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Views from the Choir Loft

A Whale of a Pulpit

Fr. David Friel · November 30, 2020

ULPITS come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, colors and styles. From the early examples at San Clemente in Rome and Hagia Sophia in Constantinople to more recent examples in 21st-century churches, ambos have always been marked by significant variety. There are wooden pulpits and marble pulpits, Baroque pulpits and art deco pulpits, flimsy pulpits and bully pulpits. Some are set up high above the congregation, some are out in the midst of the nave, and some sit meekly beside the altar.

There are also whale pulpits.

Recently, a friend sent me a couple photos of this genre of ambo, previously unknown to me. The images were quite striking, and they led me to do a little Internet investigation. This search revealed that there are actually quite a few such appointments in Catholic churches, particularly in 18th-century churches in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Check out this photo gallery, which highlights some examples of whale pulpits.

Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Duszniki (Poland)
Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Duszniki (Poland)
Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Duszniki (Poland)
Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Duszniki (Poland)
St. James the Greater Church, Kratonohy (Czech Republic)
St. James the Greater Church, Kratonohy (Czech Republic)
St. Hedwig Church, Dobroszów (Poland)
St. Hedwig Church, Dobroszów (Poland)
St. Marin Church, Bošilec (Czech Republic)
St. Marin Church, Bošilec (Czech Republic)
Church of Our Lady, Mnichovice (Czech Republic)
Church of Our Lady, Mnichovice (Czech Republic)
Lovrečka Varoš (Croatia)
Lovrečka Varoš (Croatia)

Most of these images are drawn from the website of a Polish art historian (here). She also gives what strikes me as a sound theological reading of these unusual ambos.

In the first place, these ambos allude to the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament. While fleeing to Tarshish in order to avoid his prophetic call to announce the word of the Lord in Nineveh, Jonah ends up being thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. (Scripture scholars are always quick to point out that the text, strictly speaking, does not say “whale.”) After three days in the belly of the fish, Jonah is spit up onto the dry land and goes forth to announce God’s message—with astonishing success—to the Ninevites. For a preacher to stand at the mouth of the whale, therefore, is to assume a prophetic posture.

Second, it is important to remember the Christological interpretation of the story of Jonah, wherein the three days he spent in the belly of the fish represent the Lord’s three days in the tomb. Speaking from the mouth of the fish, therefore, the preacher stands also as an image of the Risen Christ.

Beyond their theological significance, these whale pulpits also have the potential to serve practical ends. Consider the problem of a preacher who goes on too long. These ambos could be outfitted with a congregant-operated mechanism that would cause the mouth to snap shut!

Not all of these whale pulpits are of equal artistic merit. Some of them, frankly, are a bit goofy. But the theological idea underlying these ambos is nevertheless very sound and quite interesting. They testify, moreover, to the beautiful diversity and creativity that are possible in Catholic architecture.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Sacred Architecture Last Updated: November 30, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

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Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
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Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

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— Cardinal Sarah (14 August 2021)

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