Protestant and Catholic Aesthetics

By Amanda

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Being raised Protestant, I never really understood the rosary. I liked them, and would hold onto the ones given to me in Catholic grammar school. I hung them from my bed post and put them on my desk, but the meaning was lost on me. So, when going to the Papal Audience, with a handful of rosaries, I found myself questioning what they were for. I struck up a conversation with Fr. Dave, and found myself making comparisons between the Non-Denominational Protestant faith and the Catholic Church. The churches I was raised in were (in great contrast to the ones we have seen this trip) functional, minimalistic, and plain. An empty cross. The occasional stain-glass window. Theatre chairs with cup holders (which, personally, I quite enjoyed). This is not to say that this aesthetic choice is wrong- no, it is nearly a difference rooted in history. Catholics have a deep sense of artistic expression of historical events. The churches are meant to hold our history, our stories, and show why we believe what we believe. Regardless of your language or literacy, one can walk into a cathedral and find a visual history. I asked my parents if they wanted me to bring back any crosses or religious items, even though they are not Catholic. My father responded that my mom might want a cross, but that “most of them have Jesus on the cross but as a Christian she would want one without because he is risen”. Ultimately, I suppose, this one visual difference that encapsulates various expressions of faith.