The Dedication of the Priory Church of Our Lady of the Rosary & St. Dominic, London

To some people it must seem strange that we remember and celebrate the anniversary of this Church. Some might argue that it is only a building and to put so much emphasis on bricks and mortar is a rather peculiar practice. One of the most common and clichéd criticisms of the Catholic Church is that we hold our buildings in too much regard. We lavishly decorate them and fill them with elaborate statues and works of art and forget that the true Church is the people of God. The comedienne Sarah Silverman recently produced a video where she encouraged the Holy Father to sell the Basilica of St. Peter's and give the money to the poor. For many outside the Church the only values they recognise in our buildings are of a cultural, commercial and monetary nature. As Christians however we do not understand our places of worship as merely buildings. They are not just practical assembly venues or glorified meeting houses. This priory Church and all our Church buildings are mirrors that are held up before us to remind us of who we are. The world tells us that we are consumers, employees and citizens, and flashes a constant stream of icons at us every day to remind us of this. The Church building is an icon that reminds us of our deepest and truest identity. As we gather in this building, we who were scattered by diverse loyalties, backgrounds, and life-styles, are now united as the Body of Christ

Unlike the secular icons of the world, our Church buildings are not empty labels. They find their substance in what literally goes on within their walls. Through the prayer, preaching and the liturgy of the Church we encounter the risen Christ. This is especially apparent when we come together to celebrate the Eucharist, which is “the source and summit” of our entire Christian lives. Our Jewish forebears focused upon the Temple in Jerusalem. The holy of holies, the heart of the temple, was an empty space, for the Jewish people knew that God could not truly be contained in any building. Our focus is directed to Christ, the true temple, who was destroyed and rebuilt in three days. He is truly present in the tabernacles of our churches. Therefore every church in the world is the dwelling place of the Most High and the throne of God's glory. It is fitting therefore that we should build a suitable abode for Him. However, a beautiful Church is not the be-all and end-all of our faith but it reminds us that we are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the family of God”. In celebrating this building, we celebrate Christ’s victory and our salvation and that is truly something to rejoice in.

This reflection originally appeared in the newsletter of the Priory Church of Our Lady of the Rosary & St. Dominic, London, on 1st August 2010. Available here