Mary's House

George Weigel writes an interesting column for the Denver Catholic Register, often about the intersection of faith & public policy; but as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God draws near, consider this article about the 50th anniversary of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., an amazing place I was fortunate to visit this year (see Here).

A Catholic friend once mentioned that his Protestant friend told him that "The building doesn't matter; the church is the people." While that's true enough in it's place, it need not diminish the importance of the physical place of worship. In fact, to exclusively hold the former view is an error.

A church building certainly has it's practical aspects, from providing a safe & comfortable space to gather to providing catechetical & evangelical opportunities through art & architecture. However, the primary purpose of the building is to provide a place for the sacred assembly, the ecclesia, to offer liturgy - the privileged meeting place of the faithful with their God. Here he manifests himself to us, not only in our minds or hearts, but physically present among us in the Eucharist.

If this were not so, then the Protestant would be right & the building wouldn't matter. But since it is so, since we are made present to the entire Paschal Mystery & Christ Jesus himself comes among us physically in substance if not in appearance, then the place where this happens is consecrated - set aside only for this (this is also why concerts or other purely social functions should not be held in the Nave & why the Eucharistic Chapel is not a cry room). To think otherwise is a tacit endorsement of dualism, a heretical notion that our only concern is the spirit & that matter is a hindrance to be diminished or sloughed off. As embodied creatures, nothing could be further from the truth. Things matter.

A sacred space, like a Catholic church or cemetery - or any sacramental for that matter - is a place ripped away from this fallen world & claimed by God for his Kingdom through the Church; it becomes part of the New Creation. I'm sure that every Mass held on Jeep hood in some distant battlefield had a rite to sanctify that spot before the liturgy was conducted.

But I've said enough. If you have a chance, make a visit to the Shrine. If you can't, you can still support it financially. You will be blessed with various gifts of CD's of beautiful choral music & calendars of sacred art throughout the year, & as a true communion of saints, the priests there will pray for your intentions. How important is this monumental, but living, embodiment of the Holy Faith in our nation's capitol at this time!

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Click here for the Shrine's website.