Dear Parishioners:
Last week's celebration of the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica brought to mind a quote by Winston Churchill: "We shape our buildings, and afterward, our buildings shape us." This Feast commemorates the building and consecration of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome and, thus, the Mother Church of all the Church. It is the location of the "Cathedra", the Chair, of Pope Leo XIV, from where he serves as Christ's Vicar for the entire world. This day should remind us of the universality of the Catholic Church and the obedience we owe our Pontiff.
This Feast also reminds us of the physical beauty of our Mother Church. To walk into St. John Lateran is to grow in hope, confidence, and love. You cannot help but gasp at the massive statues of the apostles, serving almost as pillars holding up the Church while grasping the instruments of their martyrdom. The stately façade gives one confidence in the strength of Mother Church. The magnificent baldacchino above the altar immediately draws one's eyes and heart to heaven.
The beauty of our Mother Church reminds us of the beauty of our soul and of God, even when we are surrounded by drear all week. Beautiful structures challenge us to keep our own temple beautiful, making it a space that raises others' eyes to God. A beautiful Church should remind us of God. Lastly, a beautiful Church reminds us that others are temples of God as well.
In the late 1800s, a priest was attempting to build a large, beautiful Church in South St. Louis. The neighborhood was highly industrial and not known for beautiful buildings, so the ambitious priest was regularly critiqued for the decision to build such a beautiful space in such a dreary neighborhood. Why waste the money and energy? He was often asked. In great charity, the cheerful priest would respond, "My people see only drear all day. I want them to see beauty on Sunday."
That should be the aim of all of us here at Our Lady of Mercy: to see beauty on Sunday. We witness such beauty at the Holy Mass on Sunday. Listen to the beautiful music that lifts our worship. Smell the beautiful aroma of incense that lifts our prayers to heaven. We see before us the beauty of the altar, the tabernacle, the pulpit, the statues, the stained glass, the candles, the baptismal font, and the flowers!
It should go without saying that beauty is a good thing. While opinions about what makes something beautiful may differ, almost everyone agrees that beauty is positive. St. Thomas Aquinas defined beauty as "that which, upon being seen, pleases."
Certainly, it is something good, something to be admired. But beauty is so much more than simply something pleasant to see, smell, or hear. Beauty, in and of itself, can play an important part in faith lives. As Bishop Robert Baron has said: "Begin with the beautiful, which leads you to the good, which leads you to the truth."
As we look upon the beauty of Our Lady of Mercy Church, let us consider our part in keeping it beautiful. We must strive to do so by singing with greater gusto, worshipping with greater reverence, and praying with greater devotion. Even simply putting away the missalette and hymnal after we use them, and not leaving tissues or trash in the Church.
Maintaining the beauty of our Church and plant requires the hard work of our dedicated maintenance staff. They work hard cleaning and polishing the floors and pews, weeding the flower beds, sweeping the sidewalks, and a host of other cleaning jobs to maintain OLM's beauty. Please support them by doing your part in keeping OLM beautiful.
You may have noticed the new awning above the candle room door. Pease Awning Company installed it last Saturday. The total cost to make and install the awning was $1,300. It will protect the wooden door from the weather. Also, the flat roofs above the sacristy and boiler room, as well as the area around the Church's cupola, will be replaced this week. Freschke Construction will complete the project for $22,715. Such projects contribute to the beauty of our Church. I am grateful for your generous financial support, which makes them possible and keeps OLM beautiful. Pray for the Suffering Souls of Purgatory. Be well. Do Good. God Bless. Go Pats! Go!!!