This shrine is in Royal Oak, MI. I've visited there and the shrine itself is actually quite lovely. Inside the sanctuary, it is easier to be drawn into the beautiful side altars and not be distracted by the concert hall.
We were told that the huge tower crucifix was built because, at the time, crosses were being burned and destroyed. They set out to build one that would stand against any assault! Really cool.
Even so, the V2 vandals have placed a picnic meal table in front of the high altar there, to make the priest the centre of liturgical attention, turning his back away from the God Who will return from the East, and to Whom all prayers used to be directed. In both cases, this is the height of folly.
Interesting how the Catholic Altar-in the-Round mimics the contemporary secular Theatre-in the-Round. IMHO it’s a Big-Mistake and a prime example of Liturgical-Goofiness. I have seen a few examples that have left parishioners shaking their head.
I have been to the Shrine in Royal Oak, MI. It is *not* ugly - indeed, it is lovely. The pictures you chose, respectfully, do not do it justice. I think it was built in an Art Deco style, which emphasizes clean, streamlined design, popular in the 1930s, which is probably not to everyone's taste. But, when I was there, it inspired me to prayer and contemplation on the life of St. Therese and how she loved Jesus. I happen to love it, no matter what others think. It is a holy place, and I like the way it looks. God bless and protect all here, and peace and good health to all.
A@7:04, I think in person experiences are quite different. Actually I am a fan of modern church architecture for the most part. I love the new cathedral in Oakland and San Francisco’s Cathedral both of which I have visited. I love in particular San Francisco’s cathedral’s interior.
The shrine in the pre-Vatican II photo with the traditional altar arrangement is much more appealing and inspirational compared to the stripped altar and all the hanging fabric.
I,too, have visited this shrine on a few occasions. It is much more beautiful when seen in person. Especially most appealing is the large marble bas relief of St. Therese with the BVM and the Christ Child handing her a rose. It is my all time favorite representation of the Little Flower. An interesting aside...this parish church and shrine was founded and built by the famous “radio priest” Fr. Charles Coughlin.
Agree. The sanctuary looks more appealing, rooted, inspirational in the pre-VAT II format. I also agree with Anon @ 7:59, in its own way, it's beautiful. The hanging fabric looks as silly as that "renovated" worship space cathedral in Canada whose location escapes me at the moment. The "environment committee" always has to gussy things up with crap from the fabric/craft store. It's that time of year when the wicker baskets with gourds and pumpkins usually appear. Maybe just me, but, I would think most men find this to be off-putting.
This is a rather nasty post. This is a beautiful shrine which has inspired countless pilgrims to visit over the course of its history. The love of St. Therese is evident in the Shrine. Did the author even bother to pay a visit before posting this?
Agreed. Photos often do not do a structure justice. Perhaps the same here. I do appreciate modern designs such as this however, to me, the theology of the church structure itself is a bit muddled given the theatre-in-the-round arrangement of this interior. At least with the pre-Vat II arrangement, the actions at the altar were more rooted, "regal" and oriented. That is lost with the post-VAT II arrangement. The swags are just unnecessary clutter/kitsch. That aside, the structure itself and its appointments look to be beautiful and even the so-called Benedictine Arrangement would serve to enhance sacrality.
It's very striking, and I was surprised to discover that it dates from as early as the 1930s. The most famous 'church in the round' in England is Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral which opened in 1967 but was designed in the late 1950s. It doesn't look much from the outside - it has been nicknamed the 'Mersey funnel' and 'Paddy's wigwam' - but the interior, especially in daylight, is stunning. The effect of a central sanctuary makes arguments about orientation unnecessary; the congregation can exercise its preference by choosing where to sit!
As a member of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, and having visited the Shrine of St. Therese in Lisieux, I read with interest the comments. The photo of the current sanctuary was taken during Lent—not for her Feast Day. The buntings have been part of the decoration for decades—there are photos of Fr. Coughlin, pre-V2 with such grandiose decorations, it is a large sanctuary, seating 3,000. It is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the nation. The altar is the same as in the original construction. The candles on the altar and lack of a tabernacle on the altar is because we have a dedicated chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, in the Church to the east of the altar, where the Sacred Eucharist is in repose. The Church and tower were paid for by donations of avid supporters of Fr. Coughlin from every state and territory of the US. Having said what I have about the building, the fruit of the Mystical Body of Christ is the community of faith being sent out on mission. What you do not see in your sterile photos is the passion of a very vibrant community of faith who carries the Gospel into mission territory, guided by St. Therese. Jesus, alive in the Word and Eucharist is far more important than the brick and mortar, wouldn’t you agree?
From a Western Christian perspective which emphasizes Christ's humanity and the sending forth component of the mass, I suppose yes. From an Eastern Christian perspective which emphasizes Christ's divinity, the building itself and its associated theology is representative of "Heaven on Earth" and plays a critical role vis-a-vis divine worship (note: liturgy, like divine liturgy, emphasizes "God's work"). This role cannot be neglected by a stable body of believers that ultimately becomes organized as a parish.
18 comments:
Hmmm... Not an easy structure to love.....
Bad as it may be, I've seen worse.
WHERE is this? You give no mention.
WHERE is this? You give no mention.
SHRINE BASILICA FOR THE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FLOWER the headline says...
