The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-11-17
Continued from page ~
CATHOLIC CHURCH
ARCHITECTURE

!, AkIHllEIlUNE
ramentality?) which runs through all
, the arrangements and details of Cath
Ollie architecture of Christian disci-
!, pline, and is suggested by Christian
, devotion. 1t is this sacramentality
that is so characteristic of the an
cient churches, which distinguishes
them from our own. By sacrament
, tality we mean to convey the idea
!, that by the outward and visible form
is signified something inward and
spiritual that the material fabric
symbolizes, embodies, figures, repre-
psents, expresses, answers to, some alb
Istract meaning. Consequently, unless
this ideal be itself true, or be rightly
understood, he who seeks to build a
Christian church may embody false
or incomplete or mistaken ideal, but
will not develop the true one. 1t must
be Christian reality, the true express
sion of true ideal, which makes
, Catholic architecture what it is. This
Christian reality we would call sacra-
mentality, investing that symbolical
truthfulness, which it has in common
with every true expression, with a
lgreater force and holiness, both from
the association which this name will
give it with those adorable and con-
summate examples of the same prin-
ciples, infinitely more developed, and
infinitely more holy in the spiritual
grace which they signify and convey
, the Blessed Sacraments of the
Church.
!, A Catholic church should also have
: the power to stir the emotions
through the media of art and symbol
} ism. Who has not come under the
spell of the air of mystery in a real
Catholic church caused by a play of
light and shade? Shadowy side aisles
J and transepts with annexed and
, partly secluded chapels, the glittering
) gold peeping from the walls high
} above, fire-fashing colors of the win
: dows dripping jewels from a rainbow,
, as it were; fine proportions of the
building and harmonious relations of
, all its component parts to each other,
and the whole blending in swell Of
! harmony and unity, when united with
: the solemn music and ceremony of
Holy Church, lift us truly beyond and
out of the dull mercenary atmosphere
of this busy workaday world. One
of Gods greatest lessons in order is
5 found in the wonderful harmony,
unity and variety of the three great
natural kingdoms; animal, mineral
and vegetable. This important fea-
/ ture of unity and harmony of the fur
nishings and decorations with the
style of the building has been neglect.
ed to great extent in American
churches, perhaps more than else
where. 1t has been the custom in
some parts of the country to divorce
: the architect from the design of the
furnishings, which instead of being
the crown of the building and his
achievement have often become its
: unredeeming feature and artistic dis
grace. Who has not seen the bad
2 effect of a divided artistic RESPONSE
bility. If too many cooks spoil the
: broth, certainly too many leaders in
$ design spoil a church. If we would
4 stop to consider the duties of the ar
t chitect as we consider the duties of a
conductor of symphony orchestra,
/, no such divorce of responsibility
n would occur. The architect must be
familiar with all the arts and trades
that go to make up his building; he
must bring them all into harmony like
the musical director who brings har.
t mony and unity out of the various
t and radically different musical instru-
: ments; but also he must bring all to
. a great height of artistic expression,
impossible to achieve if two or more
r minds clash in the Interpretation OF
+! the score of the symphony. Granted
;, that another orchestral conductor may
have finer Interpretation, or another
architect may have greater concep.
t ton of the work in hand; but once the
director or the architect is carefully
0 chosen he must have the freedom to
|. develop his ideas throughout in every
t detail OF the work, subject of course
r to the important item of cost. Per
sonally, feel confident of meritine
0 the sustaining support and encourage
3 ment of your church committee 81 in
t executing and carrying to completion
sooner or later-your entire church
down to the last and smallest detail
a The wall decorations, the windows
affairs with their correct appoint
). lments, furniture, vestments, orgaT
j case, lighting fixtures; in fact, every
Y item no matter how small, will receive
f my careful attention as to its design
e suitable for its purpose, thereby form
ling an integral part of the whole
There is just as much harmony ant
d unity, and evidence Of Gods plan, il
It the smallest of His creatures as there
# is in the whole universe, and the same
n should hold true in the building ant
furnishing of Catholic church.
: Didactic Power of Catholic Art.
S There is, still another reason VIII,
n all Catholic architecture and especial
ly church architecture should be an
ltistically correct and attractive, an,
l. this is found in the position tn
/: church occupies in the community