So, You Ask, How Is St. Louis?

Glad you asked. I’m having a great time in the “Rome of the West,” hanging out with some different kinds of Cardinals from the ones I saw in Italy.

Morning today began early. Above is a shot from my hotel room around 5 this morning. I’m still on Rome time, and feeling the usual disorientation. I headed downstairs for a breakfast in the hotel Starbucks that was a little different from what I experienced in Rome.

[img attachment=”105862″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5707 (1)” /]

I went for a cranberry and orange scone and coffee.

[img attachment=”105863″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5711″ /]

We all met in the hotel lobby at 7:30 to board a bus for the St. Louis Cathedral, where Archbishop Robert Carlson celebrated Mass for us.

I won’t mince words: the cathedral is stunning.

[img attachment=”105864″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5714″ /]

The outside is imposing.

[img attachment=”105865″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5713″ /]

The cathedral has its own Holy Door for the Jubilee.

[img attachment=”105870″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5720 (1)” /]

A sign gently asks people not to be greedy.

[img attachment=”105872″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5721 (1)” /]

But inside? You really need to just gawk.

[img attachment=”105866″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5722″ /]

The mosaics, more than 40 million of them, take this cathedral to a whole different level of artistic expression. You could spend days trying to see everything.

[img attachment=”105868″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5725 (1)” /]

The interior arches are spellbinding.

[img attachment=”105869″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5726 (1)” /]

The Mass was “low,” no music, but lots of priests and servers—including two deacons.

[img attachment=”105874″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5730 (1)” /]

[img attachment=”105878″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5751 (1)” /]

The archbishop spoke briefly and touched on the theme of communications.

[img attachment=”105876″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5752 (1)” /]

During communion, I noticed something I rarely see anymore: patens.

[img attachment=”105879″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5753 (1)” /]

After Mass, we got a brief tour and history lesson about the cathedral. I got to take a peek inside the Blessed Sacrament Chapel…

[img attachment=”105880″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5761″ /]

…discovered a mosaic devoted to St. Lawrence (unfortunately, they don’t have one for Stephen)…

[img attachment=”105883″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5768 (1)” /]

…and saw signs like this positioned throughout the cathedral.

[img attachment=”105886″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5759 (1)” /]

I also got a close up look at the pulpit which, like everything else in this cathedral, is amazing.

[img attachment=”105888″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5737 (1)” /]

[img attachment=”105889″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5738 (1)” /]

[img attachment=”105890″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5740 (1)” /]

After the tour, we headed back to our hotel, where I bumped into the tireless Mary DeTurris Poust (not Proust!) from Albany!

[img attachment=”105891″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”IMG_5772 (1)” /]

She assured me she’s taking good care of Bishop Ed.

More later!

All photos: Deacon Greg Kandra