Sacristy
Two sacristies on the east end of the Cathedral provide space for
the Archbishop, priests, and other ministers to prepare for the
celebration of the liturgy. The south sacristy houses the
ambry, where the holy oils are kept. Each year in the
Cathedral, the Archbishop blesses the Oil of Catechumens, used to
anoint those preparing for baptism, both children and adults; the
Oil of the Sick, used in the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick,
and the Sacred Chrism, used in the sacraments of baptism and
confirmation, in ordinations, and in the dedication of altars and
new church buildings.
The historic crosier belonged to the first bishop of the diocese, Bishop A. M. A. Blanchet. It has been used at the key moments in Cathedral history: the laying of the cornerstone of the Cathedral, the installation of bishops, the opening of the Great Jubilee Year 2000, and the celebration of the Cathedral’s centennial in 2007, to name a few.
A new crosier by Ulrich Henn was presented to Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. This beautiful work shows Christ washing the feet of Peter, and speaks of the bishop’s role of service.
The sacristy window by Hans Gottfried von Stockhausen is called the Seattle Madonna. Mary holds a smiling Child Jesus, who holds a rose. The figures of the mother and child are surrounded by words from a prayer of Hildegard of Bingen: “O leafing branch, abiding in your noble state as the dawn light grows, see fit to deliver us from our evil state.”
The sacristy is also home to the Cathedral's collection of historic vestments. Though these are no longer worn for the celebration of the Mass, they are displayed seasonally in the sacristy.