Today, I drove to Newark, NJ, to visit the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. I’d never been, but in my research, I came across its website, and was just completely blown away by the images on the site, and by how well it is maintained. There is SO MUCh information on this site about the history of the Cathedral Basilica, and about its architecture. I have to give the website’s administrators praise for doing such a fabulous job.
So, just based on the website, I knew I wanted to include this site in the show. Today, my visit cinched it. This place is absolutely glorious. How could I have lived in Elizabeth, NJ, and in NYC for so long, and have never even heard of this place?! Ok, so Newark isn’t the place you visit if you live in New York, but honestly, if I knew about this Cathedral Basilica, I would have gone in a heartbeat.
As I drove up, I got the exact same feeling you get when you drive up to a HUGE Cathedral in Europe. This Cathedral is imposing and grand. It’s a little peace of heaven in Newark, and I highly recommend you visit if you can. I could spend HOURS there, taking pictures, praying. God is so good to me, the organist was practicing the entire time I was there, and he was SO good!
Really, I felt like my heart would burst. THIS is why they call churches Houses of God.
You know, it makes me wonder—nowadays, everything you see on TV is about making something or someone over. The whole purpose of many channels is just to give you ideas on how to make your home more liveable, beautiful, grand. TV shows are dedicated to building these HUGE homes for people. And then you hear people complain about the riches of the Church.
I’m sorry, but if I spend so much on my home, and on putting nice little touches here and there for my comfort and enjoyment, why NOT do the same for God? I don’t mean to be provocative or anything, but God deserves SO MUCH! He is so good to us! He gave us His only Son, and we killed Him, for crying out loud! The very least we can do is make Him a nice house, no?
And this Cathedral Basilica is it. If I were God, I’d want to live there. Well, I suppose He does, in the tabernacle, but you know what I’m saying.
Anyway, you see this trip has gotten me excited. I am SO happy to include this treasure in the show. It will be a wonderful opportunity to show the symbols and techniques used in church architecture, and to teach a little about the terms used in architecture. like, what’s a nave and an ambo? Of course, who doesn’t love flying buttresses? Not that this Cathedral has them, but we can address that one in another show.
Until then, phew. I’m tired. My script for the Blue Army Shrine of Fatima is done and being reviewed by the network and my contacts at the shrine. Tomorrow, it’s on to Old St. Patrick’s.