Holy Name Cathedral (Chicago) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Name Cathedral |
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View from State Street
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| Location | 730 North Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1843 (parish) |
| Dedicated | November 21, 1875 by Bishop Thomas Foley |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | NRHP |
| Designated | 2000 |
| Architect(s) | Patrick Keely et al. |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | July 19, 1874 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Holy Name |
| Archdiocese | Chicago |
| Province | Chicago |
Holy Name Cathedral is a very important Roman Catholic church in Chicago, Illinois. It's the main church for the Archdiocese of Chicago, which is one of the biggest Catholic areas in the United States. The current leader of the Archdiocese is Cardinal Blase J. Cupich.
This cathedral was officially opened on November 21, 1875. It was built to replace two older churches, the Cathedral of Saint Mary and the Church of the Holy Name. Both of these were destroyed in the terrible Great Chicago Fire of 1871. You can still see faint bullet marks on a stone near the street. These marks are from October 11, 1926, when a gang member named Hymie Weiss was killed there.
In 2009, a fire caused a lot of damage to the roof and inside of the church. But don't worry, it was fixed and reopened later that same year!
Contents
Exploring the Cathedral's Design
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Holy Name Cathedral was built in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like older European cathedrals with tall arches and detailed designs. The church is about 233 feet (71 meters) long and 126 feet (38 meters) wide. It can fit 1,110 people inside. The ceiling is 70 feet (21 meters) high, and its spire reaches 210 feet (64 meters) into the sky! The whole building is designed to make you feel like you're inside a giant "tree of life" from the Bible.
Amazing Bronze Doors
When you arrive, the first thing you'll notice are the huge bronze doors. They were designed by Albert J. Friscia. Each door weighs about 1,200 pounds (544 kg)! They look like giant wooden planks and fit the "Tree of Life" theme. Even though they are so heavy, a special hydraulic system lets you open them with just one finger.
The Resurrection Crucifix
Once you step inside, your eyes will likely go to the Resurrection Crucifix. This large sculpture by Ivo Demetz hangs in the church. Along the walls, you'll see the Stations of the Cross. These are artworks by Goffredo Verginelli that show different moments from Jesus's journey to the cross. They are made of bronze and framed in beautiful red marble.
Ambos: Where Readings Happen
An ambo is like a special stand or lectern where parts of the Holy Scripture are read during church services.
Ambo of the Evangelists
One large bronze sculpture is the Ambo of the Evangelists by Eugenio de Courten. It shows the writers of the Gospels (stories about Jesus's life) with their symbols:
Ambo of the Epistle Writers
Another ambo by de Courten is the Ambo of the Epistle Writers. This bronze piece shows the people who wrote letters (called epistles) to early Christian groups:
- Peter holds keys, representing the Kingdom of God.
- Paul is shown with a sword, as he died by one.
- James represents faith and good actions.
- Jude carries a whip, symbolizing correction.
This ambo is often used for readings during Sunday Masses and other special days.
The Cathedral Altar
The main altar is made from a huge piece of red-black granite. It weighs six tons! The base of the altar has bronze carvings that show scenes from the Old Testament about offerings. These include Abel's sacrifice, Melchizedek giving bread and wine, Abraham almost sacrificing his son Isaac, and the Prophet Elijah receiving food from an angel. Inside the altar are special items called relics, which are small pieces from the bodies of Saint John the Apostle and Saint Timothy.
The Bishop's Special Chair
A cathedra is a special chair for the bishop. This chair is what makes a church a cathedral. From this chair, the Archbishop of Chicago leads the "See of Chicago" (which means the area he oversees). The Cathedra of the See of Chicago is quite simple. Its back has three panels showing early Christian teachers: Jesus in the middle, Saint Peter on his right, and Saint Paul on his left.
Panels of the Holy Name
Above the bishop's chair are the Sanctuary Panels of the Holy Name. These are five bronze panels by Attilio Selva. They represent the Holy Name of Jesus, which is where the church gets its name.
- The first panel shows Simeon thinking about the Infant Savior in the Temple.
- The second panel shows the Mystery of the Trinity and an angel bringing Christ's symbol to Earth.
- The third panel shows the Risen Christ being called Lord.
- The fourth panel shows Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus for naming.
- The last panel shows the Priesthood of Jesus, with Christ offering a chalice to everyone.
