Secrets inside Toledo’s Rosary Cathedral: Hidden history, architecture & local legends

Secrets inside Toledo’s Rosary Cathedral: Hidden history, architecture & local legends

If you’ve ever had a chance to attend a wedding or mass here at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, you’ve been able to see the amazing architecture all around you. But if you haven’t had a chance to visit here, come on a tour with us. To get the full tour of this amazing work of art and place of worship, we met Father Nathan Bachra at the back of the cathedral. He is the recctor of Holy Rosary. Well, Father, thanks again for uh allowing us to come in. I know you absolutely you have tours here of the cathedral. >> The grandeur of it hits you the moment you walk in, doesn’t it? >> It does. Um and it’s unique that for us here in just northwest Ohio, this church is in the Spanish plearass style and it’s the only one in North America that’s in that style. So, if you go over to Europe, Spain, that kind of grander that you see on the outside would be more common, but not for us here in North America. So the fact that we’re here in Toledo, Ohio, the inspiration for this was the cathedral in Toledo, Spain. So back when they were envisioned building this, they were intentionally tried to replicate that kind of architecture. So we’re the only ones here in northwest, well actually all North America that has that architecture. >> So right off the beginning, you’re giving us information something I didn’t realize you have that connection with Toledo, Spain. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, we’ll see how much more of that I have here today. But we actually have a plaque up front uh from Toledo, Spain when the cathedral was completed here, which would have been 1940. And uh that plaque actually got slowed down being delivered here because of World War II. We didn’t get till the 50s, but we had that displayed too, showing that connection to Toledo, Spain. >> So, how fascinating that we have architecture that you normally would only see in Europe. >> You’re not going to see much in the Midwest and the United States, but we have it right here. >> Exactly. Okay. So, not only with the architecture, but the materials as well. Um, some of the wood you find just in the black forest of Germany, some of the marbles from different areas in Italy. A lot of unique pieces uh too that make up the whole cathedral that we have here in Toledo. >> And with all that you have to do with masses and weddings and funerals and things, do you ever in your mind at least stop yourself and say, “I I can’t believe this is where I get to uh perform these duties from every day.” Yeah, I I’m probably not the right guy for the job here because it’s a lot of moving pieces, but I try to do my best with it. It’s it’s a gem that we have here. It’s a treasure to the heart of our dascese of Toledo for us Catholics, but also for all the faithful that come here week after week trying to do our best to make sure that we keep this a worthy space for worship of our Lord. And you probably have even folks who are not Catholic come here either whether it be for a wedding or some kind of ceremony or maybe sometimes they just attend because they want to be in this building in this church. >> Yeah, as I mentioned because of the unique architecture of this building, it draws people for that reason for artistic sense. Um but also too because of the unique history that it has here to northwest Ohio. It pulls a lot of people as well. So, even though we have our doors closed today for this interview, it’s not uncommon that we constantly have different um tours coming through or just families stopping by to visit for many different reasons. >> Right. And then uh just the folks sitting in the pews here, you want them to to feel it. You hear it. You hear the echoes, but you feel it too when you’re attending mass, don’t you? >> Yeah, I I would say so. Well, I mean, the first thing that grabs anybody’s attention is the artwork that we have and all of it is there’s an intentionality for why everything’s set the way it is to try to draw our mind deeper into what we’re are about here. Um, and so a lot of people I mean it is the art that grabs that gravitates them towards the cathedral. >> So if people are daydreaming during uh a sermon or >> and it happens, >> it’s okay in a sense because they’re probably just taking in what they’re seeing. Right. >> Right. Right. doesn’t make us feel so bad. So, yeah, we catch him one way or the other, >> right? >> Yeah. >> And what uh stands out to you, father, uh kind of toward the back of the cathedral here? >> Yeah. So, what’s unique about our cathedral? We really tell the whole story of salvation as it’s shared with us through scriptures. So, we know the Bible starts with the seven days of creation. And so if you are able to see above our rose window in the back, we actually have seven different medallions to depict the seven days of creation. Well, then we know not too long after that, the whole plan got messed up with a >> man, right? >> You got it. So, what’s all depicted then on the ceiling as you make your way through here? It’s all key Old Testament figures telling the story about salvation um of the chosen people working through God trying to work through them leading them up to the New Testament. So, of course, then you see the crucifix >> um u displayed on the ceiling and that all funnels then into heaven, our ultimate goal for