To the critics who lament that the design is not traditional, as if a church should symbolize a relic of the past, the words of Thomas Merton are enlightening:

"One of the big problems for an architect in our time is that for a hundred and fifty years men have been building churches as if a church has to look as if it were left over from some other age. I think that such an assumption is based on an implicit confession of atheism -- as if God did not belong to all ages."

Schön ist etwas anderes....

The cathedral looks like an industrial air conditioning unit from the outside, and much like an underground bunker on the inside - a masculine structure devoid of a feminine form.

But, I was happy that the only relic of St. Juan Diego's Cloak/image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is found here: http://all.gloria.tv/?media=105281
[Sunday brunchwas also great!: Sitting outside, after Mass, enjoying the great food and outdoor courtyard]

I agree: 1. I disliked the Virgin Mary image at the entrance--no veil, no sense of the sacredness; 2. the tapestries of the Saints--TERRIBLE--THEY SHOULD HAVE USED REAL IMAGES OF THE SAINTS!;3. but what I specially--and many of us disliked the MOST--the fact that the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is KEPT OUTSIDE--EVEN WHEN PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED

It may be the third largest, but it easily takes the prize for being the most ugly. I have seen makeshift chapels more beautifully adorned than that sterile mess.

I think the architecture of this Sacred Space quite ghastly. It reflects the demise in Roman Catholic symbology and Her architecture of that era; failing to reflect the ancient beauty of our Faith. This Cathedral just looks like a "spruced-up" large war bunker.

On the other hand, the organ is rather delicious indeed!

Archbishop Gomez: immigration helps recover Christian origins of America
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/archbishop-gomez-immigration-helps-recover-christian-origins-of-america/

Precioso, edificante , reconfortante y además con una música muy ad hoc (Hay en medio un dueto de voces-parecen seniles-con un tema que me ha encantado . Ella y los Ángeles ...pues, tienen una estrecha colaboración. Gracias.

!Feliz Cumpleanyos, Ciudad de N. Sra. de Los Angeles!!

August 2 - Feast Of Our Lady Of Angels Of The Portiuncula

Rooted in our own discovery of Mary’s gift to us in the Church, from the year 2000 onwards, we began to have a public ceremony for the Feast Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula.

God made His Church a place of grace and His Spirit dwells in her. She is the gift of mercy. She needs to be: she is entirely made up of sinners! Jesus did not come for the righteous only and said so.

When we fail we can turn to God and he forgives us … [More]

Nuestra Señora de los Angeles 2 de agosto
Carta de la Madre Angélica
http://www.ewtn.com/spanish/Maria/se%C3%B1ora_de_los_angles.htm

Querida Familia:
En este mes de agosto, celebramos la gran Solemnidad de la Asunción. Jesús, Quien resucitó de entre los muertos y ascendió a su Padre por su propio Poder, asumió a María a los cielos. Por su grandiosa santidad y pureza, Nuestro Señor le dijo a su madre: "Levántate, amada mía, hermosa mía, y vente." (Cantar de los Cantares 2:10). Cuán … [More]

Cathedral N. Sra. de Los Ángeles, California
The third Largest Cathedral in the World, 2002 Conceived by Cardinal Roger Mahoney and the first to be built in the United States in over a quarter of a century. Cardinal Mahoney dreamed of a cathedral that would rival any of the wonders in Europe and that would stand for centuries. The building was designed by the architect, José Rafael Moneo Vallés. This video is part of Ernesto Io's trilogy exploring religion and spirituality.