Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy
By: Denis R. McNamara ; [foreword by Scott  Hahn]
Publisher: Hillenbrand Books
Published: November 9, 2009
Place of publication: Chicago
Language: eng
Number of pages: 256
ISBN-13: 9781595250278
Description: This unique book delves into the deep meanings of liturgical art and architecture, and by association, the Sacred Liturgy itself. It is meant to help pastors, architects, artists, members of building committees, seminarians, and everyone interested in liturgical art and architecture come to grips with the many competing themes which are at work in church buildings today. The object of Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy is help the reader to drink deeply from the wells of the tradition, to look with fresh eyes at things thought to be outdated or meaningless, and glean the principles which underlie the richness of the Catholic faith. 

Part one presents an emerging area of study: Architectural Theology 
Part two introduces the readers for the first time to the scriptural foundations of church architecture 
Part three focuses on the classical tradition of architecture 
Part four examines iconography as eschatological and 
Part five concludes with a discussion of the Twentieth Century and where we are now in the Age of the Church. 

Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy is a foundational sourcebook for studying, designing, building, and renovating Catholic churches, this book is intended to find the middle of the road between differing and sometimes conflicting theories of liturgical architecture. It will give architects and building committees the theological language and tools to understand the elements of church design by examining past architecture and will help decision makers link these principles to their current building projects.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Lex orandi, Lex credendi, Lex aedificandi : architecture as the built form of ideas; title: An architecture of joy : beauty and liturgical art and architecture; title: The time of shadow : the Temple and salvation; title: Living stones : the New Testament and the temple; title: Architecture of the Sabbath : the church as image of the heavenly Jerusalem; title: Decoration : clarity through revelation of structure; title: Ornament : clarity through revelation of use and purpose; title: Columns and pillars of the church; title: Sacred image and iconic revelation; title: Historical, devotional, and liturgical images : principles for contemporary church builders and renovators; title: The liturgical movement and church building; title: The texts of Vatican II : looking again at Sacrosanctum concilium; title: Meeting house or church : the hermeneutics of discontinuity and reform; title: Conclusion. Urbs beata Jerusalem.