all of us. So right away the architecture from the ceiling kind of leads you through. So you think about it when you enter in through the doors. I’m following that whole path and hopefully I keep moving towards our ultimate goal. >> So people want to sit toward the front because they maybe feel a little closer to heaven, closer to God perhaps. >> They might, but people still sit in the back. So yeah, >> because they want to be anonymous maybe sometimes >> soaking it all in. >> So here we have amazing architecture here in the back. you’re looking forward the whole time when you’re when you’re sitting or standing here, but don’t miss what’s in the back. Right. >> Right. So, a couple pieces as I point out, you have the seven medallions, but then immediately underneath it, and it’s the reason why our cathedral is called Our Lady Quinn of the Holy Rosary. So, for us Catholics, who’s the one that showed to walk this journey the best? It be our blessed mother. Uh, not having sin, always keeping her eyes on Christ. So it’s kind of like for kids are playing basketball, they follow LeBron James or whoever who who’s going to be lead you to be the best in that position. Well, in our Christian faith, we believe it’s her blessed mother. So in the rose window in the center is an image of her and on the outside of that rose, there’s different aspects of her life. So unique story about this. In the 30s, it was the kids of here in the Old West End. They raised pennies to pay for that window, $25,000 back in the 30s. And that’s uh contribute to putting in that rose window. >> And that’s just gorgeous, isn’t it? When you see that >> it is. We had the lights off. That natural colors and light coming in. It just it is radiant. It shines u brilliantly. Um inside of here underneath is um the blessed mother being depicted when um when she passed from this life into the next. And then immediately underneath that, above our four doorways here, we have four other women. They’re actually are depicting the four carnal virtues of how to live our lives. So in other words, when you leave these doors, if you have these virtues present in your life, you’re on a good track. Good chances are you’re going to keep moving in this direction that you came in on. So it’s a reminder for all of us faithful that all right, I need to be tempered. I need to have the fortitude, all those carnal virtues as I leave here today. We have such ordinariness outside these doors. When you come into a church, it wants to kind of remind us of the extraordinariness that our Lord wants us to have. Not to settle for this this fallen world to know there’s more that our Lord has in store for us. So that that beauty should inspire us that you know what, God has bigger plans for me than what I’m experiencing now. There’s one piece. The other piece is try to explain, all right, how can I make sure that this plan keeps unfolding into my life? So hopefully artwork also kind of shares insights to us like all right maybe I should have worked on that or maybe I need to cut this out of my life or do more of that as well. So the artwork within our cathedral hopes to inspire but also to instruct. >> Do you think though of how long it took to to do all this? I don’t even know how long the cathedral was under construction. >> I can help you out with that. >> You know that. Okay. >> So actually it’s significant for us. The cornerstone was laid in 1926. So we’re coming up on our 100th anniversary of that which would be June 27th I believe. Um now with it though it took about 14 years to complete with all the architecture that was in uh 1940. So October 1st was a dedication. So the great depression slowed it down but nonetheless the basic kind of facade was up and then this with time the painting and the artwork was completed through the 30s. So it took about 14 years to complete. So the fact that this was done during the Great Depression and getting up to World War II is just incredible that they were even able to finish it then. >> Well, I think it speaks to a lot of the spirit here in Toledo, the the people that came realizing even though through tough times we want to stay centered on our Lord, show that it’s our top priority. You see where their heart was at >> you have to maintain it too, right? That’s a it’s one thing to build it, but you have to make sure everything is checked and and replaced in some cases, right? >> And that’s part of the fun of my job. So yeah, if you come by here at the cathedral, you see the masonary work we are doing on the outside. So um being here in northwest Ohio and we have a contrast between 0 degrees out in the winter then 100° out in the uh in the summer, it does a lot of wear and tear on any masonary buildings, especially for a big cathedral like this. So we have to make sure we stay on top of this to avoid leakage and other um possible disasters. >> Some something to lose sleep over. I know pastors of any church are thinking about maintenance, right? