A Stronger Me In My Own Existence

Understanding Beauty In The Church

Nov 18, 2023

aesthetic, Beauty, Christianity, church, iconography

Coming from a Protestant background, I had a hard time grasping to understand the aesthetics within a Catholic Church. Before I go to work, I often attend the morning Mass at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_Queen_of_the_World_Cathedral).

I remember my first visit and feeling overwhelmed by the beauty within – of an ambience I had no words to describe. I felt a shy adoration and awe as I looked towards the altar, as I glimpsed the beautiful alcove to my left and right.

Today I am no longer that shy Catholic novice. I feel I am walking into God’s embrace as that shy feeling of adoration has blossomed into love. The Catholic Church has become my home, my sanctuary and my comfort zone as I sit with God.

I share a conversation with Fr. Turbo Qualls (an Orthodox Priest), David Patrick Harry (a religious studies scholar), and Jonathan Pageau (a French Canadian icon carver) as they discuss beauty and iconography and why despite Jesus being born in poverty it is the church giving back to God.

Although it discusses the beauty in an Orthodox setting, I think it helps us understand the same beauty within our Cathedral and churches.

There is a wonderful enveloping beauty stepping into a Catholic or Orthodox Church, and once we get pass that awe, we let ourselves fall into his welcoming embrace 🙏💕 God Bless.

Podcast also available on PocketCasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and RSS.

2 responses

blmaluso

November 18, 2023 at 11:15 am

Thank you for sharing this!
I believe that we are naturally drawn toward beauty unless we are disordered in some way.
My son is no longer a practicing Catholic, and though he believes in God, and claims Jesus as his Savior, he pushes away anything that is “Catholic.” My two grandsons are very interested in and drawn to the statues and pictures of Our Blessed Mother and the Crucifixes that we have in our home. My youngest grandson carries around a white porcelain Angel I keep in my bedroom…he says that it is his favorite thing. They love to bless themselves in our holy water fonts, and ask to pray the Guardian Angel prayer and read from their prayer book with me at night.

I am careful not to overstep their parents’ boundaries, my son and daughter in law are well aware of the Catholic beauty that I keep displayed in our home. The boys are also enthralled with rosaries.
It is heartbreaking to me that I can’t take them into the Church, to experience the beauty within. They are searching for it through the eyes of a child.

Our eyes and hearts should always be searching for beauty…the reminder of the beauty that is close to us now and that awaits us in heaven.

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rejoiceandpraise

November 18, 2023 at 11:47 am

“Our eyes and hearts should always be searching for beauty…the reminder of the beauty that is close to us now and that awaits us in heaven.”

Wonderfully expressed💕
Agreed – I am also careful and set by example.

My daughter is 17 and still goes to Mass with me, my son will go during Advent (Christmas) and not Easter Vigil. My husband is a cradle born Catholic and refuses to go (with the exception when our daughter was baptized and confirmed at 14), and uses all the negative news against the faith as his reason. He does wear his crucifix. He makes no comment to the icons, Divine Mercy statue, purple scapular and other religious objects and medallions hanging in our home. He is also fine with the special candles lit during Christmas, the reminders I set during Lent and Easter. I know he listens to the Mass when I watch it on television. I never judge , or try to convince him, or get into an argument with him for his views. I pray and try to set an example.

I leave the rest to the Holy Spirit to move his heart and soul.

I have reminded the family that our home is a sanctuary and I have personally consecrated it (house and land) to God, so that it will be a safe haven from the world.

I have in the past taken the time explained to the family the importance of having icons (St. Charbel Makhlouf, St. Veronica, Divine Mercy image and statue of Jesus, Purple Scapular, St. Benedict, etc) and
Holy Water in the house not only as reminders that our home is a sanctuary, but also a Holy place that houses the Holy Spirit and the protection of God from the secular world outside.

I have told them that if the three days of darkness ever appeared in our life time, to get home as soon as possible no matter where they are.

It’s up to me to be a light into my children, their friends, extended family and those close to me – never to be ashamed of who I am as a Catholics. It’s up to me to be an example, but never to impose my faith verbally or forcefully:)

God Bless 🙏💕

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