The Irish standard., 1920-05-08
Continued from page !
APOSTOLIC DELEGATE
TO BLESS SHRINE

altar which DR.. McKenna has con.
stantly before him as he pictures the
thousand details Of the great church.
Even an amateur at carpentry could
readily build it's counterpart. 1t is
but few plain boards nailed together
in a rough box-like form. Only the
fashioning of the tiny tabernacle and
the construction and fitting Of the
doors of the cabinet, which held
Bishop Carrolrs vestments, would tax
tyro's skill.
In the Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception that is to stand within an
hours ride of Bishop Carrolls for
mer episcopal residence, there will be
more than forty altars each rivaling
the other in richness and artistry.
They will represent in their number
and splendor the present strength of
the Catholic Church in the United
States as the rude heritage from
Bishop Carroll symbolizes the fewness
Of the flock in his day.
When the National Shrine has taken
final shape it will share with the Cap.
itol the pride of the people of Wash
ington and the interest of visitors.
Its noble dome will vie with that of
the Capitol. The campanile or bell
tower will rise gracefully to compete
in height and in beauty with Wash.
ington Monument. From the Potomac
river and Arlington and all parts of
the District of Columbia this snow
white pile will be visible.
Will Cost at Least $5,000,OO0.
1t will require $1,OOO,O00 to build
the sanctuary Of the Shrine alone. The
cost of the edifice will mount to
SIS, 100000 and perhaps an even larger
sum. How long will the Shrine be
in course of construction? 1t is ex-
pected that the crypt or basement be-
meath the sanctuary of the upper
church will be completed in three
years. The entire work could be done
in ten years, but it is probable that a
longer period of time will be neces-
sary before the church is fully COM
pleted. The generosity of the Cath
olic people of the United States is
considered the principal element in
this equation. 1t may be they will
wish to lavish richer ornamentation
on this Shrine than present plans con-
template. All those in charge of the
work hope it will not be so long in
building as the Cathedral of Cologne
about 500 years.
The Shrine will stand on the
grounds of the Catholic University
surrounded by buildings of the Uni
versity group. Its majestic facade
will look to the south-the Potomac
river and the Virginia hills. It's di.
mensions-vast as they are-no more
measure its 1mpressiveness than they
picture its beauty, but they give some
faint notion of the task which the
zeal of American Catholics has set
before them. The length of the
Shrine will be 42O feet; the main nave
will be 81 feet wide. One Of its two
transepts will be 1874 feet in width
and the other somewhat less. The
facade will be 1874 feet in width.
A great dome, over 80 feet wide
will surmount the edifice. From the
cross at the top Of this dome to the
ground will be an interval of 254 feet.
The splendid campanile, remindful of
the best specimens of Northern Italy,
will be $50 feet high. This is almost
three-fourths the height of Washing.
ton Monument. It is designed to
place in this campanile carlton of
the sweetest tones. These chimes
watt sacred melodies to the four
winds on religious festival days.
Art From Europe.
From Europe's wealth of art will
come much of the interior ornamen.
tation Of the Shrine. In the crypt
beneath the main church the high
altar and the fifteen lesser affairs will
give opportunities for rare embellish.
ment. The high altar will be dedi-
Gated to the Blessed Virgin under the
title, "Our Lady of the Catacombs." {"
In that title is the keynote Of the
decorations which will ind place
here. Accordingly, there will be re-.
produced striking features Of the 70.
ligious art Of the Catacombs-fres
Goes picturing In various ways the
Madonna and the Divine Child.
Each Of the fifteen lesser affairs viii
represent as many famous national
shrines Of the Old and the New World.
Poland. Switzerland, Spain, France,
Italy, Africa, Mexico, Chile and Ar.
gentina have each a prototype that
will be represented in Americas
great shrine. Mosaic settings for
these a1farR will afOw what nor+io.