Co-Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Co-Cathedral Basilica
of the Sacred Heart
Laying of cornerstone:
First Mass:
Architect:
Building Contractor:
July 28, 1895, Rt. Rev. Patrick James Donahue, D.D. Bishop of Wheeling
December 25, 1897, Rev. Joseph W. Stenger
H.B. Rowe of Lexington, KY.
A.F. Withrow Lumber Co.
Entrance at Virginia Street
Domus Dei: House of God
Beth-el: House of God
Domus Ecclesiae: House of the Church
Domus Populorum Dei: House of the People of God.
Outer Garden:
Walk through the Jerusalem Gate with the capstones
from the Holy City honored by Jews, Christians, and
Muslims. Parishioners, visitors, and pilgrims unite in Christ
to exchange signs of welcome, friendship and affection as
together they make the transition from the busy city outside
to the quiet city within this house of worship.
As you rest, visit, pray or just hurry through the garden,
recall the incident at Massah and Meriba where the Israelites
in the desert grumbled about the lack of food and water:
“Estne Dominus hic an non?” (“Is the Lord in this place or
not?”) (Exodus 17:7) Recall also Christ’s promise to give
you living water. “Domine, da mihi hanc aquam (vivam) ut
non sitiam.” (“Lord, give me this (living) water that I might
not thirst.”) (John 4:15)
Before leaving the Garden with its flowers, plants and
shrubs indigenous to the Holy Land, note the slabs marking
the crypts where future Diocesan Bishops may choose to be
buried. “Hic dormit Episcopus…” (“Here sleeps Bishop…”)
Hospitality Room:
Sacred Heart Cathedral takes great
pride in its apostolic origins and honors,
with a plaque, the apostles to whom
Christ entrusted the ministry of teaching,
uniting and sanctifying the members of
His church and also their successors
who have enjoyed the hospitality of
Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Inside the hospitality room,
Abraham, our father-in-faith, reminds
all that Jews, Christians and Muslims
are, spiritually and naturally, brothers
and sisters, children of the one same
loving God invoked as Yahweh and
Allah. On March 14, 2004, this
hospitality room was blessed and
dedicated to Abraham, our father-infaith. A representative of the Vatican,
Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, D.D., President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue,
presided at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Present were The Most Rev. Bernard W. Schmitt, D.D.,
Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Rabbi Victor Urecki of B’Nai Jacob Synagogue, and
Imam Mohammad Jamal Daoudi of the Islamic Center of West Virginia.
The relationship with our Mother Church, St. Joseph Cathedral in Wheeling, is noted, as is the
relationship to the parishes of the Diocese, especially those that honor Sacred Heart with their attendance
at the Chrism Mass, the Rite of Election and other liturgical celebrations of the Diocesan Church.
A modest display of memorabilia recalls the history of Sacred Heart Parish serving the people of
Charleston since 1866.
Worship Area
As you enter the Worship Space of the church, bless yourself with Holy Water
that recalls your Baptism in Christ Jesus. With the Sign of the Cross, profess your
faith in the Triune God, one God in Three Divine Persons, and your faith in your
redemption and salvation through Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross. The two solid
marble fonts were set in place July, 1920.
Before taking your seat, genuflect toward the Eucharist reserved in the Tabernacle
on the High Altar of Repose. The Eucharist Reserved there is truly the Body and
Blood of Jesus Christ under the appearance of Bread. The Sanctuary Lamp burning
nearby indicates that the Eucharist is reserved in this Tabernacle.
The most important feature of any magnificent or
modest Catholic church, the raison d’être for the
physical structure, is the Altar of Sacrifice, the Table
of the Lord’s Supper. Here daily, through the ministry
of His ordained priest, Jesus Christ, the Eternal Priest,
together with those united with Him in and through
Baptism, offers to His Heavenly Father the gift of
Himself under the appearances of Bread and Wine in an
unbloody Sacrifice, the re-presentation and living
memorial of His Bloody Sacrifice on the Cross.
Near the altar are two onyx candlesticks with candles made from pure
beeswax. Candlelight reminds worshippers of the days of persecution when the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated secretly in the dark chambers of the
catacombs.
