Lest we forget, church is a sacred place

Ugly as Sin, by Michael S. Rose

Sophia Institute Press, 2000

In an era marked by countless bland and nondescript churches, if Michael Rose's Ugly As Sin did nothing else than make one seriously think about how a church is supposed to look, it could be counted as a success. Fortunately, Rose has done quite a bit more than that.

The entire concept behind the book is that the last half century witnessed a monumental shift in the architecture and perceived function of Catholic churches. As Rose puts it in the subtitle, our churches have been changed from "sacred places to meeting spaces."

Rose reminds the reader that first and foremost a church is the House of God and that each and every element one finds there should be directed toward the ultimate purpose of celebrating the Mass. He provides a thorough examination of the various parts of a well-designed church, their origins, and the functions they serve. It's an eye-opening education that should deepen even the most devout church-goer's appreciation of these sacred places.

There are several underlying reasons recently renovated and newly constructed churches have often missed the mark when it comes to maintaining that sacred nature and Rose provides an enlightening discourse on the subject. Similarly, he offers practical solutions for correcting the problem. Again, it's extremely educational reading.

Of course, educational reading doesn't always make for the most entertaining experience and admittedly Rose occasionally delves into a bit more detail than the average reader might appreciate. On the whole, however, Rose's presentation beckons the reader along, eager to see what's around the next corner.

Every Catholic owes it to themselves to find out more about the sacred place that is their church. Like the faith itself, there is a rhyme and reason behind what we see on the surface. Taking the time to understand the design of a Catholic church can deepen one's appreciation of not only the church structure, but of the faith and ultimately the Mass. For those to whom that appeals, Ugly As Sin is a great place to start.

(Sophia Institute Press provided a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.)