Some thoughts on reading a Catholic Church

This is my parish church. It is generally full for Mass, but this is a weekday communion, liturgy of the Word service. There are usually about 10 people present for that service.

This isn’t a great photo, but I want to use it to illustrate a point or two. See, a Catholic Church always tells a story. Actually, it tells many stories, but all of them have the same theme - God. Everything in the church is meant to draw one’s attention away from himself or herself and up to God.

A Catholic Church is a sanctuary. It is a place where Heaven and earth meet as one. Jesus Christ, His body, blood, soul, and divinity is present, really present. The sanctuary is an Ark of salvation like Noah’s. It is the heavenly vision in the book of Revelation.

Notice the roofline. Notice the center of attention - the image of Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead. Under his feet is the tabernacle.

Look at the objects in the photo and think about what they represent. Here are a few things that I thought about today.


Mary is on Jesus’ right. 
Joseph is on His left. 
Jesus is in the middle and raised above both of them with his arms extended. 
To me, this is powerful imagery to contemplate. Here are a few words that come to mind. 

Balance. 
Unity. 
Beauty. 
Strength. 
Love. 
Self sacrifice. 
Welcome. 

I believe that this ancient wisdom holds the key to the present. The Holy Family holds the key to understanding how the world works and how men, women, and children are supposed to relate to one another in love. 

We live in an analogical world. I am working on seeing the world that way. Everything God created was and is good, and all of it - every last bit of it - is in some way or another an analogy of who He is. I am not sure what that means, exactly, but I hope to learn. 

Now, this is obviously not a very well developed post. I apologize. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, so I started thinking about the Blessed Virgin, and then the Holy Family, and then the images in the front of our parish church. 

It’s all so beautiful! You can’t see them in the photo, but along both side walls are the carvings of the 13 stations of the cross. 

Some call the image of the resurrected Jesus the 14th station - Jesus alive from the dead, with His arms extended, ready to welcome all who wish to come to Him in faith. 

Now, this sanctuary is not the most glorious. I have a friend who calls it St. Ikea’s. There is none of the stained glass that is in most churches. It’s architecture reflects the Scandinavian heritage of the town. It took me awhile to warm up to the decor and be able to appreciate its subtle beauty. 

No matter. The message is clear. The Gospel.