Thomas Gordon Smith RIP

I just learned from Duncan Stroik that the architect Thomas Gordon Smith passed away this morning. He was one of the most important leaders in the movement to reclaim beauty in architecture, and particularly church architecture, over the last few decades, a movement which has born great fruits both in his own work, and in the work of those trained and mentored by him. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Smith on two occasions, once at the consecration of the FSSP seminary in Nebraska, which he designed, and again in Rome in the company of his wife, and his son, Fr Innocent Smith OP. (Fr Smith is a musicologist specializing in the chant tradition of the Dominican Order, and whose work we have featured a few times here on NLM.) He was a very kind man, and will be missed by many. Our condolences to all of his family and friends.

The chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska, designed by Thomas Gordon Smith.

Deus, cui proprium est miseréri semper et párcere, te súpplices exorámus pro ánima fámuli tui Thomae, quam hodie de hoc sáeculo migráre jussisti: ut non tradas eam in manus inimíci, neque obliviscáris in finem, sed júbeas eam a sanctis Angelis súscipi, et ad patriam paradísi perdúci; ut, quia in te sperávit et crédidit, non poenas inferni sustíneat, sed gaudia aeterna possídeat. Per Dominum... – O God, to whom it belongeth ever to have mercy and to spare, we humbly entreat Thee for the soul of Thy servant Thomas, which this day Thou hast bidden to pass from tis world, that Thou may deliver him not into the hands of the enemy, nor forget him forever, but command him to be taken up by the holy Angels, and led to our home in paradise, so that, since he hoped and believed in Thee, he may not suffer the pains of hell, but possess everlasting joys. Through Our Lord...