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Self-guided Tour of

Saint Benedict

ST. BENEDICT’S CATHOLIC CHURCH 411 5th Rue Welcome Visitors and Guests! Nebraska City, NE 68410 (402) 873-3047 St. Benedict Catholic Church is the oldest active Catholic Church in the Diocese of Lincoln. St. Benedict’s Catholic parish officially began in 1856 when Father John Cavanaugh from Omaha celebrated the first sacraments. No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but John Baptist Miege, S.J., the vicar apostolic residing in Leavenworth, rather what seems good for another. . . . Kansas, purchased the church property in 1855 while visiting Nebraska Let them put before all else; City. He bought eight lots of high ground overlooking the Missouri River and may He lead us all to everlasting life. for $3.00. In September, 1860 Father Philip Vogg, O.S.B. commenced the erection of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, on Kearney Heights. Bishop Rt. —From the conclusion of the Rule of Benedict Rev. James O’Gorman, vicar apostolic of Nebraska territory, laid the cor- nerstone on September 1, 1860. Father Emmanuel Hartig, O.S.B. (who

Booklet designed and edited by Andrew Heaslip and Christopher Miller (Summer 2006) served twice, as pastor for a total of over 40 years) completed the church (Revised June 2008) building in 1861 before Nebraska’s statehood and our country’s Civil War at a reported cost of $4,000. 2 11 Front Façade and Vestibule Catholic School

As you approach St. Benedict’s from the St. Benedict’s is proud to have the oldest Catholic school system in the outside, you will see the front façade of brown state of Nebraska. At the close of the Civil War, Benedictine Sisters from brick, part of the new addition designed to match Philadelphia came to open Annunciation Academy for area children. From the original church. Moving your eyes to the top 1927 to 2004, the Ursuline Sisters from Kentucky have served St. Benedict’s of the steeple you will see a copper cross hand- families and children. Since 2000, our school has been blessed with the made by a parishioner of St. Benedict’s. presence of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother who are cur- Before the front doors of the church, you rently serving the families of St. Benedict’s as well as the children of our will also see a new bronze statue sculpted by a school. Nebraska artist in Today, St. Benedict’s is part of Nebraska City Lourdes Central honor of our patron, Catholic Schools, the oldest continuous Catholic school in Nebraska, served St. Benedict. He is by dedicated sisters, priests and lay men and women of St. Benedict’s and holding a copy of his the surrounding community. The present buildings found behind the rule for monastic life, church are home to the Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades. Attached to which is turned to one the back of the church is St. Benedict’s Preschool, which is the first learning of the last lines: “Let environment for our youngest community members. them prefer nothing whatever to Christ and may he bring us all to everlasting life.” As you go through the front doors into vestibule, you will notice stained glass windows relo- cated from the church proper and from the former vestibule. The front right window depicts St. Philip. Above him is St. Greg- ory the Great, and St. Benedict’s biographer. On your left is St. James. St. Cecilia, the of church mu- sic, is above him. The statue of St. Anthony that Thank you for visiting our parish church. You are free to take this now stands in our vestibule was donated by pa- self-guided tour with you as a souvenir. If you are able, please offer a small rishioners in 1911. A little farther on are win- donation to help pay for the printing of this booklet. If you have any other dows with the Greek letters, Д and Ω, represent- questions about our church or the Catholic Faith, or if you would like to ing Christ as the first and the last, without begin- visit with the pastor, feel free to use the address and phone number on the ning or end. back of this booklet. May God bless you! 10 3 At the Moving toward the nave entrance you will see three white ropes. very top of the These are attached to the church bells. The original church bell was sal- altar you will see vaged from the wreck of the river steamer Kansas. Another bell was donated a Pelican piercing later in honor of St. . Today, these bells continue to ring out the herself in order praise of Almighty God and call us to prayer. to feed her young. This re- Back and Middle Nave minds us of how the Lord was As you enter the rear of pierced for us the nave (the main part of the and now gives church), above you is the choir himself to us in Holy Communion. (This same image is found in a stained loft, the space from which our glass window in the sacristy — the place where the priest vests for Mass.) adult and children choirs pro- The two kneeling on either side of the high altar gaze in adoration at vide sacred music for the Holy the Blessed Sacrament. Sacrifice of the Mass. There are At the base of the altar you can read the words “SITIVIT IN TE stained glass windows hidden ANIMA MEA” inscribed in Latin. This comes from Psalm 63 and means from view