From the Basilica’s world-wide-web web page, “The Choir
All through the 1870s the Montreal architect Victor Bourgeau developed the high altar, choir stalls and reredos (altarpiece), with statues sculpted in pine by the French artist Henri Bouriché. All the attractive woodwork motifs were being executed in black walnut. The statues have been delivered in 1875.
Curé Rousselot himself devised the attractive concept for the sanctuary to illustrate the legitimate indicating and importance of the sacrament of the Mass and the Eucharist.
The Eucharistic Concept
As just one of the seven sacraments, also recognized as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Eucharist continuously renews the sacrifice of Christ. In the Aged Testament, a sacrifice could be a supplication to God, a petition for pardon, an expression of praise or an act of thanksgiving. The sculpted figure groups listed here at the altar add to this central and quite a few-sided sacrificial topic.
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion is at the centre of the altarpiece. Christ is represented as dying on the cross. The Blessed Virgin and Saint John stand on both facet of the cross, although Mary Magdalene kneels at the foot. This “Calvary” stands on a little altar as a witness of the unity that exists concerning the sacrifice of the Cross and that of the Mass.
The Old Testament
All over the Crucifixion scene we see 4 scenes from the Outdated Testomony that prefigure the sacrifice of the Cross and the Mass.
At reduced suitable is the sacrifice of Isaac by his father, Abraham. This main episode of the Aged Testomony describes why the Judeo-Christian tradition retains human existence sacred. The human sacrifices of historical instances will henceforth be changed by animal sacrifices.
At reduce remaining, we see the featuring of bread and wine created by Melchisidech.
At upper remaining, Moses (his brows adorned with two rays of gentle) is viewed setting up the commandments concerning ritual animal sacrifice at the altar. He destinations an urn total of manna inside of the Ark of the Covenant. At upper ideal, Aaron, the significant priest, sacrifices a lamb in accordance to custom.
Sacred background on the Higher Altar
The centre of the altarpiece, positioned specifically over the substantial altar, represents Calvary. Beneath the altar, the picture of the Previous Supper seems – a impressive wooden sculpture dependent on Leonardo da Vinci’s well known mural – representing the institution of the Eucharist on the eve of Christ’s struggling and demise.
In the centre is the Tabernacle, flanked by bas-aid sculptures in wood exhibiting angels and saints in adoration, in accordance to the vision explained in Chapter 7 of the Apocalypse (Revelation).
In the higher section of the altarpiece we see the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin. Christ, the Messiah who has conquered loss of life by His resurrection, crowns His mom in heaven.
The way to heavenly bliss
The visible composition directed upwards towards the vault of the church suggests the way to eternal happiness in heaven, an ascent amid angels and stars versus a deep blue track record. This ascent, as a image of existence, is traced in the sacrifice of Christ and in the Mass.
Statues of the prophets Isaiah and Daniel, carved by the sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert in 1882, surface on the suitable and left sides of the altarpiece.
Above the choir stalls on the proper and remaining sides are 6 polychrome (painted) statues.
Very first on the ideal is Saint Paul, with a sword of his martyrdom in Rome, in which he was beheaded. Up coming are two evangelists and their respective symbols: Matthew, with a winged male figure, and Luke, with his winged ox.
To the remaining of the altar stands Saint Peter with his keys, and the rooster, recalling Peter’s betrayal of Jesus, his grasp and pal on the morning of His suffering and death. Then the other two evangelists: John, keeping a chalice symbolizing his enjoy for the Eucharist, with the eagle, a signal of his far-viewing gospel, and Mark with his winged lion.”
Posted by jeff_a_goldberg on 2015-10-03 03:12:53
Tagged: , Basilica , Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal , Catholic , HDR , Montreal , Notre-Dame Basilica , Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal , Montréal , Québec , Canada , CA
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