Defending Mary: Part One
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There are many beautiful Church Buildings around the world. You might say yours is magnificent, even glorious. What makes you think or say these things about your Church, the high reaching bell tower and the marble altar floors? As you read through this series, I would invite you to look deeper as well as wider this weekend and the weeks to come at the sacramental signs present at your parish, as you might be called to take part in a building committee in years to come.
As I drive into the Church parking lot early Sunday morning, there are only a few believers present so spaces to park are choice. Walking with the family up to the Church, I gaze at the edifice of the Church, its architecture symbolizes that it is the "Father's house toward which people pf God is journeying and where the Father will wipe every tear from their eyes", There are many trees now missing their leaves but growing tall and wide. The lawn is maintained and looks kept; it’s alive as God does
Walking closer to the huge wooden door, the threshold, I think to myself, is this sacramental and why is the door so heavy? The threshold "symbolizes passing from the world wounded by sin to the new world of the new life to which all men are called." I ponder also of other church buildings I have seen with multiple entrances on the sides. Do these symbolize a passage or merely a door?
As we continue on, after crossing ourselves with the holy water and reflecting on our baptismal promises, the baptismal font is present in front of us, easily seen by the faithful, it is pure with clean water. The construction of it ensures that it will always remain in place. The eight sides remind me of the rich scriptural text concerning baptism. First through 1Peter3, this states that 8 people were saved through water. Second, through Romans6, Jesus rose on the eighth day. Finally Colossians2 where the Holy Spirt and Baptism are connected, infants were circumcised on the eighth day.
In the next part we will look at the Ambry, Nave and Sanctuary. Please come back!!
Christopher Brown resides in Missouri with his wife of 18 years. He and his wife enjoy their three children and are expecting their first grandchild in October. Christopher is a third year theologian in formation the Permanent Diaconate in the Catholic Church.
