Many people fail to understand why churches are designed elaborately or why the many things that adorn the altar should be in gold. Why must churches be that beautiful? Some say that such extravagance is unnecessary. Why spend that money on things instead of giving it to the poor?
But isn’t this similar to what Judas said when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly perfume?
“Then Judas the Iscariot, one his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” – John 12:4-5 NABRE
To this, Jesus responded:
“Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” – John 12:7-8 NABRE
Jesus said this not because He didn’t care for the poor, but because He wanted to make a point.
In the Gospel of Matthew, this is what Jesus said when the disciples questioned the woman who poured a costly perfume upon Him:
“Why do you make trouble for the woman? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have me. In pouring this perfumed oil upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be spoken of, in memory of her.” – Matthew 26:10-13 NABRE
While we must never forget helping those in need, we should never forget to give to God what is due to God.
This is the substance of all the extravagance and grandeur that we see in magnificent Cathedrals. It is not that the Church doesn’t care about the poor, but the Church wants to give to God the worship and reverence that He is due.
The beauty of nature magnifies God. It sings its praise to Him and reminds us of the mysterious, generous, wise and powerful hand that created it.
In the same way, the beauty that fills God’s place of worship is but fitting for Him who gave us every good and beautiful thing. In Catholic Churches, where the Eucharist is present, we proclaim that very presence of God! He is not there only in symbol, but in reality. We do not presume that He abides only in Spirit but even in His flesh and blood. Indeed, Christ is there in His fullness!
This explains the golden chalice that contains His very blood. This explains the golden plate where the priest lifts up His flesh for us to worship and adore, and later receive with all reverence, love and awe.
If there are now people who place the ashes of their loved ones in an urn, do they not place them in beautiful vessels and set them where they can be visited with love and respect? Nobody casts them away in a trash box or anything else that would dishonor them.
How much more should we treat the very Flesh and Blood of Christ?
The beauty of old churches is but a glimpse of the eternal and incomparable beauty of Him whose very presence still abides with us.
It is often hard to speak about the glory that awaits us in heaven. But the church’s lofty arches, soaring ceilings, and elaborately designed stained glass windows, where the soft morning light enters, can invite us to draw closer. Sometimes, the fragrant scent of incense fills the air and we can all the more say that something more than a building is there, that we have somehow entered somewhere sacred and touched upon holy ground.
May such beauty speak that which is unspeakable and lead us towards the endless light that will forever occupy our heavenly home!
“We no longer dare to believe in beauty and we make of it a mere appearance in order the more easily to dispose of it. Our situation today shows that beauty demands for itself at least as much courage and decision as do truth and goodness, and she will not allow herself to be separated and banned from her two sisters without taking them along with herself in an act of mysterious vengeance. We can be sure that whoever sneers at her name as if she were the ornament of a bourgeois past — whether he admits it or not — can no longer pray and soon will no longer be able to love.”― Hans Urs von Balthasar, Seeing the Form
Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the book Defending My Catholic Faith.
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” – 1 Peter 3:15 (NABRE)
Get my books on other Digital Stores
You may also want to read “Blessings You’re Not Receiving If You’re a Christian But Not Catholic”
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In