Basilica

On Christmas Eve this year I opted to go to mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Among other things, it is home to one of the largest mosaic collections in the Western Hemisphere. The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis is the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. It  was founded in 1896 and it is located in the Central West End. Artisans, craftsmen, stonecutters, and masons spent a century creating this incomparable church Pope John Paul II honored by making it a Basilica, a place of worship of special distinction (in 1997). This place is a masterpiece of art and history and a joy to behold. It rivals the grandest Cathedrals in the world.

At a time when Institutional religions are losing members nearly one in five of U.S. adults are “unaffiliated” according to the Pew Research Center. The research suggests Catholicism is taking the biggest hit with this movement. While nearly one in three Americans were raised Catholic, today "fewer than one in four describe themselves that way according to Pew Research. “All together in the St. Louis metropolitan area we found about 555,000 persons associated with the Catholic Church” says a spokesman from a research associate for the Glenmary Research Center (2010).

The Mass was majestic and other-worldly. I made me consider declaring my affiliation more emphatically. Merry Christmas!

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the Resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.