Architecture Articles

The place of worship is a matter of great concern to many Catholics -- and their concern becomes more intense as their own parish church is slated for renovation.

As the impressive list of articles in this collection shows, Adoremus Bulletin has been a pioneer in tracking the historic developments on the church architecture scene during the past several years, and in providing useful information to clergy and laity who have often found themselves in need of reliable information -- and encouragement. Articles are listed from the most recently published backwards. See also Documents page -- Church Documents.

Opera Artis - Decree on the Care of the Church's Historical and Artistic Heritage - Congregation for the Clergy - April 11, 1971 -- Vol. VIII, 2 April 2002

Articles from Adoremus Bulletin

Beauty as Expanded Reason: The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe -- by Father Noah Waldman [September 2008]

At New Monastery, Ora et Labora Represented in Building -- by Thomas Gordon Smith [September 2008]

New Retablo at San Juan Capistrano Shows Continuity with the Past -- Artisans in Spain Create New Art for Historic Spanish Mission in California -- by Daniel Mitsui, November 2007

Uncovering - and Restoring - the Sacred: When two priests set out to find remnants of a mural in their parish church, no one could have imagined the transformation that would result -- by Ted Crisman [March 2007]

Readers' Forum: September 2006 -- "Jazz Riffs" and "Mantras" | "Proclamation"? | Crucifix | The Bible in the Breviary? | What "Precious Chalice" Means | What the Bishops Said | Can the only tabernacle be in a chapel outside the church building? Vol. XII, No. 6, September 2006

Church Buildings -- Monuments with Mixed Messages, by The Rev. John A. Valencheck, Vol. XI, No. 10, February 2006

Book Review: Heavenly City: The Architectural Tradition of Catholic Chicago, Vol. XI, No. 9, December 2005-January 2006

Where Have We Put Him?: And what if we acted as if we believe what we believe? -- by The Rev. W. Roy Floch -- Vol. XI, No. 8 -- November 2005

"How Great Thou Aren't"? A lament on new church buildings, by Helen Hull Hitchcock, Vol. XI, No. 1, March 2005

Sanctus Bells --Their History and Use in the Catholic Church -- "Most Catholic Christians are familiar with Sanctus bells. Though the bells are still heard in many parishes, many wonder about them. Some long to hear their joyful sounds; and some erroneously believe their use during the Mass is now prohibited. " -- by Matthew Herrera -- Vol. XI, No. 1, March 2005

In Tiers of Glory -- "A church building is a vessel of meaning with the greatest of symbolic responsibilities: it must bear the significance of eternal truths through its material form in order to establish a sacred place destined for divine worship", writes Michael Rose in the Introduction to his latest book... Review of Michael Rose's book In Tiers of Glory, The Organic Development of Catholic Church Architecture Through the Ages (2004. Cincinnati: Mesa Folio Editions, Aquinas Publishing, Ltd.) -- by Helen Hull Hitchcock Vol. X, No 8, November 2004

The Wisdom of Hindsight: The Restoration of Catholic Church Architecture -- "While many Church officials and patrons are still intent on erecting testaments to their own existence, some prominent architects in both North America and Europe are emerging with critiques of contemporary secularized churches." -- by Michael S. Rose -- Vol X, No 8, November 2004

Holy Architect -- Antoni Gaudi, the Spanish architect best known for designing the as yet unfinished Church of Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) in Barcelona, has recently had his "cause" for beatification accepted by the Vatican. Vol. X, No 7, October 2004

Ave Maria University Reveals Plans for Giant Church -- As part of a plan for a new campus... Ave Maria University recently unveiled detailed designs for the centerpiece building of its community -- a church., by Michael S. Rose -- Vol. X, Nos. 2 & 3, April - May 2004

Church Architecture and "Full and Active Participation" Does the architectural style of our churches influence the way we worship?, by Thomas Gordon Smith, Vol. X, Nos. 2 & 3, April - May 2004

The Divine Mercy Chapel Ireland -- The design of a new campus for St. Patrick's Academy, a small Catholic secondary school in Ireland, is the subject of my thesis at the Notre Dame School of Architecture. The design for the campus includes all-new school buildings and play fields -- but the heart of the campus is unquestionably its chapel. -- by John Haigh Vol. X, No. 2 & 3 -- April - May 2004

