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 fourth 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 five art pieces we’re highlighting this November – from the Universal Call to Holiness Sculpture to the Miraculous Medal Chapel.
November 14 – Universal Call to Holiness Sculpture
One of the largest relief sculptures in the world, The Universal Call to Holiness offers an awe-inspiring visualization of a profound spiritual reality: that the call to holiness extends to all peoples of faith in all times and places. As expressed in §40 of the dogmatic constitution “Lumen Gentium”:
“All the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society.”
Weighing over 37 tons and spanning 780 square feet, the relief portrays people of all ethnicities, ages, rank, and status being drawn to the Holy Spirit. The almost 50 figures depicted include the Virgin Mary, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Cardinal Hickey.
On November 14, 1999, over 2,500 worshippers and 60 bishops gathered to dedicate The Universal Call to Holiness in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the dedication of the National Shrine. Today, it remains a focal point of the Basilica’s nave, inspiring the congregants of America’s Catholic Church to pursue holiness in their own lives.
November 16 – Redemption Dome Mosaic
Though the first two domes of the Great Upper Church were dedicated in the 1960s, it wasn’t until over 30 years later that work commenced on the remaining domes, which were designed by the Rambusch Decorating Co. The Redemption Dome was the first of these to be dedicated on November 16, 2006. Measuring 3,780 square feet, the mosaic has four different sections depicting the redemptive acts of Jesus. The Crucifixion is to the north, the Descent into Hell is to the east, the Temptation in the Desert is to the west, and the Resurrection is to the south. Each of the dome’s pendentives feature individuals who were significant figures in these redemptive acts: Lazarus, Simon of Cyrene, Joseph of Arimathea, and Mary Magdalene.
The entire dome is circled by Revelation 5:9, which reads: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and to break open its seals, for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.”
November 17 – Incarnation Dome Mosaic
Another one of the five domes leading to the Christ in Majesty mosaic in the Great Upper Church, the Incarnation Dome was dedicated on November 17, 2007. Measuring 3,780 square feet – the same size as the Redemption Dome – the mosaic has four sections depicting significant moments relating to the Manifestation of Jesus: the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Wedding Feast at Cana, and the Transfiguration. Each of the dome’s four pendentives portray significant persons from the scriptural and prophetic accounts of the Incarnation of Jesus: the Prophet Jeremiah, the Prophet Isaiah, the Matriarch Sarah, and the Prophet Micah. The dome is encircled with the text of John 1:1, which reads: “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.”
November 19 – Our Mother of Divine Providence Oratory
Traditionally celebrated on November 19, Our Mother of Divine Providence is portrayed at the Basilica in a statue carved from Portuguese limestone by American artist Theodore C. Barbarossa. In this elegant depiction, the Blessed Mother lovingly cradles the infant Jesus in her arms, set against the soft peach tones of the surrounding marble. An invocation to Mary is inscribed at the base of the statue, stating: “Hear, Aid, and Console our Community and our Families.”
The Oratory of Our Mother of Divine Providence is the gift of the Daughters of Saint Mary of Divine Providence, who wished to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the religious profession of Mother Angela Cettini. It also serves as a memorial to the members of the community who minister to the poor and needy in the United States.
November 27 – Miraculous Medal Chapel
Traditionally celebrated on November 27, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is honored in a chapel at the Basilica featuring wooden carvings that tell the story of Saint Catherine Labouré.
Central to the chapel are the gilded carved reredos, which portray Our Lady appearing to Catherine. The left tableau shows Catherine, dressed as a novice and accompanied by her guardian angel, kneeling before the apparition of the Blessed Mother, while the right tableau shows Catherine wearing the coronet of a professed Daughter of Charity, accompanied by two children. From the vivid yellow dome mosaic to the shimmering cerulean blue mosaic spangled with a constellation of twinkling golden stars, the variety and tones of the colors in this chapel are striking.
The Miraculous Medal Chapel and its two lateral chapels are the joint gifts of the provinces of the Vincentian Community, the Daughters of Charity of the United States, and the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal.
Source:
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. Jubilee 2009: A Photographic History of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.