Bishop Jean-Marie Odin
Father Odin conducted the first Mass in Austin on December 23, 1840. With this Mass, the first in Austin, he planted the seeds for what became Saint Mary Cathedral. He came to Texas as a Vincentian priest, one of the first of this French order in Texas.
After his visit to Austin (where he and Father Timon successfully argued to have the ownership of the church's properties, including the Alamo, restored), he returned to Galveston and would soon become Bishop Odin, the first bishop in the Diocese of Galveston (which included all of Texas). He is considered to be the Father of the restored Catholic Church in Texas.From Texas Churches
Bishop John Timon
Father Timon was ordained deacon, and then priest, in 1825. He served as a Vincentian missionary up and down the Mississippi River and in Texas. In 1835, Timon's was appointed "Visitor" (Superior) of the Vincentian community in America. In 1839, he was named coadjutor bishop of St. Louis but declined the appointment. On July 18, 1840 he was named Prefect Apostolic of the Republic of Texas. He accompanied Odin to Austin in 1840 to successfully lobby the Congress of the Republic of Texas to return Catholic lands to the church.
He would serve the next 20 years of his life as bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo (NY).From Texas Churches
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
The Millet Theater is in the center of the image, with St. Patrick at the far right.
Early in 1853, Father Sheehan took up residence in Austin and began the erection of a church at the northeast corner of East 9th and Brazos streets. Father Sheehan remained for five years in Austin. In 1855, the new Catholic church was completed and the pastor named it Saint Patrick’s in honor of Irish families who were chief contributors to the erection of the church.From Texas Churches
Saint Patrick's Catholic Church
Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, the first Catholic church in Austin and the predecessor of Saint Mary Cathedral. In this photograph you can see the new state capitol (finished in 1888). Also, the steeple has been removed from Saint Patrick's in this image.
The Rev. Nicholas Feltin followed Father Sheehan as pastor of Saint Patrick's on Feb 14, 1864, and two years later (1866) he changed the name to Saint Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception. The same year a tower was added to the old church.
Under Father Feltin’s pastorate, the newly name parish began making rapid strides forward. A rock school was built on East 10th and the foundation for the new church was started at the southeast corner of East 10th and Brazos. Father Feltin served until May 4, 1874.From Texas Churches
Saint Mary and Austin
This is a colorized image of Austin, taken from the top of the new capital, that shows the new Saint Mary church, Saint Mary Academy, and First Methodist across from Saint Mary. This is an excellent example of what Austin look like when our current church was constructed.
Saint Mary Cathedral
Crop of photograph taken from the new state capitol in the late 1880s or early 1890s. Notice that this is before the main bell tower and entrance to the cathedral were built. Lightly colorized in Photoshop.
In this photograph you can also see First Methodist (directly across from Saint Mary), the old Saint Patrick's church (the steeple is visible directly behind Saint Mary), Saint David's Episcopal, and Saint Mary Academy. The building in the foreground that looks like a medieval castle is the first Travis County jail.
Saint Mary Cathedral
Saint Mary Cathedral before addition of bell tower and stone entrance.
Nicholas Clayton, Architect
When the design of St. Mary began, not only was the state new, but architecture as a profession was in its infancy. The parish had laid out a basilica-shaped foundation and begun raising the walls which were five feet high when the architect Nicholas Clayton began to design the new church. Eventually to become the foremost Victorian
architect in Texas, Clayton had never designed a church and St.
Mary’s was his first independent commission.
Born in Ireland in 1840, Clayton came to this country with his widowed mother when he was two, and grew up in the Midwest. After fighting in the Civil War, he learned masonry and building design in Cincinnati, and came to Galveston in 1872 on behalf of his Ohio firm.
At that time, Austin was part of the diocese of Galveston, and it may have been through the Holy Cross fathers that the bishop connected Nicholas Clayton with the first Catholic parish in Austin.
This church began Clayton’s long, prolific career, centered in Galveston, building primarily ecclesiastical structures but also commercial buildings and homes. In addition to important commissions elsewhere in the south, he designed at least 150 buildings in Texas. A devout Catholic who attended daily mass, Clayton designed buildings for the Congregation of the Sacred Heart, the Jesuits, and the Ursuline Sisters as well as numerous parishes throughout the Diocese of Galveston and elsewhere in the South.
Many of these structures built of wood were destroyed by hurricanes and fires, but the Bishop’s Palace in Galveston (1886), Sacred Heart Church in Tampa (1888), and St. Edward’s Main Building in Austin (1907) illustrate his genius for expressing spiritual reality in building, selecting appropriate materials, exacting fine craftsmanship from his workers, and attending to the most precise details of construction.
Gothic Revival
Clayton’s work is in the tradition of the 19th century architects who rejected the rigidity and symmetry of classical architecture and turned to the Middle Ages for inspiration. The Gothic revival movement began in England, inspired by Catholics who saw in cathedrals like Chartres and Notre Dame the essence of Catholic tradition.
