Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Catholic Book Blogger

Home
About
Publications
Contact
The Open Book Podcast
Children's and Teen Book Reviews
Interviews
The Clergy Speaks
More
- 2015 Book Reviews
  - 2014 Book Reviews
  - 2013 Book Reviews
- Author Interviews
- Archive Index

Home
Catholic
CBB Review – The American Catholic Almanac: The Conewago Chapel

CBB Review – The American Catholic Almanac: The Conewago Chapel

Last updated on: October 3, 2014 at 4:44 am by Pete Socks

CBB Review – The American Catholic Almanac: The Conewago Chapel 2014-10-03T04:44:45-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The American Catholic Almanac: A Daily Reader of Patriots, Saints, Rogues, and Ordinary People Who Changed the United States by Brian Burch and Emily Stimpson is one of those books you will return to again and again. A fine resource that could be used for homeschooling or self – enrichment the books daily readings are wide ranging and cover the gambit of Catholicism in the history of the United States.

Image Books has asked me to participate in their blog tour of the book. Each blogger was asked to pick one of the daily entries to write about. I have chosen the entry for Feb. 4 titled “The Church at the Rapids”. This entry deals with a church very near and dear to my heart. The church I consider my second parish, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart or as we locals have called it for centuries, the Conewago Chapel.

The Conewago Chapel’s claim to fame is that it was the first stone church built in the United States. The community was celebrating Mass well before 1787 when the present day church was built. The Catholics in the area were celebrating Mass before it was legal to do so but unfortunately the Mass house utilized prior to the building of the present day church is no longer standing.

A strong point to be made is that the Conewago Chapel was the epicenter of Catholicism in the early United States. The Catholic faith spread over southern and western Maryland, into Virginia, east to Philadelphia and west to Pittsburgh. Hanover, Littlestown, Taneytown, Bonneauville, Gettysburg, Carlisle, York, Harrisburg and New Oxford all sprung up thanks to the aid of the Jesuits stationed at Conewago Chapel. In fact parishes as far west as Pittsburgh were staffed by the circuit riders who came out of the Chapel.

Beyond its history of prominence in Catholicism in the United States is the beautiful artwork contained within its walls. The Chapel houses many gorgeous paintings that art museums would envy. Indeed more than one person has been moved to tears upon first seeing the interior. Many of these are the work of German artist, Franz Stecker. Mr. Stecker, famous for his portrayal of sacred objects, came to the United States in 1848. He returned to Austria in 1850 and died three years later at the age of 39. The remainder of this article will serve as a tour of these paintings.

Prominently displayed on the side walls and ceiling at the front of the church are paintings detailing the life of Christ. While facing the altar the painting on the upper left ceiling depicts the Christ handing over his crown of glory and taking up the cross and thorns.

On the left side wall you will find The Nativity.

On the right side wall, The Crucifixion.

On the upper right ceiling is depicted Christ’s triumphant ascension into heaven.

In the center of the ceiling is a gorgeous painting of the Trinity with Christ revealing his sacred heart.

Directly above the altar is a painting of a monstrance surrounded by the heavenly hosts and with angels playing trumpets on bended knee.

Over the side altar is another Stecker painting depicting the death of St. Francis Xavier.

I would be remiss to not mention the non-Stecker paintings. On the ceiling of the original nave of the church is a beautiful painting of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother into heaven painted in 1844 by an artist by the name of Gebhart. The topic of the Assumption was chosen as an acknowledgment of the original Mass house that went by the name of the Assumption.

Over the altar is a Constagnini painting commissioned in 1887 of Christ appearing to Sister Margaret Mary.

In closing the Conewago Chapel was named a Basilic in 1962 by Saint Pope John XXIII. In 1975 it was added to the National Register of Historical Places. I hope you have enjoyed this brief “virtual” tour of the paintings within The Sacred Heart Basilica. If you are ever in the area feel free to stop in and see for yourself “The Church at the Rapids”.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I received a copy of the book for this review from the publisher, Image Books.

Sacred Heart Basilica

The American Catholic Almanac

The Conewago Chapel

Previous Post

October 3, 2014

Church Fathers, Day Seventy-Four: St. John Cassian says to stay on course

Next Post

October 4, 2014 Church Fathers, Day Seventy-Five: St. Ambrose says cooperation is a law of nature

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz