The Doors of Paradise leading into Grace Cathedral

A side door to Grace Cathedral

 

 

The Brotherhood of Man

Rodney M. Winfield, artist

Conceived by Meri Jaye and Associates

Dedicated to the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco, California, June 26, 1945

Every morning is like a new reincarnation into this world. Let us take it then for what it is and live each moment anew.

Paul Brunton

Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the deity to be a source of delight.  

John Ruskin

 

Beniamino and His Saint

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi was a key inspiration for Bufano’s life as well as his art. 

Benny Bufano

The flèche of Grace Cathedral espied from near the north bell tower. The flèche lantern stands at the intersection of the nave and the transept of Grace Cathedral.

A view from the catwalks on the ceiling of Grace Cathedral.

 

A view of the Labyrinth, from the catwalks on the ceiling of Grace Cathedral.

 

The rarest color in nature – now adorning me!

Unknown

 

This is the light of the mind, cold and planetary. The trees of the mind are black. The light is blue.

Sylvia Plath 

 

The way to happiness is: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry.

Live simply, give much. Fill your life with love. Do as you would be done by.

Buddha

The view of the Labyrinth, from the catwalks on the ceiling of Grace Cathedral.

 

A view of the main altar, from a catwalk on the ceiling of Grace Cathedral.

 

This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.

Alan Watts

A view of the main altar from the catwalk on the ceiling of Grace Cathedral.

 

Blue is the universal love in which man bathes — it is the terrestrial paradise.

 Derek Jarman

Handel's Messiah in Grace Cathedral

 

Everything that happens to us is the result of what we ourselves have thought, said, or done.We alone are responsible for our lives.

Buddha

 

When it seems humanly impossible to do more in a difficult situation, surrender yourself to the inner silence and thereafter wait for a sign of obvious guidance or for a renewal of inner strength.

Paul Brunton

 

 

A view of the framework inside the cathedral that supports the flèche lantern on the rooftop outside.

The greatest barrier to consciousness is the belief that one is already conscious.

P.D. Oouspensky

 

The framework supporting the flèche lantern over the intersection of the nave and the transept of Grace Cathedral.

Stop measuring days by degree of productivity and start experiencing them by degree of presence.

Alan Watts

 

The experience of Eternity right here and now, is the function of life.

Joseph Campbell

We all have one idea of what the color blue is, but pressed to describe it specifically, there are so many ways: the ocean, lapis lazuli, the sky, someone’s eyes. Our definitions are as different as we are ourselves.

 Sarah Dessen

 

 

The deeper the blue becomes, the more strongly it calls man towards the infinite, awakening in him a desire for the pure and, finally, for the supernatural … The brighter it becomes, the more it loses its sound, until it turns into silent stillness and becomes white.

Wassily Kandinsky

 

Art is the communication of ecstasy.

P.D. Ouspensky

 

Handel's Messiah in Grace Cathedral

What you believe, you experience.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Your self is sacred; be true to it.

Paul Brunton

The Rose Window of Grace Cathedral

Blue is the only color which maintains its own character in all its tones it will always stay blue; whereas yellow is blackened in its shades, and fades away when lightened; red when darkened becomes brown, and diluted with white is no longer red, but another color – pink.

Raoul Dufy

Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habit.

Laozi

 

The future is a concept, it doesn't exist. There is no such thing as tomorrow. There never will be, because time is always now. That's one of the things we discover when we stop talking to ourselves and stop thinking. We find there is only present, only an eternal now.

Alan Watts

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.

Michelangelo

 

Whatever you do in life, if you want to be creative and intelligent, and develop your brain, you must do everything with the awareness that everything, in some way, connects to everything else.

Leonardo Da Vinci

 

Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived. Follow the path that is no path, follow your bliss.

Joseph Campbell

Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.

Carl Sagan

 

Handel's Messiah in Grace Cathedral

The Canticle of the Sun

by Francis of Assisi (San Francisco)

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility. 

 

Grace Cathedral as seen from Huntington Park on Nob Hill.

Handel's Messiah in Grace Cathedral