ASHEVILLE — The summer may be nearly over, but there’s still time for your family to take a day trip to St. Lawrence Basilica – and with the feast of St. Lawrence coming up Aug. 10, there’s no better time to visit this historic “mother church of western North Carolina.”
St. Lawrence Basilica is one of two minor basilicas in the Charlotte diocese; the other is Mary Help of Christians Basilica in Belmont.
There are two kinds of basilicas in the Catholic Church: major (or papal) and minor. The Church’s four major basilicas are all in Rome: St. Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major. Minor basilicas, on the other hand, are churches around the world designated by the pope that stand out because of their antiquity, dignity, historical importance, architectural and artistic worth, or significance to the Church. Pope John Paul II designated the Asheville church as a minor basilica in 1993 for its unique architecture: with its massive tiled dome, it is the only church designed and built by the renowned Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino.
Among its special privileges, St. Lawrence Basilica provides an opportunity for the faithful to receive a plenary indulgence if they devoutly visit the basilica on six specific days during the year. A plenary, or full, indulgence is offered to those who devoutly visit the basilica (and either attend Mass or at least recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed), go to confession, receive Holy Communion and offer prayers for the Holy Father within 20 days beforehand or afterwards, and are free of any attachment to sin.
In addition to the feast of St. Lawrence on Aug. 10, the basilica’s other five special days are: the anniversary of the basilica’s dedication (Oct. 1), the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29), the anniversary of the date of granting the title of basilica (April 6), Election Day, and a day of the visiting person’s choice.
The basilica sits on a hill in downtown Asheville, overlooking the Appalachian Mountains. The red brick building, built in the Spanish Renaissance style, is capped by a copper dome that is guarded by statues of St. Lawrence, St. Stephen and St. Aloysius Gonzaga.
The 82-foot-by-58-foot dome, which is constructed of terracotta tile and mortar like most of the 109-year-old church, is the largest free-standing elliptical dome in North America. It features the same vaulting technique and herringbone tile pattern that Guastavino used at Grand Central Terminal and Ellis Island’s Registry Room, as well as 200-plus other locations in New York City, and at Asheville’s Biltmore House.
Guastavino is actually buried inside the basilica he built, and visitors can visit his crypt to the left of the main altar.
The church also features two chapels: the Chapel of Our Lady and the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. Life-size statues of St. Patrick, St. Peter and St. Rose of Lima, a frieze of stained-glass windows, and paintings adorn the altars and walls. Artifacts of great historical and artistic value are carefully positioned to be admired and used as instruments of prayer and reverence throughout the basilica.
Free, 25-minute tours of the basilica are given after each Sunday Mass, but a 45-minute tour can be experienced if a week’s advance notice is given. If a tour is not available, self-guided tour brochures can be found at the side vestibule or on the basilica’s website, www.saintlawrencebasilica.org. You can also schedule a tour online or email Docent Coordinator Diane Wright at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Tours are free, but donations to aid the basilica’s preservation are appreciated.
— Lisa Geraci, correspondent
More online
At www.saintlawrencebasilica.org: Learn more about the history and architecture of St. Lawrence Basilica, view the Mass and confession schedule, and plan your visit
At www.savethebasilica.org: Support the Basilica Preservation Fund to repair and restore the historic basilica
You’re invited!
Join St. Lawrence Basilica for the celebration of its feast day Aug. 10. The entire day will be filled with prayer, worship of Our Lord and tours of the beautiful basilica.
- Mass will be offered at 7:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.
- Confessions will be heard 8:15-9:15 a.m., 11:30-11:55 a.m. and 4-5 p.m.
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be at 11:30 a.m.and Benediction will be at 11:50 a.m.
- Father Roger Arnsparger, pastor, and Father David McCanless, parochial vicar, will welcome pilgrims at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Docent-led tours will be held at 10:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Download a schedule of the day's events
A treasure in western North Carolina
St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, completed in the early 1900s, has many treasured works of art for you to enjoy. Besides its stunning tiled dome and colorful architectural details in the sanctuary and two side chapels, the basilica has stained-glass windows, paintings, statues and more that are all worth seeing up close. Take your time walking around the church's interior so that you don't miss a single beautiful thing. (Photos by John Cosmas, Catholic News Herald)
