Revisiting: Round and round we go (via ad dominum)

(Editor’s note: This post was originally published in November 2008.)

Outside, after Mass

Altar

Cross

Sanctuary and Nave

I was very pleased to find these images of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Holyoke, MA on the Google archive of Life magazine images. What is so cool about this round church? These photos were taken in May, 1953, over a decade before the Second Vatican Council reforms began to take effect. What does this mean practically? This “round church” was built for the “Tridentine” Mass! Already we have evidence of a movement for reform in liturgy and architecture before the Council was even convened.

Regardless of personal taste, one has to admit that this is pretty amazing.

In case you don’t believe that people were happy with the new church, check out the back of this postcard:

“Beautiful and practical”

Pax et bonum.

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An excellent example of both/and thinking. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.