Theology of our Church

Greetings,

Catholics can worship any place. Where ever we gather in the Spirit and pray, it is a good thing. In places where our faith is persecuted, altars are/were set up in forests, in homes, or any place Catholics could gather for Mass.

However, our Churches are built to aid us in our worship. Our goal is to imitate the worship of Heaven as seen in the book of Revelation.  Our Parish has LOTS of great symbolism. Lets take a look at it:

1. Many Churches are built in the shape of a Cross(The floor plan is in the shape of a cross). This is because we are to become a cruciform People. We are to take up our Cross and follow Jesus and we are to be formed by the cross. In baptism we die with Christ so that we can Rise with Christ. In our area Holy Cross, Kaukauna; St. Mary’s, Kaukauna; St. Francis, Hollandtown; and Holy Name, Kimberly are examples of this.

2. The Church is the shape of the cross, and if you look at the floor plan from above, the Altar is where Jesus' head would be on the cross, and the people are where the body would be. This lets the People know that the Church is the body of Christ, while Christ is the head. The very shape of the Church helps us know who we are: We are the body of Christ, with Christ as the head.

3. The Nave: This is the main part of the church where the people sit. There are often ribs on the ceiling of the Church. These ribs originally were there for structure, but are continued even to this day. Why? The ribs looks like the bottom of a ship. And the word Nave for this part of the church comes from the Latin word for Ship(Where we get the word Navy). The symbol is: The church is a ship. In the midst of the turbulent seas of the world, we are saved when we are in Christ's ship journeying to our True home, which is heaven. Seeing the Church as a ship, the church is called: The Barque of Peter, (the boat of Peter)

4. Our created world can be seen in three different theological realities: There is the Unredeemed world, the Redeemed world, and heaven. This three part division is also seen in our churches.

A. The sanctuary, the front of the church where the altar is symbolizes heaven. The altar is here. Often there is a redos(back altar) that looks like a city. This symbolizes the heavenly Jerusalem. The sanctuary has Candles, Incense, and the people are wearing white robes. All these come from Revelation 4 and 5 as seen in the worship of heaven. When worship is focused on the sanctuary we begin by joining the Angels and saints sininging "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord...." Notice this is found both in Revelation, and the angels are singing this is Isaiah 6. It is the heavenly Jerusalem.

         

B. The Nave is a symbol of REDEEMED Humanity. This is the place where those who are redeemed in Christ gather to worship God. Notice that holy water fonts are place at the entrance of this space. As you enter you dip your hand in holy water to recognize that your are redeemed in Christ by your baptism. As you leave the space you again recognize your baptism, and as a redeemed person you go into unredeemed world to evangelize. There are often Plant images in this space to remind people of the garden of Eden.

C. Outside of the Nave such as the gathering space, or outside the church is a symbol of Unredeemed reality. This is the our mission to bring people to the redeeming power of Christ.

D. Example: At baptism, the unbaptized person is NOT redeemed. We meet them at the door of the church for the baptism. After the baptism they come into the church and they are to live as a redeemed Christian all their life.

E. Example: At a funeral: We meet the Casket at the door. We use all of the baptismal symbols to show that this person was baptized and redeemed in Christ. God always remembers his promises. Then we bring the body to the front of the Church, right up the Sanctuary(symbolic of heaven), and we pray for the person.

5. The building is NOT necessary, but if you understand what the building is saying it will help worship, and help Christians to understand who we are and what our mission is.

Peace