Royal Oak, Michigan
This shrine is in Royal Oak, MI. I've visited there and the shrine itself is actually quite lovely. Inside the sanctuary, it is easier to be drawn into the beautiful side altars and not be distracted by the concert hall.
We were told that the huge tower crucifix was built because, at the time, crosses were being burned and destroyed. They set out to build one that would stand against any assault! Really cool.
-"Annonymous" CRE :)
You may wish to compare this Michigan shrine to the one in Lisieux itself:
https://i0.wp.com/travelfrance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Lisieux-Basilica-18.jpg?ssl=1
Even so, the V2 vandals have placed a picnic meal table in front of the high altar there, to make the priest the centre of liturgical attention, turning his back away from the God Who will return from the East, and to Whom all prayers used to be directed. In both cases, this is the height of folly.
Interesting how the Catholic Altar-in the-Round mimics the contemporary secular Theatre-in the-Round. IMHO it’s a Big-Mistake and a prime example of Liturgical-Goofiness. I have seen a few examples that have left parishioners shaking their head.
The sanctuary should rotate slowly during the holy sacrifice.
LOL, ByzRus! Maybe it's the seating that should rotate, much like the seating at some sky-scraper restaurants!
I have been to the Shrine in Royal Oak, MI. It is *not* ugly - indeed, it is lovely. The pictures you chose, respectfully, do not do it justice. I think it was built in an Art Deco style, which emphasizes clean, streamlined design, popular in the 1930s, which is probably not to everyone's taste. But, when I was there, it inspired me to prayer and contemplation on the life of St. Therese and how she loved Jesus. I happen to love it, no matter what others think. It is a holy place, and I like the way it looks. God bless and protect all here, and peace and good health to all.
A@7:04, I think in person experiences are quite different. Actually I am a fan of modern church architecture for the most part. I love the new cathedral in Oakland and San Francisco’s Cathedral both of which I have visited. I love in particular San Francisco’s cathedral’s interior.
The shrine in the pre-Vatican II photo with the traditional altar arrangement is much more appealing and inspirational compared to the stripped altar and all the hanging fabric.
I,too, have visited this shrine on a few occasions. It is much more beautiful when seen in person. Especially most appealing is the large marble bas relief of St. Therese with the BVM and the Christ Child handing her a rose. It is my all time favorite representation of the Little Flower. An interesting aside...this parish church and shrine was founded and built by the famous “radio priest” Fr. Charles Coughlin.
Fr, AJM @ 7:19,
Agree. The sanctuary looks more appealing, rooted, inspirational in the pre-VAT II format. I also agree with Anon @ 7:59, in its own way, it's beautiful. The hanging fabric looks as silly as that "renovated" worship space cathedral in Canada whose location escapes me at the moment. The "environment committee" always has to gussy things up with crap from the fabric/craft store. It's that time of year when the wicker baskets with gourds and pumpkins usually appear. Maybe just me, but, I would think most men find this to be off-putting.
This is a rather nasty post. This is a beautiful shrine which has inspired countless pilgrims to visit over the course of its history. The love of St. Therese is evident in the Shrine. Did the author even bother to pay a visit before posting this?
Agreed. Photos often do not do a structure justice. Perhaps the same here. I do appreciate modern designs such as this however, to me, the theology of the church structure itself is a bit muddled given the theatre-in-the-round arrangement of this interior. At least with the pre-Vat II arrangement, the actions at the altar were more rooted, "regal" and oriented. That is lost with the post-VAT II arrangement. The swags are just unnecessary clutter/kitsch. That aside, the structure itself and its appointments look to be beautiful and even the so-called Benedictine Arrangement would serve to enhance sacrality.
It's very striking, and I was surprised to discover that it dates from as early as the 1930s. The most famous 'church in the round' in England is Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral which opened in 1967 but was designed in the late 1950s. It doesn't look much from the outside - it has been nicknamed the 'Mersey funnel' and 'Paddy's wigwam' - but the interior, especially in daylight, is stunning. The effect of a central sanctuary makes arguments about orientation unnecessary; the congregation can exercise its preference by choosing where to sit!
As a member of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, and having visited the Shrine of St. Therese in Lisieux, I read with interest the comments. The photo of the current sanctuary was taken during Lent—not for her Feast Day. The buntings have been part of the decoration for decades—there are photos of Fr. Coughlin, pre-V2 with such grandiose decorations, it is a large sanctuary, seating 3,000. It is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the nation. The altar is the same as in the original construction. The candles on the altar and lack of a tabernacle on the altar is because we have a dedicated chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, in the Church to the east of the altar, where the Sacred Eucharist is in repose. The Church and tower were paid for by donations of avid supporters of Fr. Coughlin from every state and territory of the US. Having said what I have about the building, the fruit of the Mystical Body of Christ is the community of faith being sent out on mission. What you do not see in your sterile photos is the passion of a very vibrant community of faith who carries the Gospel into mission territory, guided by St. Therese. Jesus, alive in the Word and Eucharist is far more important than the brick and mortar, wouldn’t you agree?
Judith Maten,
From a Western Christian perspective which emphasizes Christ's humanity and the sending forth component of the mass, I suppose yes. From an Eastern Christian perspective which emphasizes Christ's divinity, the building itself and its associated theology is representative of "Heaven on Earth" and plays a critical role vis-a-vis divine worship (note: liturgy, like divine liturgy, emphasizes "God's work"). This role cannot be neglected by a stable body of believers that ultimately becomes organized as a parish.
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