81. NORTH WALL NICHES

Under the three-lancet Elizabeth window in the North wall is a recess with three arches. We saw this feature in the opposite South wall, but in this case on the back wall is a bust of St Mary of the Cross.

82. ST FRANCIS XAVIER RELIC

A little further along the North chancel aisle is this relic of St Francis Xavier, given to the Cathedral in 2013. The relic is said to be the baptizing right arm of the Spanish saint who christened tens of thousands of people during his missionary work in the Africa, India and the Far East. For 400 years it was kept in the mother-Church of the Jesuit order in Rome, the Gesu.

83. NORTH CHANCEL TO THE SACRED HEART CHAPEL

There is one more window in the North channel aisle. It shows a Nativity scene with the words (in Latin): ‘And he became a man’. In the Cathedral window scheme, this is the 3rd Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. ••• The aisle continues past an icon of St Charbel, and then opens out to the Sacred Heart Chapel.

84. ST CHARBEL

Charbel Makhlouf, O.L.M. (1828 – 1898), born Youssef Antoun Makhlouf and venerated as Saint Charbel, was a Maronite monk and priest from Lebanon. During his life, he obtained a wide reputation for holiness, and for his ability to unite Christians and Muslims. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church.

85. SACRED HEART CHAPEL

We come to the Sacred Heart Chapel, geometrically placed as a North side reflection of the Southern Chapel of Irish Saints. The simple altar bears a crucifix and six candlesticks, along with a golden tabernacle. Above and behind in the reredos is another gallery with Jesus as the Sacred Heart at the centre, and two figures on either side. On the East wall is a stained glass window with two lancets. ••• The window shows the appearance of Christ to St Margaret Mary Alacoque of the convent of Paray-le-Monial in France. On his breast is displayed his heart, and thus began the devotion of The Sacred Heart.

86. CENTRAL NORTH WINDOWS

These windows show from left the First Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary, and the 6th and 5th Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. The window shown at left (SMR1) is above the North transept door. It shows Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, sustained by an angel, while the disciples sleep. The words translate to: ‘Father, if you will, take this cup from me’. ••• The middle window (JMR5) shows the young Jesus teaching in the temple. The words translate to: ‘After three days they found him in the Temple’. ••• The Easternmost (right) window (JMR4) shows Jesus being presented to Simeon in the Temple. The theme is the words of Simeon: (Nunc dimittis). ‘Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation.’ (Luke 2:29–30)

87. SACRED HEART CHAPEL MOSAIC

The mosaic floor of the Sacred Heart Chapel shows a pelican piercing her breast to feed her young – an image of Christ and his flock. Symbols of Christ’s passion in mosaic include pieces of silver and a money bag, the ladder, spear and sponge, the pincers and nails, the kingly cross and the crown of thorns.

88. MADONNA AND CHILD

This lovely statue of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child was standing near the organ in the North transept. I have seen photographs with this statue in the Lady Chapel and also in the Sacred Heart Chapel.

89. ORGAN CONSOLE

Installed in 1997, the Létourneau organ is of three manuals and 46 stops. It is played from a four-manual mobile electronic console located at floor level, near the North door.

90. ORGAN PIPES, NORTH TRANSEPT

The 1997 pipe organ was built by Orgues Létourneau of Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, and installed on a new gallery built around the rose window in the Northern transept. It was completed in 1999 and dedicated by Cardinal Clancy.

91. NORTH TRANSEPT ROSE WINDOW

The North rose window is surrounded by the pipes of the organ. The central figure is Adam who is surrounded by the principal figures of the Old Testament. The inner trefoils depict King David with harp, and four prophets: Micah (with tower and scroll), Hosea (with scroll), Isaiah (with staff and scroll), and Amos (saw and scroll). The outer circle of quatrefoils show clockwise, from the top: Noah (with ark), Isaac, Joseph, Aaron (in priestly robes), Daniel (with lion), Elisha (with flask), Zechariah (with open scroll), Elijah (emerging from whirlwind), Joshua (in armour), Moses (with tablets and a rod), Jacob with a star, and Abraham with a knife. The whole window has a background of apple foliage. [Photo Credit: Wikipedia. Jason7825]

92. ABOVE NORTH TRANSEPT DOOR

The North transept door is partially enclosed by a weather-proofing glass screen. Above the door is this array of glass panels with various themes relating to Mary. Officially they are labelled: Mirror of Justice, Mystical Rose, Ark of the Covenant, Morning Star, House of Gold, Lily, Gate of Heaven, Dolours (sorrows).

93. NORTH TRANSEPT PAINTING

We walk past the transept exit door, and re-enter the West side of the transept where there are these stained glass windows and a painting. The oil painting is entitled ‘Our Lady of the Southern Cross’, and is by Paul Newton.

94. NORTH TRANSEPT WINDOWS

The West and North windows of the transept illustrate the 3rd and 2nd Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. At left is the Crowning of Thorns (SMR3), and at right the Scourging at the Pillar (SMR2) – harrowing scenes of Jesus being tormented by the Romans before the Crucifixion.

95. ST ANTHONY AND THE NORTH TRANSEPT (WEST)

Proceeding into the nave and looking back at the transept, we see again the first Station of the Cross, with a statue of St Anthony below. Anthony of Padua was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Noted by his contemporaries for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and the sick, he was one of the most quickly canonized saints in church history, being canonized less than a year after his death. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII on 16 January 1946. The statue recalls a mystical experience of the Christ Child appearing to Anthony.

96. NAVE ALTAR AND SANCTUARY

We now stand again at the crossing, looking Eastwards to the nave altar and sanctuary. There is a white statue on either side, and towards the left we can see the bishop’s chair, or cathedra. Further back is the reredos, with another colourful line-up of saints.

97. TO THE NAVE ALTAR

Another view of the nave altar, as seen from the South side.

98. DETAIL OF THE NAVE ALTAR

The unusual white front panel of the altar is a decorative sculpture of the body of Jesus, based on the shroud of Turin.

99. JESUS AND MARY MAGDALENE

The altar sculptures are Christ on the left and Mary Magdalene on the right. The left statue shows the Risen Christ on Easter Sunday. The imagery is taken from the Gospel reading John 20:1-2, 11-1, when Mary questions the ‘gardener’ on the whereabouts of Christ’s body, only to discover that the gardener was Our Lord who had conquered death! Mary then falls to her knees as seen here.

100. HIGH ALTAR

There is no public access to the sanctuary itself, but we catch a glimpse of the high altar behind the nave altar. At centre is a gold tabernacle, and there is a central crucifix with three candlesticks on either side. There also appears to be a series of portraits immediately behind the altar. Behind is that colourful panel of saints.

101. REREDOS PANEL

At this distance it is impossible to make out much detail, but the central figure is clearly the Madonna and Child, and there are eight figues on either side. The larger end figure at left is Moses, so the corresponding figure at right is likely to be Elijah. [Photo Credit: Flickr, Snuffy]