Sometimes my heart is simply full with the glory, the splendor the majesty, the fullness of the Catholic faith.
I can’t express it, but this doorway at Chartres speaks for me. I wish I could place it before you life sized–in the fullness of its position as part of the whole cathedral, but here it is.
Christ in glory, supported and surrounded by the gospels, the apostles and prophets and the whole company of heaven.
If you could spend one hour sitting before this work of art in the little town of Chartres you might, maybe just maybe catch what I am trying to express…
Shameless commercial for your upcoming pilgrimage!!
Well now, you may not believe me, but I hadn’t thought of that connection when I posted….but now that you say it…
To start, let’s notice the Angel, Bull, Lion & Eagle around Jesus, representing Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
Something I remember only about Chartres is that you can see the church from miles away over fields. The view gave me sense of how it must’ve looked to a pilgrin 800 years ago, and how in those days man’s greatest structures were built to glorify God.
in every age men build great temples for their gods. Just look at any societies great buildings. Where is the marble, the art, the fine workmanship, the vision of beauty and power and majesty in our society? Skyscrapers: usually banks and insurance companies mostly..
I get all choked up about the Church too sometimes. In a way I’m glad I’m a convert and can remember when I didn’t have the Sacraments, the communion of saints, the Mass, and all the glorious history of Christianity. Wow, is it amazing. When I was converting I kept saying, “God, I didn’t know there was all *this* out there!” 🙂
Second best option though, is to read Letter 12 of George Weigel’s “Letters to a young Catholic” – it transports you to Chartres Cathedral: what beauty teaches us.
Yesterday at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception once again the richness of the Church simply overwhelmed me. I feel as if instead of the Wonder Bread of my Protestant upbringing that I am now feeding on plum cake (I believe it was in The Magicians Nephew that Lewis used the term rich as plum cake and it seems like an apt one).
don’t forget that it was not the Christians who started construction on the Chartres cathedral. It was the druids. Their original intentions are not only in the stained glass but it also mason marks in the brick lay. It was only until later that Chartres cathedral became a Catholic Cathedral. Do not forget also the struggle at the time for Christian followers to create the biggest, baddest cathedral ever.
don’t forget that it was not the Christians who started construction on the Chartres cathedral. It was the druids. Their original intentions are not only in the stained glass but it also mason marks in the brick lay. It was only until later that Chatres cathedral became a Catholic Cathedral. Do not forget also the struggle at the time for Christian followers to create the biggest, badest cathedral ever.