The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, IN

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame allows the visitor to feel immediately upon entering the sacredness of the space. The church is a sacramental church built in the neo-Gothic, or more specifically the collegiate Gothic style. The basilica is built in the form of the Latin cross. When you enter the church, the visual connection between the chapel at the farthest end and the door in the back of the church extends so far it immediately can be recognized as a place for a spiritual path as suggested by Kieckhefer. The church is full of secondary chapels and richness of imagery, the church is deeply worthy of being a basilica and certainly of being a place of pilgrimage. Though suggestive of a journey and full of visual and spiritual delights, there is a definite hierarchy in place in the church. The crossing, underneath which stands the sacred altar, is set apart from the rest of the church with the entire ceiling gilt in gold. The great golden tabernacle, once the high altar of the church, along with the gold ceiling act as the centering focus of the church. There is no doubt that the sanctuary demands your primary focus. However, the church in all parts is very ornate, with images of the saints in the windows and on the walls, making very clear the meaning of the sacrifice of the Mass and of the Church itself. The tabernacle alone could have a book written about the symbolism from the book of Revelation present in the design. The church speaks truth not just in its imagery, but also in its form. The architecture expresses order, with columns, all aligned, supporting the church. The capitals reference the columns original inspiration from trees with leaf detailing gilt in gold. The capitals also express the structure of the building, flaring visually helping to “ease the transition from vertical to horizontal.” (McNamara, 97) The ceiling soars to the Heavens drawing us up with it, as we hear the glorious ringing of the bells from the tower calling people to prayer. In the back Lady Chapel, Our Lady looks down upon us, drawing us towards herself and to her Son whom she holds in her arms. Altogether the church has a tremendous aesthetic impact, enriching the prayers of all who enter to worship at the glorious basilica.