
LA's Triumph of the Modern

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17 years 2 months ago
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is one of two new architectural structures recently added to the downtown LA skyline, the other being the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a few blocks away where the LA Philharmonic now resides. The two edifices together give the city a union of art and religion that had not existed in such magnificence before. As for penny-pinching, as described above, that is a new one to this observer, as it was the priority of the LA's Cardinal Roger Mahoney to the said exclusion of other archdioces needs. The Cathedral is also infamously called Rog Mahal by various pundits.
17 years 2 months ago
Thanks for this post. Sacred art and architecture have never ever been an American strong suit. The post-WWII years in particular for Catholic architecture, especially in new parishes set up with the school first and the place of worship as an afterthought. When looking at modern architecture, one has to be able to separate out structures designed for reasons of economic pragmatism. While I have nothing against the cathedral in LA as a piece of architecture, there are better cathedrals of its generation, notably Dodge City, and much better work being accomplished in parishes where liturgy is a priority above penny-pinching.
17 years 2 months ago
I drive down to Our Lady of the Angels multiple times each year, and every time have found myself greatly blessed by the experience. Frankly, I think there's a certain segment within the church that is dedicated to deriding all things connected in any way, shape or form to Cardinal Roger Mahony. Certain Catholic commentators would have hated this church even if it had been built to look exactly like St. Peter's Basilica.
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