of the public — “My soul thirsts for You.” On either side of the bottom of the altar you King , the writer of the can see a bird drinking from a font. The bird is a symbol for the human Psalms, and , the soul drinking from the waters of eternal life symbolized by the fount. This patron of Ireland — providing reminds us of the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ, which we re- inspiration for our choirs and ceive and have eternal life. Finally, at the foot of the high altar in the mid- dle you see a lamb holding a banner. This is a symbol for the Lamb of musicians to offer the best of their God, Christ, who was slain and rose again bringing the banner of vic- abilities to the tory and eternal life to the those who worship Him. This image comes greater glory from Revelation 5:1-14. of God. In the back of the church you will see the places for the sacraments of Baptism and Reconcilia- tion. On your right is the Baptismal font. The statue depicts St. baptizing Jesus. On your left is the new con- fessional room where you can receive the Sacrament of God’s mercy. You have the option of receiving the Sacrament behind the screen or face to face. 4 9 Next to the confessional a picture of Divine Mercy. There has been On the left side of the altar is a statue of St. a growing devotion to the message of God’s mercy. St. Faustina Kowalski, Benedict (480-547). He was an abbot and became a young religious of the Congregation of the Sisters of our Lady of Mercy Father of Western Monasticism and Patron of from 1925-1938, received a vision from our Lord expressing His desire to Europe because of his great influence on the monas- have an image painted and the words, “Jesus, I trust in You” inscribed at the tic life through his holy rule having the theme of “Ora bottom. The image represents the risen Christ, whose hands and feet bear et Labora” (Work and Prayer). His rule affected all of the marks of the Crucifixion. From His pierced Heart, not visible in the Europe and aided the monasteries to preserve Catho- image, two rays issue forth, red and pale. When asked about their meaning lic culture during grim times. In this statue he is de- Jesus explained, “the pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The picted with a chalice symbolizing an occasion when red ray stands for the Blood, which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from some of his who did not want to live the holy the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the life set out in his rule, tried to poison him. He Cross.” blessed the cup at which time it cracked spilling out In 1910, the Precious Blood Fathers took over the care of St. Bene- the drink mixed with poison. St. Benedict is, of dict’s and installed the beautiful stained glass windows imported from Ger- course, our parish patron. many at a cost of $2,000. These depict the apostles with a symbol of their On the right is a statue of Benedict’s twin sis- apostolic calling and/or an instrument of their martyrdom. A chart on the ter, St. Scholastica (480-546). The little we know next page describes the symbolism. In the midst of the stained glass are the about her comes from the writing of St. Gregory the Stations of the Cross showing Christ’s passion and death. Great. St. Gregory describes for us the last visit Scholastica made to her brother Benedict. During her annual visits to Benedict, they would meet at a guest- house on the property of Benedict’s monastery and speak of spiritual things and enjoy each others com- pany. At her final visit, as the evening came to a close, she said to her brother: “Please do not leave me tonight; let us go until morning talking about the de- lights of the spiritual life.” However, Benedict was unwilling to compromise any rule of his order and not spend the night outside his cell; and so Scholastica began to pray. Shortly there after a storm broke out with thunder, lightning, and a heavy downpour. Then Benedict sadly complained, “May God forgive you, sister. What have you done?” “Well,” she answered, “I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and he did listen. So now go off, if you can, leave me and return to your monastery.” He stayed against his will and spent the whole night speaking with his sister. Three days later Benedict saw his sis- ter’s soul leave her body in the form of a dove, which is why her statue is depicted with one. She was buried in a grave her brother prepared for himself and which he would eventually share with his sister. 