The Basilica’s Marble Flooring and Furnishings 

Phase 1 A of the re-decorating project, For Such a Time as This, includes the installation of new marble flooring in the Sanctuary and new liturgical marble furnishings.

Marble is a metamorphic rock, that consists of carbonate minerals, commonly calcite or dolomite, that have recrystallized under heat and pressure. Marble is a natural stone and is preferred in houses of worship globally for its beauty and durability. There will be several different types of marble used in the Basilica’s re-decoration.

The Sanctuary Floor will consist primarily of white Italian Biancao carrara marble “C” variation, with gray St. Anne marble, quarried in the French Pyrenees, used as a border and accent. White marble is used in churches as a symbol of purity and immortal natural beauty, and white is a color known to radiate calm while dispersing light in every direction, lending the space a heavenly ambience.

There will be approximately 2000 square feet of marble used in the Sanctuary floor and transition into the first few rows of pews in the Nave. An estimated weight of 36,000 pounds was used by the consulting engineer in preparing the sub-structure plan prior to installation. The flooring contractor Rugo Stone is well underway with the cutting and preparation of tiles, stair treads and other components, with a goal to begin installation in late September.

The liturgical furnishings, Altar, Ambo, and Tabernacle stand will be constructed using white Carrara marble, with less visible veining, more pure white in appearance with columns of colored Macchia Vecchia Italian marble with very rich vein patterns, chosen to compliment the colors that will be used in later decorating phases on the walls and in the Triumphal Arch. 

The wall that will provide a backdrop to the Tabernacle, will be fabricated from statuarietto marble, quarried in the same region of Italy, with particularly interesting veining. Using a technique called diamond matching, four slabs of marble will be symmetrically matched, so that the veining of the four adjoining slabs align to create the beautiful diamond pattern shown below. The wall will be framed by two columns topped with an arch using the same colored Macchia Vecchia marble. The arch will also contain a carved Hand of God.

The beauty of these striking marble installations of flooring and furnishings will be further enhanced by the new lighting that is part of this re-decorating phase.

Our goal is to create a welcoming environment that supports the various liturgies that occur within it, is balanced and appropriate for a Basilica, follows current liturgical guidelines, and respects the history of Sacred Heart.