Cathedral and Basilica

On Monday of our Odyssey Excursion we toured both the Basilica of St. Mary and the Cathedral of St. Paul. Starting at the Basilica, we were guided by a very kind tour guide who was a plethora of knowledge about the Basilica, from when it was originally built to even some mistakes that the architect and stain glass window maker had made! She walked us around the outside of the basilica, showed us the importance of the Basilica's insignia, and explained the role that the Basilica has in the Global Church.

She walked us through the story of Mary painted on the stain glass windows, she showed us the organ, the choir loft, and the designated side chapels and side altars. These altars were devoted to the Sacred Heart, St. Joseph, and St. Therese. The architect that designed both the Basilica and the Cathedral under the guidance of Archbishop John Ireland was very French and his taste and saintly devotions were evident. The architect, Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, kept all his blueprints so that when the Basilica was being renovated, they were able to return the designs to their original intent.

After our tour, we took an hour to pray in the sanctuary. Either with a Scriptural Rosary or their prayer journals, we all took some time meditating on Christ's Mother and the beauty she holds. 

After lunch, we headed to St. Paul to the Cathedral. Knowing what we knew about the Basilica informed our understanding of the Cathedral since they shared an architect. 
​

---

We followed a self-guided tour of the Cathedral, asking questions to each other about the different symbols, saints and significance of the inside. Whether it was seeing the four gospel writers, the virtues written on the four corners of the ceiling, or the psalm written in the dome, we all had our eyes widened to the complexity and beauty of the interior. 

We toured the Shrine of Nations as well, recognizing the rich history of the church present in Saints all around the world. From St. Patrick to St. Cyril and Methodius, to others, it was beautiful to see how the Church has transformed hearts around the world.

Finally, we ended our tour of the Cathedral by going to the museum in the basement. The guide there provided some backstory as to the building, price, and net worth of the Cathedral today. She shared some fun facts about John Ireland as well, even showing us the metal cast taken of his corpse! 

It was a beautiful day meditating on the beauty of Minneapolis (Pig's Eye) and St. Paul, seeing the tradition of the Church present today and being able to appreciate the architecture, learn about the saints and Mary, and pray in those holy places so close to our homes.