Postscripts From The Catholic Spitfire Grill

A light for the city of Houston...

This building is both the house of God on earth (domus Dei) and a house fit for the prayers of the saints (domus ecclesiae). (from Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship 16)

The dedication of a cathedral is a once-in-lifetime (or several lifetimes) experience. I was privileged to attend the dedication of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston on April 2, 2008. It's hard to know where to begin. All of the elements of this place and this ceremony draw your mind and heart to God. The light, the art, the architecture, every detail works together to speak to the human heart and draw it to communion with Our Creator. Even before the official dedication, it was hard to think of this place as anything but holy and consecrated. Our local news channel ran a documentary about the building of the cathedral and as it began to take shape the workers began to be uncomfortable with doing the ordinary messy work of construction in what was clearly going to be such a special place. They asked our bishop, when it would become sacred ground and the bishop assured them that it wouldn't be until the rite of consecration. The evening before the dedication, vespers was held in the cathedral and even though the water in the baptismal font was not blessed those who were present were drawn to bless themselves with it.


(Houston Chronicle)

Even though the altar was not consecrated, and had never been used to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass, even though the Tabernacle was empty, those who attended vespers that evening genuflected because something that speaks so much of our Lord should be consecrated to Him. Even on the day of dedication before the blessing of the font many of the deacons, priests, and bishops who knew that the water wasn't blessed....blessed themselves with it anyway. No lights burned in the cathedral, no candles were lit, but still the light poured in the windows. The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart spoke of the promise of holiness. It yearned for the presence of Jesus within its walls just as the people of God yearn for Jesus within ourselves. It wanted to be sacred ground even before it was.

Without a meditative dimension, Christian architecture risks reducing the mystery of divine presence to either social action or to a comfortable domesticity. (Built of Living Stones 258)

When the Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself is speaking to his people and Christ, present in his own word, is proclaiming the Gospel. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n.29)

If you are not Catholic, or a student of architecture, you may not know that cathedrals are not just big beautiful churches.


(Houston Chronicle)

This is what makes a church a cathedral....the cathedra or bishop's chair. It is the symbol of his teaching authority in his diocese.

 


The Mass of Dedication began with a ceremony in the narthex of the church where the architect literally turned the keys of the cathedral over to Cardinal DiNardo. After brief remarks, the Cardinal blessed the water of the baptismal font. Then he sprinkled the people, the walls of the church and finally, the altar. The sprinkling with water is a reminder of our baptism when we became one in Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit and calls to mind the events of salvation portrayed in gold-plated art around the eight sides of the baptismal font.





An octagon is an ancient form for baptismal fonts, the eight sides symbolize the Resurrection as the "eighth day of creation" when Jesus made the world anew in hope.

Prayer of the Blessing of the Water

God of Mercy, you call every creature to the light of life, and surround us with such great love that when we stray you continually lead us back to Christ our head. For you have established an inheritance of such mercy, that those sinners, who pass through water made sacred, die with Christ and rise restored as members of his body and heirs of his eternal covenant. Bless this water; sanctify it. As it is sprinkled  upon us and through this church make it a sign of the saving water of baptism by which we become one in Christ, the temple of your Spirit. May all here today, and all those in days to come, who will celebrate your mysteries in this church, be united at last in the holy city of your peace. May God, the Father of mercies, dwell in this house of prayer. May the grace of the Holy Spirit cleanse us, for we are the temple of his presence.

Next came the Liturgy of the Word. Cardinal DiNardo presented the lectionary to the lectors and the psalmist and proclaimed, “May the word of God always be heard in this place, as it unfolds the mystery of Christ before you and achieves your salvation within the church.” The simple act of proclaiming the words of God from the ambo, set this place apart forever for this purpose.



The readings were done in Spanish, Vietnamese, Latin, and English. The first reading (Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10) spoke of the reading of God's word in ancient Israel and how God's word brings us to conversion and repentance and joy. Psalm 19 was sung. The New Testament reading was Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24. The gospel was the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19 because Jesus was coming to our new house. Cardinal DiNardo is a fabulous homilist!


(Houston Chronicle)

After the homily began the Rite of Dedication itself with the singing of the Litany of the Saints and the deposition of the relics beneath the altar.


