About going to Mass?

Question

I will be attending university in the fall, and the only Catholic Church within a reasonable distance (I think about thirty miles or so) of the campus is the cathedral for the diocese. I've been to Mass there twice already, and it is a very beautiful place, but I always feel guilty about it. I mean, it is REALLY extravagant... marble columns, gold trim, sixty foot ceilngs, et cetera. And the last time I was there, the priest said that the parish was in the process of spending ten thousand dollars to refurbish the altar!

I've grown up going to a very modest parish. We're not poor, but there's not really enough money to keep the church and school in good shape and still do as much for the community as we ought. It seems like a huge shock to me that a modern Catholic parish -- cathedral or not -- would spend so much on extravagences! I mean that is not very Christlike. Why spend ten thousand dollars on tearing up the carpet when you can help the poor with that money and effort?

I guess the heart of the matter is that I will feel guilty for attending Mass there, as I see no possible way to justify such wastefulness. Yet at the same time, I know that it is my duty as a Catholic to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation at the very least. How can I be a member of a good Catholic parish when I feel so very uncomfortable just attending Mass?

Answer 1

Aww... it's actually meant to celebrate God's beauty and grace. Have you ever noticed that old churches are nicer than new ones? My dad said it's because people used to spend money fixing up their churches instead of their houses, and now it's the opposite way around. In history classes you always learn about the extravagances of the Catholic church, they really meant it to pay as much homage and respect to God as they could. People died of the plague, but they still gave money to the church. Did you ever hear that story of the woman who poured perfume on Jesus, and the people who said "But why doesn't she sell that perfume and give it to the homeless?" and he said that she was the smartest of all of them? It's like that. And besides, nice churches are nice.

Answer 2

The most beautiful and long lasting buildings in Europe are its cathedrals, built at a time when the people giving for them were poorer than you could dream of being. Even the rich lived uncomfortably much of the time.

Those churches and cathedrals were built to give glory to God. Christ said, "The poor you have with you always, and you can help them whenever you like." That is still true.
Enjoy the beauty of the cathedral, and if it makes you feel better, deprive yourself of a Starbucks or a CD and give the money to someone who needs it.

Answer 3

1) Unless you transfer your membership...you will NOT be a member of that parish. Stay with your membership at home....you are just visiting the college town parish.

2) The Mass is the Mass is the Mass. I've Celebrated Mass in Cathedrals, I've Celebrated Mass on a coffee table. I've Celebrated Mass at some beautiful old ornate Churches...I've Celebrated Mass on the hood of a pick-up truck.

Go to Mass, my son. The building should not matter.

Jesus' Presence makes the Mass.

Just remember, when you see the beautiful old Church...the old Latin phrase: AMDG!

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam - "To the Greater Glory of God"

God bless you!

Answer 4

Guilt is the worst thing we humans invented. Go to the parish and change your perspective into the fact that other humans put their labor and artistry into it. Realize that our human perceptions of what it means to be spiritual or not need to take a backseat to the reality that anything can be spiritual and nothing is more spiritual than anything else. Rich, extravagant parishes are no more spiritual than humble ones -- it's all a matter of our perceptions making the arbitrary decision. Remove that and it's no big deal.

Answer 5

Ok, there is, of course, a couple of things that you are missing.

1.)The Cathedral is an exalted example of God's home. It is to be beautiful and filled with His friends and family, just as you would love to have your home.

2.)The Catholic church enriches the community it lives in through the construction of these wonderful structure.

3.)The architecture is in an of itself a work of art, and the works of art in the cathedral and the ones who made them are being supported by these purchases.

Answer 6

Go to the priest next time you see him and voice your concern. It may have something to do with whoever is in charge of running the building. This is something that has bothered me in the past too. What I understand is...committees run the church building, and if the people in the committee decide they want the roof shingled...well....it gets shingled. What bugs me is that the priest doesn't seem to mind. Maybe were giving to much...knock her back to $5 at collection time. LOL

Answer 7

Wow. You take this very seriously. That's good. I am the follower of a different religion and like you I take it very much to heart. In my faith we say that we can be with the Goddess either in the most beautiful temple or the most humble house. Doesn't your Christianity teach that too?

Answer 8

i would recommend reading the history of the parish - that might help you out. often times the items were bought by donations of people wanting to make this the most beautiful place so that all could enjoy. i think to my grandparents and they always wanted to make their church a beuatiful place where people would feel welcome and surrounded by beauty. they believe in giving the best to God.

Answer 9

just ask yourself if you are going for the sake of the building or are you going for what is IN the building...Blessed Sacrament.
Besides..doesnt God deserve the finest?