One of the highlights of my career at Franciscan University of Steubenville was taking Dr. John Bergsma's class on the Gospel of John. During that class, one of the concepts that I learned was that when ancient Jews viewed the physical environs of the Temple, they thought that they were getting a glimpse of God's inner nature. The connection of this with John's Gospel, of course, is that both Jesus and the Church are presented in that Gospel as the Temple of God.
I remember, after that lecture, going to mass at St. Peter's Church in Steubenville, and gazing up at its massive, noble columns and dome, dwelling on its towering picture of Jesus with St. Peter and Bl. John Paul II, lovingly absorbing the solemnity of its high alter. I was thinking to myself, what was true for the ancient Jews, that even the physical structure of the building reveals the inner nature of God, is applicable for us today.
A few weeks ago, the youth minister at MPB, and my roommate, Joe Cipriano, was talking about the idea that our bodies are, by virtue of our baptism in Christ, temples and that God comes to dwell is us. A few hours later, I went to mass and was was thinking about the Body/Temple connection. Most often this theme is brought up with regard to chastity (and rightly so, since St. Paul thus brought it up in 1 Corinthians), but I think that we can expand on this theme. Indeed, one could develop a whole spirituality based upon the layout of a Catholic Church. So, here goes.
1) The nave - Every Church has a place, in the nave, where the whole Church stands and worships God. Do I have a place in my own heart where I welcome my fellow Christians? Am I using my body and my talents to lead others to worship Christ and to join them in worshiping him? The Church has kneelers where one can kneel to pray to God. Do I spend time kneeling in prayer to the Lord?
2) The stations of the Cross - Every church has Stations of the Cross, wherein people can trace out the events of Our Lord's journey on the Via Dolorosa. Do I meditate regularly on Christ's passion and death, which he suffered for love of me? Do I imitate his passion and death in my body by living sacrificially and by controlling my desires?
3) The statue of Our Lady - Every church has an area to honor Our Lady. Do I honor the Virgin Mary by seeking out her intercession and by imitating her virtues? Do I honor women by chastity and by (for women) living out my womanhood with dignity, beauty, and strength?
4) The statue of St. Joseph - Most churches have a statue of St. Joseph. Do I honor St. Joseph by seeking out his intercession and by living out his closeness to Our Lord? Do I honor him by working at my daily work to the best of my ability? (For Men) Do I live out true manhood by imitating St. Joseph's virtues of chastity, patience, and obedience to God?
5) The Ambo - The Ambo is the place from which the word of God is proclaimed. Do I meditate on the word of God often? Do I take time to dwell on its beauty and apply it to my life? Am I proclaiming the word of God in my actions and words?
6) The alter - All Catholic churches have an alter, where the One Sacrifice of Our Lord is re-presented daily for the salvation of the world. Do I integrate my life into the sacrifice of Christ? Do I make of myself a living offering to him? Am I giving up something in order to serve the Gospel?
7) The Tabernacle - The center of every Catholic Church is the Tabernacle, where our Eucharistic Lord, who is really and truly present in that Sacrament in his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity dwells, waiting for us to come to him in adoring love. Do I take time to dwell with Christ, who is present in my heart? Do I make his presence within me the center of my being and often think of him? Am I, like him, making myself available to others even when it involves sacrifice or inconvenience? Is the worthy and frequent reception of the Eucharist a priority?
8) The Monstrance - The Monstrance is the vessel in which the Eucharistic Christ is held for times of adoration. Do I radiate Christ to other people? Does my conduct make me transparent, like the glass in the monstrance, so that others can see Christ in me? The gold in the monstrance is infinitely less valuable than the Eucharist, even if it looks more beautiful to the eyes; the gold's chief value comes from what it was meant to contain. Do I hold my gifts humbly in my own eyes, realizing that they are valuable insofar as they lead me to radiate Christ to others.
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