Stained Glass Window depicting St. Pius X.
Dimensions: 21 1/2 inches width, 29 1/4 inches height.
From a suppressed church in Philadelphia.
via King Richard’s Religious Artifacts
On his Catholic Sacred Arts blog, writer Hugh J. McNichol makes a point about reclaiming what is ours:
Building a Church…let’s buy back our Catholic heritage!
While the American Catholic Church is shifting in the demographic distribution of its Catholic population, careful consideration and reintegration of sacred spaces materials and accessories should always be a primary concern. In a ever conscious eco-friendly world, the Catholic Church needs to reconstitute its sacred materials into new and renovated sacred spaces as an ecological message to the world, and as a gesture of good financial stewardship. Faithful Catholics that struggled and provided the financial resources to provide for our older parishes never imagined their donation, intended for perpetual memorial, to find new homes as designer accessories or surplus architectural details.
As we begin to acknowledge our Catholic architectural and artistic heritage, it is time to design, build and worship in Catholic Churches that identify us as Catholics. Incorporating materials from other Catholic sites as appropriate provides a keen tie to our history in both secular and religious forms.
As a parishioner, I strongly shout to all of those responsible for new Catholic buildings and their planning. Utilize an architectural firm that is knowledgeable of the history of Catholic art and architecture. Plan to reuse materials from suppressed or closed parishes. Remember the truly tangible connection that exists between our Catholic ancestors and their aspirations they left us a spiritual and physical legacy. Incorporate old and new, modern with antique, such integration will allow the parish to experience the physical and historical continuity of an inherited Catholicism.
Read the whole article – it is worth it.
Hmmm… I wonder if Debbie and Larry have any pull with uncle King.
“It is time to design, build and worship in Catholic Churches that identify us as Catholics”
AMEN!!!