Celebration: The Basillica to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Last Friday night Jordan and I went to The Basillica to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

to see their Christmas Concert. I had seen the Basillica from the freeway before, rising up out of the surrounding houses and calling to us with promises of interesting architecture, colorful murals, and ethereal acoustics.

The concert proved all you could wish from a Christmas event held in a basillica. They had a choir and an orchestra. They performed mostly songs I did not recognize but that had beautiful, dynamic arrangements. With the acoustics as ethereal as I had hoped, the music vibrated in our bones.

The ceiling murals were fascinating as well. I couldn't stop myself from staring up at them during the performance, which was the intented reaction, I believe. Some of the murals were a little over the top but in their extravagance they were so imaginative that I had to like them.

An acquaintance calls this the Scary Jesus. (He certainly looks very determined.)

But let's turn off those thoughts for a minute and just appreciate the creativity and craft

that went into it. The paint behind Jesus' head is sparkling, luscious gold.

Much like the gold on the entranceway ceilng. I would really love a dress made out of something that

looks like this.

The photograph does not satisfyingly convey the full, awe-inspiring effect

this ceiling mural has when you're standing directly under it,

straining to tilt your head back far enough

to allow for a full view.

This one may seem a bit garrish but LOOK at it. It's so imaginative.

And there's so much movement. It's hard not to just stare, and stare, and stare. This is the one we sat directly under during the concert.