Christmas Eve Mass

So I am usually the last person you'd see in any church setting, but when a close friend suggested we go to Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago for Christmas Eve I decided to give it a shot. I was led to believe that mass would be done in Latin, which was unfortunately not the case, except for a few songs. 

Full Cathedral View
Credit: Holy Name Cathedral

The Cathedral itself is quite beautiful, speaking for an artistic and architectural point. The ceiling is largely decorated with wood and gold. It does looks spectacular and very expensive. Stained glass windows decorate the sides. Art work is spectacular, of course. The thing that stood out most, however, was the organ. The gallery organ is made of 5,558 pipes, which paired with the choir performing that night, filled the church beautifully. 

Ceiling decorations as seen from entrance

Unfortunately this is the only good picture I have from the night. Mass was being recorded for TV viewing, professional equipment and massive lights were in the way of any attempt at documenting the church's art work.

I'm including a few examples of the latin song selections from that night for your enjoyment. 

Adeste Fideles:
Adeste fideles læti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte, Regem angelorum:
Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, 
Venite adoremus, Dominum.

Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine
Gestant puellæ viscera.
Deum verum, genitum non factum.Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, 
Venite adoremus, Dominum.

Gloria:
Glória in excélsis Deo
et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis.
Laudámus te,
benedícimus te,
adorámus te,
glorificámus te,
grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,
Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis,
Deus Pater omnípotens.
Dómine Fili Unigénite, Iesu Christe,
Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,
qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis;
qui tollis peccáta mundi, súscipe deprecatiónem nostram.
Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.
Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus, tu solus Altíssimus,
Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spíritu: in glória Dei Patris. Amen.