Nearby is the Pulpit where the Word of the Lord is broken open and
proclaimed to God’s people. It is similar in material, design and color to
the Altar of Sacrifice where the Bread of Life is broken for our spiritual
nourishment.
To the right of the Pulpit is the Baptismal Font where
individuals of all ages are incorporated into the Body of Christ and
become members of God’s Holy People, the Church.
Above the Font, and related to it, is the Ambry, where the
Sacred Oils, used in the Sacraments of the Church, hold an
honored place. They are reserved in English cut-glass decanters
that are more than one hundred years old. In the center is the
Sacred Chrism, SC, pure oil of the olive to which has been added
the sweet smelling Balsam. This most Sacred of Oils is used in
Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the consecration of
sacred sites, churches, altars, chalices, etc. To the left is the Oil of
Catechumens, OC, used prior to Baptism. To the right is the Oil of
the Infirm, OI, used in the Sacramental Anointing of the Sick.
Behind the Altar of Sacrifice is the High Altar of
Repose, consecrated by Bishop Donahue on May 9, 1909.
In the Tabernacle is reserved the Blessed Sacrament, the
Eucharistic Bread to be taken to those unable to attend the
Holy Sacrifice. The church is open from 7:00 a.m.- 7:00
p.m. for those who wish to spend precious time in prayer
and adoration in the Real Presence of the Lord.
Note the beautiful handwork on this magnificent
marble altar where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was
celebrated from Christmas Day, 1897 to 1974.
The Tabernacle, installed in 1950, depicts the Face of Christ on
gold-plated bronze doors. Along with the Face of Christ are:
1) the inscription, “Ego Sum Panis Vivus.” (“I am the Living
Bread.”)
2) strands of wheat
3) clusters of grapes
4) the initials I.H.S., the first 3 letters of “Jesus” in Greek IES
(JES)
I.H.S. also stands for:
IESUS HEMETEROS SOTER, Greek for: “Jesus, our Savior”
IESUS HOMINUM SALVATOR, Latin for: “Jesus, Savior of
Mankind”
To the left of the Tabernacle is the victorious Paschal Lamb, resting on the Sacramentary with the
seven tassels representing the seven Sacraments; the pendant depicts Christ’s victory over sin and death.
To the right is a favorite symbol of the Eucharist and Redemption: the Pelican, who, according to
ancient belief, would scratch her breast till blood came forth to nourish her young.
Above the Lamb and the Pelican are the traditional symbols of the four Evangelists (Ezekiel 1:5-21;
10:20; Revelations 4: 6-8).
The winged man represents Matthew who teaches about the human nature of Jesus
Christ and who presents the paternal genealogy of Jesus.
The winged lion represents Mark who informs us of the royal dignity of Jesus
and begins his Gospel with “the voice of one crying in the wilderness,” suggesting
the roar of a lion.
The winged ox represents Luke who deals with the sacrificial aspects of Jesus’ life
and who begins his Gospel with the Temple scene.
The rising eagle represents John whose gaze soars high into the mysteries of
heaven, especially in the lofty introduction to his Gospel.
Angels on the Altar of Repose are depicted kneeling in adoration before God or reading from the Scroll
of Life.
Above the Tabernacle, a simple wooden crucifix depicts Jesus, the
Eternal Son of God, offering Himself in a bloody sacrifice to His Heavenly
Father to atone for the sins of the world.
Statue on the right: St. Catherine of Siena, 1347-1380, “Doctor of the
Church,” author noted for holiness and learning
Statue on the left: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, 1647-1690, who
popularized devotion to Sacred Heart of Jesus.
To the left of the Altar of Sacrifice is the Cathedra,
the Chair of the Diocesan Bishop chosen and
appointed by the Bishop of Rome to teach, govern and
sanctify the Catholics of the local Church of Wheeling
-Charleston and maintain their unity with the One,
Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church.
The Shepherd’s Crook or Pastoral Staff is a sign
of the Bishop’s authority and recalls the image of
Christ, the Good Shepherd.
