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Our Lady of Guadalupe Decoration
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Cultivating Reverence: The Role of Decoration in Sacred Places

There is a reason some of the world’s most famous landmarks and skylines include places of worship, and there is a reason these places draw thousands, if not millions, of visitors every year. Viewers marvel at the craftsmanship and sheer force of will necessary to create pieces that uplift the soul and stand the test of time. These churches like St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Notre Dame in Paris and Riems, and the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain are the highest standard for beauty in the Christian faith. Other outstanding architectural works include the Dome of the Rock, the Hagia Sophia, and the Taj Mahal. The singular element they all have in common other than their fame is their undeniable beauty and central roles in their respective faiths.

To Beautify or Not to Beautify

A question often posed when considering a beautification project to a new or existing church is: why bother spending so much? Would the money not better serve the poor? While the immediate answer is yes, there are two key facets of beautification missing in this dilemma. Those being the inspiration that beauty imparts and the longevity of such efforts.

The effect our surroundings play upon us cannot be understated; in a way, they define us by subconsciously making up our standards and aspirations. Providing a beautiful space for worship imbues this central aspect of life with a greater importance above all others. Associating faithful teachings of love, charity, and peace with the wonder of physical beauty becomes a key role in how we run our homes or workplaces, how we respect nature or the things we own, and how we even treat our own innate beauty. These are lessons that take any adult or child far and continue to inspire them as long as the beauty remains.

Furthermore, a central part of faith is its accessibility or rather relating to the divine via our own human means. In the Catholic tradition, the words “he (Jesus Christ) came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man” in the Nicene Creed were highly contentious because they made a clear statement about God becoming Man. The divine deigned to become human. Because of this statement, Catholic churches thereafter sought to bring the divine into the mortal world and, rather than degrading the spiritual, uplifted the profane. This trait we can find in almost any beautified religious space, as communities seek to highlight that which is greater than themselves and aspire to the values laid out in their faith.

Built to Last

To ensure this beauty remains, quality materials and techniques must be used. Even Roman and Greek temples stand after thousands of years; the decorations in the Taj Mahal look like they were finished only yesterday; and the tassels and banners on St. Peter’s baldachin still look as if they are caught in a breeze. Marble, gems, and bronze, these materials and what they were formed into have stood the test of time and have provided countless numbers of people an experience of beauty. That longevity is the intention of any meaningful beautification so that generations, not just the one who built it, may benefit from it and carry on the faith that so reverently shaped the space.

Santiago De Compostela

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Look to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela as an example. This church spanned the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque artistic periods and has elements from all four. These design elements, varied as they are, remain in eclectic harmony and continue to inspire pilgrims as they have for centuries. The materials have been impervious to the ravages of time much like the faith of the pilgrims who admire it. The Way of St. James, or Camino de Santiago, provided both a physical and spiritual journey for those who undertook it and ended in the sublime experience of one of Europe’s most stunning churches. The experience of such beauty has been described by many throughout time and has lasted as a beacon of hope and faith.

Shrine decoration

Detail from the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse, WI

Today, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, WI is also a popular pilgrimage location, though of course not nearly as old as Santiago de Compostela. Completed by Canning Liturgical Arts in 2008, the shrine uses the same elements that beautify the churches of Europe: faux Italian Carrera marble, Corinthian pilasters, rounded arches and barrel vaults, a baldacchino over the altar, and a starry dome showing the heavens as they would have been in Mexico City circa 1531. This space too was built to last and, when you walk in, the church seems to have always been there, setting you apart from time and welcoming you into the centuries-old tradition of faith. This is the power of beauty in a holy space.

Shrine wide shot

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse, WI

So often when we walk into a beautiful building, we are compelled to speak in hushed tones. The overwhelming grandeur before us demands our attention, rendering us speechless. Imagine the power that art could have if this silence and admiration was even a weekly experience rather than only when we go into a museum or famous landmark building. Real beauty is never taken for granted because it is far more common to see things that are misshapen, trendy, or neglected. Real beauty “leaves nothing for the eye to desire,” according to Owen Jones, and lifts our minds up to that which is true, good, and beautiful. What better accompaniment to a steadfast faith and lasting religious tradition?

Canning Liturgical Arts Guide

As a conservation studio and restoration contractor, our team of highly skilled craftsmen, artisans, and conservators are experienced in the use of traditional methods and materials. We understand the importance in sharing our expertise and knowledge in our field.

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