The Opulence of Heaven: Traditional Grandeur vs Modern Minimalism

When you look at the Cathedrals, Basilicas, and Churches that were built in the past they were extravagant. They were magnificently beautiful, a prelude, made to resemble the beauty of The Eternal Kingdom to come. An opulent dwelling place fit for The King of Kings. For The Church that contains The Living God in the flesh, and the precious relics of the faith, should be nothing short of absolutely radiant and splendid.

“It became obvious why Catholics had built such beautiful cathedrals and churches throughout the world. Not as gathering or meeting places for Christians. But as a home for Jesus Himself in the Blessed Sacrament. Cathedrals house Jesus. Christians merely come and visit Him. The cathedrals and churches architecturally prepare our souls for the beauty of the Eucharist.” -Dr. Allen Hunt

Unfortunately, the evil of modernism snuck onto the scene slyly, to un-beautify that which is supposed to be beautiful, which has resulted in less reverence given unto God, and thus a major faith problem amongst Catholics today. With many polls and research conducted to decipher how many Catholics believe in The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, we should be wondering why any professed Catholic would have doubts about The Real Presence.

Does a modern church with plain white walls, giant TV monitors, and The Tabernacle off to the side, convey the message of ‘The King of The World Dwells Here on The Altar?’ Of course not, because well for starters, these modern Churches have taken Christ off the altar and put Him off to the side. Is it any wonder why there is a major faith problem amongst Catholics today?

The modern churches that are being produced are void of the elegance, grandeur, and splendor of Heaven. I have walked into some modern churches before and apologized to The Lord, for the failure to represent the beauty that He and His Kingdom is, and the failure to provide a magnificent dwelling place, fit for The Majesty that He is.

The interior of our beings contains The Kingdom of God. In “Interior Castle” by Saint Teresa of Avila, The Doctor of The Church exclaims “I thought of the soul as resembling a castle, formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal, and containing many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions.” When we are baptized we receive The “Indwelling of The Holy Trinity” within us. Meaning that our interior is a dwelling place for God. This is why we are not to sin, but to “put on virtue” and become holy. If our interior contains God, we thus are to strive to make our interior, our soul, a pure and holy dwelling place for The Most High. This is the basis of our spiritual life. To renounce sin, and dwell in the light of The Resurrection. If we are to make our interior a beautiful dwelling place for God, this ultimately tells us that any dwelling place for God is supposed to be made beautiful. This is why The Blessed Virgin Mary is deemed “The New Ark of The Covenant” and was Immaculately Conceived, because Her being needed to be beautiful, pure, and spotless, to contain God in the flesh within Her.

Therefore, if we truly believe what we profess with our faith; that Jesus Christ is truly present in the most Blessed Sacrament; Catholic Basilicas, Cathedrals, and Churches, are supposed to be splendid and magnificent, radiant and beautiful, as they are the dwelling place for The King of Kings. Anything less than beauty is not acceptable. When stepping foot into a Catholic Church, Heaven should be made manifest through the glory revealed in the beauty before you. It is not okay to step into a Catholic Church and have to apologize to The Lord, for the lack of reverence and beauty. Heaven is beautiful. Hell is ugly. The two do not and should never mix. Heaven comes down to earth during the Holy Mass, therefore the Church that The Holy Mass is performed in should be beautiful resembling the beauty of Heaven.

“Beauty, then is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God himself and his revelation. These considerations should make us realize the care which is needed if the liturgical action is to reflect its innate splendor.” - Pope Benedict XVI

Beauty is of supreme importance.