Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels — Attraction in Los Angeles

I am not a big fan of "contemporary" church architecture but I have to say that when I visited the Cathedral today it was much more beautiful in person. You can clearly see the complex from the highway and makes you feel that the Church is alive and well in LA. The exterior was a little too protestant for me and I was disappointed to not see any crucifix out in either the garden or right in front of the church itself. The water features are very nice and I like that the grounds are walled off, it is not only safer but makes you feel that you are not in downtown. There is a lady at the information desk who was very helpful and sweet. I thought the garden in front (mainly olives) was nice but was wondering why there were no religious statues, only secular ones (from what I could see)....

The Cathedral itself is massive and very open, which is nice. The mineral stained glass is beautiful and I love the pipe organ. The alter is quite lovely too, although again everything is contemporary, but for some odd reason there were no stations of the cross anywhere. The tapestries adorning the walls where the faithful sit was very nice. My major issue with the design of this Cathedral is that the Blessed Sacrament is hidden in a small room (with NO crucifix present), which boggles me since there (as far as I could tell) was no chapel were Mass could be said, so WHY is it not in a more prominent place? And second, many, but not all, of the alcoves had what looked to me as contemporary secular artwork (which was bizarre and actually quite unappealing). At times I felt that I was walking through a modern art gallery, not a church dedicated to the glory of our Lord. Aside from that, I enjoyed the beautiful sacred space and spending time with our Lord.

P.S. I would have to agree with a previous reviewer that the Cathedral was fairly sterile looking but I feel that in this case the idea of simplicity may be appropriate. Furthermore, I agree that the "stadium" style seats do at first make you cringe since the alter is at a lower level than some of the pews, however, the alter is still elevated from the base floor. I think the idea is to allow everyone to be able to clearly see the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Although I would not care to see this architectural style to ever be the norm, in general it was nice and went well with the rest of the church.

Besides the Blessed Sacrament not being in an appropriate and conspicuous place ( I had to ask the Janitor and he smirked as if he gets asked all the time) the only "sin" is the parking..... $8 for 25 minutes, that is...

Jury duty brought me here. We know the Monsignor/priest from his previous posting (a title given to a priest who has distinguished himself by exceptional service to the church, and the next step on likely having them be a potential candidate of having more responsibilities in the church and/or their local archdiocese (bishop, archbishop, cardinal, pope).

I went there a couple of times I visited. One was right before a storm was coming in and one was a few days afterwards.

Who would’ve thought that this ginormous, museum-like place could offer so much peace and solace? They had so much security, more like body guards/secret service type, guards in suites, with their ears pieces. You’d think that the President was living there. If you can get over that part, then you can go to their homey cafe.

The cafeteria-style cafe is unassuming, they have a respectable-sized menu and their food is restaurant worthy. I’d go back, just for the food! I had one of their soups and it went over-and-beyond my expectations. It was just soup and it blew me away. It must be all the blessings in it. ;)

If you collect or are looking for books/sacramentals/edibles made from monetarist or convents, they have an amazing gift shop right next does to the cafe. They have baby holy water from Lourdes, France. My fun find was the brown scapular, non-itchy, that was a hybrid rosary. It’s super cute and comfortable.

For registered Catholics, you can also get mass cards. I didn’t know this till that day but you (your entire household) can only get up to three mass cards per calendar year. This is per canon law (?). That means, whichever Mass your pick, that entire mass will be dedicated to that person/s; alive or deceased. I appreciated that.

If you are not going to mass (that’s when you can get the 90-minute validation for your parking ticket), then your can expect pricey public parking fees. Your might be able to get validation somewhere else in the premises but you’ll have to look into that.

If you are not Catholic, just as your would in any Catholic church, you are welcome and allowed to visit and pray. Just keep quiet, wear appropriate clothing, and respect those around you. Find an empty pew to sit, admire, and reflect. If you want to talk, go outside. The Blessed Sacrament is in the church and it’s a sacred place. People travel distances to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It literally...

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is a remarkable architectural achievement that leaves visitors in awe. This stunning cathedral, located in Los Angeles, California, is a sight to behold, with its unique and striking design that blends traditional and modern elements seamlessly. The cathedral's scale is impressive, with its towering walls and enormous stained glass windows that flood the interior with light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

What can you say about this architecture, is amazing. The cathedral's exterior is just as impressive, with its smooth, white façade that gleams in the California sun. The building's design is truly remarkable, featuring a series of interlocking and overlapping concrete arches that give the structure a futuristic, almost Star Wars-like appearance. It's a building that even feels weird that is a Cathedral, but it's an amazing place nonetheless.

Inside the cathedral, visitors are greeted with a tranquil and contemplative space that is perfect for prayer and reflection. The high, vaulted ceilings give the space a grand and majestic feel, while the warm and inviting lighting makes the atmosphere feel welcoming and intimate.

Overall, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is a truly amazing building that is well worth a visit. Its unique and futuristic design, combined with its warm and inviting interior, make it one of the most impressive architectural achievements in the United States. Whether you're a fan of modern architecture or just appreciate stunning design, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is not...