The other day, my wife and I had the chance to attend daily Mass together. It happened to be at a church I’d never been to before—one I’d heard was absolutely stunning. I was looking forward to seeing it.
As we walked in, a kind gentleman informed us that the church was under construction. Mass, he said, would be in the basement.
And, as is often the case, the basement was nothing to write home about. It was a church basement—plain, functional, unremarkable.
But as we sat down for Mass, two things struck me.
First: He’s still here. Christ is just as present in a simple basement chapel as in the most breathtaking cathedral. The beauty of the surroundings may change, but the reality of the Eucharist does not.
Second: What a gift beauty is. Bishop Barron often speaks about the power of beauty to draw us to God, and he’s right. While Christ’s presence isn’t dependent on grand architecture or stained glass, there’s something about sacred beauty that lifts the heart and stirs the soul.
If you have the chance, I encourage you to make a mini-pilgrimage. Ask around—what’s the most beautiful church in your diocese? Go, take it in, and let its beauty draw you deeper into the mystery of His presence.
Whether in a grand cathedral or a bare-bones basement, He is still there.