“The Sacred Space That Shapes Our Faith”
Dear Friends in Christ,
When we enter a Catholic church, we step into more than just a building — we step into a sacred space that reveals what we believe. Every detail, from the placement of the altar to the flicker of the sanctuary lamp, is meant to draw our hearts to God. The very architecture of a church is a silent teacher of theology. It expresses, through imagery, art, color, light, and prominence of positioning, who we are as a people of faith and whom we have come to worship.
At the center of most Catholic churches stands the altar, the heart of the sacred space. The altar is not just a table — it is the place of sacrifice and the banquet of the Lord. Here, heaven and earth meet. When the priest stands at the altar, he stands in persona Christi — in the person of Christ — offering the sacrifice of the Mass. The placement of the altar in the center of the sanctuary, visible and elevated, reminds us that Christ Himself is the center of our lives and the heart of our worship. The altar is where the mystery of our salvation unfolds; therefore, it deserves our greatest reverence and focus.
Closely tied to the altar is the tabernacle, where the Eucharist is reserved after Mass. Historically and theologically, the tabernacle has always been the dwelling place of the Real Presence — the Body of Christ truly present among His people. When the tabernacle is placed prominently behind the altar in the sanctuary, it proclaims with unmistakable clarity: “God is with us.” The golden door, often surrounded by candles or a veil, invites us to adore, to kneel, and to recognize that this is holy ground. Having the tabernacle in a central, visible location strengthens our awareness that our churches are first and foremost places of worship, not gathering halls. The Eucharistic Lord should never be an afterthought or hidden away; He is the reason we are here.
The layout of the church also reflects our Catholic understanding of community and transcendence. The pews are arranged so that the people face the altar together, uniting us in one common direction of prayer — toward God. The ambo, from which the Word of God is proclaimed, reminds us that Christ speaks to us before He feeds us. The baptismal font near the entrance recalls that our life of faith begins with baptism — it is through those waters that we are brought into the Church. The sanctuary lamp, burning beside the tabernacle, is a small but powerful symbol: it tells us that Jesus is here, present and alive in our midst.
Beyond function and symbolism, there is also beauty, which plays an essential role in worship. Beauty lifts the soul. When we encounter beauty — in art, music, architecture, or liturgy — our hearts are drawn beyond the ordinary toward the divine. This is why our churches should be beautiful: not out of vanity or nostalgia, but because beauty reflects the glory of God. A church adorned with care and reverence speaks to the dignity of what happens within its walls. Stained glass that catches the morning sun, statues that tell the story of the saints, and music that fills the air with sacred harmony all point our minds to heaven.
Truth, goodness, and beauty all point us toward God. Yet, beauty immerses us in the experience of church. It teaches, it invites, and it consoles. It helps us to pray when words fail. When we build or renew our sacred spaces with thoughtfulness and faith, we proclaim to the world that God deserves our best — and that we believe heaven is real.
May our church reflect that reality — with the altar and tabernacle at its center, beauty surrounding it, and hearts lifted high in worship as we sing and praise the One who dwells among us.
In Christ’s peace,
Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School