The churches in Rome are absolutely stunning. Due to the poor lighting inside, pictures cannot even begin to capture the magnificence one feels when standing surrounded by elaborate sculptures, ceiling paintings, detailed architecture, and the massive scale of the buildings themselves. Being a member of St. Paul's church in Salem, Ohio, I am surprised at how many architectural similarities I have noticed between the Roman churches and my own. The difference is in the details. A simple arch at my home church may be painted in one solid color, but in the Roman churches, each arch houses its own chapel, containing its own seats and altar, and glorifies a particular saint or event through the use of beautiful paintings and sculptures. Though the churches in Rome are much older than my own, the effects of their detailed craftsmanship and devotion to the Catholic faith are evident. Tourists flock into the churches by the dozens, and spend nearly hours sitting in complete silence observing their surroundings (though they do place their feet on the kneelers, which makes me a little angry ;). I will find out later this week how the mass attendance is in Rome versus the United States, but there is no doubt that the churches themselves are contributing factors. The important point is that perhaps churchgoers don't just love a "pretty church," but that they are motivated by the devotion that went into building the structure. The beautiful churches serve as a reminder of the power of God's love, and how man chooses to repay it.
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