(Houston Chronicle)

The gold cover marks the place beneath the altar where the relics are deposited.



We don't have relics from all of the saints honored along the sides of our nave....pictured below.

But the vatican was gracious enough to provide relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (holding the cross and the roses), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (with the three children)  as well as St. Margaret Mary Alacoque who popularized the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Leo the Great, St. Faustus, St. Fortunatus, St. Desideratus, St. Rose Philipine Duchesne, St. John Neumann, St. Maria Goretti, St. Maria Faustina who is sometimes call the apostle of Divine Mercy, and a sliver of what Catholics believe may be the True Cross. The placing of the relics of Saints either in or underneath the altar is an ancient Catholic tradition. It calls to mind that the church was built with the sacrifice of the martyrs and calls to mind Revelation 6:9 "I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God." The remaining saints honored in the nave statuary are St. Martin de Porres, St. Juan Diego, St. Joseph, and St. Anthony of Padua.  

After the deposition of the relics...

The Prayer of Dedication

Father in heaven, source of holiness and true purpose, it is right that we praise and glorify your name.

For today, we come before you, to dedicate to your lasting service this house of prayer, this temple of worship, this home in which we are hourished by your word and your sacraments.

Here is reflected the mystery of the Church.

The Church is fruitful, made holy by the blood of Christ; a bride made radiant with his glory, a virgin splendid in the wholeness of her faith, a mother blessed through the power of the Spirit.

The Church is holy, your chosen vineyard; its branches envelop the world, its tendrils, carried on the tree of the cross, reach up to the kingdom of heaven.

The Church is favored, the dwelling place of God on earth; a temple built of living stones, founded on the apostles with Jesus its cornerstone.

The Church is exalted, a city set on a mountain: a beacon to the whole world, bright with the glory of the Lamb, and echoing the prayers of her saints.

Lord, send your Spirit from heaven to make this church an ever-holy place, and this altar a ready table for the sacrifice of Christ.

Here may the waters of baptism overwhelm the shame of sin; here may your people die to sin and live again through grace as your children.

Here may your children, gathered around your altar, celebrate the memorial of the Paschal Lamb, and be fed at the table of Christ's word and Christ's body.

Here may prayer, the Church's banquet, resound through heaven and earth as a plea for the world's salvation.

Here may the poor find justice, the victims of oppression, true freedom.

From here may the whole world clothed in the dignity of the children of God, enter with gladness your city of peace.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Then the the walls of the church and the altar were anointed with sacred chrism


(Houston Chronicle)

With this prayer we are reminded of the grace-filled events that occur on and around the altar. The Cardinal prayed:  

We now annoint this altar and this building May God in his power make them holy, visible signs of the mystery of Christ and his Church.

(Houston Chronicle)

To represent the twelve apostles the walls of the church are anoited in twelve places. The candles permanently mark these twelve place of consecration. Sacred chrism is used to set this place aside as a place of Christian worship. (If you put on your x-ray glasses, my husband is standing behind this pillar next to the guy with the blue shirt. Because he came straight from work, we arrived at different times and I was on the other side of the church. We waved to each other once. [grin])


(Houston Chronicle)

Next a large brazier of incense is placed on the altar and braziers of incense were taken around the nave. The Cardinal prayed:

Lord, may our prayers ascend as incense in your sight. As this building is filled with fragrance, so may your Church fill the world with the fragrance of Christ.

The incensation of the nave of the church marks it as a place from which the prayers of the faithful (Revelation 8:3) are also lifted up to God. The people gathered are incensed first because we are the living temples of God and each faithful member, a spiritual altar.

After the anointing of the altar and the church....all heaven broke loose. The Easter candle, processed from the former co-cathedral, was placed in its holder beside the baptismal font. (It will remain lit during the Easter season and then is lit only for baptisms and funerals.) The lights of the church were turned on and the candles lit. Flowers were processed up the aisle and placed all over the cathedral: at the altar, at the places of consecration, and at each of the statues. All of these as visible symbols of the life and light that Christ brings to us. Carmelite nuns brought new cloths to dress the altar in preparation for the first Sacrifice of the Eucharist to be celebrated in this place newly consecrated to our Lord.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist followed. If you are Catholic, you know this part by heart and soul. I won't explain it here but if you are not Catholic and have never been to a Mass, this older post of mine may be informative.


