Ash Wednesday!

Latin, the Queen of the Sacred Arts.

The story of Latin and its use in the Church is of course a remarkable tale. Just as remarkable is the story of Father Reginald Foster and his love for the Church, the Latin language and sharing his expertise. Of course, Father Foster has immense patience with his students and their Latin difficulties. However, I am sure if I were in his Latin class, his patience would wear thin. If you need to confirm this notion, just ask Msgr. "Mumbles" McBride, Professor Emeritus of Latin at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. My Germanic pronunciation of Cicero, contributed to his gray hair and receding hairline.

 

The Art of Stained Glass....Ascension of Our Lord Parish!

Stained glass has always provided a colorful source of instructional material for Catholics since the Middle Ages. The greatest cathedrals of Europe often boasted “walls” of stained glass, intended to convey the stories of both the Old and New Testaments, especially the life of Christ. During this period, it was not uncommon for most Catholics to lack literacy, so stained glass was the proverbial “I Pad” of the ancient and medieval Catholic Church.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been fortunate to experience talented individuals in the artistic world that have helped us adorn our Catholic Churches with magnificent examples of the stained glass trade. One particular church, Ascension of Our Lord, has stained glass depictions of the life of Jesus that were executed by Paula Himmelsbach-Balano(1877-1967). Paula Himmelsbach-Balano is often considered the “First-Lady” of Philadelphia stained glass.She was the first female to operate a stained glas studio in the United States that oversaw operations from design to installation. She operated her studio at 22 & Spring Garden Streets until the Great Depression, and then moved to Germantown until her death.
The use of color in the windows at Ascension of Our Lord Church is the most remarkable feature one first experiences when viewing them. The windows are rich, vibrant hues of blues and reds that remarkably change appearance as the sun moves throughout the church at various parts of the day.
Thematically, the most important scriptural events in the life of Jesus Christ are portrayed in these great multicolored, multifaceted panes of glass. The events of the Annunciation, The Visitation, The Birth of Our Lord, and The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, The Crucifixion, the Resurrection & the Ascension are the primary themes throughout the church.
The stained glass windows at Ascension of Our Lord Church are superlative examples of art that is used by the Church in order to teach and explain principles of our faith, in addition to being decorative in their nature. The windows tell the story of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension in a manner similar to the Church’s cycles of Gospel readings throughout the liturgical year. They provide a visual feast for the prayerful Catholic as they participate in the Sacred Liturgies and give glory to God through the expression of the hands of a human artist.
Sources of inspiration, meditation and contemplation, stained glass windows in our Catholic Churches reflect the long symbiotic relationship the Catholic Church has had and continues to have with sacred art and artists. Thankfully, the work of Paula Himmelsbach-Balano remains as a visceral and beautifully visible example of how the sacred arts in our Catholic Churches helps us to more deeply worship the Mysteries of God and celebrate the great mysteries of faith God has imparted to us as Catholic believers.
The stained glass at Ascension of Our Lord Church is just one of two remaining sets of her work in place in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The other set is at Saint Agnes Church in West Chester. A pilgrimage to either church or both is worth the trip and the great experience of transcendence stained glass brings us in our Catholic faith.

Come Lord Jesus!

Opportunity for Philadelphia to honor John Neumann & Katharine Drexel...Philadelphia Citizens.

Last week the Historical Commission of the City of Philadelphia voted to permit demolition of the former Assumption Parish on Spring Garden Street. Seemingly this is the end of a long struggle to preserve the historically significant structure that has languished for many years waiting for the final rendering to come. There are many levels of culpability and many individual groups and individuals that have contributed to the demise of this architecturally significant piece of Philadelphia’s long legacy. My point is not to lay blame or to indicate what could have been, should have been or might have been in regards to the proper administration of the former parish.

The facts concerning Assumption are simple and clear. The parish holds historical significance for the people of Philadelphia because of two individuals that were part of the life of the historical parish of the 19^th and 20^th centuries; John Neumann and Katharine Drexel. As Bishop of Philadelphia, John Neumann assisted in the solemn consecration of the newly constructed church. As a newborn child, Katharine Drexel was baptized at the church, entering the Catholic faith destined for a life in excess of ninety years. Remarkably, if not for the events that happened in the years after both Neumann’s and Drexel’s common association with Assumption Church, the events would have disappeared into history.

We know however, that the lives of these two Philadelphians, one a priest and bishop, the other an heiress to a large financial legacy and later the foundress of a community of sisters would transform life for not only Philadelphia, but individuals throughout the world.

