 |
The
bronze
tabernacle
in
the
Blessed
Sacrament
Chapel
of
the
Cathedral
of
Our
Lady
of
the
Angels
was
designed
and
fabricated
by
sculptor
Max
DeMoss.
The
tabernacle
reserves
the
blessed
Sacrament,
the
Eucharist,
which
is
taken
to
the
sick
and
elderly
by
Eucharistic
Ministers
during
the
week.
|
Since
the
design
of
the
Cathedral
building
is
angular
and
linear,
DeMoss
wanted
"to
create
a
tabernacle
that
contrasts
and
compliments
the
architecture
in
form
and
style."
The
word
tabernacle
comes
from
the
Hebrew
and
means
"tent."
One
of
the
structural
design
elements
DeMoss
incorporated
into
the
tabernacle
is
the
arc.
Both
in
its
physical
geometry
and
conceptually,
the
arcs
of
the
tabernacle
refer
to
the
Old
Testament's
Ark
of
the
Covenant,
the
chest
that
held
the
Ten
Commandments
and
signified
the
relationship
between
God
and
God's
people.
At
ten
feet
tall,
the
tabernacle
consists
of
three
towers
and
weighs
a
total
of
1400
pounds.
Along
with
the
arc,
many
of
the
elements
of
the
tabernacle
were
designed
to
conspire
with
the
architecture
to
bring
the
viewer
a
sense
of
ascension,
of
being
closer
to
God.
The
tabernacle's
vertical
composition
draws
the
eye
to
the
heavens.
The
patina,
or
color
coating,
has
the
same
effect,
by
gradually
making
the
transition
from
dark
to
light
as
it
travels
up
the
tabernacle
with
the
eye.
The
symbols
DeMoss
employs
on
the
exterior
of
the
doors
of
the
tabernacle
suggest
the
Eucharist
inside.
A
subtle
wheat
and
grape
motif
adorns
the
doors.
Chaffs
of
wheat,
representing
the
Body
of
Christ,
or
the
bread,
rise
from
the
base.
In
the
mid-section,
grape
leaves
with
clusters
of
grapes,
representing
the
Blood
of
Christ,
or
the
wine,
surround
an
oval-shaped
section
of
polished
bronze
where
the
central
cross
rests.
The
cross
is
made
of
orangewood,
cast
in
bronze,
and
serves
as
the
handle
for
opening
the
tabernacle.
The
doors
open
to
reveal
a
42-inch
wide
triptych
and
polished
bronze
ciborium.
On
either
side
of
the
main
tower,
sentinel
angels
protectively
keep
watch
over
the
womb-like
ciborium
where
the
Eucharist
is
reserved.
The
reflective
surfaces
--
the
ciborium,
tips
of
the
angels'
wings,
and
other
places
inlayed
with
silver
--
play
with
the
light
in
the
Blessed
Sacrament
Chapel.
When
opened,
the
structure
in
its
totality
resembles
a
flame,
symbolizing
Christ
as
the
Light.
Tabernacle
Lamp
The
bronze
and
silver
tabernacle
lamp,
designed
and
fabricated
by
Max
DeMoss,
holds
a
seven-day
candle,
the
purpose
of
which
is
to
signify
the
presence
of
the
Blessed
Sacrament
in
the
nearby
tabernacle.
DeMoss'
design
echoes
key
elements
of
the
tabernacle.
The
vertical
arc
forming
the
body
of
lamp
is
the
arc
of
the
central
tower
of
tabernacle
in
reverse.
The
circle
in
the
center
of
the
lamp
represents
the
continuum
of
life
and
death,
the
alpha
and
the
omega,
the
mystery
of
the
Eucharist.
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more
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