All about Holy Name Cathedral

• The seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties.

• Replaced Cathedral of Saint Mary and Church of the Holy Name, both destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

• Dedicated on Nov. 21, 1875.

• Closed February to August 2008 for structural and safety repairs after roof weaknesses caused a 10-pound piece of decorative wood to fall 70 feet from the ceiling. Daily Mass resumed Nov. 17, 2008.

• Built in Gothic revival style.

• Cathedral, which seats 1,520, is 233 feet long, 126 feet wide. The ceiling is 70 feet tall; the spire 210 feet.

• Five red, ornamental hats hang from the ceiling for late Cardinals Meyer, Bernardin, Mundelein, Cody and Stritch. They are to remain until they turn to dust, a reminder that all earthly glory is passing. The hats were reported to be drenched, but intact after Wednesday's fire.

• The bronze doors weigh 1,200 pounds each, activated by finger-touch hydraulic system.

• The gallery organ was installed in 1989. It has 5,558 pipes, making it one of the Chicago area's largest organs.

• Mobster Earl "Hymie" Weiss was killed outside the cathedral in October 1926 by gunmen hired by Al Capone.

• Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, Vatican Secretary of State who became Pope Pius XII, visited in October 1936.

• Cathedral closed from Easter 1968 to Christmas 1969 so that renovations could be made to reflect liturgical reforms introduced at Vatican II.

• Pope John Paul II visited in October 1979. Tenor Luciano Pavorotti performed at the Mass.

• Daily Masses will resume today in the Club Room, located on the lower level of the parish center, just north of the cathedral. On Saturday and Sunday, Masses will be offered in the auditorium at the normal times.

Sources: Archdiocese of Chicago, Holy Name Cathedral, Daily Herald archives