For Catholics, sacred art isn’t simply pretty pictures and sculptures; it directs our minds to contemplate the divine, illuminating eternal truths. Throughout the Basilica, you’ll find art that not only reflects the tenets of Catholicism, but art that relates to the celebrations of the liturgical calendar.
This month, we’re delighted to share the second post in our Walk Through Art blog series, highlighting the sacred art of the Basilica as it corresponds to important Church celebrations and moments in the life of the National Shrine. In this post, discover three art pieces we’re highlighting this July – from the Ave Maria window to the Incarnation Dome.
The Ave Maria Window
Dedicated 59 years ago on July 10, the Ave Maria window is one of three rose windows found in the Great Upper Church. Located in the South Gallery above one of the Möller organs, the Ave Maria window is made from glass stained in hues of purple, alabaster, and gold – colors traditionally associated with the Byzantine style. While similar, each of the rose windows features a different motif symbolizing a unique aspect of Our Lady. Here, the fleur-de-lis is present throughout the panels and above the center “M,” representing Mary’s virginity. The angel Gabriel’s words of greeting, “Ave Maria,” are also incorporated into the design. Measuring 34 feet across, the window was designed by Rambusch Decorating Co, and gifted to the Basilica by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Saint John.
The Incarnation Dome
July 12 marks 18 years since the completion of the Incarnation Dome – one of the five distinctive domes of the Basilica’s Great Upper Church. The Incarnation Dome is the first in the series of domes which together form a timeline of the New Testament, culminating with the Christ in Majesty mosaic in the North Apse. The mosaic scheme of the dome is divided into four quadrants depicting the Manifestation of Jesus: the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Wedding Feast at Cana, and the Transfiguration. Its four pendentives portray significant persons from the scriptural and prophetic accounts of the Incarnation of Jesus, while the base of the dome is encircled with the passage from John 1:1: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and of truth.” Taking over a year to complete, the dome’s mosaic covers an area totaling 3,780 square feet.
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel
On July 16, the Church celebrates the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. At the Basilica, this devotion is honored in the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, where the Blessed Mother is depicted in relief at the center of a vivid blue-tile mosaic bordered by contrasting red flowers. The Mother and Child hold the brown scapular given to Simon Stock and are encircled by sculptures of six Carmelite saints. Above the chapel is a double stained-glass window depicting Elijah’s consecration of Mount Carmel to God – a place believed to be connected to the origins of the Carmelite Order.
Sources:
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Guide and Tour Book. Washington, D.C.: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2018.
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. Jubilee 2009: A Photographic History of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.