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Yep. There’s always pieces to work on, but uh we’re fortunate, our faithful have always um been behind the cathedral, wanted to see it remain strong. Um so um we’ve been fortunate with the support. >> No church or cathedral tour could happen without a focus on stained glass windows. Right underneath the ceiling is our stained glass windows which can seem a bit complex. There’s a lot going on. But in each of those is one center saint. So after the time of Christ who began to live out the faith. So again to look up here to see different saints and then um to think all right they did it maybe I can do it too. So another way to kind of inspire. So again you have the beauty but you have the instruction coming down as well. So, we have seven bays on each of our north and south side to depict this. >> Very good. And maybe some people that realize which saints are where, they might even want to sit in there that area. I don’t know because some some people are, you know, they see some saints as most important to them in their lives. >> Yeah, we actually have little tour booklets, too, cuz each of these are thematically kind of organized for why a saints in this one. Um, one of the saints I have to look back is actually for um for the youth. And so if you’re perhaps a youngster, you can look up there. Oh, okay. Maybe that’s an idea for me or for a married couple or something like that. So yeah, it can speak to different times in our life and perhaps you may be that kind of role model that all right, can I relate to this person more? So >> So if a church can tell a story, this is this is one of those that that does that through architecture. >> Yeah. and in many different ways it’s um tries to reach speak to us. Yeah. >> We then learn the sides of a cathedral can also catch your eye. >> So the name of our cathedral is Our Lady of the Rosary. So the rosary is a prayer tool that’s been used but in the Catholic tradition for years. Uh basically it slows us down. So you kind of have that calmness but also gives it a point of focus and those are in different mysteries through our salvation. Um and so in our cathedral then underneath each of these fresco one of the mysteries is depicted. There’s a total of 20 five of those were added by John Paul II that was after the cathedral was completed. So we had the 15 before and what we’re standing on underneath right now is the first what’s called glorious mystery. And so that would be for us be the resurrection of our Lord. And so what you see in each of these fresco then is the mystery itself being depicted. So you see at the tomb >> they can’t find Jesus cuz he’s resurrected. >> But then on the other side it would be a new old testament scene that prefigures what happened in the New Testament because again the whole Old Testament builds us up to what Christ means to accomplish. So the artists at this time um picked the scene of Jonah and the whale. So Jonah went into the stomach, but obviously that wasn’t the end of Jonah’s story. He had a new beginning, new release on life. >> And so then they also kind of add other imagery to try to point to the mystery of the resurrection. Um, and the artist who actually did this was a Polish um artist who did several pieces of artwork in um in the Vatican itself. So we just didn’t get anybody off the street, but it was a famous John Rosen, I believe, was his name. How do you get somebody like that to come to Toledo? Right. >> I wasn’t alive then, Tim. I can’t answer that. But we were fortunate that to have it. But um in each of our um frescos, it’s the same pattern, you have the mystery itself, Old Testament prefigurment, and often it can be either Christian imagery that’s um added um on the sides and in the corners to try to tell more about that mystery or point towards it. you think about on the outside that all right as I meditate on this mystery all right Lord you resurrected to new life I need to keep aiming for new life that really enters into my heart each of these mysteries are kind of pulling you into the center so it’s a so it wraps around the whole congregation when they’re here as if to make that point that if you take these to heart it only brings you to one area and that’s to be centered on our Lord and so it kind of there’s a reason for its placement kind of on the outside like this too So inspiration, as you’ve been saying, is is a huge part of this. You want to be inspired in your faith. You want to be inspired to do better and be better, right? >> Exactly. Yeah. >> Funny how artwork can do that pretty simply, right? >> Yeah. It speaks to the heart for sure. And that’s why it’s been part of our um traditions for how long. >> So >> now you mentioned that several were added by Pope John Paul II. Do you feel like you need to add those or is that something where it was already done before that happened? We are exploring that possibility. We um as big as this cathedral is, we do have some areas where perhaps we could include those. Those are called the illuminous mysteries. And so these are mysteries that are present in scripture that John Paul brought more attention to and encourage the faithful to add this to their repar of plans. And so we are exploring that possibility. >> Then a place Catholics know is their duty, the confessional. So key to Catholic spirituality beyond the artwork inspiring is that we have the sacraments that we hold dear to us because we believe these are vessels through which our Lord gives grace that keep drawing us in. One of those uh Catholics are good known for is for confession. So all right shoot I made mistakes. Um Lord please forgive me. So on the outside walls then too we have the confessional boxes. All these are made of Wisconsin oak and on the front side is some penitential scene from scripture. So I believe this is actually King David after he got um caught in the sin with Bashibba and his story. So it shows him in a um almost like a repented