Utility vs. Sublimity

Matt's post led me to show that the battle between utility and sublimity is not a purely Protestant problem but a problem with any Church that is too comfortable losing their Catholicity. This of course includes those Catholic Churches who throw away their Catholicity in their fit of dissent only then to find that there remains no real need (or desire) for beauty and then find themselves worshipping in a Church that resembles a U.S.S.R. era bomb shelter.

Does Christianity require beautiful Church buildings? I say yes, in as much as the parishoner's can give their best to let the beauty of Christ shine forth in their place of worship. In India or Africa, their best may be a wooden hut with a hand carved crucifix. In the United States it seems that too often the parishoners have more ornate and beautiful houses than they do Churches. I think this is greatly related to what different groups define "Biblical" worship as, their view of the Eucharist, how substantially they believe Christ is present in the Eucharist, and most fundamentally how they view and ponder and apply the great Mystery of the Faith, the Incarnation. I am happy to note that for all the poor architechture in many recently built Catholic Churches today, there still remain tens of thousands of truly beautiful Chruches to remind us and admonish us and inspire us to build yet great again. Many of the most beautiful Catholic Churches were built by immigrants and the common man eager to have a home more beautiful than the mayor, or govenor, or President. A home that they could enter with Mary and all the Saints to together worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for His glory forever and ever Amen.

"I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house; and the place where thy glory dwelleth."
Psalm 26:8