1. From the entrance view, the front of the chapel shows
2 red columns with Oriental design. The name of the chapel was inscribed as Our
Lady of La Vang Chapel.
2. From the exit view looking up to the ceiling, visitors
may see the name of the chapel written in Vietnamese as Nguyen Duong Duc Me La
Vang.
3. Looking down at the floor, visitors may see the
Bronze Drum "Phu Duy" which was printed in the book of Archeology of
Vietnam.� Compared with the other bronze
drums in the book of archeology, this kind of bronze drum was chosen because:
a. It has the 12 points of stars which remind us of the
12 stars on the crown of the Blessed Mother.
b. Bird somehow seems to represent the Vietnamese, 4
birds in this drum may remind people that the Vietnamese spread out to the 4
corners of the world. The Drum Symbol signifies the Civilization and Pride of
Vietnam.
c. The design of the walls and floor is a collaboration
of natural stone marble, realized in warm colors. This dichotomy of materials and
colors is reflective of the faithful people of the Vietnamese Catholic
Community who are resilient in their faith and warm with their actions.
4. Looking toward the altar, visitors may perceive that:
a. An incense urn signifies that the shrine is always
occupied of� incense
and prayer.
b. The altar which was modified,
based on an old black wood altar.� It is
fabricated in multicolored inlaid marbles.
c. On the front base of the altar, a circle and a square
tells a Vietnamese Philosophy which describes Heaven (circle) and Earth
(square). A Cross, our most basic symbol of Christ, inside the circle was
designed that Jesus in the Eucharist is God (heaven) and Man (earth). Christ is
also the center of the World (the 4 comers). The Circle also brings us a
meaning that we on Earth get to Heaven through Christ. The 9 red dots around
the square reminds us the meaning of the 9 steps of
Heaven, and God's throne is on the ninth step. This design professes that Jesus
is the most high God and Man.
d. Altar was made of white marble. Inside the altar, the
names of over 8000 donors are stored.
e. This altar was carved and decorated with the relics
of 14 Vietnamese Holy Martyrs who represent a group of the 118 Vietnamese
matyrs.
5. Behind the Altar, on the top of a red marble column,
a three tier marble pedestal which presents a philosophy of a harmony of
Heaven, Man and Earth. On this tier, stands a 5 color statue of our Lady of La
Vang, made by sculptor Giancarlo Burrati and carved by Franco Dolfi, by St.
Jude Liturgical Studlos. The blue cloak was made with blue marble of Argentina. The red robe of Our Infant Jesus was made of red
marble from Carrera in North
Italy. Black hair was made
of Oriental black marble. The complexion of Our Lady and Our Lord were made of Portugal marble. The white dress of Our Lady was made of
white marble in Italy. Finally, the crown and head band of our Lady was filled with gold
leaf. This multi-colored marble art style will be quite unique to the Basilica
and a first of its kind to the Shrine.
6. Behind the statue of Our Lady of La Vang, a star
burst of 12 stars was made with mosaic and filled with14 kt. gold leaf.� This signifies that Our Lady of La Vang, the
woman with a crown of 12 stars on her head, is the Mother of the Messiah.
7. The ceiling was designed as a dark night sky in blue
mosaic with 24 stars above the altar. The meaning of the 24 stars was taken
from the article of His late Eminence, Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van
Thuan. He encouraged the people of La Vang community to follow the model of our
Lady all day long.� Each star is an hour
of a day. His Eminence named each star, for example: 1st star means
that I will make a personal renewal with the gift of the Holy Spirit, the 24th� star
means that I have a nation, nation of Vietnam.� In the front
of the Shrine are 7 stars in the Ursa major and 7 stars in the Ursa minor of the North Pole Stars Which were designed on the
ceiling. These stars remind us that at one time boat people without a compass
must look to the North Stars for navigation. They also remind us that we need
the Blessed Mother to guide us through the journey of faith.
8. Looking at the left wall, visitors see that: Because
of persecution in Vietnam, Our Lady appears to help the people, so this wall was decorated with a
picture of the Vietnamese Holy Martys in mosaic. This picture was painted
during the canonization of the 117 Vietnamese Holy Martyrs in June 19, 1988 in Rome. On the right hand side of the mosaic, a bronze
plaque of the names of 117 Holy and 1 blessed martyrs
were inscribed.
9. Looking at the right wall, visitor sees that a
picture by artist Pham Thong was made in mosaic. This picture describes the
Vietnamese people coming to pray and show devotion to Our Lady. These people
could be distinguished by the costumes of the times, by age, by ethnicity, by
representatives of religious life such as nuns, bishop. There is also a
Dominican priest who represents the 2 missionary orders which are Dominican and
French Foreign Missionary. Finally in the far right, a girl in western dress
means that the Vietnamese are now in the Western countries. On the right hand
side of the mosaic, a bronze plaque tells the history of La Vang.