Gothic architecture had flowered from the 12th to the 15th centuries after European society had assimilated the wisdom of the pagans-Greek, Roman, barbarians-and the church had established herself as the sole spiritual power of that world.
After neo-Gothic crossed the Atlantic, liturgical churches—
Lutherans and Episcopalians as well as Catholics—favored the style. In Austin, the old Gethsemane Lutheran and All Saints Episcopal built shortly after St. Mary’s are also neo-Gothic churches.
Begun in 1872, Clayton finished the construction of the first phase of the church in 1884.From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Saint Mary Cathedral, photographed soon after its construction in 1884. Notice the lack of the bell tower and stone entrance. This dates the photograph to the late 1890s or early 1900s.
From Texas Churches
This image, I believe, was taken from the roof of the Driskill Hotel. The view is up Brazos Street. You can see the bell tower of Saint Mary and First Methodist Church on the right, and the new capitiol building on the left. The bell tower at Saint Mary was not completed until 1907, so the photograph dates no early than the early 1900s. Notice that you can see two moon towers in this photograph. The moon towers were installed in Austin 1894-1895.
Father Peter Lauth
Father Peter Lauth, priest at the time of the completion of the cathedral in 1884.
The parish administration was given over to the Holy Cross Fathers and the Rev. Daniel Spillard took charge on May 4, 1874. During his pastorate ¾ of the walls for the new church were completed. Father Spillard remained pastor of Saint Mary for 8 years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Peter Lauth. Under Father Lauth’s pastorate the new church was completed and dedicated on April 20, 1884.From Texas Churches
![Translation by Mike Murphy<br />
<br />
Frater Rudericus a S. Franc. de Paula<br />
Brother Rudericus of St. Franc. de Paul<br />
<br />
CARMELITA EXCALCEATUS<br />
DISCALCED CARMELITE<br />
<br />
CAUSARUM SERVORUM DEI EJUSDEM ORDINIS POSTULATOR<br />
Of the Causes of the Servants of God and of the same Order the Postulator<br />
<br />
Universis praesentes litteras inspecturis fidem facimus atque testamur,<br />
To all persons intending to inspect the present document we certify and stand to witness,<br />
<br />
ab authenticis Reliquiis quae apud nos servantur,<br />
from authentic Relics which are preserved here with us,<br />
<br />
extraxisse particulam ex ossibus S. Teresiae a Jesu Infante Virg. <br />
that we have extracted a particle from the bones of St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus Virg.<br />
<br />
quam in theca ex argento ovalis formae, chrystallo munita, <br />
which in a reliquary of silver of oval shape, strengthened with crystal, <br />
<br />
filo serico coloris rubri et sigillo nostro obsignata<br />
with a silk thread of red color and with our seal having been stamped<br />
<br />
collocavimus. <br />
we have placed it [the particle into the reliquary].<br />
<br />
In quorum fidem has litteras manu nostra subscriptas et sigillo munitas dedimus.<br />
In support of the authenticity of which things, we have presented this document with our signature affixed and confirmed with a seal.<br />
<br />
Datum Romae e Conventu S. Mariae de Victoria die 31 Martii anni 1926<br />
Given at Rome from the Convent of St. Maria of Victories on the day 31 March year 1926.<br />
<br />
Fr. Rubericus de S. Franco de Paola Carm. Excalc. <br />
Postulator Generalis<br />
Postulator General <br />
<br />
<br />
Gratis<br />
Supplied at no cost](https://photos.smugmug.com/Churches-and-Sacred-Spaces/Saint-Mary-Cathedral/i-CKfHVPK/0/154fccda/XL/St.%20Teresiae%20a%20Jesu%20Inf.%2C%20Virg.%20Ex.%20Ossibus%20clean-XL.jpg)
Translation by Mike Murphy
Frater Rudericus a S. Franc. de Paula
Brother Rudericus of St. Franc. de Paul
CARMELITA EXCALCEATUS
DISCALCED CARMELITE
CAUSARUM SERVORUM DEI EJUSDEM ORDINIS POSTULATOR
Of the Causes of the Servants of God and of the same Order the Postulator
Universis praesentes litteras inspecturis fidem facimus atque testamur,
To all persons intending to inspect the present document we certify and stand to witness,
ab authenticis Reliquiis quae apud nos servantur,
from authentic Relics which are preserved here with us,
extraxisse particulam ex ossibus S. Teresiae a Jesu Infante Virg.
that we have extracted a particle from the bones of St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus Virg.
quam in theca ex argento ovalis formae, chrystallo munita,
which in a reliquary of silver of oval shape, strengthened with crystal,
filo serico coloris rubri et sigillo nostro obsignata
with a silk thread of red color and with our seal having been stamped
collocavimus.
we have placed it [the particle into the reliquary].
In quorum fidem has litteras manu nostra subscriptas et sigillo munitas dedimus.
