VISUAL THEOLOGY

Baldacchino at Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel's at Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula California) ■ A baldacchino is a permanent canopy made of wood, stone, or metal that rises over free-standing altars to show their importance. While medieval in origin, the notion of a baldacchino harkens back to the tent that Yahweh commanded the Israelites to erect over the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25-27). The baldacchino's bronze, Solomonic columns reference the Temple of Jerusalem and are reminiscent of Bernini's Baroque masterpiece in St. Peter's Basilica. Like the Ark of the Covenant, Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel's baldacchino is surmounted by golden cherubim (Ex. 25: 18-21), who are depicted bearing grapes and wheat, symbols of the Holy Eucharist.