As I conducted the research necessary for our site visit, I took note of several interesting topics concerning the Catholic religion. As a child, my caretakers had never instilled in me the practice of worship or faith. I consider myself to be far more spiritual than religious. My hispanic roots led me to investigate the truths about the Catholic Church and its strengths/weaknesses. In my search for religious sites, I chose St. Marks Catholic Church, an institution located not too far from my home in Southwest Ranches. Upon entering the Church, I must admit my feelings of skepticism and doubt. In all honesty, I hadn’t come within 100 feet of a Church building in what felt like ages. I cautiously approached the tall, dark wooden doors and noticed that my palms began to perspire and my spirit felt heavy. My energy felt offset and dimmed.
I opened the hefty doors to find myself in an environment completely foreign to my natural surroundings. The interior space was illuminated with an abundance of natural light from the ceilings above. It was evident that the Church had been carefully planned out and constructed with modern taste. As I ventured on deeper into the chapel, I found myself face to face with the crucifix of Jesus Christ. The statue appeared to stand righteously in direct center of an elaborate, gleaming white marble altar. I must admit, it was the closest thing to heaven I had felt in a very long time. The natural light caused the white marble throughout the church to glisten beautifully with every step. One could truly observe and admire the energies of tranquility, peace, and purity the ground had to offer.
During my visit, I was not confronted with the opportunity to access certain rituals such as reconciliation and communion. Any individual wishing to receive these sacraments would first have to take the necessary steps to receive baptism. After one has made their baptismal promise, they have the opportunity to earn the status of a practicing Catholic and receive the following sacraments. There are a total of seven sacraments in which practicing Catholics may participate in, including baptism, confirmation, holy eucharist, anointing the sick, reconciliation, marriage, and holy orders. There are just a handful of rituals and traditions that practicing Catholics have access to. I believe these rituals provide a sense of proximity to the divine power.
In route to Church, I expected a room full of devote Christians bowing down in prayer to their god. Or possibly being faced with a choir chanting songs of praise and worship. I also thought there would be a priest or religious authority figure to guide me in the “right” direction. On the contrary, what I found was a quiet, sanctuary for prayer and reflection. The space felt sacred, wholesome, and pure. I was honestly surprised with my discovery. I look forward to returning to this sight with a greater amount of time and insight so I can utilize what might be beneficial to myself and those around me.
Church Visit
Victor Romero
As I conducted the research necessary for our site visit, I took note of several interesting topics concerning the Catholic religion. As a child, my caretakers had never instilled in me the practice of worship or faith. I consider myself to be far more spiritual than religious. My hispanic roots led me to investigate the truths about the Catholic Church and its strengths/weaknesses. In my search for religious sites, I chose St. Marks Catholic Church, an institution located not too far from my home in Southwest Ranches. Upon entering the Church, I must admit my feelings of skepticism and doubt. In all honesty, I hadn’t come within 100 feet of a Church building in what felt like ages. I cautiously approached the tall, dark wooden doors and noticed that my palms began to perspire and my spirit felt heavy. My energy felt offset and dimmed.
I opened the hefty doors to find myself in an environment completely foreign to my natural surroundings. The interior space was illuminated with an abundance of natural light from the ceilings above. It was evident that the Church had been carefully planned out and constructed with modern taste. As I ventured on deeper into the chapel, I found myself face to face with the crucifix of Jesus Christ. The statue appeared to stand righteously in direct center of an elaborate, gleaming white marble altar. I must admit, it was the closest thing to heaven I had felt in a very long time. The natural light caused the white marble throughout the church to glisten beautifully with every step. One could truly observe and admire the energies of tranquility, peace, and purity the ground had to offer.
During my visit, I was not confronted with the opportunity to access certain rituals such as reconciliation and communion. Any individual wishing to receive these sacraments would first have to take the necessary steps to receive baptism. After one has made their baptismal promise, they have the opportunity to earn the status of a practicing Catholic and receive the following sacraments. There are a total of seven sacraments in which practicing Catholics may participate in, including baptism, confirmation, holy eucharist, anointing the sick, reconciliation, marriage, and holy orders. There are just a handful of rituals and traditions that practicing Catholics have access to. I believe these rituals provide a sense of proximity to the divine power.
In route to Church, I expected a room full of devote Christians bowing down in prayer to their god. Or possibly being faced with a choir chanting songs of praise and worship. I also thought there would be a priest or religious authority figure to guide me in the “right” direction. On the contrary, what I found was a quiet, sanctuary for prayer and reflection. The space felt sacred, wholesome, and pure. I was honestly surprised with my discovery. I look forward to returning to this sight with a greater amount of time and insight so I can utilize what might be beneficial to myself and those around me.
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