Design for Saint Agnes Chapel - New York - by Dino Marcantonio Vol. X, No. 2 & 3 -- April - May 2004

Design for Oakland Cathedral - by Domiane Forte, Vol. X, No. 2 & 3 -- April - May 2004

Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity chapel -- Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity chapel is prominently located at the head of the main quadrangle at Thomas Aquinas College. This central location reflects the important role of faith in the pursuit of wisdom. Administration and classroom buildings, connected to the chapel by arcades, will complete the quadrangle. -- by Duncan Stroik -- Vol. X, No. 2 & 3 -- April - May 2004

Cardinal Responds to Questions on Liturgy -- Wide-ranging questons on Liturgy were answered by Cardinal Francis Arinze at a conference in July sponsored by the Apostolate for Family Consecration., Vol. IX, No. 7, October 2003

Church Architecture and the Supreme Court, Attempting to use secular law to govern church renovations may be perilous -- "In the enad it is quite dangerous to allow the secular courts to decide such things as the style of altars, or the placement of tabernacles, even when court decisions might effectively support authentic Catholic belief and practice., by James Hitchcock , Vol. IX, No. 4, June 2003

Everything Old is New Again Monks build anew with ancient stones, Vol. IX, No. 4, June 2003

Let Freedom RING! -- What do ringing bells mean to us? -- By Rev. Mr. Roger Marks -- Vol VIII, No 10, February 2003

The Fading Orthodoxy of Modernism and the remaking of Catholic Church architecture - Review of Building from Belief by Michael E. De Sanctis -- By James Hitchcock Vol VIII, No 10 -- February 2003

Immersed in controversy - fonts or pools? -- Why church renovations replace existing baptismal fonts with immersion pools. -- By Susan Benofy -- Vol VIII, No 10, February 2003

Face-to-face with the Grand Summa -- by Michael S. Rose Vol. VIII, No. 4, June 2002

Art, Image and Artists - Sacred art, inspired by faith, both reflects and informs the culture -- Part II, by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger -- Vol. VIII, No. 1, March 2002

Milwaukee: Cathedral of Saint John reopens after controversial renovation -- by Helen Hull Hitchcock -- Vol. VIII, No. 1 -- March 2002

Re-pitching the Wrecking Ball - Feverish haste to remodel churches reflects radical renovation of theology -- by Matthew Grantham -- Vol. VIII, 1, March 2002

Art and Liturgy - The Question of Images, From a chapter of Cardinal Ratzinger's Spirit of the Liturgy, Part I -- Vol. VII, No. 10, February 2002

A City Set on a Hill, "the building itself is a city set on a hill", by Michael S. Rose, author of Ugly as Sin, Vol. VII, No. 10, February 2002

Bring Back the Bells - and the Bell Tower, too, by Michael S. Rose, Vol. VII, No. 7, October 2001

Are Icons Catholic? -- Monsignor Anthony A. La Femina answers Orthodox challenge. Vol. VII, No. 7, September 2001

The Eucharist Sacrifice-Banquet of the New Covenant, by The Rev. Msgr. Anthony A. La Femina, Vol. 7, 3, May 2001

Bishops back "Built of Living Stones" --Report on bishops' conference, including a transcription of the bishops' discussion of new guidelines on church architecture. -- by Helen Hull Hitchcock and Susan Benofy, Vol. VI, No. 9 December 2000 - January 2001

Whose Place of Worship? (Book Review) -- by David Aaron Murray -- Vol. 6, 6-7, Sept. / Oct. 2000

Jubilee Rome, Part V: San Clemente, St. Peter in Chains, Catacombs - and other noteworthy churches -- Last in a "virtual pilgrimage" to churches in Rome.-- by Sheila Gribben Liaugminas -- Vol. 6, 6-7, Sept. / Oct. 2000

Displeasure at Domus Dei draft delays new document -- by David A. Murray -- Vol. 6, 5, August 2000

Sacred Space: Rediscovering the Tradition -- book review by Denis McNamara of Reconquering Sacred Space: New Catholic Architecture for the New Millennium. -- Vol. 6, 5, August 2000

Jubilee Rome, Part IV: St. Mary Major, St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and St. Sebastian -- by Sheila Gribben Liaugminas -- Vol. 6, 5, August 2000