Bishop Neumann, as Bishop of Philadelphia, deserves recognition not just because he participated in the consecration of Assumption Church, but because he was one of the most influential Philadelphians of the 19^th century. His pastoral initiatives encompassed the entire State of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. He was the principle driving force behind the foundation of the Catholic educational system in Philadelphia and subsequently the entire United States. He worked as a priest and bishop to zealously unite the multicultural tapestry of 19^th century Philadelphia into a cohesive city that lived up to the ideals of Penn’s vision of a City of Brotherly Love.

Katharine Drexel as a citizen of Philadelphia nurtured a vision of charity that extended to peoples of all races, especially African-American and Native American peoples. Coupled with her love of the Catholic Eucharist, a perspective on the unity of all peoples, courage in addressing social inequities among minorities and total distribution of her personal inheritance to victims of poverty and racial injustices; Katharine Drexel’s legacy straddles the 19^th & 20^th centuries in Philadelphia and the entire United States.

The period of Katharine Drexel’s life was one that witnessed an incredible amount of racial inequality between African Americans and Caucasian peoples. In Philadelphia, Katharine Drexel provided the bedrock foundation of the American Civil Rights Movement, long before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., had a dream of racial equality in America. Mother Katharine Drexel established a religious community of sisters that exclusively ministered to the needs of what was then called, Black and Indian Peoples.

Over the course of her lifetime the Sisters of the Most Blessed Sacrament distributed more than 39 million dollars to the needs of African Americans and Native Americans in order to insure that these minorities were properly educated and received proper care and nutrition.

Both Bishop Neumann & Mother Katharine Drexel have been the victims of recognition and oversight on the part of the Philadelphia Historical Society in relationship to their participation in the life of Assumption Parish on Spring Garden Street.

The purpose of historical preservation is to preserve, restore and conserve significant places in Philadelphia not simply because of their architectural importance. The mission of the Philadelphia Historical Commission is to accomplish these points because a historical person or event took place at or in the place that has received a historical designation from the commission.

In addition to the exceptional architectural heritage with the connection to the prolific ecclesiastical architect of the period, Patrick Charles Keely; the Church provides the historical structure for two of the most significant citizens of Philadelphia’s life and history since Benjamin Franklin.

The City of Philadelphia has been especially generous in honoring Benjamin Franklin. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Franklin Institute, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and so on. However, there are no streets, parks or sites named to commemorate the lives and accomplishments of Saints John Neumann and Katharine Drexel.

The most significant acknowledgement of both Neumann & Drexel is of course the Catholic Church’s elevation of both of these exceptional individuals to the altars and designations of Sainthood. However, both Neumann & Drexel deserve recognition from a civil perspective in recognition of their lives and accomplishments in making Philadelphia a city of racial and religious tolerance in the 19^th & 20^th centuries.

Most notably, the battle to preserve Assumption Parish on Spring Garden Street is now lost. The shifting demographics of Catholics in addition to other factors contributed to its elongated process of death. However, Philadelphia Catholics and quite frankly all Philadelphians need to learn a lesson from this parish and the need to preserve our historical treasures that transcend points of architectural significance but point to a significance of the promotion of religious and ethnic harmony between peoples of all races, creeds and colors.

The Philadelphia Historical Committee needs to step back after this insensitive oversight against not only Philadelphia’s Catholics, but all Philadelphians of good will and recognize Saints John Neumann & Katharine Drexel with a park, a street and yes perhaps even statues on the illustrious Benjamin Franklin Parkway, not because they were and are Catholic Saints, but because they were illustrious Philadelphians that transformed Philadelphia and the world towards peace, harmony and racial tolerance.

The Sisters Cities Plaza that is directly in front of the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul would especially benefit from a new designation in honor of Bishop Neumann & Katharine Drexel. Without diminishing the importance of “Sister Cities”, both Neumann & Drexel as Philadelphia Catholics participated in events at the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. What an appropriate place to honor and recognize their contributions than the development of a commemorative park dedicated to the principles of religious and racial tolerance for all peoples of Philadelphia and the nation.

Opportunity for Philadelphia to honor John Neumann & Katharine Drexel...Philadelphia Citizens.

Last week the Historical Commission of the City of Philadelphia voted to permit demolition of the former Assumption Parish on Spring Garden Street. Seemingly this is the end of a long struggle to preserve the historically significant structure that has languished for many years waiting for the final rendering to come. There are many levels of culpability and many individual groups and individuals that have contributed to the demise of this architecturally significant piece of Philadelphia’s long legacy. My point is not to lay blame or to indicate what could have been, should have been or might have been in regards to the proper administration of the former parish.

