The
Cathedral
of
Our
Lady
of
the
Angels
contains
ten
devotional
chapels
on
the
Plaza
level
and
one
on
the
Mausoleum
level.
Unlike
most
Cathedrals,
the
chapels
do
not
open
to
the
nave.
Rather,
they
are
accessible
from
the
South
and
North
Ambulatories
which
surround
the
main
body
of
the
Cathedral,
thereby
achieving
a
more
peaceful
setting
for
prayer.
The
Mass
is
not
celebrated
in
these
chapels.
The
purpose
of
five
of
the
chapels
have
been
designated,
the
Blessed
Sacrament,
Our
Lady
of
the
Angels,
Reconciliation,
Art,
and
St.
Vibiana's.
Other
chapels
will
be
decorated
in
the
future
to
highlight
a
theme,
to
suit
the
culture
of
a
particular
ethnic
group,
or
to
give
emphasis
to
a
statue,
image,
painting
or
other
religious
symbol
with
special
meaning
to
the
community.
A
Cathedral
is
a
work
in
progress
for
generations.
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|
The
first
chapel
reached
from
the
entrance
to
the
South
Ambulatory
is
the
Blessed
Sacrament
Chapel.
Bronze
and
silver
sconces,
sculpted
by
Max
DeMoss,
signal
the
pilgrim
that
they
are
approaching
the
presence
of
the
Eucharist.
Each
holds
a
four-inch
candle.
The
grape
and
wheat
motif,
a
key
element
of
the
tabernacle
is
repeated
in
the
design
of
the
sconces.
|
The
chapel
is
dedicated
to
reserve
the
Blessed
Sacrament,
the
Eucharist
consecrated
at
Mass
and
taken
to
the
sick
and
elderly
by
Eucharistic
Ministers
during
the
week.
It
is
designed
to
foster
devotional
prayer
and
adoration
of
the
Sacrament.
Natural
light
filters
through
an
alabaster
shaft,
complemented
by
the
original
chandeliers
from
the
old
St.
Vibiana's
Cathedral.
The
large,
angular,
bronze
tabernacle,
designed
and
fabricated
by
DeMoss,
reminds
us
of
the
Jewish
Ark
of
the
Covenant,
the
chest
that
held
the
tables
of
the
law,
signifying
the
relationship
between
God
and
God's
People.
Chaffs
of
wheat,
grape
leaves
and
clusters
are
sculpted
on
the
tabernacle,
representing
the
Body
and
Blood
of
Christ
in
the
Eucharist.
Hanging
near
the
centrally
placed
tabernacle
is
the
bronze
Tabernacle
Lamp,
sculpted
by
DeMoss,
which
burns
continuously
to
remind
us
of
the
presence
of
the
consecrated
Eucharist.
 |
Along
the
South
Ambulatory
is
the
chapel
in
honor
of
Our
Lady
of
the
Angels.
The
beautiful
statue
of
Mary
by
Italian
artist
Professor
Eugenio
Pattarino
was
commissioned
by
Cardinal
James
Francis
McIntyre
in
the
1950s.
The
chapel
gives
honor
to
traditional
conceptions
of
Mary,
the
Mother
of
God.
|
The
Reconciliation
Chapel
along
the
North
Ambulatory
is
for
private
meditation
and
community
celebration
of
the
Sacrament
of
Reconciliation
for
the
forgiveness
of
sins
and
harmony
with
God.
Unlike
traditional
Catholic
churches
with
confessionals
on
the
sides
of
the
nave,
this
chapel
is
separate,
offering
a
quiet
place
for
contemplation
and
prayer.
It
presents
private
rooms
for
confession
with
either
screened-separated
or
face-to-face
alternatives.
They
are
spaciously
designed
to
allow
wheelchair
access.
 |
The
Art
Chapel
along
the
North
Ambulatory
is
designed
to
house
major
traveling
exhibits
of
Christian
works
of
art.
The
current
exhibit
is
from
the
oldest
Catholic
Cathedral
in
the
United
States,
the
Basilica
in
Baltimore,
built
in
1809.
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On
the
Mausoleum
floor
is
St.
Vibiana's
Chapel
and
adjacent
Shrine.
The
name
of
St.
Vibiana
was
given
by
Pope
Pius
IX
to
St.
Vibiana's
Cathedral
in
honor
of
the
virgin
and
martyr,
whose
remains
had
been
buried
in
the
Roman
catacombs
and
were
preserved
in
the
original
Cathedral.
She
is
the
patron
saint
of
the
Archdiocese
of
Los
Angeles.
|
 |
The
refurbished
marble
altar
from
St.
Vibiana's
Cathedral
features
the
Lamb
of
God,
an
image
of
Jesus
the
innocent
victim.
The
beautifully
painted
ceramic
Stations
of
the
Cross
were
designed
by
Professor
Pattarino
and
are
from
St.
Basil's
Church
in
Los
Angeles.
|
From
earliest
Christian
times,
the
bodies
of
the
saints
have
been
revered.
In
the
nearby
shrine
a
marble
sarcophagus
contains
relics
of
the
third
century
martyr,
St.
Vibiana.
In
1853
her
remains
were
found
in
a
catacomb
near
the
Appian
Way.
A
marble
tablet
sealed
her
sepulcher
and
can
be
seen
at
the
Shrine.
The
inscription
reads,
"To
the
soul
of
the
innocent
and
pure
Vibiana."
At
the
end
of
the
inscription
is
a
wreath
of
laurel,
an
emblem
commonly
used
by
early
Christians
as
a
code
symbolizing
martyrdom.
Pope
Pius
IX
gave
the
relics
to
the
Bishop
of
Monterey
Thaddeus
Amat.
St.
Vibiana
rested
in
several
places
until
she
was
brought
to
the
then
new
St.
Vibiana's
Cathedral
in
1876.
Though
we
know
little
about
St.
Vibiana,
she
is
the
focus
of
prayer
and
devotion
for
many
believers
who
call
on
her
intercession.
She
is
at
last
at
peace
here
for
centuries
to
come.
