Introduction
The visit to Saint Joseph’s Oratory can be compared to the human search for comfort, peace, and consolation. This place is the reflection of cultural and religious values; it is the mirror of the spiritual treasure of humanity inspiring every tourist and opening the greatest symbols of ancient and modern culture. Visiting this mysterious and culturally rich place stimulates everyone to think about the role of religion in human life. It is difficult to describe Saint Joseph’s Oratory by words because this place should be perceived by heart and eyes. Nevertheless, the place provides marvelous elements of art and design being valued by world architects and representatives of art; the experience of visiting Saint Joseph’s Oratory and feeling its atmosphere gives a chance to dive into the depth of religion and culture expressed by elements of the art design.
Tour to Saint Joseph’s Oratory
There is a need to stress the contribution of Saint Joseph’s Oratory to cultural and religious realization; visiting this place allows one to evaluate key values of humanity, such as amidst well-tended gardens, Brother Andre, and Saint Joseph symbols. There is a tendency to believe that Saint Joseph’s Oratory is the embodiment of the highest treasure for all believers throughout the world. This place provides an unforgettable spiritual atmosphere depicting the beauty of culture, art, and architecture. It gives a chance to set one’s sights toward Mount Royal.
Mythical atmosphere In the Mount Royal Natural Park
Sticking to historical roots, one should state that Mount Royal emerged from Montreal plain with then height of 200 meters. This place got the identification of a ‘hill’, but the transformations experienced with passing years turned it into a marvelous landscape with beautiful parks, residential districts, and monumental buildings. It should be stressed that this place can be perceived as the embodiment of nature in the city; nevertheless, special attention should be paid to the symbolic and mythic meaning of this place. The atmosphere of Mount Royal Natural Park serves as a substitute for natural processes adopted and introduced in civilization by people. This place is also characterized by its mythic value expressed through territorialization internal logic. It is the embodiment of interrelation between symbols of legendary events and historical facts. The religious and symbolic value of this place appeared to be reflected in European elements of architectural design. (Debarbieux, 407)
Places To Visit In the Saint Joseph’s Oratory
Besides, visiting Saint Joseph’s Oratory provides a perfect opportunity to admire the nature of Christian life. It should be stressed that Lent serves as the symbol of Christianity reflecting the spiritual atmosphere of Christ’s resurrection. Saint Joseph’s Oratory can be considered a sacred place meeting the expectations of every visitor. One can feel the spirit of Blessed Brother Andre, who is the founder of Saint Joseph’s Oratory. Brother Andre is regarded as the soul of this place giving meaning and inspiration to the legacy eliciting considerable enthusiasm throughout the world. One can read the texts of prayers for canonization and well-being visiting Saint Joseph’s Oratory. It is necessary to underline the fact that Brother Andre has powerful intercession in work for those who consciously came to this place.
There is a tendency to believe that tourists visiting this place in good faith should demonstrate adequate dress and respectful behavior. One should express his/her respect to pilgrims. (Saint Joseph’s Oratory, 16)
Visiting Saint Joseph’s Oratory, one should start with the Chimes; the Carillon is considered to be one of the largest in the USA, which is unique through the quality of the bells. Further on, one can admire the beauty and architecture of the Votive Chapel. It is necessary to underline the fact that crutches and canes hanging between the chapel pillars appeared to be left here at the shrine in the period of Brother Andre’s life. One should note that they serve as the reminder of a majority of cures and favors being obtained during the praying of Brother Andre to Saint Joseph.