Jubilee Rome, Part III: Vatican Grottoes, St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, St. John Lateran -- by Sheila Gribben Liaugminas -- Vol. 6, 4, June / July 2000

Jubilee Rome, Part II: St. Peter's -- by Sheila Gribben Liaugminas -- Vol. 6, 3, May 2000

Jubilee Rome, Part I: Heart of the Church, Soul of a Pilgrimage -- by Sheila Gribben Liaugminas -- Vol. 6, 2, April 2000

The Altar and the Direction of Liturgical Prayer -- Chapter 3 of his book, The Spirit of the Liturgy by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger -- Vol. VI, No. 3, May 2000

Arizona Gothic: St. Joan of Arc's "modern Gothic" church combines contemporary construction with classic details, Staff -- Vol. VI, No. 2, April 2000

Unexpected Splendor in Alabama -- The Consecration of Mother Angelica's Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament -- by James Hitchcock -- Vol. 5, 10, February 2000

Bishops' Discussion of Domus Dei Stresses Sacred, by the Staff, Vol. 5, 9, December 1999 - January 2000

Notre Dame: Renovation Redux -- by Michael Rose -- Vol. 5, 7, October 1999

Ever Ancient, Ever New, New Missouri Church Builds on Traditio
by David Aaron Murray -- Vol. 5, 7, October 1999

"They have taken away my Lord, and I Know Not Where They Have Laid Him" -- Excerpts from the key documents on tabernacle placement, with an introduction -- by Helen Hull Hitchcock -- Vol. 5, 5, July-August 1999

What's the Real Story on EACW?, by Helen Hull Hitchcock and Susan Benofy -- Vol. 5, 4, June 1999

So, You're On the Parish Building Committee? Architectural Resources -- by Denis McNamara -- Vol. 4, 9, February 1999

New Church Architecture Journal Launched at Notre Dame -- by David Aaron Murray -- Vol. IV, No. 9, February 1999

Memories of Iconoclasm at Ely Cathedral -- by Lynette Burrows (February 1999: reprinted from The Catholic Times, August 1998)

American Gothic, -- Mixed Idioms Abound in New Nebraska Church -- by David Aaron Murray -- Vol. IV, No. 5, September 1998

Brompton Oratory has Lessons for Parishes,-- The Brompton Oratory, where the Novus Ordo is done as it should be done, attracts vast crowds. -- by Joanna Bogle, Vol. IV, No. 5, September 1998

Renovated, Restored, RENEWED! -- St. Aloysius in New Canaan, CT restores sense of sacred to post-Vatican II "meeting house" -- by Anne Carey (Vol. 4, 4 -- July / August 1998; reprinted from Our Sunday Visitor)

Can We Keep Our Churches Catholic? -- A Critical Look at Environment and Art in Catholic Worship, With Hope for the Future -- by Denis McNamara, Vol. IV, No. 1, February/March 1998

Where Should We Put the Tabernacle? -- by Monsignor Peter Elliott -- Vol. 3, 9 -- December 1997 / January 1998

An Architecture to Honor the Church's Vision, by Thomas Gordon Smith -- Vol. III, No. 8, November 1997

The Roots of Modernist Church Architecture -- by Duncan Stroik -- Vol. 3,7 -- October 1997

On the Art of Building Churches -- by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn -- Vol. 3,7, October 1997

Saint Nowhere's -- by James Hitchcock -- Vol. 3, 6 -- September 1997

Places for Iconoclasm: "Re-imaging" Required After Removal of Christian Symbols
by Irene Groot -- Vol. 3, 3, May 1997

The Veil, The Chalice, and the Dignity of Man: We Were Made to Receive Christ
by Father Jerry Pokorsky -- Vol. 2, 9, February 1997

New Liturgy Committee Head -- Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB Elected to replace Bishop Donald Trautman as BCL chairman -- Vol. II, No. 8, December 1996

Cry Sanctuary! Will Renovated Churches Have Room for Jesus?, by Helen Hull Hitchcock, Vol. II, No. 3, May / June 1996

Matter matters, Our Most Dangerous Heresies May be the Most Purely Spiritual, by Irene Colligan Groot, Vol. II, No. 3, May/June 1996

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