A major step forward in the Catholic architectural landscape occurred this morning.
Bishop Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh announced at an 11 am EST press conference that they have chosen an architect for their new cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. And it is not a high-style, “starchitect” Modernist chosen by the secular museum-based intelligentsia. It is an architect known for his traditional designs (like the new monastery for the Mystic Monk Coffee monks in Wyoming) as well as his own Catholic faith: James McCrery of McCrery Architects in Washington, DC.
Watch a video of the press conference here.
An initial proposal –only in its earliest stages of development– is shown here. But all who love traditional architecture can rejoice. For the first time in more than half a century, a talented architect trained in traditional architecture will design a large-scale cathedral from scratch. Not a renovation. All new.
This is good news.
James McCrery is not local Joe the architect told to “do classical.” He is not a Modernist who knows nothing of traditional design and makes compromised attempts to do something he is not trained to do. He is the real thing. And the people of Raleigh and the nation should celebrate.
The diocese announced about a year ago that they were considering building a new principal church for the rapidly-growing diocese. Rumors buzzed around certain parts of the blogosphere with the usual comments, hoping the mother church of the diocese wasn’t going to look like a “mother ship.”
For those who don’t follow the ins and outs of ecclesiastical architecture very closely, it’s worth reiterating: this is a big, big deal. Talented architect like Duncan Stroik and David Meleca and others have designed large, beautiful buildings for college chapels, parishes and important shrines. But this is the first time in our lifetime that a bishop has engaged a specialist in traditional to design and build a new cathedral.
And this is indeed cause for rejoicing.
September 8, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Good Morning, Salvage,
So, if I understand you correctly, you believe that the moneys that the diocese may spend on the proposed cathedral would be better spent on the poor, needy, and abused. Hmm. If you had the money to provide for your parents, would you require them to live in a warehouse? Or would you buy a nice, comfortable home? If the latter, wouldn't you be guilty neglecting the poor, needy, and abused in the manner by which you accuse the Church? I can't imagine your parents would appreciate the warehouse though.
You're quite correct in referring to Church history concerning monks. You also seem oblivious to St Paul's comments regarding vocations. Not all parts of the Body of Christ will live exactly the same way. Different portions will have different lifestyles, depending greatly on their calling in life.
1:40 Anonymous:
If you believe modern technology and so forth so wonderful, I fear I might horrify you: I keep thinking it'd be rather cool to offer the entire Easter Vigil Mass by candlelight, with almost no light bulbs in use at all. Granted, it won't happen, but technology can easily be overused.
I've noticed that I have a strong preference for the churches in this area that Catholics built before 1950. After 1950..they seem generally quite boring to me. ..But then, I'm a sucker for good stained glass! 🙂
PS. Have you ever been in a church that has an organ with actual pipes? Organs with speakers work fine, but you haven't heard organ music 'til you've heard it on a genuine pipe organ!
What a sound!!
September 8, 2011 at 3:38 pm
"Because if there is one thing Jesus was all about it was giant expensive houses for people to sit in to tell him how great he was."
Exodus. God commands His followers to build out of gold, brass, setim wood etc etc. God hates the poor.
"Hey, crazy idea, why not a simpler structure and the remaining money goes to a shelter or some organization that helps victims of sexual abuse?"
This is built for the greater glory of God whereas each generation has innumerable Judas' who complain of expensive items used to worship God that could have better spent to help the poor
"Ah just kidding, I know, big churches is more important than all that helping the poor crap otherwise how would your god know how fearing of it you are?"
Most of the big Catholic Churches in the world were built, in part, with the monies contributed by the poor who took GREAT pride in giving what little they had to construct a beautiful Church, with Iconography, Verticality, and Permanence and within which is an Altar, the symbol of Jesus, and which Catholic Church was decorated with Statuary and paintings and sculpture and carvings which were, essentially, a Catechesis in stone where as the Puritan minded suck
September 8, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Hey Salvage.
So it sounds like you have asked your questions somewhere, but have not been answered?
Where did you ask them? You might try to rephrase them slightly and pose them over at the Catholic Answers website. Or you could ask them directly to a solid orthodox Catholic priest.
I, myself, and no expert, rather I am a terrible sinner, but I do have a tiny bit of knowledge here so I will do my best to answer your questions.
First:
God gave man free will. This means that while God knows everything that man will do, man always has a choice between good and evil. Always. He sent His son, not so that he would not be wrathful, but because God's nature is infinitely merciful and infinitely loving.
Along with this infinite mercy and love is infinite and perfect justice. God knew and loved each of us when we were all ideas to Him – before he made us. He loves us so much that he does not want any of us to reject Him.