The facts concerning Assumption are simple and clear. The parish holds historical significance for the people of Philadelphia because of two individuals that were part of the life of the historical parish of the 19^th and 20^th centuries; John Neumann and Katharine Drexel. As Bishop of Philadelphia, John Neumann assisted in the solemn consecration of the newly constructed church. As a newborn child, Katharine Drexel was baptized at the church, entering the Catholic faith destined for a life in excess of ninety years. Remarkably, if not for the events that happened in the years after both Neumann’s and Drexel’s common association with Assumption Church, the events would have disappeared into history.

We know however, that the lives of these two Philadelphians, one a priest and bishop, the other an heiress to a large financial legacy and later the foundress of a community of sisters would transform life for not only Philadelphia, but individuals throughout the world.

Bishop Neumann, as Bishop of Philadelphia, deserves recognition not just because he participated in the consecration of Assumption Church, but because he was one of the most influential Philadelphians of the 19^th century. His pastoral initiatives encompassed the entire State of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. He was the principle driving force behind the foundation of the Catholic educational system in Philadelphia and subsequently the entire United States. He worked as a priest and bishop to zealously unite the multicultural tapestry of 19^th century Philadelphia into a cohesive city that lived up to the ideals of Penn’s vision of a City of Brotherly Love.

Katharine Drexel as a citizen of Philadelphia nurtured a vision of charity that extended to peoples of all races, especially African-American and Native American peoples. Coupled with her love of the Catholic Eucharist, a perspective on the unity of all peoples, courage in addressing social inequities among minorities and total distribution of her personal inheritance to victims of poverty and racial injustices; Katharine Drexel’s legacy straddles the 19^th & 20^th centuries in Philadelphia and the entire United States.

The period of Katharine Drexel’s life was one that witnessed an incredible amount of racial inequality between African Americans and Caucasian peoples. In Philadelphia, Katharine Drexel provided the bedrock foundation of the American Civil Rights Movement, long before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., had a dream of racial equality in America. Mother Katharine Drexel established a religious community of sisters that exclusively ministered to the needs of what was then called, Black and Indian Peoples.

Over the course of her lifetime the Sisters of the Most Blessed Sacrament distributed more than 39 million dollars to the needs of African Americans and Native Americans in order to insure that these minorities were properly educated and received proper care and nutrition.

Both Bishop Neumann & Mother Katharine Drexel have been the victims of recognition and oversight on the part of the Philadelphia Historical Society in relationship to their participation in the life of Assumption Parish on Spring Garden Street.

The purpose of historical preservation is to preserve, restore and conserve significant places in Philadelphia not simply because of their architectural importance. The mission of the Philadelphia Historical Commission is to accomplish these points because a historical person or event took place at or in the place that has received a historical designation from the commission.

In addition to the exceptional architectural heritage with the connection to the prolific ecclesiastical architect of the period, Patrick Charles Keely; the Church provides the historical structure for two of the most significant citizens of Philadelphia’s life and history since Benjamin Franklin.

The City of Philadelphia has been especially generous in honoring Benjamin Franklin. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Franklin Institute, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and so on. However, there are no streets, parks or sites named to commemorate the lives and accomplishments of Saints John Neumann and Katharine Drexel.

The most significant acknowledgement of both Neumann & Drexel is of course the Catholic Church’s elevation of both of these exceptional individuals to the altars and designations of Sainthood. However, both Neumann & Drexel deserve recognition from a civil perspective in recognition of their lives and accomplishments in making Philadelphia a city of racial and religious tolerance in the 19^th & 20^th centuries.

Most notably, the battle to preserve Assumption Parish on Spring Garden Street is now lost. The shifting demographics of Catholics in addition to other factors contributed to its elongated process of death. However, Philadelphia Catholics and quite frankly all Philadelphians need to learn a lesson from this parish and the need to preserve our historical treasures that transcend points of architectural significance but point to a significance of the promotion of religious and ethnic harmony between peoples of all races, creeds and colors.

The Philadelphia Historical Committee needs to step back after this insensitive oversight against not only Philadelphia’s Catholics, but all Philadelphians of good will and recognize Saints John Neumann & Katharine Drexel with a park, a street and yes perhaps even statues on the illustrious Benjamin Franklin Parkway, not because they were and are Catholic Saints, but because they were illustrious Philadelphians that transformed Philadelphia and the world towards peace, harmony and racial tolerance.