kind of um kind of position there. >> Another reminder to the even current day parishioner that others have messed up before and you have a chance to cut for that. >> And that’s the thing. So don’t stop if we can get back on the path, there’s a way uh to do it. So, it’s meant to be a hopeful message, not one that, oh my gosh, I can’t believe how terrible I am. No, no, no, no, no, no. We we all make mistakes that we see, even the great kings of the Old Testament, >> but this get back on that path >> and this is where you would go in. This is your >> the center spot. And then on the outsides then will be spots for the faithful u to come in uh for uh for their confession. >> And this is important too. I mean it’s you could probably do it even if it was the most mundane architecture but maybe it means a little bit more when it when it is like this so beautiful right >> yeah I mean so part of the reason too I think for want to have such grander is also to remind us this is meant to be an encounter with our lord and so to think our lord is if he’s responsible for the whole world he’s for all the grand we want something to draw our mind to what we are about to encounter so even by coming into this simple wooding box. It’s a divine encounter with our Lord’s grace. So all the unique carvings and everything almost speak to that that this is going to be a unique experience for me where I’ll be in touch with our Lord’s grace to have this fresh beginning in my life. And so we have eight of these confessional boxes on the outside all of it with that same eye to detail to kind of remind us of what’s about to take place. Continuing here with Father Nathan Bachrath and show us where we’re heading here right now. >> Sure. In our uh cathedral, we have several side altars, shrine areas that we have. This one’s coming up u to our blessed mother herself. What’s unique about this statue? If you heard of Michelangelo’s pat statue where Mary’s holding Jesus, it’s displayed in the Vatican. The marble that Michelangelo used for the quarry where that marble came from is the same quarry and marble used to make this statue and also of St. Joseph on the other side of the cathedral too. And it’s rare that we find her face kind of smiling like that. So, it’s known kind of as a smiley Madonna statue. um underneath it. Um the what’s called a tabernacle, then the candlesticks, the artwork that’s um um the embrace those colors onto the brass, the art uh art style that’s used. It’s the largest collection of pieces that we know that’s um actually in the world, I believe. So, it’s unique that we have that plus another set on the other side, too. So, it’s a beautiful shrine because it’s our blessed mother. We have female saints depicted next to her. Again, people who’s living out her model of the faith. Um and then others um scenes from our Lord’s life. >> Would this be maybe before or after mass where people would come here, light a candle, say prayers? >> Exactly. um you find a number of folks that will come up um for whatever intention they may have, family, loved ones that they will light a candle um asking for our Lord’s intercession on them and for the blessed mother to pray for them as well. >> And people might come in even on non-mass times, right? Are they able to just come in and and say prayers if as long as it’s open? >> Yeah. Um most every day the cathedral is open, so we commonly have a lot of people that walk through. Mhm. And here we are at the altar. And I know in a lot of churches, this is maybe kind of where the physical building of a church ends, but not here. >> Mhm. Yes. Our um altar is a little bit more uh centered. Um for ourselves as uh Catholics, the altar is central uh to what we do at all our celebrations because for us um we believe the sacrifice of our Lord, those graces are represented to us at the altar. And so for all our celebrations, all the main prayers take place right here. So obviously when you come in it draws your attention with um the centrality where it’s at because as we say it represents to us the graces of the sacrifice of our Lord on the cross immediately above we have the cross that’s original to our cathedral uh hanging here to kind of bring home that um imagery but also what’s unique here because we are a cathedral the name for cathedral is named after the chair of the bishop. So every cathedral will have the chair of the bishop present. That’s why we have it in the chair’s name in Latin is Cathra. And so it’s >> and that’s what this is here. >> It’s a sign yeah of the bishop’s role within the dascese. He has three main roles and that is to teach, to sanctify, and to govern. All of it symbolize within his chair that he has. So when I have mass, I can’t sit there. Tim, no one’s supposed to sit there except when the bishop um is present. And just to let people know, father is allowing us to be up here because these are special areas that you don’t normally have. Correct. >> Correct. Correct. Yeah. >> But this is this is a special place then for the bishop. >> It is. And we can see right now a lot of the side chairs are set up for the uh deacons who will assist because this weekend we’ll actually have 13 men ordained to the permanent diacinet. So right now we have our red chairs out for priests who will be celebrating uh choir members as well. So, we’re getting ready for one of our celebrations this weekend. >> So, this is something that maybe people are sitting in the pews and they they look past