Bragging rights

Or who can hit 0 worshiping Catholics in their diocese the fastest.

I have to agree. If there is a reason why the Church is designed that way, I'd like to know. Men like Stravinsky, Dali, and the like were not understood at first. But an earthquake couldt hurt either.

Hey, I second the earthquake!

Joe, I added my comments to the AmericanPapist post about some of the reasons behind the design, if you're interested.

The Oakland cathedral is so not as ugly as the LA cathedral! And we have a bishop we can be proud of.

Some of Bishop Vigneron's comments to his priests and chancery personnel:

A word about the Omega Wall and its image.

The Omega Wall rises behind the sanctuary. The “sense” of the wall is this: The building is constructed with the aim of displaying light is many and varied forms, so that the beauty of this natural phenomenon is disclosed. The purpose for this is that light is the principal natural symbol for Christ in the Cathedral. On that basis the building itself then becomes a symbol with a very specific character; it is an icon for the cosmos filled with the light of Christ (a microcosm of the Christ-macrocosm. Entering the Cathedral is experiencing the world as God intended it, filled with the light of Christ.

That light was present at creation, and so the window at the entry (over the baptismal font) is the Alpha Window. The window at the end of the church, behind the altar is the Omega Window, representing Christ at the end of time, when he, the Lamb, is the light of the City of God.

On the Omega Window (or perhaps better, “through” this window) appears an image of Christ in glory. This is taken from the portal of the Chartres Cathedral. The image is made by points of light coming in through metal panels on the face of the window. (Something on analogy with the pixels of a TV) These points enter through holes of different diameters and densities made by lasers according to a computer program that has transferred the image from Chartres into this format.

I think the result is striking, to say the least.

+Ahv

The cathedral is surrounded by office buildings (with a beautiful view of Lake Merritt, a prime location), so I'd argue the modern architecture makes sense both in context and as a way to symbolize evangelizing the modern world with the light of Christ using ancient symbols of the faith.

Hmm, interesting. To me it looks more like a corn crib than a paean to light, but I've seen uglier!!!

Jesus the Zeppelin Captain?

Dear Gail,

The baby Jesus lay in a manger, yes? So, a corn crib is an apt metaphor.

When I first saw the plans for this structure a few years back I was quite excited by its design. As the building has taken shape my enthusiasm for it has waned. I understand the thinking behind its design, and the construction technology is impressive. I appreciate the architectural vocabulary being employed, and the materials employed are amazing (e.g., dichroic glass). But on the whole, it looks like something we created as kids with a pail and sand. I'm really hoping the pictures don't do it justice, and that an actual experience of the space will restore my enthusiasm. I thought the original design by Calatrava, despite being derided by many as a giant clam shaped eyesore, was much more elegant than this monolithic basket. Perhaps my love of seafood has won out over my taste for corn.

I keep thinking of a Candle Under a Bushel, albeit one full of slits and cracks. After all, if it is raining, and yet you still want light to see, a bushel makes sense if you want to shelter your candle, keep it alight. And let's face it, we live in a most rainy age.

The symbolism is lost on me and I'm sure most people!
The initial gut reaction is 'This is God's House?
A house built of sticks?'
Well, at least it will match wicker baskets and glass Kool Aid jugs....if these are to be used, as in another California 'happening'. (See prior article).
'Fool the eye, fool the heart!