"I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe." - St. Augustine

"No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother." - St. Cyprian

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The Beauty of the Mass

When we look at something, do we not admire it's beauty? When we hear the birds in the trees first, before we see them, are we not struck with awe at their beautiful sound? There are usually many different birds in the trees all contributing to the sounds of outside. They are dissonant at first, but when you take a second to just listen, it transforms you. The trees sway in the gentle breeze and the diversity of life is just amazing.

The smells that waft through the air take you to another place outside of time maybe. For a second it feels like eternity and you are happy to just let it go on forever. Again, the many different smells that you perceive all contribute to what you are experiencing. I am always in awe of God's great earth every time I just take a second and know that He is there.

If you are like me, you enjoy the outdoors and you enjoy the natural beauty. And you may just agree with everything that I just posted. Did you pick up on the underlying theme though? We as humans are sensual creatures. Thus, the things that we sense and experience also have a profound effect on our mind and our spirit.

The beauty of the Mass can also be described like this. In fact, that is why I wrote this post. The beauty of a Church coupled with the altar and tabernacle at the front can transport you to a different place outside of time if you just take a moment to realize where you are. The sounds of silence and the sounds of the great organ or the simpleness of the chant, although entirely different, can have the similar effect. The music will transform you and give you chills. The swirling of the incense up to Heaven and the smell really takes you to Him in Heaven and outside of comprehension.

I guess you could say that nature mimics the Mass. Simple, yet profound. In time, yet eternal. God truly is amazing. I am constantly in awe of the majesty that is here and in the realization that this is nothing compared to the Beatific Vision. Truly amazing. Thank God.

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