In the previous two discussions, about the nature of sacred images appropriate for the liturgy in the church, Denis spoke of how the liturgical art should portray those aspects of the liturgy that are present but invisible to us. This was predominantly the saints and angels in heaven participating in the heavenly liturgy. Now he turns his attention to the church building as a manifestation of the Heavenly City, the New Jerusalem as described in the Book of Revelation. He connects this future ideal with the temple of Solomon as described in the Old Testament and we, the people of the church are the living stones that constitute the Church, transformed symbolically into the idealized stones, the 12 gemstones that are at the gates of the Heavenly City.

Denis McNamara is on the faculty of the  Liturgical Institute, Mundelein; his book is  Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy.