The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-05-17
THE CATHOLIC BULLETIN, MAY II, 1919
dedicated, respectively, to the Blessed
Virgin and IN CT Tocanb

dedicated, respectively, to the Blessed
Virgin and to st. Joseph.
Perhaps the most striking features
Of the interior are the huge transept
arches, almost pure Renaissance in
type, and rising to height of nearly
fifty feet. Designed with singular
beauty of line, they none the less give
the impression of great strength and
force
The pillars which flank the nave are
pure white, and partake of the Ro-
manesque in design. Above them are
the circular arches which are so pre-
dominant a feature of this style of
architecture. The nave itself is di-
vided by these pillars into four bays,
lighted by large windows. 1t is forty
six feet wide, one hundred and ten
feet long, and sixty feet high Broad
aisles just outside Of the pillars give
ready access TO all parts of the edi-
fee. Temporary windows of Cathe-
dral glass allow a flood of ditfused
light to permeate the entire struc-
ture These will be replaced in time
by the permanent windows of stained
glass.
The sanctuary is 20 feet in depth
and 33 feet wide between the arches
1t ends in a semi-circular colonnade Of
eight pillars resting on a massive base
and is lighted by nine windows.
The altar rail and the affairs are
exceedingly handsome. The latter are
of yellow Kasota stone, designed With
rare taste. Somewhat eastern in de-
sign, they nevertheless fit perfectly
into the general design of the build
ing. The main or high altar has not
yet been installed. In its place stands
for the present the marble altar which
was removed from the Pro-Cathedral
last winter, and which is to be sup
planted by one more in keeping with
the new building. The pews, the altar
rail, and the lofty throne or Cathedra,
from which the building takes its
name, are of weathered oak, eXqui-
sitely carved.
OF special note is the sculpturing
over the altar, and above the pillars.
Over the main altar is q baS-reicf Of
the Nativity, which is probably the
best work of its kind in the entire
Northwest. In similar fashion, baS-
reliefs of the Death of st. Joseph and
! Of the AnnunciatiOn adOrn the chap
els at either side. Just over the pill
! lars, and surrounding the vault are
heroic sized busts Of the twelve apOs-
i Mo- 49, IL -
the work Of Mr.. Hermant OF Chicago,
whose firm, Bell and Hermant. had
the. contract for finishing the interior.
| Perhaps more noteworthy than any Of
| these is the sculptured figure of Christ
| teaching St. Peter and ST. Paul, which
low it in the Intel Of the main en-
trance is the inscription "Oportet
| illum regnare," His kingdom must
| come"
! The Cathedral is 176 feet in length
| and 120 feet wide at the transepts.
The superstructure is of white Bed
: ford limestone on a foundation OF
Sioux Falls jasper. Rising above the
| facade and forming part Of it are twin
towers made entirely Of Bedford stone
and reaching a height Of 1870 feet
above the grade. There is a basement
| the same size as the upper church,
which can be used as a chapel or as
sembly room. Beneath the sanctuary
there is a crypt for burial purposes.
| The entrance to the basement is on a
| level with the street and at the end
of a tunnel formed by the exterior
steps leading to the main church. AT
| the Gospel side Of the sanctuary and
extending back of it the sacristy is
| located and a covered passage con
meets it with the pastoral residence
erected in the rear of the church.
Both these structures are made of
white Bedford limestone and CORE
spond architecturally with the Cathe-
! dral itself
! The Cathedral, decorations and fur
nishings, cost 100000, and the sacris-
! ty and parish house an additional
| $4,000.
The pleasing effect of the Cathe-
dral both interior and exterior, is due
to the fact that the same firm of
architects had entire charge of the
work. They designed the building,
decorations and furnishings and
everything is in harmony with the
! DrpV1i1iup STYLE of architactura