41. BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL AND TABERNACLE

An altar bearing the tabernacle is placed at the East end of the chapel. Every flat surface is taken up with repeated patterns – either mosaic or tiled – and even the East window has a similar repeating pattern. The tabernacle is a locked box containing the Blessed Elements of the Eucharist – the Blessed Sacrament.     INDEX

42. ACROSS TO THE LADY CHAPEL; ST LUKE AND ST JOHN

Leaving the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, we cross in front of the nave altar to the Lady Chapel on the South side. Above the arches are the winged ox and eagle – symbols for St Luke and St John.   

43. SOUTH WALL OF THE LADY CHAPEL

Again, this Chapel is striking in its array of decoration. The altar and statue of Madonna and Child are at left, and there is an unusual painting on the far wall. The doorway presumably leads through to the priest’s house.

44. CRUCIFIXION OF PETER

On this wall there is a set of sanctuary bells, and the painting called ‘The Crucifixion of Saint Peter’. This is a work by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, painted in 1601 for the Cerasi Chapel of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome.

45. LADY CHAPEL

The Lady Chapel with its beautiful floor tiling, painted column, marble panelling, mosaic wall patterns ... . Notice the interesting chair in the corner. Looking upwards we see too the distinctive roof design.

46. LADY CHAPEL ALTAR

The focus of the Lady Chapel is of course the front altar with the statue of the Madonna and Child. This is a copy of a 15th century statue. The original of this statue is in a Cistercian Abbey in Normandy in France. It was St Malachy, the patron of this diocese, in his friendship with St Bernard of Clairvaux, who introduced the Cistercian Order into Ireland.

47. AMBO

We return to the central chancel where there is an ambo in the shape of an eagle. This is unusual. Most Anglican Cathedrals have a pulpit and a separate lectern, often in the form of a brass eagle. In Catholic Cathedrals it is common for pulpit and lectern to be combined in an ambo – but not usually in the form of an eagle. This ambo would be used in services for preaching and the reading of Scripture.

48. CHANCEL AND SANCTUARY

Finally in our explorations we come to the chancel and sanctuary. Seen here is the interesting nave altar, the unusual panelling around the curved wall of the apse, and the stained glass windows above.  The floor is an artistic mosaic created by Sergio Bendetti.

49. NAVE ALTAR

The scene on the front of the altar is the Last Supper, showing Jesus with his twelve disciples, and Judas at extreme left just leaving! The altar and the ambo are both of limestone and were carved by Ken Thomson of Cork

50. HIGH ALTAR AND TABERNACLE

Close to the Eastern wall is the high altar with six candlesticks and (another) tabernacle. In most cathedrals these days the nave altar is the centre of ministry with administration of the Eucharist. The high altar is reserved for special occasions.    

51. BEHING THE HIGH ALTAR

Behind the tabernacles is a simple gold crucifix with Christ facing to his right.. That artists represent Christ's head leaning to the right ‘may reflect no more than a sensibility that the right is the more noble side’. A more convincing argument is that he is looking at his mother, who is usually depicted on this side.

52. SANCTUARY PANELS

Each of the panels behind the high altar contains a Christian emblem. The panels can be seen here in more detail.

53. EAST WINDOWS

We complete our tour of St Peter’s Cathedral by contemplating the East windows, not forgetting to admire the angels above. I would like to add details of these windows, but have been unable to find any!