the altar and they see that and they might wonder what is that >> exact revealing those secrets to us. >> Right. Right. Right. As there’s a lot of pieces in here, but it is central um since we are a cathedral. >> Father Bakra celebrates the majority of the masses here or an assistant priest does. But during major celebrations or whenever Bishop Daniel E Thomas wants to take a mass, the bishop will take the chair. Examples are ordinations, confirmations, Christmas and Easter. And father, we talked about this is considered the the home parish in a way of the bishop for the whole dascese. >> Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. So, uh for the entire Catholic church, the cathedral is known as the mother church for that dascese. whatever dascese you’re in, you’ll have one cathedral which is the bishops and it’s supposed to set the tone for how the liturgy is celebrated, the beauty um to kind of the bishop’s leading by example. And so there’s a significance of the building in the eyes of the church because that’s how the bishop can show here’s how you are to kind of follow he’s leading um as part of his ministry. >> And your specific role here is what again what was your title here? Yeah. So, my uh title here, most um priests, if you ask them, you know, what’s your position here at the church, they would say, I’m the pastor of the church. They oversee it. But since the bishop is really the pastor of the cathedral, the title they would give me is called director. And what that means is I oversee the administration and making sure someone’s paying the electric bills um that doors are being locked at night, but also too for a regular uh celebrated if it’s weddings, any of the masses, sacraments outside, those are being covered on behalf of the bishop. >> So you have certain role and and he’s the boss in a way, right? >> You got it. Yeah, that’s exactly right. And father, tell us about the uh the beautiful organ here. >> Yeah, so unique also here to the cathedral is the organ. Now Tim, I’m not a music guy, so this >> my mother was an organist. >> That’s what they told us. Um so it’s known as a Skinner organ. It’s one of only six of its kind in United States and it’s the only altered one that we know about. And all the pipes for this organ will be up in the uh loft up behind us. So all the pipes are up there. Everything as small as your pinky to big massive ones as well. So if you know a music, they love this organ. And we just recently had it restored so the full grandeur of the music can um come from it. >> So the the organist who is is performing realizes what a big moment that is. Right. >> We hope so. Yeah. >> That’s what you want out of an organist. Right. >> Right. And what’s unique about our cathedral is obviously this was built before they were anticipating any um assistance from u microphones or sound systems. So even the acoustics in here um there’s rock wool behind all the aluminum panels on the top and uh long story short is supposed to be a perfect acoustics from the sound coming here leaning all the way to the back. >> But what a challenge that is right to have the the people sitting in the back still get that same sound. Exactly. >> And it and it accomplishes it here. >> We hope so. Yeah. Yeah. Um you can sit in the back and it’s still the full beauty of when that sound comes in. It’s um very impressive. >> When you’re up here and you’re involved in a mass, do you ever catch yourself and think this is I know I asked this earlier, but you you spin around and you see everyone looking at you, but then you look up and around. You do you ever get caught in the moment? >> I do. And I would say probably for myself, I’ve only had this assignment for a little bit over a year. Um, but it’s true for any of us priests in the dascese. Our story as a priests started here. I mean, I laid on that marble to be when I was ordained. I came up to this chair for the bishop to lay his hands on my head. And to think that, all right, I’ve been a priest now for 13 years. That 13 years ago, it started here. And heck, I’m back to where it started. That realization hit me a number of times. just the significance that this place has had for the entire dascese because it sends the priest out. How many of our faithful have been confirmed here? They get sent out and it really just it keeps the story of the um of our dascese going >> and nearby a focal point for many young families who worship here. >> Yeah. And so this is our baptismal font that we have. This is a very unique piece. I know a lot’s unique, but with this one, when they were doing a renovation in the cathedral back in the 70s, this got moved from one of the side chapels to here, and they had to place this lid someplace during that time of renovation. It was at the Smithsonian in Washington DC. >> Wow. >> This lid weighs about 130 lbs, but because of the pulley system with just simply two hands, you can easily lift it >> for when our baptisms are needed. >> So, of course, we have uh St. John the Baptist. other Christian scenes taking place. Um it’s in an octagon shape which is a classic Christian symbol um because it’s seven days of the week but the eighth day begins a new week. So idea eight sides now I’m beginning a new chapter in my life. It’s the eighth day. So it’s in the octagon shape but it’s um this with the craftsmanship. Then you can even see underneath here Tim >> we have depicted then the holy trinity. I’m again my new life with God. So, father, son, and