of my fellow attendees and their response was the same.

I found the worship space very appropriate for the celebration and inviting, even demanding the participation of the assembly, and acoustically supporting the assemblie’s effort, as a building built for the Glory of God should.

The buildings simple shape is what gives it the ability to do as it’s intended, provide a worship space that supports the celebration being held within.

It is befitting to afford the structure it’s due. As for distractions within the worship space, I give you St. Peters Basilica.

Richard
 
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