Wednesday at the Cathedral

We were in downtown Santa Fe at the Plaza yesterday with John's cousin. Here are a few pictures we got of statues at St. Francis Cathedral Basilica:

The first two statues are St. Francis, patron saint of the cathedral:



This statue is a memorial to the Spaniards who settled Santa Fe:

Santa Fe on New Year's Night

On New Year's Night we went into town and enjoyed looking at the holiday lights.

It was bitter cold outside, but down on the Plaza many people were out walking around and there was a festive feeling in the air:


Scenes around the Plaza:












The Inn at Loretto:






St. Francis Cathedral Basilica:



The New Mexico State Capitol Building:





The Inn of the Turquoise Bear:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND BLOGGING BUDDIES!

LET'S MAKE 2010 A VERY GOOD YEAR!

Inside the Cathedral

The interior of St. Francis Cathedral Basilica in Santa Fe is an architectural and artistic wonder.

When we were there on Dec. 22, the mood was festive inside the cathedral - tourists looking around, workers putting final touches on the Christmas decorations, children practicing for their Christmas performance at Mass.

The new renovations/restorations as well as the Christmas decorations looked amazing.

When we returned for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the mood was much more formal, worshipful and joyous.










We wondered about the Chihuahua in the nativity scene - sure there is an interesting story behind that!

Statues at the Cathedral

There are some neat statues on the front grounds of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis in Santa Fe.

Here are some of my favorites:


Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy, who presided over the Church at Santa Fe from 1850-1888, was beloved in the city, and who was responsible for the St. Francis of Assisi Church being built:


Archbishop Lamy looking out at the city he loved and pastored:


St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the cathedral at Santa Fe:



Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, a Catholic American Indian who became known as the Lily of the Mohawks, the statue honors the Native American spirit:



St. Francis Dancing on the Water:



Don Diego de Vargas, governor of New Mexico from 1691-1697, and 1703-1704. He governed the state during a time of lasting peace, and is held in much respect by the people of Santa Fe:

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

This is the grand church of Santa Fe.

Sitting at the eastern end of the Santa Fe Plaza, it is an imposing site.

When the City of Santa Fe was founded in 1610, the first church was built on this site, to be replaced by another in 1630, which was ddestroyed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The next church built here was in 1714, and was named in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Santa Fe. The only part of this church still existing is the small adobe chapel dedicated to Our Lady La Conquistadora.

The First Bishop of Santa Fe was Father John Baptiste Lamy of France, who arrived in 1850. He ordered a new Romanesque church built, and brought French architects and Italian stonemasons to build his Cathedral. Construction of the Cathedral began in 1869 and continued until 1887. Dedicated in 1887, the Cathedral’s spires were never completed due to lack of funds.

The Cathedral was elevated to a Basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Basilica means a church of particular importance in Rome and abroad.

During the past year, much renovation has been done on the cathedral in preparation for the 400th anniversary of the church and the city in 2010.

Inside and out, the cathedral basilica is an architectural wonder, and we who live in Santa Fe can be immensely proud of it. I never tire of going there. We visited the church this past week - and enjoyed seeing it all decorated for Christmas.

Here are some photos of the exterior of the church: