Meaning of the designs of the La Vang Chapel at Washington, D.C.

1. From the entrance view, the front of the chapel  shows  2 red columns with Oriental design. The name of the chapel was inscribed as Our Lady of La Vang Chapel.

2. From the exit view looking up to the ceiling,  visitors may see the name of the chapel written in Vietnamese as Nguyện Đường Đức Mẹ La Vang.

3. Looking down at the floor, visitors may see the Bronze Drum "Phú Duy” which was printed in  the book of Archeology of Vietnam. Compared with the other bronze drums in the book of archeology, this kind of bronze drum was chosen because

- it has the 12 points of  stars which remind us of the 12 stars on the crown of the Blessed Mother.

- Bird somehow seems to represent the Vietnamese, 4 birds in this drum may remind people that the Vietnamese spread out to the 4 corners of the world. The Drum Symbol signifies the Civilization and Pride of Vietnam.

-The design of the walls and floor is a collaboration of natural stone marble, realized in warm colors.  This dichotomy of materials and colors is reflective of the faithful people of the Vietnamese Catholic Community who are resilient in their faith and warm with their actions. 

4. looking toward the altar, visitors may perceive that

- An incense urn  signifies that the shrine is always occupied  of incense and prayer. 

- The altar which was modified, based on an old black wood altar.  It is fabricated in multicolored inlaid marbles.

- On the front base of the altar, a circle  and a square tells a Vietnamese Philosophy which describes Heaven (circle) and Earth (square). A Cross, our most basic symbol of Christ, inside the circle was designed that  Jesus in the Eucharist is God (heaven) and Man (earth). Christ is also  the center of the World (the 4 corners).  The Circle also brings us a meaning that we on Earth get to Heaven through Christ.  The 9 red dots around the square reminds us the meaning of  the 9 steps of Heaven, and God's throne is on the ninth step. This design professes that Jesus is the most high  God and Man.

- Altar was made of white marble.  Inside the altar, the names of over 8000 donors are stored.

- This altar was carved and decorated with the relics of 14 Vietnamese Holy Martyrs who represent a group of the 118 Vietnamese matyrs.

5. Behind the Altar,  on the top of a red marble column, a  three tier marble pedestal which presents a philosophy of a    harmony of  Heaven,  Man and Earth. On this tier, stands a  5 color statue of our Lady of La Vang, made by sculptor Giancarlo Burrati and carved by Franco Dolfi,  by St. Jude Liturgical Studios. The blue cloak  was made with blue marble of Argentina. The red robe of Our Infant Jesus was made of red marble from Carrera in North Italy.  Black hair was made of Oriental black marble. The complexion of Our Lady and Our Lord were made of Portugal marble. The white dress of Our Lady was made of white marble in Italy.  Finally, the crown and head band of our Lady was filled with gold leaf.  This multi-colored marble art style will be quite unique to the Basilica and a first of its kind to the Shrine.

6. Behind the statue of Our Lady of La Vang,  a star burst of 12 stars was made with mosaic and filled with14 kt. gold leaf.  This signifies that Our Lady of La Vang,  the woman with a crown of 12 stars on her head,   is  the  Mother of the Messiah.

7. The ceiling was designed as a dark night sky in blue mosaic with 24 stars above the altar. The meaning of the 24 stars was taken from the article of His late Eminence, Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan. He encouraged the people of La Vang community to follow the model of our Lady all day long.  Each star is an hour of a day. His Eminence named each star,  for example: 1st star means that I will make a personal renewal with the gift of the Holy Spirit, the 24th star means that I have a nation, nation of Vietnam.

In the front of the Shrine are 7 stars in the Ursa major and 7 stars in the Ursa minor  of the North Pole Stars Which were designed on the ceiling. These stars remind us that at one time boat people without a compass must look to the North Stars for navigation. They also remind us that we need the Blessed Mother to guide us through the journey of faith.

8. Looking at the left  wall, visitors see that:

Because of persecution in Vietnam, Our Lady appears to help the people, so this wall was decorated with a picture of the Vietnamese Holy Martys in mosaic. This picture was painted during the canonization of the 117 Vietnamese Holy Martyrs in June 19, 1988 in Rome. On the right hand side of the mosaic, a bronze plaque of the names of 117 Holy and 1 blessed martyrs were inscribed.

9. Looking at the right wall, visitor sees that

a picture by artist Pham Thong was made in mosaic. This picture describes the Vietnamese people coming to pray and show devotion to Our Lady. These people could be distinguished by the costumes of the times, by age, by ethnicity, by representatives of religious life such as  nuns, bishop. There is also a Dominican priest who represents the 2 missionary orders which are Dominican and French Foreign  Missionary. Finally in the far right, a girl in western dress means that the Vietnamese are now in the Western countries. On the right hand side of the mosaic, a bronze plaque tells the history of  La Vang.