8 Stained Glass Windows 5 High Altar Apostle Description of Window & Manner of Death We now move to the central focus of the whole church, the oak high altar. This symbol of heaven contains what the heavens cannot fully Peter (Simon Peter) He requested to be crucified upside-down because he did not contain: the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, present in the taberna- consider himself worthy to die as Jesus did. He is holding keys because he was appointed by Our Lord as the head of the cle covered with a veil. The altar was constructed and installed in 1898 at a Church, the first Pope. He is holding the Scriptures signifying cost of $1,100. It is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose statue his authority to interpret. stands above the altar cross showing us the Heart of His love which was Paul (Chosen by Jesus He was beheaded with a sword (which he holds). He also holds pierced on the cross and which He feeds to us in the Eucharist. on the road to Damas- letters because he wrote a majority of the in the New cus) Testament. The “Apostle to the ”. Andrew, brother of Pe- He was severely scourged and tied by ropes on X-shaped cross ter where he hung two days to die. He holds a copy of the Scrip- tures, symbolizing the call to bring the to all nations. James the Greater, son He was beheaded with sword as mentioned in Acts 12:1-2 — the of and shown first of the Apostles to die as a martyr. He is depicted with a standing with his pilgrims hat, long staff, and water bottle symbolizing his mis- brother of John sionary journeys. John, son of Zebedee He was thrown into boiling oil but remained unharmed. He was and brother of James exiled to the island of Patmos and died of natural causes. Next to him sits an eagle and in his hands are a book and a quill, rec- ognizing him as one of the . Thomas (Didymus) He was lanced and burned up in an oven. He is also depicted with a walking staff and the Scriptures, recalling his missionary journey to India. James (son of ) He was thrown down from the Temple tower. He did not die [in vestibule] from this and so was clubbed to death with a fuller’s club, which is in his hand. He also is pictured with the letter he wrote. Philip of Bethsaida He was crucified with head suspended downward. He is pic- [in vestibule] tured with a cross on a staff and the Scriptures. Bartholomew He holds a flaying knife symbolizing his manner of martyrdom, (Nathaniel) which included being skinned alive. Matthew (Levi), the tax He was axed to death or beheaded with a halberd. He is pic- collector of Capernaum tured with a book and a quill symbolizing the Gospel he wrote. Simon the Zealot (the He is pictured with a scroll and saw. His martyrdom included Canaanite) being sawed in half. Thaddeus (Jude or Judas Martyred by the javelin he is pictured holding. He also holds a Lebbaeus) quill and the letter he wrote. Matthias (Chosen by lot He was stoned and beheaded, which is why he traditionally is to replace ) pictured with an axe. Barnaby () Barnaby went with St. Paul on the first missionary journey to lands. In the window he is pictured with a traveler’s cap and staff. He was martyred on the island of Cyprus. 6 7 In what was the former confessional, you will now see a picture of The side altar on your right , Patroness of the Americas. This picture repre- is dedicated to St. . On the sents the great love that we have for Our Lady. Our Lady of Guadalupe lower portion of the altar, you will first appeared to St. Juan Diego in Mexico around the year 1531. Under- find the letters “S” and “J” overlap- standing the need to meet the Nebraska City’s growing Hispanic popula- ping each other. In the hand of the tion, Mass is celebrated in Spanish at St. Benedict’s (beginning in 2000). statue of Joseph and on the lower On the 135th anniversary in 1991, the church interior was reno- portion of the altar, there are bou- vated—you can see new ceiling, paint, stencil & gold-leafing on ribs of the quets of lilies, symbolizing purity, a ceiling and the arch of the sanctuary including the stenciling of the letters virtue that St. Joseph lived as the IHS, which stand for “Jesus Savior of Men” which were placed above the guardian of the . sanctuary. In the middle of the sanctu- The native walnut pews were hand-hewn by parishioners. The back ary is the Altar of Sacrifice, with a and seat of each pew were cut from a single walnut log. The walnut rails on beautiful inlay of a depiction of the the pews and the walnut trim on windows were added in 1991. The walnut . Upon the altar, altar rails date back to May of 1945 and were recently restored. Catholics believe that the one Sacri- fice of Christ is made present and Sanctuary from the altar we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, to fulfill Jesus Flanking the front portion of the sanc- command to us at the Last Supper. tuary are the two side altars. The altar on your left is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, of whom a statue rests on top. The altar has The ambo, from where God’s word is pro- the letters “B”, “V”, and “M” overlapping claimed, was handmade by a Catholic resident of each other on the middle bottom portion Nebraska City. Moving toward the high altar on which stand for Blessed Mary. On ei- your right you will see a small wooden box ther side of these letters is a bouquet of roses, (nicknamed the “birdhouse”) with the Latin words another symbol of Mary as the “mystical rose”. “Olea Sancta” inscribed on it. This box contains Also on this side you will see The In- the “Holy Oils” used at baptism, confirmation, and fant of Prague. The devo- anointing of the sick. tion to the Holy Child Jesus has been a tradition of the Catholic Church for a long time. This de- votion is a veneration of our Lord's sacred Infancy, and carries with it a prom- ise of blessings. Through- out history many have had a strong devotion to the Divine Child, notably St. Therese of the Child Je- sus, St. , St. , and St. Teresa of Avila.