Basilica of St. Francis Xavier
Encyclopedia
The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier is the Catholic parish for the residents of Dyersville, Iowa
. It is one of only 52 basilica
s in the United States. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The church was named in honor of the missionary Saint Francis Xavier.
architecture. This includes columns and vaulted ceilings. The church has a seating capacity
of about 1200 people. There are about 5000 people total in the parish.
It has 64 large stained glass
windows. There are two notable windows in the church.
The first is the large round rose-hewed window above the entrances to the church was installed in 1959.
It replaced a conventional church window on which the framework had become deteriorated. An Indian motif was selected in recognition of many local Indian tribes that inhabited this area 150 years earlier.
The Main Altar is made of Italian marble. The Baldacchino—canopy over the main altar—was based in part on the one at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
near Rome.
There are two side altars, one for Mary (mother of Jesus)
(to the left of the Main Altar) and one for Joseph
(to the right of the Main Altar). Both are made of carved butternut
wood with warm golden highlights. Mary's altar is called "The Coronation" and Joseph's is called "The Holy Family".
There are two steeples which are 212 feet tall. The crosses are 14 feet tall. This helps make the church visible from miles away across the rolling lightly forested farmland. Pilots often use these steeples as landmarks during flights.
The church is decorated with a number of paintings and frescos. Much of this work was done by a Milwaukee area brother and sister team in the first part of the 20th century.
The ornate pulpit
where the sermons are read from sits to the left of the main altar.
The second organ in the Basilica, which replaced the original one, was installed in July 1971.
This 37 rank organ is a custom made instrument designed for the Basilica by the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois. The organ was designed keeping in mind the size of the church and the acoustical qualities of the building. The pipe organ, like an orchestra, speaks with many voices. Also, like an orchestra, the beauty of the many voices depends upon the beauty of each individual voice.
Because one of the roles of the Basilica is to serve as the Pope
's church in the event he would visit the area, the church features a special bell, a Tintinnabulum
, and umbrella, an Umbraculum. Because the Pope is not expected to visit the area in the foreseeable future, the Umbrella cannot be opened all the way.
Shortly afterwards, the first Saint Francis Xavier Church was built in Dyersville, Iowa. For a number of years this church served the needs of the community. But by the 1880s, it became clear that with the increasing population of Dyersville and the surrounding area that the old church building would no longer be adequate.
A new church building was begun in the mid-1880s. The parish decided on a large Gothic architecture building in order to serve the increased population. The pastor at the time also had the foresight to have the altar placed upon a foundation of solid rock, which is one of the requirements for an altar to be consecrated. By 1888 the church was finished. When the building was dedicated, special trains brought people from all over the state of Iowa to witness this dedication. After the completion of the present building, the old church was converted into classrooms. It was later torn down after a new school was completed.
The move to elevate Saint Francis Xavier began in the 1940s. Then Father Hoffman, who had served in Europe began to advance the cause to Vatican officials
. The cause was furthered when a high ranking German Cardinal
, Konrad von Preysing
, visited the church. In the mid-1950s the church building was consecrated. On the interior there are a number of small gold crosses on the side walls, marking the twelve places where the church walls were anointed with chrism
when the church was consectated. Once consecrated a church building may never be used for any other purpose and only consecrated church can be elevated to the rank of a Basilica. Previously the parish had worked hard to attain and maintain a debt-free status, a preliminary requirement before a church can be consecrated.
In 1956 the parish was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica
by Pope Pius XII. This happened when the parish received a papal brief
from the Vatican
that proclaimed St. Francis Xavier as having the rank of Minor Basilica. A mass officially naming the church as a Basilica was held at a later date, this attracted crowds from all over the state, as well as many high ranking clergy.
The second organ in the Basilica, which replaced the original one, was installed in July 1971. This 37 rank organ is a custom made instrument designed and manufactured for the Basilica by Wicks Organ Company
of Highland, Illinois
to replace an earlier instrument that was installed in 1915.
The organ was designed keeping in mind the size of the church and the acoustical qualities of the building. The pipe organ, like an orchestra, speaks with many voices. Also, like an orchestra, the beauty of the many voices depends upon the beauty of each individual voice.
The interior of the church was recently refurbished. The paintings and frescos were cleaned. Other frescos that were hidden under coats of paint were restored. The Baldacchino, the main altars, the side altars, and the statues were cleaned and restored. This was possible due to a gift from a parishioner. This refurbishment helped to increase the beauty of the church interior.
In the mid-1990s, the parish began to offer a Tridentine
Mass at 12:00 p.m. on Sundays. This mass is either said or sung in Latin according to the 1962 Rite. This is one of two parishes in the Archdiocese which offer Mass in this form, the other being St. Wenceslaus in Cedar Rapids.
Dyersville, Iowa
Dyersville is a city in eastern Delaware and western Dubuque Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,035 at the 2000 census and was estimated to be 4,167 in 2006....
. It is one of only 52 basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
s in the United States. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The church was named in honor of the missionary Saint Francis Xavier.
The Church Building
The Basilica features GothicGothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
architecture. This includes columns and vaulted ceilings. The church has a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of about 1200 people. There are about 5000 people total in the parish.
It has 64 large stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows. There are two notable windows in the church.
The first is the large round rose-hewed window above the entrances to the church was installed in 1959.
It replaced a conventional church window on which the framework had become deteriorated. An Indian motif was selected in recognition of many local Indian tribes that inhabited this area 150 years earlier.
