Chapel of Our Lady Exterior Rafael Guastavino The Art & Architecture of The style, chosen by the architect, is Guastavino (1842-1908) an architect and builder of To the left of the main altar is the Chapel of Our Lady. Spanish origin, emigrated to the United States from The white marble statue depicts Our Lady of the Spanish Renaissance. The central figure Barcelona in 1881. There he The Basilica of Assumption, patterned after the famous painting by on the main facade is that of our patron, had been a successful Murillo. Inserted in the upper part of the altar is a faience the 3"I century archdeacon, St. The Guastavino architect and builder, D.M. entitled The Crucifixion, which is attributed to an old Lawrence, holding in one hand a palm system represents a Saint Lawrence, renowned pottery in Capo di Monte, Italy. On either side designing large factories and unique architectural A Roman Catholic Church frond and in the other a gridiron, the homes for the industrialists of the tabernacle are niches containing statues of the treatment that has instrument of his torture. On the left of of the region of Catalan. He following: from the extreme left, Sts. Margaret, Lucia, given America some Cecilia, Catherine of Alexandria, Barbara, Agnes, Agatha, St. Lawrence is the first martyr, St. was also credited there with and Rose of Lima. Framing the base of the altar is a series Stephen, holding a stone, the method of being responsible for the of its most of tiles with some titles his martyrdom. He also holds a palm. On the right stands revival of an ancient tile and monumental spaces mortar building system that of Our Lady selected St. Aloysius Gonzaga, a 16 th century Jesuit seminarian and deserves to be from the Litany of the had been used in Catalonia from Spain who perished in the plague. In art, a subject preserved and Blessed Virgin. In the and other parts of Spain for treated with care. center is a fragment of holding a palm has been martyred for the Christian faith. centuries. This method of Italian marble building uses layers of thin Theodore H.M. Prudon, Progressive Architecture depicting the Nativity. The lunette over the main entrance is made of tile bedded in layers of (September 1989, p 138) Arching over the altar polychrome terra cotta and represents Christ giving the mortar to create curved are seven cloves, which keys of the kingdom to Peter and appointing him head of horizontal surfaces. Floors, represent the seven the Church. Immediately below this lunette is a stained roofs, ceilings and stairs can all be formed with this gifts of the Holy Spirit. system, usually in the shape of vaults or domes. Perhaps glass window displaying the Coat of Arms of the Basilica Middle Eastern in origin, this way of building creates a The large stained glass of St. Lawrence. strong, fireproof, attractive surface. In the Basilica of Saint window is titled Mary, Lawrence every horizontal surface in the building is made Self Guided Tour Queen of the Sea; of this combination of tile and mortar. above it is the Archangel Raphael. Guastavino came to Asheville, North Carolina to work on Mary, Queen of the Sea the Biltmore House in the mid-1880s. Liking the area, he The ornately carved bought land and built a house near Black Mountain - the door to the sacristy is hand carved tiger oak and is titled, present site of Christmount. In 1905 his design of the A The Good Shepherd. Of Spanish design, the title on the present church went into construction and was completed Pastor Bonus. Above the door is a 1 751 scroll is Latin, in 1909. National century painting of the Visitation. The artist is Massimo Historic Stanzione (1586-1656). By 1900 Guastavino had successfully transferred his patented tile building-method to the United States, and Site On the walls of the chapel are icons of the Blessed Lady. The building is remarkable, there are no beams of wood was working with the leading architects of this country. Completed 1909 Clockwise from the exit door, Our Lady of the Oppressed or steel in the entire structure. All walls, floors, ceilings His work may be found in over a thousand buildings - (Africa), Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico), an icon of the and pillars are of tile or other similar materials. The roof mainly in the Northeast, particularly in New York City Annunciation, Our Lady of Czestochowa (Poland), Our is of tile with a copper covering. are: Grant's Tomb, the Lady of Perpetual Help (legend tells that the original was and Boston. Among the buildings painted by St. Luke on wood). Great Hall at Ellis Island, Grand Central Station, Carnegie The massive stone foundation, of North Carolina granite, Hall, and the Chapel at West Point. In North Carolina his Between the door and the church interior lies the resting and the solid brick superstructure give silent testimony to work is found in the Duke Chapel in Durham, the 97 Haywood Street place of the architect, Rafael Guastavino. The face of the the architect's desire to build an edifice that would Jefferson Standard Building in Greensboro, the Motley Asheville, North Carolina crypt was designed by his son, Rafael Guastavino, III and endure for generations. Memorial in Chapel Hill, and St. Mary's Catholic Church displays glazed tiles framed in bronze. in Wilmington. 828.252.6042 saintlawrencebasilica.org What is a Basilica? Interior The Statues Eucharistic Adoration Chapel Entering the side vestibule, one notes the solidity of the On the east wall there are two life size statues. Close to To the right of the main altar is the chapel originally The title dates back to the early Greek and Roman times structure. A lighted cabinet to the right displays the called St. Joseph's, but is now referred to as the and referred to a type of public building. In the 4th variety of tiles used to create this church. The entire the altar is St. Patrick and near the choir loft is St. Rose of Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. Above the altar is a stained century, Basilicas began to be used as places of worship. building is made of tiles and other masonry elements Lima, on whose feast day it was determined that a parish without the use of wood. The best vantage point for glass window of the It was during this time that construction of the greatest would be formed in this area. The niches on the opposite viewing the interior of the church is from the main aisle Nativity. The large Basilicas of Rome was started. Today, the term Basilica is at the altar steps. From here, the dome stretches out 82' wall hold St. Cecilia, the patron of music and near the window on the east wall a special designation given by the Holy Father to certain x 58' and is considered the largest free standing elliptical altar is St. Peter. The statues of Peter and Patrick were depicts the death of St. churches because of their antiquity, dignity, historical dome in North America. placed in honor of Frs. Peter and Patrick Marion, priests Joseph attended by Jesus importance or significance as a place of worship. and Mary. Both windows Presently, there are 56 Basilicas in the United States. in residence during construction of this church. The Windows were taken from the former wooden church. Just under the vault of The Sanctuary (St Main Altar The smaller window How is the title the dome is a frieze of \ I 1 1)11.,A7 above on the right is of St. Saint Lawrence "r`-' -.1f4,;`"Z:11' anAii s' ten semicircular ipAtel The area inside the communion rail is referred to as the Lawrence. of Basilica obtained? windows. To the right 41011L1("LIC Sanctuary. Above the main altar stands a tableau on the west wall the 1.11)211,10 depicting the Crucifixion. From the 17''' century, it is hand The altar and part of the apse wall are a mosaic of broken scenes represented are To qualify as a Basilica, a church must meet three criteria: 'ho .r bits of tile assembled and inlaid by the pastor, Fr. Peter, the: Annunciation, r 4161 Liti- carved walnut showing Mary, the Mother of Christ, and %,,a1 Priq.ki$1 and his brother, Fr. Patrick Marion. Visitation, Nativity, `Tr li.15 ilk John, the beloved disciple. It must have a long history with the ` z AV41 a; tiffs Finding of the Child o foi.., 16 people of the area. Im ,-‘ yid.4 Jesus in the Temple, , 11 traN,"" Around the perimeter are familiar statues. On the left is St. , 1 The wall behind the altar is called a reredos. It has been Architecturally, it must afford the and Conversion of St. low Frances Cabrini, the first naturalized American saint. She Cis, u executed in polychrome terra cotta and bears life size possibility of more than one liturgy Paul. Over the Choir - I faces St. Therese Lisieux, The Little Flower. In front of the being celebrated simultaneously. '44fr kt, reliefs of the four evangelists, Matthew and Mark on the Loft is the magnificent .pajoittio large window stands Resurrection window. left; Luke and John on the right. Flanking the tableau are All of the rites should be executed in 09 .A1'17.1, ; 1 410 the Sacred Heart and Continuing left on the 40.MP'P Ott /it an exemplary way with fidelity to Michael the Archangel at the left and the Archangel on the east wall are St. liturgical norms.