The following Apostle statues
{Basilica of Saint Mary Minneapolis, MN}replicas of those in St John Lateran (Rome), and the only replicas
ever made; in order from east Sanctuary side to west
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Saint Judas
Thaddaeus James the Less Brother {Jude}html |
Saint Matthew called by Jesus | St Philip called by Jesus |
Saint Timothy | Saint James the Greater | Saint Paul |
Simon Peter Andrew's brother | Saint Andrew | Saint James the lesser |
John
Evangelist Mark |
Bartholomew (Nathaniel) James Great's brother |
Simon Zealous for
souls |
Each
section of the entablature of the sanctuary Adoremus in Aeternum SS. Sacramentum" (Let us forever adore the Most Blessed
Sacrament) ; "Hic Est Panis Qui De
Coelo Descendit" (This is the bread that came down from Heaven); "Qui Bibet Meum Sanguinem in Me Manet" Whosoever
drinketh my blood abideth in me
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Texts behind the altar refer to the Church:
"Domum Tuam Domine Decet
Sanctitudo" Holiness becometh thy house, 0 Lord; "Sedes Tua Deus in Seculum Seculi" Thy throne, 0 God, is forever and ever; "Domus Mea Domus Orationis Vocabitur" My house shall be called the house of prayer. |
On the epistle side the inscriptions refer to the Blessed Mothcr: "Macula Originalis Non Est in Te, Maria" There is no stain of original sin in thee, 0 Mary; "Beatam Me Dicent Omnes Generationes" All generations shall call me blessed; "Ora Pro Nobis Sancta Dei Genetrix" Pray for us, 0 Holy Mother of God. |
The corresponding pier on the epistle side offers an ideal background
for a striking Calvary group. The crucifix, modeled after the miraculous crucifix of Lympias in Spain, is carved from a single block of stone anchored to the masonry when the wall was built. Statues of the Sorrowful Mother and of St. John are chiseled from the same material. Beneath is the legend: "Consummatum Est" It is consummated. The weeping Magdalen is not represented. Her place is taken by the faithful who pray before the shrine. In the centre of the carved frieze beneath the sills of these windows are symbols of the Blessed Virgin: Dove, Tower of David, Pomegranate, Sun, Lily, Fleur-de-lis, Rose, Star, Three Lilies and Pierced Heart. On the front of the balcony over the vestibule are, from left to right, Gate of Heaven, Lilies, Ark of the Covenant, Seven-branched Candlestick and Jacob's Ladder. In the semi-circular panels above the inner doors the symbols are, a Chalice with Wheat & Grapes, Lamb (Son of God), triangle & hand (Father), Dove (Holy Ghost), open Bible. |
In the dome are twelve pure
grisaille windows containing symbols of the Virgin Mary in medallion form
as follows:
Ark
of the Covenant; Tower of David; Enclosed Garden; Sealed Fountain;
Lofty Cedar; Fleur-de-lis; Mystical Rose; Gate of Heaven;
City of God; Fountain of Living Water; Pomegranate; the Pierced
Heart.
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Between the two events pictured
in the rose windows of the transept is traced the life-story of the Blessed
Virgin, the patroness of the Basilica, in the twenty scenes depicted in the
clerestory windows. Beginning on the gospel side they are: Her Marriage
to St. Joseph; the Annunciation; the Visit to St. Elizabeth; the Nativity
of Our Lord; the Adoration of the Magi; the Presentation in the Temple; the
Flight into Egypt; the Holy Family at Nazareth; Finding in the Temple; Death
of St. Joseph;
the Marriage at Cana; the Meeting on the Way to Calvary; the Crucifixion; the Removal of Christ from the Cross; the Deposition; the Burial; the Return from Calvary; the Apparition of the Risen Lord to His Mother; the Descent of the Holy Ghost; the Death of the Blessed Virgin. In most of these scenes Christ and His Mother are shown. In all of them the Blessed Virgin is easily recognized by the distinctive shade of blue reserved for her. The figures are life-size and the scenes readily interpreted. Surmounting these scenes is a
canopy of winged angels, fully vested, upborne on fleecy clouds,
Above this group in each window is an angel with a ribbon on
which is inscribed in Latin an invocation from the Litany of Loretto; and crowning all, in
the ten topmost circular windows, each fifty-two inches in diameter, are
angels exhibiting scrolls on each of which is a verse from the Magnificat in Latin.each holding a religious emblem connected, for the most part, with the Passion. |
On the gospel side above the communion rail stands St. Michael (who is like unto God) armed
with sword and shield and opposite him St.
Raphael (the medicine of God) with trident and fish. The front entrances are resided
over by four Archangels,
Jophiel (the beauty of God), with
a flaming sword in his right hand;
Uriel (the light of God),
holding the book of knowledge, at the southwest corner; Gabriel (the strength of God), holding
a staff topped with orb and cross;
Chamuel (one who sees God),
with staff in the right hand and chalice in the left, at the northwest.
Rose window of the front portrays
the Madonna and Child enthroned and surrounded by choirs of adoring angles.
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Artistic electric light fixtures adorn the walls of the sacristy,
and from the ceiling are suspended elegant chandeliers of bronze and aurine
glass. The windows duplicate the richness of coloring and design of
those in the church. The front rose window, six feet in diameter, shows
Christ the King enthroned with adoring angels, and the opposite one represents
3 High Priests {Page 135}- Christ, Aaron and Melchisedeck with the insignia of their sacrificial office. The side windows above the vestment cases contain a crucifix and the Latin prayers said by the priest vesting for Mass. |