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Have you ever thought about the difference between being Catholic and being Protestant? Obviously, there are lots of differences - but one of the most striking is how we use our senses. We do things in the practice of our faith that often deal with the senses - touch, smell, see, hear, etc. Things that affect our senses make an impact. Just ask yourself - why are so many people in Church on Ash Wednesday? We come because of the tangible sign of being touched with ashes in the sign of the cross - a reminder that Jesus died for us on the cross - and that we are now his disciples. The palms we will carry on Palm Sunday are just another example of touching, holding something that is part of our faith. (Do you know that the ashes we use on Ash Wednesday come from the palms that were burned from the year before?)
When you walk into a Catholic Church, it is often, but not always, an extravaganza for our senses: stained glass, religious art seen in windows and statues, holy water, incense, and so many other things. The music is just another reminder of how we "take in" our religion. All of these things that come to us through our senses stir up our religious imaginations - our understanding of the great story of God's love that is the tradition of the Church.
I am disappointed when I go into a church that is "sterile" - without touching our senses or stirring up our religious imagination. But I am fortunate to serve in a parish where the church building is about as good as you can get in touching our senses. We can take it for granted - but it is another reminder that beauty and order and stories and art and music are all ways we have of experiencing God. It is one of the great things about being Catholic. This is why we have processions, Mary crownings, candles, bells, and so many other things. It helps us remember who we are and what we believe as Catholics.
Sometimes I can get so immersed in the problems of the Church (made up of human beings) that I can forget some of the wonderful things about being Catholic.
This is not a bad thing to think about during the time of Lent.
TODAY's GRATITUDE - The art, the music, the sculpture, the stories which are part of our faith.