Assignment task: Spend some time looking carefully and imaginatively at the pictures of the Gothic Cathedrals of Notre Dame, Chartres, Amiens, and Salisbury below.
- Notre Dame
- West facade, Notre Dame
- Interior, Notre Dame
- Chartres Cathedral
- Stained glass, Chartres Cathedral
- Labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral
- Amiens Cathedral
- Interior, Amiens Cathedral
Q1. Describe what you imagine it would be like to be in such a place during high mass, with music and choir singing. Hildegard of Bingen, a visionary nun of the time composed chants to be sung in such places and there is a CD of her music and you can listen on YouTube and other streaming apps.
Q2. What do you think the intention and purpose were for designing Cathedrals such as these?
Q3. Do you think the intent was realized?
Q4. Is there any modern experience you have had that might be comparable to what you imagined and described above?