(Houston Chronicle)

Following Holy Communion the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament was inaugurated by placing the Eucharist in the Tabernacle and the sanctuary lamps were lit.


(Houston Chronicle)

The Mass of Dedication concluded with blessing and dismissal.

I tried to work as many pictures of the cathedral into my account as possible but I have a few details leftover that I'd like to share in conclusion.

Detail of Jesus' hand on the Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Archbishop Fiorenza who directed the building of the co-cathedral from begining to end directed the artist to give Jesus the hands of a worker because he was a carpenter.



The statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the west transcept:


(Houston Chronicle)

Statue of St. Mary Immaculate Conception in the east transcept:



Sanctuary:

     

"The crucifix arrived in five peices from the sculptor. We had to physically put the two beams of the cross together, lay the corpus on the cross and attach the arms. It was very quiet on the site as the nails were placed in the hands of Christ."  ~~ Mark Gore Sr. Project Manager, Linbeck Construction

Window at top of dome:

 

The Resurrection window over the choir loft (notice the Houston skyline at bottom of window):


(Houston Chronicle)

Highly Recommended Reading: Built of Living Stones (Link opens PDF file)

Media Coverage of the Dedication Channel 13 has some excellent background pieces on the construction of the co-cathedral.

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy." 

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen. 

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice."
   

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

To meditate on:

O God, how generously Your mercy is spread everywhere and You have done all this for man. Oh how much You must love him, since Your love is so active on his behalf. O my Creator and Lord, I see on all sides the trace of your hand and the seal of Your mercy, which embraces all created things. O my most compassionate Creator, I want to give You worship pm behalf of all creatures and all inanimate creation; I call on the whole universe to glorify Your mercy. Oh how great is  Your goodness, O God! (1749)

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

Thought for the day:

"If souls would put themselves completely in my care, I myself would undertake the task of sanctifying them, and I would lavish even greater graces on them. There are souls who thwart My efforts, but I have not given up on them; as often as they turn to Me, I hurry to their aid, sheilding them with My mercy, and I give them the first place in My compassionate Heart. (59)

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.    

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."  

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

The Church has enriched the celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy with a plenary indulgence. The reception of a plenary indulgence is always predicated on what is known as "the usual conditions." In short, in addition to perform the indulgenced act you must also receive Holy Communion, be completely penitent and detached from sin, pray for the Holy Father, and have received sacramental confession within about 20 days before or after the indulgenced act. I won't go into any more depth on the topic of indulgences at present but I did want to point out.....

That an integral part of celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy is receiving some mercy yourself in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). So perhaps today is a good day to begin making a thorough Examination of Conscience in preparation for that, and spend some additional time examining your conscience with the Corporal and Spritual Works of Mercy focusing particularly on sins of omission is a good idea. (Please note that this is 100% my personal opinion and not based on any official church recommendation of which I have awareness.)

"Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me, 

I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."  

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

To think about today:

...I demand from you deeds of  mercy which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it.

I am givin you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first--by dee, the second--by word, the third--by pryaer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this mean a soul glorifies and pays revereence to My mercy. Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy...even the strongest faith is of no avail without works. (St. Faustina's Diary para. 742)

If a soul does not exercise mercy in some way, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. (para 1317)

The Corporal Works of Mercy:

1. Feed the hungry.
2. Give drink to the thirsty.
3. Clothe the naked.
4. Shelter the homeless.
5. Comfort the imprisoned.
6. Visit the sick.
7. Bury the dead.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy:

1. Admonish sinners.
2. Instruct the uninformed.
3. Counsel the doubtful.
4. Comfort the sorrowful.
5. Be patient with those in error.
6. Forgive offenses.
7. Pray for the living and the dead.

"Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness." 

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

What is the Divine Mercy Message?

The two rays denote Blood and Water. the pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father. Happy is the one who dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him. (Diary 299)

"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious,

and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind."

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.