 |
The
Plaza
of
the
Cathedral
of
Our
Lady
of
the
Angels
features
three
fountains
with
flowing
water,
evoking
thoughts
of
the
living
waters
of
Baptism.
The
Gateway
Pool
and
Water
Wall,
the
Jerusalem
Fountain
and
the
Meditation
Garden
Fountain
all
provide
a
soothing,
cooling
respite
from
the
clamor
of
the
nearby
Civic
Center.
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Fountains
have
existed
for
thousands
of
years.
In
ancient
Greece,
people
built
fountains
above
springs
thought
to
have
magical
powers,
adding
statues
of
gods
and
goddesses
as
adornments.
Rome
contains
hundreds
of
fountains
built
by
ancient
Romans.
During
the
Renaissance
and
baroque
periods
(1500-1700s)
Europeans
built
some
of
the
most
complicated
fountains
using
elaborate
pumping
systems.
Some
of
the
most
beautiful
are
Rome's
Fountain
of
the
Four
Rivers
and
the
Trevi
Fountain
and
Paris'
fountains
at
the
Palace
of
Versailles.
The
Cathedral
of
Our
Lady
of
Angels
continues
the
tradition
of
the
Franciscans
when
they
brought
their
Spanish
influenced
central
fountains
to
the
courtyards
of
the
California
Missions
in
the
1700s.
Each
of
the
three
fountains
has
a
special
meaning
and
significance.
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The
Gateway
Pool
and
Water
Wall
near
the
Shepherd's
Gate
off
Temple
Street
was
designed
by
California
artist
Lita
Albuquerque.
Her
art
symbolizes
the
Scripture
passage
of
Jesus
meeting
the
Samaritan
woman
at
the
well.
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The
theme
of
this
Gospel
is
about
people
of
all
classes
making
connections
with
each
other.
After
all,
in
his
day,
Jesus
the
Jew
was
not
supposed
to
speak
with
a
Samaritan,
yet
alone
a
woman
unaccompanied
by
her
husband.
 |
Jesus
asked
the
woman
for
a
drink
of
water.
She
was
an
outcast
even
among
the
Samaritans.
Yet,
when
she
spoke
with
Jesus
her
life
was
transformed.
Jesus
also
was
moved
by
this
exchange,
promising
her
that
"I
am
the
living
water,"
that
He
would
wash
away
her
sins.
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In
the
Gateway
pool
are
words
sandblasted
out
of
the
marble.
The
words
are
in
the
numerous
languages
currently
spoken
at
Masses
in
the
287
parish
churches
in
Los
Angeles,
as
a
gesture
of
hospitality
to
all
who
visit.
The
words
are
from
Jesus,
"I
shall
give
you
living
water."
The
living
water
flows
constantly
from
the
Water
Wall
and
is
a
precursor
of
the
flowing
water
that
washes
away
sin
to
be
seen
at
the
Baptistery
inside
the
Cathedral.
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The
Jerusalem
Fountain
is
situated
on
the
North
side
of
the
Plaza
adjacent
to
the
Children's
Garden
and
Olive
Grove.
It
was
donated
by
the
Jewish
community
and
celebrates
the
ties
between
Judaism
and
Catholicism.
The
inscription
on
the
stone
fountain
are
the
words
from
Shimon
the
Righteous,
"Upon
three
things
the
world
stands:
The
Torah;
The
Worship
of
God;
The
Bestowal
of
Loving
Kindness."
He
believed
that
for
the
sake
of
these
three
activities
God
created
the
world
and
keeps
it
going.
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Shimon
was
roughly
a
contemporary
of
Alexander
the
Great
and
was
a
High
Priest
of
the
ancient
Jewish
Temple.
He
came
to
be
called
"the
righteous"
because
of
his
renown
for
piety
and
for
kindness
to
the
people
he
led.
His
motto
paints
a
portrait
of
the
ideal
person
for
us
to
strive
toward,
a
person
both
close
to
God
and
of
benefit
to
mankind.
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Placed
near
the
Campanile
on
the
North
side
of
the
Cathedral,
the
Meditation
Garden
Fountain
provides
a
quiet
circular
pool
for
private
meditation.
The
life
giving
water
flows
over
giant
boulders
into
waters
filled
with
lilies
and
assorted
tropical
fish.
The
pool
and
garden,
surrounded
by
Queen
and
Zehiti
Palms,
Japanese
maples
and
sycamores
is
conducive
to
quiet
reflection.
|
Learn
more
about
LITA
ALBUQUERQUE.
