The Eastern confessionals on the South wall ... . A narrow stained glass window is recessed above the doors. INDEX
22. WINDOW ABOVE CONFESSIONALS
The little window above the Eastern confessional depicts St Christopher carrying the Christ child across a river. In a legend, Christopher asks how he can serve Christ. He is advised that because of his size and strength he can serve Christ by assisting people to cross a dangerous river, where they are perishing in the attempt. After performing this service for some time, a little child asks Christopher to take him across the river. During the crossing, Christopher finds he can scarcely carry him. On the other side, he asks the child why this should be. The child replies: ‘You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but Him who made it. I am Christ your King, whom you are serving by this work.’ The child then vanishes. The name Christopher means ‘Christ bearer’.
23. MATER ICON
Moving down the South aisle we come to the Mater Icon. The words beneath read: Mater Boni . Consilii Ora Pro Nobis which translates to ‘Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pray for Us’. This name is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, after a painting said to be miraculous, now found in the thirteenth century Augustinian church at Genazzano, near Rome, Italy. Measuring 40 by 45 centimeters the image is a fresco executed on a thin layer of porcelain no thicker than an egg shell. Over the centuries, devotions to Our Lady of the Good Counsel grew among saints and Popes, to the extent that a reference to it was added to the Litany of Loreto and the devotion spread throughout the world, as far as Brazil. Her feast day is April 26.
24. STATION OF CROSS X
As is common in Catholic churches, a set of 14 Stations of the Cross line the walls of the Cathedral. These depict the stages of Jesus’ way to the Cross, and are an aid to devotion. This is Station X where Jesus is stripped of his garments.
25. ROSA MYSTICA WINDOW
Just to the left of the Mater Icon is the Rosa Mystica Window. ••• The top panel depicts a beautiful garden with flowers and a flowing stream, and a tree covered in ‘roses’ The inscription reads Rosa Mystica, and underneath is written ‘Jesu Mercy : Ora Pro Nobis : Mary Pray.’ ••• The lower panel depicts the Tower of David (Turris Davidica), taken from the Song of Songs 4:4. It was applied to Mary, and symbolizes Mary's womb giving life and protection to Jesus (Richard of St. Laurent). Mary also gives protection to all those who seek refuge against temptation and danger (Abertus Magnus). ••• The inscription at the bottom reads: ‘This window is erected in loving memory of her husband and son by Mary Jane Morrisey and her children.’
26. MARY MACKILLOP
Where the South aisle meets the crossing, we find this bust of St Mary MacKillop. Mary Helen MacKillop (1842 – 1909), also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia. Since her death she has attracted much veneration in Australia and internationally. She was canonised on 17 October 2010 during a public ceremony in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. She is the only Australian to be recognised by the Roman Catholic Church as a saint.
27. SANCTUARY SOUTH AISLE ARCH
Here is where the South aisle meets the octagonal crossing. Through the arch and to the left, we come to the small South transept. This is also accessible more directly from the crossing.
28. MINIATURE
At the base of a nearby arch we find this fascinating miniature relief of the Cathedral. At this stage, there was no indication of the later sacristy addition.
29. SOUTH TRANSEPT WINDOW
This Nativity Window is on the South wall of the South transept. In the central panel, Mary and Joseph keep watch over the baby Jesus. Joseph holds a lantern and the star shines brightly overhead. On either side an angel worships. The windows are a memorial gift. At the base of the central panel there is text: ‘Pray for the soul of ...’ but the bottom line is indistinct.
30. SOUTH TRANSEPT NICHE
In the South transept, we find this little tableau in a niche in the short west Wall. It shows Mary appearing to St Bernadette. ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’ is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary given in honor of the Marian apparitions which are said to have taken place before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France. Most prominently among these is the apparition of February 11, 1858, when Saint Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl admitted to her mother that a ‘lady’ spoke to her in the cave of Massabielle, (a mile from the town) while gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. Similar appearances of the ‘lady’ were reported on seventeen further occasions that year.
32. WINDOW
The Lady Chapel is lit with light from a stained glass window of the Virgin Mary with Child Jesus. In this, Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven – a theme of Roman Catholicism.
33. SOUTH WEST CROSSING WINDOW
Before continuing our tour around the walls of the Cathedral, let’s step back to admire the four large and colourful windows of the crossing – perhaps the most striking feature of the Cathedral. These windows were commissioned to mark the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Cathedral on 28th August, 1988. The windows depict the Four Evangelists. This South West window shows St Matthew. The theme is ‘Incarnation’, and there is the figure of an angel at left.
34. NORTH WEST CROSSING WINDOW
The North West crossing window shows the Evangelist St Luke. The theme of this window is Crucifixion, and the window has the symbol of a Winged Ox.
35. NORTH EAST CROSSING WINDOW
Directly opposite is the North East window showing the Evangelist St Mark. The theme is Resurrection, and the window shows a winged Lion. These windows were designed and crafted by Messrs Gowan and Brown of Lesmurdie, W.A. Their installation has been made possible by a generous legacy of the estate of the late Pat Grey, a lifetime parishioner of the Cathedral Parish.
36. SOUTH EAST CROSSING WINDOW
Finally, the South East window of the crossing represents the Evangelist St John. Here the theme is Ascension, and the symbol is a golden Eagle.
37. FONT AND CRYPT STAIRS
Moving from the Lady Chapel towards the apse, we come to a quite elaborate baptismal font. The base is decorated in the Cathedral colours with a bright orange Paternoster sign. The top is a stained wooden structure of some considerable height!
39. CRYPT
The crypt contains a display of some of the history of the diocese, as well as a lot of Church memorabilia, vestments, books and religious items. Also in the crypt, but not on display, are some of the plans and models of the Cathedral from John Hawse’s time. This photograph is taken from a Cathedral video.
40. ALTAR AREA
Emerging from the crypt, we turn to the apse. A stained cabinet contains the beautiful tabernacle in white and gold. On the front is a gold cross pattée, and the top is a dome with gold and white sectors, reflecting the Cathedral structure. The tabernacle is the fixed, locked box in which the Eucharist is ‘reserved’ (stored).