Losing a Space to Soar

Boston Globe ^ | 11 June 08 | Yvonne Abraham

[Serviam1]

Losing a Space to Soar By Yvonne Abraham | June 11, 2008

It's not what you expect to see when you step into a Catholic church these days.

Demurely dressed women in lace mantillas. A priest with his back to the congregation: In nomini Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Amen. Bells ringing. Gregorian chant floating down from the choir loft.

But here it all is at Holy Trinity German Church, on Shawmut Avenue in the South End, at the start of a sweltering Sunday.

About 100 people from Bourne and West Roxbury and all over come for the 9 a.m. Latin Mass. They are men and women of all ages, Catholics convinced that their church made a big mistake when it did away with the Latin Mass.

"I don't get anything out of the [English] Mass," says Kathleen Stone, 59, of Hull. "There is a lack of reverence. This is my time alone with God."

This grand church is the perfect setting for a Latin Mass.

Incongruous in one of the few unprettified parts of the South End, its puddingstone and granite exterior is impressive enough.

But walking through Holy Trinity's doors will take your breath away. Light filters through huge, deeply hued, stained, etched, and painted glass windows. Enormous, hand-carved statues of the Twelve Apostles look down from the walls. Immense pillars hold up impossibly high, sky-blue gothic arches. (Continued)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/06/11/losing_a_space_to_soar/

[Serviam1]

Folks,

There is a column by Yvonne Abraham in today's (6/11/08) Boston Globe regarding the impending the shortsighted supression of Holy Trinity Church in Boston's South End. This stands to be a major loss to not only Catholic, but the region's historical patrimony as America's "Christmas Parish", founded by German Catholics in 1844. The present church edifice, designed by famed architect, Patrick Keely was dedicated in 1877.

Check out: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/06/11/losing_a_space_to_soar/

-and-

http://www.holytrinitygerman.org/

[ELS]

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