holy spirits being depicted underneath the lid. And so, throughout the year, many children are baptized here at the Easter vigual. For adults looking to begin their faith journey in the Catholic faith, the bishop will baptize them here. Um, so it’s unique to think right here how many people begin their faith journey a new with our Lord. >> And it’s obviously has to stay here because of how large it is, but you want it to be a reminder, don’t you? I know in some churches people will go go past after communion and they’ll, you know, put the the water on on their forehead just as a reminder of their baptism and they could be 50 80 years old, right? Oh, >> sure. No, it’s a great um it’s great that you brought that up. So, the fact that we have it here, we can’t have it by the um exit doors, but visibly people can see it. Hopefully have that reminder. And we do have the blessed uh holy water at the doors to make that connection that I began my journey with our Lord through baptism. Hopefully I’m staying on that journey with our Lord and because we know it just leads into one direction and that is what was depicted behind us here is the heavenly scene. >> And are these are these where your choir would sit? All the these seats here in the back or >> Yeah. So these seats here in the back have kind of different usages. Um it’s actually um inspired by many cathedrals in Europe where they would have assigned priests to the cathedral known as cathedral cannons. the cannons a title for those priests >> and so they would have spots in a pews. Uh that practice is never really picked up here in United States but because it’s kind of like a cathedral practice we have these pews that depict that. >> Now more about that connection between Toledo and its sister city. This shows the historic bond. As I mentioned, since we’re in Toledo, Ohio, and we uh know the connection to Toledo, Spain, the inspiration for even the architecture of the entire cathedral was from the architecture there you find in Toledo, Spain. Our first bishop was aware of that and that’s what wanted to kind of lead his directions. So once Toledo, Spain heard about that, um they of course were flattered and they had this stone made to be sent to us. And Tim says he knows Spanish, so I’ll let him translate this, but essentially Okay. So, >> have a crack at it. >> The is it the view of the cathedral of Toledo to the new one in Toledo? Toledo, Spain to the new one in Toledo, Ohio. So, what I’m getting is they’re making that connection. And Seaglow is century I believe. >> He knows his stuff. So, yeah, >> partially. Maybe as I would say. >> Yeah. Ween. Ween. Exactly. >> Now, maybe you can say it right, father. >> Oh, that’s fine. I don’t want to show you up. So, um, we have the plaque here and what’s unique about it was, um, it was supposed to be here for our dedication, but of course, keep in mind the cathedral wasn’t completed to 1940 because of World War II, it was hard to get things out of Europe, so we didn’t receive it until the 50s until shipping and all that became regular again. So, it took us a little bit to wait for it, but it finally came. >> Well, that’s maybe a lot of people don’t realize you have that, right? No, it’s um somewhat a little bit hidden up here, but again, another nice little hidden gem. >> Okay, I was close, but the full accurate translation from the old cathedral of Toledo, Spain, 13th century to the new one in Toledo, Ohio, 20th century. I asked Father Bachra what his favorite place is here in Holy Rosary Cathedral, and he had no problem showing us. >> So, we’re coming into the area where we have our tabernacle. So for um all Catholic churches, you’ll have some ornate perhaps gold wood u box that’s called a tabernacle which has the u blessed sacrament and that’s used for communion that’s brought there for any Catholic church that is the most central place because we believe our lord is completely present in that blessed sacrament. The design of this one if you ever see the code of arms for the dascese of Toledo there’s like a like a castle in it. It’s meant to mimic what you’ll see in Toledo, Spain. And so it almost looks like that castle as well. So it grabs that attention. And around the outside is another uh Latin quote that would say it begins on this side. I won’t repeat the Latin, but in English it is the uh food of the angels becomes the food of the pilgrims. So idea that the heavenly bread that our Lord gives for us our pilgrims who are trying to get to the heavenly homeland we’re we know that we’re meant for more. This is meant to sustain us. So just like for any athletes any Gatorade to get them through the game, we need something more spiritually to keep us on that right path in this life. And so um this is um you you asked me before what’s the most moving part for me? It’s this space because of the uh spiritual significance. Oh, so of all the things that that you are to be inspired by, this one is where you your mind focuses on. >> Yeah. Um because you think for us in heaven ultimately, what is that? It’s us being in fully communion with our Lord. Here for us as Catholics, our Lord is sharing his life through the blessed sacrament to be in communion with us right now. Um so it’s that deep reminder of what we keep aiming for. Then something truly fascinating and in real time. Holy Rosary has a relic of the newest saint, Carlo Audis, who was just canonized on September 7th of this year. >> So he was one of the