SND BLOGS

Catholic Faith Corner

Living in the Light
of Jesus Christ

Sea of Galilee at Sunrise

Catholic Faith Corner

Living in the Light
of Jesus Christ

Amiens Cathedral and Any Church

In doing research for my next book, I came across this fantastic site in France: the cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens. Capable of encompassing 10,000 people, it is the largest cathedral in the country. The facade has numerous statues and sculptures, and the interior boasts of a labyrinth and thousands of wood carvings and paintings. The church has been called “the Bible of Amiens.” Inside, 126 sky-high pillars support this immense structure built in the Middle Ages. Allegedly the skull of St. John the Baptist is kept there. It was discovered that at one time the statues that adorn the exterior were painted. Now in the evenings a polychrome light show illuminating these statues is presented. That is what you see in the video here. This is a far cry from the home churches where the Christians celebrated the Eucharist during the first three hundred years!

The magnificent cathedrals that sprang up all over Europe expressed the adoration the people knew God deserved. They poured their blood, sweat, tears, and money into building houses for God that were worthy of him. The United States too has  magnificent structures for worship, such as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Whether immense or small, our churches are sacred places where we believe God dwells today. They are holy ground like Mount Sinai, Mount Tabor, and Mount Calvary where we encounter our God and speak with him.

Once I met a family whose father took them to a different church each Sunday during the summer. That is a good idea, for it opens their eyes to the larger Catholic family and introduces them to different saints and a variety of ways to worship. I hope on their itinerary was a cathedral, which is the bishop’s “seat” in each diocese. Perhaps they had a tour and learned about when it was built; the meaning of the stained-glass windows; who, if anyone, is buried there; interesting features; and so forth.

In my book “The Heartbeat of Faith” among the poems is one intended to instill in children reverence for a church as sacred space:

In God’s holy house, I’m as quiet as can be.

There I talk to Jesus, and Jesus talks to me.

Church, God’s holy house, is not the place for fun.

I do not laugh or giggle, wiggle, scream, or run.

Deep within my heart when I’m very, very still,

I hear God say, “I love you, and I always will.”

My earliest memory is being at Mass with my grandmother and crying because of the incense. Women around us were trying to hush me. Gradually I learned church etiquette, like being quiet in church, dressing up for Mass, and not chewing gum. Today children need to be taught not to use their cellphones during Mass!

What is your favorite church or chapel? Why?

 

 

2 Responses

  1. Dear Kathleen, The video is lovely! In 1985 I visited this cathedral “in person” and was awed by its size and beauty. But a few years ago I saw a documentary on European cathedrals, and it said the Amiens Cathedral is deteriorating. One of the massive arches in the interior is slowly caving in. The Cathedral will collapse. It’s only a matter of time. To try to “fix” the problem might be an impossibility. Or it would cost an astronomical amount of money… Thank you for sharing this… Melannie

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest posts

Awarded Top 100 Catholic Blog

Meet Sr. Kathleen

Jesus depends on us to spread the Good News of God’s love, offering the world hope and joy. Mary Kathleen, a Sister of Notre Dame from Chardon, Ohio, responds through writing, speaking, giving retreats, and teaching. Her motto, adopted from Eddie Doherty’s gravesite, is “All my words for the Word.”

About Catholic Faith Corner

A warm welcome to Catholic Faith Corner! May my reflections help you know and live the Catholic faith, inspire you, and touch your heart. I hope you subscribe here and occasionally comment on my posts.

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Loading

A Child’s Book
of Psalms

Here is a simple version of verses from favorite psalms, followed by a one-line prayer. Colored photos enhance the 24-page booklet.

Featured Book

Totally Catholic! A Catechism for Kids and Their Parents and Teachers

This award-winning book is being used in classrooms and by RCIA groups.

Visit My Book Store

Sister Kathleen has more than ninety books published and has worked on six textbook series. Several of her books have garnered awards from the Catholic Press Association and Multimedia International. You can buy from Amazon, but purchasing books directly from her earns more for her community.