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A Virtual Tour
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The façade
The grand façade of St
Patrick's was added to the building in 1927. The Latin
inscription reads, 'That they might be Christians, and
Romans too'. Set back from the road, this grand ediface
is often overlooked by motorists driving along Cowgate.
Pedestrians, however, often stop to look at the impressive
entrance to this house of God.
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The foyer
The foyer is the place for meeting
and greeting. It is the information centre of the parish,
and where visitors and parishioners gather for tea and coffee
after Sunday Mass. In one corner of the foyer is the Holy
Shop, and in another, the original Baptismal Font, where the
Venerable Margaret Sinclair, amongst many others, was baptised. |
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The
Baptismal Font
Many thousands of babies have been baptised in this
font over the years, including the Venerable Margaret
Sinclair. Babies and adults are now baptised in a temporary
font, on the sanctuary, in full view of the congregation.
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The
Sanctuary
The sanctuary was added shortly after the Roman Catholic Church
acquired the Cowgate Chapel in 1856. The most striking feature
of the sanctuary is undoubtedly the 'rood', the crucifix, flanked
by the statues of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John, the beloved
disciple. The temporary wooden altar is from the former church
of St Francis, Lothian Street (now Jericho House). |
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The Saints'
Chapel
This chapel is the focus of devotion to St Patrick, St Joseph,
St Anthony of Padua and St Theresa of the Child Jesus. Candles
are lit, symbolising prayers offered. A prayer posted at the
entrance to this chapel sums up devotion to the saints in St
Patrick's church: Saints of God
I light this candle
for myself
and for those whom I love.
You who gaze on the face of God
Pray for us
Pray with us
May we be mindful of those
who rely on us for prayers
and for help.
O God, hear my prayers
Hear the prayers of all your saints
Through Christ our Lord
Amen |
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Chapel
of the Resurrection
This chapel, formerly dedicated to the Sacred Heart,
was solemnly dedicated as the Chapel of the Resurrection
by the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Pablo Puente on 25th
October 2003. The Archbishop also formally blessed the
new shrine of the Venerable Margaret Sinclair, which
marks her final resting place after the transfer of
her remains from Mount Vernon cemetery, Edinburgh, 6th
October 2003, in a private ceremony.
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Shrine of the
Venerable Margaret Sinclair
The remains of the Venerable
Margaret Sinclair, Sister Mary Francis of the Five Wounds,
were transferred from Mount Vernon Cemetery, Edinburgh,
to St Patrick's on 6th October 2003. Archbishop Keith
Patrick O'Brien of St Andrews and Edinburgh oversaw
the process, and returned as Cardinal on 25th October
2003 for the solemn blessing of the shrine by the Papal
Nuncio, Archbishop Pablo Puente, during a thanksgiving
Mass. The centre-piece of the shrine is the marble slab
which was the original covering of the Venerable Margaret
Sinclair's grave at Mount Vernon, with new sculpting
representing the face of Margaret Sinclair.
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The Lady
Chapel
This chapel, formerly St Patrick's chapel, was dedicated to
Our Mother of Perpetual Help in June 2001, during the Solemn
Novena. The icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is a faithful
reproduction of the original miraculous icon, housed in the
church of Sant' Alfonso, Via Merulana, Rome. Each year, a Solemn
Novena (Nine Days' Prayer) is held in St Patrick's, in honour
of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The following prayer, posted
in the Lady Chapel, summarises devotion to the Mother of God
in St Patrick's: Mother of God
Hail Mary!
You are full of grace
and the Lord is with you
You are specially blessed by the Lord
All generations honour your name
Mother of God
Pray for me, O Mother of Perpetual Help
Pray for those whom I love
Pray for all your people
Loving God, you have blessed me
with Mary as my mother
May her prayers bring me closer to Jesus
the Word made flesh
Amen. Hail Mary…
Runciman
paintings & mural
The four paintings by Alexander Runciman depict characters
from the Old Testament. The mural, currently the centre-piece
of a restoration project, depicts the Ascension of Jesus into
heaven. Few of the works of Runciman survive: the restoration
and protection of these works of art is vital both for the
church and the wider art world.
The body of the church
Here are the benches where hundreds of people gather week-by-week
for the worship of God. Here the Venerable Margaret Sinclair
sat; here many other, unrecognised, saints of God sit Sunday
after Sunday. St Patrick's is a building – a very special
building. But most of all, it is the people gathered in prayer |
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