In support of the authenticity of which things, we have presented this document with our signature affixed and confirmed with a seal.
Datum Romae e Conventu S. Mariae de Victoria die 31 Martii anni 1926
Given at Rome from the Convent of St. Maria of Victories on the day 31 March year 1926.
Fr. Rubericus de S. Franco de Paola Carm. Excalc.
Postulator Generalis
Postulator General
Gratis
Supplied at no cost
Saint Mary Cathedral
Although the date of this image is unknown, notice the changes when compared to the previous images of the altar. In this image, the high altar has been lowered (the highest section removed, I assume). In addition, the wooden communion rail has been replaced with a metal version.
All of these early images suffer from overexposure, and are of poor quality. However, they do give us the opportunity to see the early details of Saint Mary and compare them to now.
Saint Mary Cathedral
In the remodeling of 1947-49, the cathedral gained a baptistry, a new west door, a balcony (seen here), and a separate choir loft. The four windows in what was then the new baptistry are those of the four fortitudes seen at the stairs to the choir loft and the east door.
Seton Infirmary
In 1898, the Daughters agreed to consider coming to Austin if the Society would provide housing and grounds suitable for a hospital. By 1900, the sum of $5,300 was raised by the Society. The money purchased “Tobin Park,” almost five acres of land on 26th Street between Nueces and Rio Grande. Seton Infirmary was granted a charter by the State of Texas on April 4, 1900. At the time, Austin had a population of just 22,258.
Rockwell Milligan, of St. Louis, Missouri, was the architect who designed the four-story, red pressed brick building in the “Southern Colonial” style. Seton Infirmary – named after Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded the order that would become the Daughters of Charity in the United States – was dedicated on May 29, 1902. It contained 17 private rooms, 11 wards, special diet kitchens on each floor, plus separate dormitories and refectories for the sisters.
After the establishment of Seton Infirmary in 1902, Saint Mary went forth in community service. The Holy Cross priests from Saint Mary took over chaplain duties at the infirmary.From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Cathedral as viewed from the west. Compare this contemporary image (photograph in November 2018) with the two previous images. Notice the additions of a stone entrance, the large bell tower, and the finials atop the two towers.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Misc Notes:
Original building
Architect: Nicholas Clayton
Contractor for wood work: Harry Delvin
Contractor for stone construction: John Hart
On April 23, 1939, the Catholics of Austin celebrated Austin's centennial with a Pontifical Mass at House Park. The Mass attracted 10,000 attendees.
20X25From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Iesus Hominum Salvator (IHS): a contraction derived from the Greek word ΙΗΣΟΥΣ, Jesus, used as a symbol or monogram. Below that is the symbol for the Congregation of Holy Cross. The SC stands for Sancta Cruce.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Inscription on the front of Saint Mary Cathedral. The "SC" is for "Sancta Cruce," from the Congregation of Holy Cross. The Holy Cross order, founded in 1837 in Le Mans, France, managed the church in its early years. The Maltese-style cross is characteristic of the Holy Cross order. Notice the fleur de lis in the upper left and the shamrock on the upper right.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
View of the nave, looking south toward the apse and Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception window.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
During the 1890s, the stained-glass windows were installed. The first one was donated by the pastor, Father Peter Laugh; in 1891, and these first ones were set in the west wall of the church. After all of the stained glass windows were in place on the west wall, installation began on the east wall.
MaryInteriorAltarViewFINAL3000
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral, Austin, Texas
Rose Window.
"Rose window" is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in Gothic cathedrals and churches. The windows are divided into segments by stone or wood mullions and tracery. The term rose window was not used before the 17th century and according to the Oxford English Dictionary, among other authorities, comes from the English flower name rose.
The name "wheel window" is often applied to a window divided by simple spokes radiating from a central boss or opening, while the term "rose window" is reserved for those windows, sometimes of a highly complex design, which can be seen to bear similarity to a multi-petalled rose. Rose windows are also called "Catherine windows" after Saint Catherine of Alexandria, who was sentenced to be executed on a spiked breaking wheel. A circular window without tracery such as are found in many Italian churches is referred to as an ocular window or oculus.
Rose windows are particularly characteristic of Gothic architecture and may be seen in all the major Gothic Cathedrals of Northern France. Their origins are much earlier and rose windows may be seen in various forms throughout the Medieval period. Their popularity was revived, with other medieval features, during the Neo-Gothic revival of the 19th century so that they are seen in Christian churches all over the world.
According to stained glass window experts, it is likely that this window originated in one of the American studios extant at that time.
However, according to the Austin Daily Statesman, July 22, 1888; "The interior is lighted by twenty-four windows of plain stained glass, twelve on each side, besides which there are over the sanctuary and side-altars five stained glass windows of the finest artistic design and coloring, from the celebrated manufactory of the Carmelite nuns, at Le Mans, in France, and a very large rose window – not yet put in – of the same style and manufacture."From Texas Churches
