Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (review)

Church tradition establishes a diocese's bishop as the architectural patron and owner of all churches within his diocese. Historically bishops have directly exercised or relegated this authority to varying degrees. Monsignor Francis Weber in Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels identifies Roger Cardinal Mahony as the über patron of Los Angeles' new cathedral. While the Catholic Church's architectural patronage is central to the development of the Western tradition of architecture, documentation of the decisions that resulted in Catholic churches' specific design attributes is frustratingly incomplete. Monsignor Weber's book in contrast is packed with the circumstances and decisions that brought about the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels as it exists today. The book covers the selection of the project's architect, its financing, the site selection, liturgical furnishings, relations with constituent groups such as the Los Angeles Conservancy, and other important issues. It focuses on events that transpired between the 1994 Northridge Earthquake that damaged the Archdiocese's then existing cathedral and the 2002 dedication of the new cathedral. Monsignor Weber was uniquely positioned to write this book as an ex-officio member of the most senior of Cardinal Mahony's advisory committees. He also made extensive use of archival information. While well documented, this book's narrative unfolds like a good detective novel.

This book and cathedral are important for several reasons. Aspects of the cathedral's construction and design were controversial, and this book attempts to present objectively Cardinal Mahony's viewpoint regarding these controversies. While the book addresses these current concerns it does much more. This cathedral's historical context, monumentality, design, and urban circumstances portend it will be important not only for its liturgical and pastoral effectiveness within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, but in the history of World architecture. To future scholars of church and architectural history this book will be a primary interpretive source.