The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, in Sacramento, capital of the state of California. It is the seat of Bishop Jaime Soto. The cathedral is located downtown at the intersection of 11th and K Streets.
The cathedral is considered both a religious and civic landmark. The diocese stretches from the southern edge of Sacramento County north to the Oregon border and serves approximately 1,000,000 Catholics. The diocese encompasses 102 churches in a 42,000 square mile region. The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is one of the largest cathedrals west of the Mississippi River. With a recent restoration project that loops together the Catholic culture, the legacy of gold miners, visions of a vibrant downtown and the sentiments of Sacramentans who spent some of life's most memorable moments within the church's walls, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament combines Sacramento's history with its modern-day life.
Among the first of thousands to seek his fortune in the Sacramento region during the California Gold Rush, Patrick Manogue had aspirations that differed from many of his fellow fortune seekers. His goal was to earn enough money to finance a trip to Paris, where he planned to enroll in seminary college and become a Roman Catholic priest.
While studying in Paris in 1860, Manogue became enchanted by the cathedrals and their role in a city's community life. In 1886, Manogue was appointed as Sacramento's first bishop. Inspired by churches he'd seen in European plazas, Manogue worked to secure property just one block away from the State Capitol, with a dream of building a cathedral in Sacramento. Manogue modeled the cathedral after L'Eglise de la Sainte-Trinite (The Church of the Holy Trinity) in Paris. Once completed, there was no cathedral equal in size west of the Mississippi River. The building is a modified basilica form approximately long and wide, and it seats 1400 people. The central bell tower rises .
Renovation
thumb|left|The altar and crucifix in 2025
thumb|left|View from the altar towards the nave in 2013
The architectural style of the church is Italian Renaissance on the exterior and Victorian on the interior. The Eucharistic chapel (or Blessed Sacrament Chapel) pays an architectural homage to the chancel screens of medieval churches. It allows for the tabernacle to remain in plain view of the congregation and be in line with the high altar while also allowing for a private devotional space outside of the celebration of the Mass. The words of the Eucharistic hymn Pange Lingua Gloriosi are inscribed in gold lettering on the screen.
Every part of the cathedral was updated in the restoration ranging from expanded pews to better lighting with decorative painting on the interior walls and ceiling. The massive stained glass windows in the building were cleaned and releaded. The church includes a new bishop's cathedra (episcopal chair) and ambo of mahogany.
Above the altar hangs a crucifix with a crown overhead that is in diameter. Combined they weigh almost and are held in place with aircraft cables.
The interior dome of the cathedral, which stands high, was rebuilt, some 70 years after the original one was blocked from view. The dove in the oculus, with a wingspan of , is “a dramatic reminder of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of the church, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist,” according to Father James Murphy who was the rector of the cathedral during its renovation.