millennials um from our time who passed away because of cancer. But uh his um notoriety was the uh centrality that he gave to his own life to the blessed sacrament. He designed a web page for all the eucharistic miracles brought around. Any why is that relevant to us? Is that uh one of the Catholic traditions for saints who passed away is for little pieces their bones or hair is to be kept within churches to remind us um that these saints are with us. They’re praying for us. And it’s a practice that goes back to the early church when Christianity was outlawed. They prayed over the tombs of the Christians that went before them. Well, here we have one of the pieces of the bone from blessed now St. Carlo Autis that’s now displayed here at the cathedral. And so for many Catholics, they’ll come here asking for his intercession because we believe for any of us that go to heaven um we can still intercede for um our the loved ones that are still here on earth. >> And especially for maybe your younger parishioners who have a connection to his time his time of life and their time of life. >> I mean that’s the thing you can look at through here in the cathedral. No, there’s Moses or there’s King David. Well, you I can’t Google him and see a real p, you know, I can only see artistic things. Well, here his mom is still alive. His brother just read at the mass where he was canonized. You can read his story, see his picture. He’s wearing Nike shoes. I mean, there’s things that all right, I can relate to that. That may be the saint that I’m looking at. All right, I can form my life to follow his path. >> And you have an actual bone fragment. >> Exactly. Which we call relic. Yeah. >> How did you obtain that? So, um, with that one, the director who was before me, Monscinior Kabaki, um, he was able to make connections, um, in Italy with where, um, Carlo lived, which was, um, in Aisi, Italy. And with that was what the place where his body was kept. And um I don’t know the full story, but he was able to make connections with the bishop there and they were able to gift to the cathedral one of um his relics that we can have on display. >> And how long have you had it? >> Uh for about a year now. >> Okay. And now of course it may means even more as more people learn about him being canonized. >> Yeah. Now that he’s officially a saint because when we did have him during the the process of becoming a saint, your title before it’s blessed as the Vatican continues their investigations into the status of that person’s life. And after covering almost every square foot of this cathedral, the architectural and maybe spiritual payoff from back to front, Father Bachra shows how Holy Rosary ends in the most desired Christian place. And then you had talked, Father, about the cathedral moves along and the trying to attain the goal of heaven. And here’s where we are in the very very front of the church. >> Yeah, exactly. Okay. So, as you enter the doors, you have the beauty to remind us of what God can do to our lives, but al ultimately hopefully inspire us. Keep going because more is always in store for us. So, in the um what we have depicted in our apps is the heavenly scene. So, at the very top, what do you see? You have the dove, which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit given to us in scripture. To the left of the dove, you have Jesus Christ, then God the Father. As we said, the reason for our blessed mother is not that we worship Mary, but she’s like that great example of how to live our life blamelessly following our Lord’s path. And so, it’s an image of her being welcomed up into heaven, but surrounded by her, of course, we see angels. We have different saints. You can kind of see John the Baptist immediately to the left with his staff. Um underneath we have more angels, the martyrs, uh more uh saints from the past couple hundred years who in the bottom steps. The wording up top between the angels and saints is ecclesia uh triumphants which is a Latin for the triumphant church. So we are the church here working our way through. That’s a church in heaven. It’s a triumphant church. So it’s again a reminder to us that keep doing the work now. there’s greater things in store for all of us. >> So, it tells that full you go full circle from the back of the cathedral all the way to the front and attaining that final goal. >> Just that easy. >> And think of all the work that went into this. Right. >> Right. Exactly. Um but uh obviously um the Christian story is our story. It speaks to our heart. The people that built this cathedral, I think they felt that. They knew it in their bones. inspire them to take the time here to keep pass that on to the next generation because as long as we keep that story our own, the story only ends in one place. And so for all of us here at the cathedral when we come here, it’s kind of that um challenge for us. Lord, help my story to align with yours so that your beauty can become my beauty. Do you encourage parishioners who maybe live an hour even further away from Toledo, come here to Holy Rosary sometime, feel it if they haven’t already? >> Yeah, if you’re in Toledo, it’s definitely worth a stop. Um because as I said, it’s one of its only kind in North America of in the Spanish Plutass style, plus all the artwork on the inside, too. We have six cathedrals in the state of Ohio. I’ll show my bias. Hands down, we have the most beautiful here in Toledo of the six. And um it’s definitely worth a visit.