Pipe Organs
The cathedral has two amazing pipe organs. A large one with 71 stops is in the west end. It was built by Flentrop Orgelbouw from the Netherlands. There's also a smaller one with 19 stops in the south chancel, made by Casavant Frères from Canada.
Hats of the Cardinals
Holy Name Cathedral has a special tradition. When a cardinal dies, their galero (a wide-brimmed hat with tassels) is hung from the highest point of the cathedral's ceiling above the bishop's chair. These hats stay there until they turn to dust. This symbolizes that all earthly fame and glory eventually pass away. You can see the galeri of several past cardinals hanging there, including Mundelein, Stritch, Meyer, Cody, Bernardin, and George.
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871
When the Diocese of Chicago was first created in 1843, the main church was the Cathedral of Saint Mary. A few years later, in 1851, a large brick church called the Church of the Holy Name was being built. But in October 1871, both churches were destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire, which burned down much of the city.
The pastor of the Church of the Holy Name, John McMullen, traveled all over the country to raise money. He wanted to rebuild the churches and help the many people in Chicago who lost their homes. For over four years, Chicago's Catholics had to worship in a temporary church. It was called the shanty cathedral and was a burnt house that had been boarded up.
Building the New Cathedral
In 1874, an architect named Patrick Charles Keely was chosen to design the new cathedral for Chicago. He also designed another church called St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. On July 19, 1874, the first stone of the new cathedral was laid.
Just over a year later, on November 21, 1875, Bishop Thomas Foley officially opened the church. He named it the Cathedral of the Holy Name. In 1880, the Diocese of Chicago became the Archdiocese of Chicago. This meant Holy Name Cathedral became the most important church for many other Catholic areas in the Midwest United States.
Early Repairs and Changes
In 1888, people noticed that the cathedral was sinking a bit on one side. So, the archbishop decided to start the first major renovation projects. By 1915, Holy Name Cathedral was made stable and saved from sinking. It was also made 15 feet (4.6 meters) longer to make room for more people as the Catholic population grew.
That same year, Archbishop James Edward Quigley died. The first big Mass held in the newly renovated cathedral was his funeral.
Emergency Repairs and Fire
Holy Name Cathedral had to undergo urgent repairs from February to August 2008. This happened because a piece of the fancy wooden ceiling fell down on February 10, 2008. After more pieces fell, the cathedral had to close for safety. It reopened for weekend Masses at the end of August 2008 and fully reopened in November 2008.
Then, on February 4, 2009, it closed again because of a big fire. The fire started in the attic where workers were finishing up the earlier repairs. It was caused by a faulty ice melting system on the roof. The church suffered a lot of water damage from fighting the fire. Firefighters bravely went into the burning attic without their helmets and oxygen tanks. Usually, a fire in an attic of such a building would mean it's a total loss, but their quick actions saved the cathedral! The church reopened on August 1, 2009.
Cardinal George Mundelein
In 1924, Archbishop George Mundelein was given the special title of cardinal by the pope. When he came back from the Vatican, over 80,000 Catholics gathered at Holy Name Cathedral to celebrate his return. Cardinal Mundelein also helped Chicago host a huge Catholic event called the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in 1926. The opening Mass for this event was held at the cathedral.
When Cardinal Mundelein died suddenly in October 1939, Chicago City Hall quickly paved the street where the subway was being built. This was to make it easier for the huge number of mourners expected to visit. Over a million people came to pay their respects as Cardinal Mundelein lay in state inside Holy Name Cathedral.
Changes After Vatican II
After the Second Vatican Council finished in the 1960s, Holy Name Cathedral began a big renovation project to change the inside of the church. From Easter 1968 to 1969, the cathedral was closed. Services were held in other places, like a nearby school gym. During this time, all the stained glass, oil paintings, and marble statues were removed from inside the cathedral. The goal was to make the interior simpler. The main features became a six-ton granite altar and the Resurrection crucifix. Holy Name Cathedral reopened on Christmas Eve of 1969.
Pope John Paul II's Visit
In October 1979, Pope John Paul II made history by becoming the first Pope to visit Holy Name Cathedral. He held a prayer service with Chicago's bishops. There was also a concert featuring the famous singer Luciano Pavarotti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra inside the cathedral. Everyone present also prayed the Our Father in Latin, as the Pope requested.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral del Santo Nombre (Chicago) para niños