The Sisters Cities Plaza that is directly in front of the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul would especially benefit from a new designation in honor of Bishop Neumann & Katharine Drexel. Without diminishing the importance of “Sister Cities”, both Neumann & Drexel as Philadelphia Catholics participated in events at the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. What an appropriate place to honor and recognize their contributions than the development of a commemorative park dedicated to the principles of religious and racial tolerance for all peoples of Philadelphia and the nation.

Recalling the Dedication of the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul in Philadelphia!

                        Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul 1865

In 1854 the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul in Philadelphia was dedicated by Archbishop Wood on this date.
Initiated by Bishop Kenrick, the project of building the Cathedral lasted over his years of leadership, the tenure of Bishop Neumann and finally completed under Bishop (later Archbishop) Wood. During the years of construction, the faithful Catholics in Philadelphia survived the tragic events of anti-Catholic persecutions and even the burning of Catholic Churches during the Know-Nothing Riots. Despite the pervasive anti-Catholic sentiments the project of constructing the Cathedral continued.

A visitor to the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul today doesn't always realize that the cathedral was built without lower-level stained glass. The only stained glass windows in the cathedral are strategically placed in a high location, so that angry mobs of anti-Catholics could not throw bricks through the windows and potentially torch the edifice during the turbulent events of the mid-1800's. It has even been said, that when planning the placement of the highly elevated stained glass windows, Bishop Neumann held a brick throwing contest in order to determine the greatest height a burly Irish bricklayer could hurl a brick. After that determination, the windows were then placed ten feet higher, just to be sure. While I have not been able to find documentary evidence of this brick-throwing contest, it lends a particular twist to the epic story that accompanies the construction of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. I will continue the research however, just to validate or dispel the story. Regardless of the authenticity, it indicates the great determination Catholics in Philadelphia had in building their, "Mother Church!"

Over the years, I have paid many visits to the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul for many spectacular events such as the Eucharistic Congress in 1976, the visit of John-Paul II in 1979 or the many ordinations of fellow seminarians to the Priesthood or Episcopate. All of these visits and events have always left me with a spiritual awe over the historical and spiritual significance that continues to transcend the years at this magnificent Cathedral, the beating heart of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Catholics should make a particular point to visit the Cathedral. It is their spiritual home and the central point of spirituality for their Catholic faith that is guided by the Archbishop of Philadelphia, Justin Cardinal Rigali. The Cathedral stands for the greatest appreciation and implementation of the principles of celebration we hold as sacred as Catholics. The liturgical celebrations at the cathedral, with the Cardinal-Archbishop of Philadelphia fully elaborate on the age old principle the Church holds in the highest esteem, "Lex Orandi! Lex Credendi! TheChurch prays as the Church believes! Philadelphia Catholics should be thankful that the highest attention to the details of the Sacred Liturgy are observed in their Cathedral. It shows very clearly that Cardinal Rigali is committed to the proper celebration of our Catholic liturgy and promotes a devotion towards Catholic art and architecture that is not always known outside of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

While the Cathedral-Basilica has undergone many renovations since the consecration by Archbishop Wood, one thing remains constant; it is the place of the cathedra, or chair of the Archbishop of Philadelphia. It is from this location, that the spiritual growth and sacramental life of the Church of Philadelphia flows. A Cathedral, is not only the place the local bishop calls home, it is also the place from where the Eucharistic Mystery is celebrated by the bishop as the Shepard of His Diocese.

The commemoration of the dedication of the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul has been moved liturgically to June 30, so not to diminish the Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul assigned by the Roman Calendar to June 29. Regardless of the day, Philadelphia Catholics should celebrate both days as festivities in their cathedral that symbolize the co-patrons of the Archdiocese, Saints Peter & Paul, the magnificent edifice of  our Cathedral-Basilica and the filial obedience and fidelity the Catholic Church in Philadelphia gives freely to the Holy See.

The Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul is celebrating its 146 anniversary of dedication this year. Don't forget to remember kindly, the temporal requirements needed to preserve and maintain the oldest building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Cathedral-Basilica has been the spiritual home of Philadelphia Catholics from the middle of the nineteenth century, help financially to keep it well into the twenty-first century of Catholic life in the City of Brotherly Love.

Before I forget, many thanks to the kind staff of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Historical Research Center located at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, in the underworld of Saint Martins Chapel. They provided the photograph of the Cathedral in 1856, which according to them is the oldest photo of the Cathedral in their historical collection. The photo is reproduced and published with their permission as well.