Step inside one of Toledo’s most breathtaking landmarks — and one that still holds a few surprises.

In this episode of Tim Takes You There, WTOL 11’s Tim Miller explores the majestic Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral. With behind-the-scenes access and expert insights from Father Bill Rose and tour guide Kelly Wahl, Tim uncovers the art, architecture, and little-known stories behind the cathedral that has watched over Toledo since 1931.

🏛️ What makes Rosary Cathedral special?
Located in the Old West End, this Spanish Plateresque masterpiece is unlike any other cathedral in the Midwest — or even the country. From its hand-carved limestone façade to the vibrant tiles on its bell tower, every inch is packed with meaning.

🕵️‍♂️ What you’ll discover in this episode:
• A look at rare Spanish and Toledo symbolism carved into the stone
• The real story behind the crypt beneath the altar
• The hidden chapel most visitors never see
• What the windows reveal about northwest Ohio’s Catholic history
• A special pipe organ demonstration from Music Director Jordan Klomp

💡 Did you know?
• Rosary Cathedral’s altar and choir stalls were carved in Spain and assembled like a puzzle in Toledo
• The cathedral’s baptismal font is made of stone over 500 years old
• Every mural, column, and statue has ties to saints, stories, or Spanish heritage

📍 Where is it?
2535 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo, OH
Free public tours available through the Diocese of Toledo
Masses held weekly — visit https://toledodiocese.org
for current schedule

🔔 Tim’s Tips for visiting Rosary Cathedral:
• Bring a good camera — natural light floods in beautifully in the morning
• Look for the small hand-painted tile above the main entrance: it’s one-of-a-kind
• Don’t skip the rear of the church — the intricate baptismal font is tucked back there
• Ask about the chapel behind the sacristy — it’s a hidden gem

🙌 Whether you’re a lifelong Toledoan, new to town, or just love sacred architecture, this is a local experience you don’t want to miss.

📺 Watch more episodes of Tim Takes You There
From presidential libraries to hidden battlefields, Tim’s exploring northwest Ohio’s most fascinating places — many just a short drive away.

👉 Watch the full series: https://www.wtol.com/article/travel/tim-takes-you-there-northwest-ohio-travel-guide/512-eab77113-b005-4c55-82fc-a56475982948

💬 What do YOU want Tim to explore next? Comment below or tag us with #TimTakesYouThere on social media.

#Toledo #RosaryCathedral #HiddenGems #ToledoOhio #ChurchTour #SacredArchitecture #WTOL11 #TimTakesYouThere #OldWestEnd #CathedralTour

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