Special attention should be paid to Brother Andre’s Tomb, which is considered to be a holy place where the remains of Brother Andre rest. One can learn some facts from the history stressing that in 1963 the Ecclesiastical Tribunal being responsible for beatification caused to proceed to the tomb opening for remains’ verifying of venerable Brother. This place is magically decorated with marvelous fresco, adorning the wall behind the tomb. It is necessary to underline the fact that this fresco was created by Henri Charlier and symbolizes the devotion of Brother Andre showing the Passion of Christ. Additionally, the noble figure of the poor being illustrated on the wall bust is the symbol of obedient religious, Saint Joseph’s great apostle. Saint Joseph’s Oratory is magic and mysterious reflecting the spirit of religion; it contains many registers under the bust, which show the signatures of all the pilgrims, who managed to observe Brother Andre’s canonization. (Gregory, 102)
Saint Joseph’s Oratory depicts the statue of Saint Joseph, which was blessed in 1909 by Saint Pius X. Besides, the basic of oil serves as the illustration of an ancient epoch; the signs of oil, mud, and water were frequently used by Jesus and his apostles to underline the manifestation of faith. The approval of this fact can be found in Old Testament, illustrating oil as the symbol of God’s blessing. Signs had significant meaning in the ancient epoch and Brother Andre made use of oil in order to feed the flame and for sickness rubbing. People believe in the magic of this oil and still, make use of it.
The Crypt-Church can be regarded as the place leaving unforgettable feelings and emotions of spiritual enrichment. It should be noted that this church was built in 1916 in accordance with the planning developed by Alphonse Venne and Dalbe Viau. This place is unusual and all the benches here are equipped with a special sound system allowing to hear the sounds for people with ear problems. The name of the church can be explained by flattened arches and its location at the basilica foot. Here one can admire the impressive Statute of the Main Altar, which is created to greet pilgrims.
It is necessary to stress that Saint Joseph’s Oratory is the reflection of the pilgrimage phenomenon through its statutes, walls, decorations, and architectural symbols. This atmosphere allows us to experience the journey across textual and geographic space. The pilgrimage of religion expressed through illustrated landscapes symbolizes the spirit of Christianity and holy elements. This idea is transferred using the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, which is located at the Basilica foot and is closed to the visitors. It should be noted that it has marble columns and monumental grille with hemicycle ceilings making one part of the Basilica especially attractive. (Campo, 42)
Walking through Saint Joseph’s Oratory, one cannot but visit Brother Andre’s Room being occupied by him in the period of first chapel enlargement. It is interesting to note that humble quarters are in the same position Brother Andre left them. The room is small and has very primitive simple furnishing; all the things it contains are oil stoves for cooking straight chairs for spending some minutes in rest. Additionally, there are some books in the room left by Brother Andre being used by him for meditation and relaxation. Ordinary visitors can notice that the room atmosphere embodies the poverty and humility of Brother Andre, the founder of Saint Joseph’s Oratory; this place helps to understand the role of spiritual values for the founder, rather than material ones. The room reminds me of the past when people were not focused on the centralization of luxury and wealth, but life in harmony with culture and religion. It should be noted that the first chapel was built by Brother Andre with the help of his colleagues in 1904. The Oratory can be characterized by primitiveness in its design and structure; nevertheless, the elements of its simplicity attract tourists today.
Additionally, people visiting Saint Joseph’s Oratory can enjoy not only its beauty but use its service; young people can have a wonderful chance to get consultations and prepare for marriage teaching everyone to listen to each other and feel the responsibility they bear creating a family. (Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount-Royal, 2010).
Conclusion
The tour to Saint Joseph’s Oratory appeared to be unforgettable and mysterious. It gave an opportunity to learn the place of religion and the embodiment of nature in the epoch of civilization. Numerous landscapes and elements of architecture help visitors to dive into the depth of the ancient epoch and feel the atmosphere of spiritual and holy values. Looking closely at the objects of Saint Joseph’s Oratory, one can notice the simplicity and mysterious nature of their elements. The atmosphere of Saint Joseph’s Oratory provides a complete understanding of its founder’s dream and gets a wonderful inspiration from Saint Joseph. Every person, having visited this place, gets an incredible experience of cultural and religious enrichment through the impact of the spiritual environment of the past.
References
Campo, Juan Eduardo. American Pilgrimage Landscapes. American Academy of Political and Social Science. 1998.
Debarbieux, Bernard. The Mountain in the City: Social Uses and Transformations of a Natural Landform in Urban Space. 1998.
Gregory, William. Brother Andre of Saint Joseph’s Oratory. Kessinger Publishing, 2004.
Saint Joseph’s Oratory. Arrow Guide, Saint Joseph’s Oratory. The Oratory, 1996.
Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount-Royal. 2010. Web.