Notice the gothic arches and the interior buttresses that form the support structure of the Cathedral. These are 100% stone; the facing is limestone, which covers an interior support system made up of over 3.5 million bricks. There is no structural steel used in this building. The focal point of the nave (the main area of the church) is the high altar, for the focal point of our faith is the bread and wine consecrated there into the actual Body and Blood of Christ.

We leave Mass transformed into His likeness to serve others with His love, but this transformation can only occur if we prepare. Everything else in our Catholic Church is meant to help us prepare for this.

The Cathedral is full of images that teach us and enliven the various elements of our faith. For example, look at our chandeliers. Many of them bear symbols pertaining to the Queenship of Mary. The shape itself suggests a crown. Those in the nave carry the phrase "Ave Maria" around the lower rim.

We'll see many faith-building images in this Virtual Tour, but this is only an inkling of the full picture. To explore it all and to benefit from it fully, make a pilgrimage to our Cathedral and visit us in person! You may print the pages of this Virtual Tour to make your own guidebook for your visit. Give us a call to arrange for a docent to show you around: (410) 464-4000 (you can find this number throughout the website).

While we're looking up at the chandelier, let me point out something else before ours neck get too tired.