By Amber Saunders
Wow!
The cathedrals in Italy are breathtaking. They are ornate from floor to ceiling; every inch filled with colorful frescoes and paintings, sculptures, tile and stained glass. Famous painters from all over the world and from various centuries have made their mark on these Italian masterpieces including Michelangelo from the 14th century (In fact, the towering Siena Duomo we visited with striped gray and white stone was the home of four sculptures made by the young Michelangelo). Every year restorations of churches take place to keep these buildings beautiful to attract tourists from all over the world — including us. As the tourists pay the fee and walk through the turnstiles, they are blown away by the architectural beauty of the place. They spend hours touring the churches taking countless photos (if permitted to) and then leave the church, but, not before going to the gift shop! These religious buildings are absolutely beautiful and filled with SO many people. Yet, they feel so empty and I left feeling empty myself.
The cathedrals in Italy are breathtaking. They are ornate from floor to ceiling; every inch filled with colorful frescoes and paintings, sculptures, tile and stained glass. Famous painters from all over the world and from various centuries have made their mark on these Italian masterpieces including Michelangelo from the 14th century (In fact, the towering Siena Duomo we visited with striped gray and white stone was the home of four sculptures made by the young Michelangelo). Every year restorations of churches take place to keep these buildings beautiful to attract tourists from all over the world — including us. As the tourists pay the fee and walk through the turnstiles, they are blown away by the architectural beauty of the place. They spend hours touring the churches taking countless photos (if permitted to) and then leave the church, but, not before going to the gift shop! These religious buildings are absolutely beautiful and filled with SO many people. Yet, they feel so empty and I left feeling empty myself.
I left with a completely different feeling after visiting Abbazia di Montelabate, an old abbey where monks lived, worked, and worshiped. On the same grounds is the abbey’s olive oil mill in operation today. When we walked through the old, wretched doors of the church, I was astonished! Not by the ornate floors or ceilings, but by the destitution of the building. Scaffolds were present on either side of the church evidence of the need for restoration, but, it was evident that these scaffolds had remained untouched for years. The walls were nearly bare with fading paintings and broken molding connecting the walls to the ceiling. The alter was a wreck with cob webs stretched out over the alter pieces and dust covering every inch. Upon seeing the state of the church, we learned of the reason why. The abbey and its olive mill operate to create income but not to spend on the physical building. Instead, they invest their profits into research for kids in a nearby hospital.
Wow. THAT blew me away. That blew me away more than all the flashy gold embellishments and colorful, recently-restored frescoes of the other churches; this church was the MOST beautiful. Unlike the other churches that were beautiful yet empty, this church was empty which made it beautiful. This church was alive! The church was not just a building, the church was an active people reaching out to those in need. Instead of leaving with empty pockets and an empty feeling, I left the abbey inspired and filled thinking, “Do I spend more time building a beautiful life or being empty for the sake of helping others?”
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