What you refer to as "wrath" is merely our own actions separating us from God forever. By our own choices, we reject Him. By rejecting Him, we cut ourselves off forever from Him and because his justice is perfect, it would be impossible to reject Him and yet then be with Him eternally along with those who have loved and obeyed Him.
This is where His mercy comes in: God's love is so beyond comprehension that, despite our sins, He chose to give us new graces and chances to change our hearts.
He sent Jesus to die for our sins because, as one writer put it, a single sin carries the weight of the universe. As God is perfect, any rejection of Him, even a tiny one, is perfectly backwards. We are incapable ourselves of EARNING back or meriting any mercy through our actions.
Therefore only God Himself can merit for us the chance to be forgiven. God chose to do this by sending us His son, that by His death AND His resurrection, we MAY be able to gain eternal life by following His commands.
Second question:
Regarding the suffering of Jesus. "Nothing was lost save one unpleasant day."
In His passion, Jesus experienced really EVERY form of suffering that there is in human experience. From loneliness and rejection, humiliation and betrayal to unimaginable physical pain.
More importantly, Jesus was not just a man, he IS God. So His very presence on earth at all was a supreme sacrifice. He could have just staying in Heaven.
Think of it this way. If God is the Prime Mover, the one who wrote the laws of physics, etc. then by He, Himself, living as a man and allowing Himself to be subjected to all He was, He demonstrates for us perfect HUMILITY. The pain He suffered was real pain, the friends who left Him, He truly loved. Yet He is GOD! Far from being a minor sacrifice, it is actually not possible for there to be any greater one.
As for being in a "Coma" – Jesus "descended to the dead". Meaning that he was in the place where souls were prior to His Resurrection.
And it was by His Resurrection that he proved Himself God and proved the Father's love and sacrifice for us.
In renaming Simon, "Rock" (Peter) and saying "upon this Rock I build my Church" He gave us a new vehicle by which we could come to know Him and understand Him and, most importantly to Love Him. And through his gift of the Himself in the Eucharist He gave us another way to be in communion with Him in His Church.
I hope this is somewhat helpful.
God bless you, my friend. Keep asking tough questions. You are in my prayers.
September 8, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Thinking out loud says:
Not one but two thumbs up for Dingo's input. Salvage read everyone's comments for a grand lesson regarding "different people, different thoughts. In the twilight of my years I can only hope and pray that the new Cathedral does not do as many other progressives have done: Hide the Tabernacle and fail to provide kneelers, two acts of the devil.
Lastly for those who with hardness of heart let me share this bit of wisdom with you: "It is better to believe then die and find that there is no God, the to disbelieve and die, finding out that there is." Woe to you on which way you choose. As I continue to live and breathe it is true, "Life here is short." When we leave here, then life begins – ETERNALLY! God bless you one and all. Pray as you have never prayed before.
September 8, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Why is a new Cathedral necessary? I attended a Latin mass at the present one and was quite happy the way it is.
September 8, 2011 at 10:20 pm
As a Catholic who has asked this specific bishop bishop, in writing, to intervene on behalf of a valid, sacramental marriage that was targeted for destruction by the Catholic Church and which has been supported by the Catholic Church for more than two decades of adultery, in spite of its validity, I would rather see this irresponsible bishop grow up, act like a priest and actually spend money, and make personal, substantial efforts to work to restore marriages, especially those which have been demonstrated to be so by the Roman Rota, rather than show his "love for Jesus" through a bigger, more beautiful building.
I am insulted by this man's incredible arrogance.
September 9, 2011 at 8:58 am
Anon @ 5:20,
This sounds like a statement that you sought a statement of nullity for a previous marriage,did not receive it, but re-married anyway, and are now enraged that the bishop seeks to build a suitable house of worship for the diocese.
Instead of shouting with rage on the internet, perhaps you'd be well advised to make an appointment with the marriage tribunal to determine the best step to take next? Lashing out at your bishop doesn't precisely help solve any problem.
September 9, 2011 at 11:37 am
Precisely why the Catholic Church is dying and under such attacks…..because its priests and bishops DO NOT do their jobs and DO NOT require those who call themselves CATHOLIC to behave as if they took their beliefs seriously:
Let's have a better house of worship even as we ignore the teachings of Jesus AND the well being of the FEW Catholics who care enough to follow those teachings AND are openly mocked by their priests, bishops and supposedly fellow Catholics.
BRAVO !
And the Pope does NOTHING to discipline these abominations of clerics he curses us with.
September 9, 2011 at 11:38 am
Brick by brick? I think not.