Above the Altar of the Sacrifice are the words of the Lord, Caro Enim Mea,
Vere Est Cibus Et Sanguis Meus, Vere Est Potus.”(“ For My Flesh is truly Food, My Blood truly
Drink.”) (John 6:55)
On the interior walls of the Church are the traditional fourteen Stations of the
Cross erected in November, 1916. These stations commemorate the stops along
the Via Dolorosa (Sorrowful Way), Jesus’ journey of about one mile from the
praetorium, Pilate’s court, to Calvary and the tomb. One is thereby able to visit,
in spirit, the places in the Holy Land where these events took place. Individuals
may walk from station to station individually or, during the penitential season of
Lent, may join in a communal celebration where all present together reflect on
the passion and death of the Lord.
Sacred Heart Cathedral has the distinction of being a consecrated church (1-24-88).
Twelve candle sconces and crosses, representing the twelve apostles, mark the spots
where the walls of the church were anointed with Sacred Chrism.
To the right and left of the Sanctuary, one notices the two
unique shrines designed and carved specifically for Sacred
Heart Cathedral. “Verbum Ponderans Maria Cum Verbo,
Verbum Ponderans Joseph Cum Verbo.” (“Mary with the
Word, pondering the Word, Joseph with the Word, pondering
the Word.”)
The Romanesque-style light fixtures with bronze finish and
translucent glass were installed in 1950, as were the red Verona
and Belgian Rouge marble around the sanctuary walls and the
Fleuri Travernelle marble around the walls of the nave and
vestibule.
The Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is a pilgrimage
site for the Diocesan Shrine of Santo Nino, the Infant of Prague,
honored in a special way by the Filipino Community of the Kanawha
Valley.
Also in the worship space of the church stands the shrine of the Pieta, a
model of Michelangelo’s statue of the Sorrowful Mother with the lifeless
body of her Son across her lap. This shrine to the Sorrowful Lady dates to
1911.
Chapel
The room to the right of the sanctuary, is the
Chapel commonly referred to as the Mothers’
Room.
One door in the Chapel opens to the
Reconciliation Room where Catholics may
receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation after
confessing their sins, expressing sorrow for
their sins and expressing their intention to avoid sin in the future.
Sacristy
One may enter the sacristy either from the vestibule on Virginia Street or through the door to the left
of the worship area. Here wine, bread, vestments and chalices are kept and prepared for liturgical
celebrations.
The room is sufficiently spacious to accommodate the great number of
priests that come to the Cathedral from Central and Southern West Virginia
for diocesan celebrations.
The sacristy will be used on special occasions to accommodate an
overflow crowd who are able to view Mass through the glass windows and
on closed circuit TV.
A large folding partition can also provide a preparation room for a bride.
Vestibule
In the vestibule on Leon Sullivan way, there stands a shrine to the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Parishioners and visitors may come, light a candle
and spend time in prayer.
Dating to 1911, there is, in the vestibule, a statue of St. Anthony of
Padua who left everything to follow Christ. More recently, there has been
installed a statue of St. Peregrine, patron of cancer victims.
As you enter/exit the church, you will
notice the choir loft above you. The Schantz pipe
organ, with its three-manual console and 60 ranks
of 50 pipes per rank, designed and built specially
for Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, was installed in
1984. This largest pipe organ in the Kanawha
Valley is considered one of the finest in West
Virginia.
Rising 120 feet above Leon Sullivan Way is the bell tower. The largest bell, dedicated to St. Richard
weighs 2060 pounds. The middle-sized bell, weighing 1500 pounds is dedicated to St. Joseph, Patron of
the Dying. The smallest bell, 700 pounds, is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, in honor of the Incarnation.
The bells, cast in Baltimore, MD, by the McShane Bell Foundry were blessed on April 30, 1911 and
installed the following week. The ringing of the Angelus three times a day, commemorating the
Incarnation of the Son of God, has been the custom at Sacred Heart Cathedral since June 9, 1901.
Above the entrance to the Cathedral on Leon Sullivan Way, there is a bronze
statue of the Sacred Heart placed there in 1897.