The Main Altar is made of Italian marble. The Baldacchino—canopy over the main altar—was based in part on the one at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
The Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls , commonly known as St Paul's Outside the Walls, is one of four churches that are the great ancient major basilicas or papal basilicas of Rome: the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter's and Saint Paul Outside the Walls...
near Rome.
There are two side altars, one for Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
(to the left of the Main Altar) and one for Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
(to the right of the Main Altar). Both are made of carved butternut
Butternut
Butternut may refer to:*Butternut tree, Juglans cinerea, or its fruit*Butternut squash, an edible winter squash.*Butternut, a shade of yellow similar to khaki and the color of the butternut squash...
wood with warm golden highlights. Mary's altar is called "The Coronation" and Joseph's is called "The Holy Family".
The church is decorated with a number of paintings and frescos. Much of this work was done by a Milwaukee area brother and sister team in the first part of the 20th century.
The ornate pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
where the sermons are read from sits to the left of the main altar.
The second organ in the Basilica, which replaced the original one, was installed in July 1971.
This 37 rank organ is a custom made instrument designed for the Basilica by the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois. The organ was designed keeping in mind the size of the church and the acoustical qualities of the building. The pipe organ, like an orchestra, speaks with many voices. Also, like an orchestra, the beauty of the many voices depends upon the beauty of each individual voice.
Because one of the roles of the Basilica is to serve as the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
's church in the event he would visit the area, the church features a special bell, a Tintinnabulum
Tintinnabulum
A Tintinnabulum is a bell mounted on a pole, placed in a Roman Catholic Basilica to signify the church's link with the Pope.-History:In the Middle Ages it served the practical function of alerting the people of Rome to the approach of the Pope during papal processions....
, and umbrella, an Umbraculum. Because the Pope is not expected to visit the area in the foreseeable future, the Umbrella cannot be opened all the way.
History
Dyersville was originally settled by English immigrants. Within a few years the English moved on. After that many German immigrants began to arrive in the area. A parish was founded in the area to serve these immigrants.Shortly afterwards, the first Saint Francis Xavier Church was built in Dyersville, Iowa. For a number of years this church served the needs of the community. But by the 1880s, it became clear that with the increasing population of Dyersville and the surrounding area that the old church building would no longer be adequate.
The move to elevate Saint Francis Xavier began in the 1940s. Then Father Hoffman, who had served in Europe began to advance the cause to Vatican officials
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
. The cause was furthered when a high ranking German Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
, Konrad von Preysing
Konrad von Preysing
Johann Konrad Maria Augustin Felix Graf von Preysing Lichtenegg-Moos was a German prelate of the Roman Catholic Church...
, visited the church. In the mid-1950s the church building was consecrated. On the interior there are a number of small gold crosses on the side walls, marking the twelve places where the church walls were anointed with chrism
Chrism
Chrism , also called "Myrrh" , Holy anointing oil, or "Consecrated Oil", is a consecrated oil used in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Rite Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, in the Assyrian Church of the East, and in Old-Catholic churches, as well as Anglican churches in the administration...
when the church was consectated. Once consecrated a church building may never be used for any other purpose and only consecrated church can be elevated to the rank of a Basilica. Previously the parish had worked hard to attain and maintain a debt-free status, a preliminary requirement before a church can be consecrated.
In 1956 the parish was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
by Pope Pius XII. This happened when the parish received a papal brief
Papal brief
The Papal Brief is a formal document emanating from the Pope, in a somewhat simpler and more modern form than a Papal Bull.-History:The introduction of briefs, which occurred at the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Eugenius IV , was clearly prompted for the same desire for greater simplicity...
from the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
that proclaimed St. Francis Xavier as having the rank of Minor Basilica. A mass officially naming the church as a Basilica was held at a later date, this attracted crowds from all over the state, as well as many high ranking clergy.
The second organ in the Basilica, which replaced the original one, was installed in July 1971. This 37 rank organ is a custom made instrument designed and manufactured for the Basilica by Wicks Organ Company
Wicks Organ Company
The Wicks Organ Company is an organ manufacturer in Highland, Illinois in the United States; where they build, repair, and restore organs.-History:...
of Highland, Illinois
Highland, Illinois
Highland is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,433 at the 2010 census. Highland began as a Swiss settlement and derived its name from later German immigrants.Highland is a sister city of Sursee in Switzerland....
to replace an earlier instrument that was installed in 1915.
The organ was designed keeping in mind the size of the church and the acoustical qualities of the building. The pipe organ, like an orchestra, speaks with many voices. Also, like an orchestra, the beauty of the many voices depends upon the beauty of each individual voice.
The interior of the church was recently refurbished. The paintings and frescos were cleaned. Other frescos that were hidden under coats of paint were restored. The Baldacchino, the main altars, the side altars, and the statues were cleaned and restored. This was possible due to a gift from a parishioner. This refurbishment helped to increase the beauty of the church interior.
In the mid-1990s, the parish began to offer a Tridentine
Tridentine
The adjective Tridentine refers to any thing or person pertaining to the city of Trent, Italy .It is applied in particular to:*The Council of Trent, one of the ecumenical councils recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, held in that city in the 16th century, and to the teachings emphasized by it...
Mass at 12:00 p.m. on Sundays. This mass is either said or sung in Latin according to the 1962 Rite. This is one of two parishes in the Archdiocese which offer Mass in this form, the other being St. Wenceslaus in Cedar Rapids.