Eight Most Beautiful Catholic Churches in the World

A church is a place of worship or a house of God. This, perhaps, is the reason we see churches with stunning designs. With their artistic beauty, they also become world’s famous places to visit.

Here’s a list of amazingly built Catholic churches across the world. These famous houses of worship will truly fascinate you.

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1. Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar Zaragoza,  (Zaragoza, Spain)

The basilica was created in the early second century AD at the banks of Ebro. The church is in baroque style, and the current structure was built between 1681 and 1872.

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2. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary  (Baltimore, USA) 

Baltimore Basilica was the first Catholic cathedral in the United States. Benjamin Henry Latrobe designed the building. The construction lasted for 15 years, from 1806 to 1821. 

The basilica’s design is neoclassical that conforms to European traditions. It flaunts columns of Doric, Ionic or Corinthian pillars, and Renaissance-style domes.

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3. Notre Dame de Paris (Paris, France)

The church was the first to use the said style and flying buttresses for support. It was built from 1160 to 1345. 

Notre Dame de Paris is a prime sample of French Gothic architecture. Gargoyles and grotesques adorn the gutter system.

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4. St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Melbourne, Australia)

Catholics in Melbourne, who were mostly Irish, built the church to honor St. Patrick.  The construction started in 1858 until 1939. 

The church is the tallest in Australia and the cathedral of Melbourne’s Archdiocese. This great example of Gothic Revival design highlights pointed arches, steep-sloping roofs, and decorative tracery. 

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5. St. Marks’s Basilica (Venice, Italy) 

The church was on the site in 823, but the present building was constructed from 1063 until 1094. With many improvements, it was officially completed on 1617.

Also known as Chiesa d’Oro or Church of gold, the basilica depicts Venetian wealth and power since the 11th century. It adopts the Byzantine architecture that reflects a grandiose image. 

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6. Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen (Stary, Poland) 

The basilica was built between 1994 and 2004. With its huge feature, it is Poland’s largest church and one of the largest in the world. Also, it is a famous pilgrimage site.

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7. Las Lajas Cathedral (Ipiales, Colombia) 

Inside the canyon of the Guaitara River, you will find the Las Lajas Cathedral.  Built in 1916 to 1949, the design is in Gothic Revival architecture.

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8. St. Peter Basilica (Vatican City) 

Located on St. Peter’s burial site, the basilica is the holiest and greatest church. The largest basilica can hold 60,000 people.  It is called the greatest building of its age because well-known artists like Michelangelo, counter-reform the structure. 

Top 10 Worship Songs to Add To Your Playlist This Lent

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One great way to worship God and celebrate this lent season is through music. Whenever you’re down and needs guidance, feel His presence by listening to these songs. The songs on this list are my favorites and as a music lover, I am hoping that you’ll love them too!

1. Who Am I – Casting Crowns

This song shows how great God’s love for us is. Even though we may think and feel insignificant at times, we should not fear and feel alone. God loves us so much that he takes time to know each one of us.

2. Jesus, Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood

This song shows that even if were too busy to give thanks and ask for His forgiveness for all our sins, he will never turn his back and leave us. He is always at our side to guide and accept us whenever we call out to Him.

3. Warrior Is A Child – Twila Paris

This song shows that whenever we feel weak, God is always by our side. Whenever we falter, God is here to protect, strengthen, heal, and give us rest when the world is too much to handle.

4. Tell The World Of His Love – Jamie Rivera

This song encourages us to tell and share how great God’s love is. It also tells us to lead those who have lost their ways to the home of God and seek His presence.

5. May Bukas Pa – Rico J. Puno

This song tells us to have faith in God whenever we feel down and troubled. There is always tomorrow for those who believes. Seek for Him and you will be answered.

6. Lead Me Lord – Basil Valdez

This song shows us that we can lean on Him whenever we feel confused and alone. Seek for Him and He will guide us to the right path and decisions.

7. Power Of Your Love – Hillsong United

This song shows encourages us to face our own weaknesses and fall into the arms of God who’s doing everything to convey His love to us.

8. Take Me Out Of The Dark – Gary Valenciano

This song teaches us to trust God because He would never give us trials that we can’t bear. He would never leave us even if we’re thinking that we’re not worthy of His love.

9. I Offer My Life – Don Moen

This song encourages us to seek God in everything we do and you will be at His mercy.

10. One More Gift – Bukas Palad

This song tells us that the greatest gift that we should seek to Him is peace, not only for the world, but also peace within ourselves.

DIY Crafts: Artful Ways to Dress up Easter Eggs

How will you make Easter Sunday more special and enjoyable? Put some twists on your Easter eggs by trying these DIY ideas.

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1.   Decoupage Eggs 

Spruce up Easter eggs using paper napkins, colored magazines, or designed papers.  Cut them into strips and glue them around the egg. Let it dry. Then apply a final coat to make it glossy.

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2. Twine-Wrapped Eggs 

Give those eggs more boosts by using twine. Apply glue on the surface of the egg.  Wrap it with twine starting from the center to top.

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3.   Blackboard Eggs 

Coat eggs with chalkboard paint. Using chalk, create lines or pattern on the surface. Likewise, make a paper nest to have an attractive set.

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4.   Tattooed Eggs 

Another cool way is to stick fake tattoos to eggshells. You may place images of superheroes, cartoon characters, insects, dinosaurs, and more.

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5.   Ombre Eggs 

Give some eggs a chic look by dying them in different tones. The trick is to soak them in varying amount of dye and time. This way you can get dark to lighter shades. To do this, place the egg in a small cup. Fill it up with the liquid dye that is enough to cover the bottom third of the egg. After 5 minutes, add water until the top third part of the egg. Then, you will see a lighter tone. After 3 minutes, add more water to cover the whole egg. Then, you get a more pale shade.

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6.   Silk Tie-Dyed Easter Eggs 

When you want silky looking eggs, try this craft. You need 100% silk tie. Cut a piece that is enough to cover an egg. Make sure that the right side faces the surface of the egg. Wrap them smoothly and tightly using a thread to get a clear print. Then, wrap them again with a light colored and lightweight fabric. Boil them for 20 minutes in water with vinegar.  I suggest that only moms do the said steps. Kids may do the unwrapping after the eggs cool. Then, polish it with oil to get a shinier look.

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7.   Hand-drawn designed Eggs 

Dress up the egg in different hand-drawn shapes and patterns. Use pen paints, chalks, or acrylic craft paints to decorate the eggs.

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8.   Stamped Eggs 

Word imprints are another fun way to spice up dyed Easter eggs. Stamped inspirational words or phrases to motivate egg hunters.

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9.   Personalized Eggs 

Nothing’s more fun than putting your name or initials on the egg. You can use foam alphabets or felt stickers to spell out your name. Another way is to use a candle to write on the shell. Then, the name appears after soaking it in the dye. Stick other fancy stuffs to decorate these eggs.

In fact, there are million ways to put some twists on your Easter eggs. So flaunt your creativeness this Easter Sunday. Share the moment with your kids to make it a fun-filled day. 

Visita Iglesia: Why Does the Tradition Live on?

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We have many ways to reflect Christ’s life, passion, death, and resurrection. Fasting, abstinence, repentance, and turning away from sins are common activities during Holy Week. Apart from these, Visita Iglesia or Church Visit is one of them.

We learn the custom from the Augustinian friars. They are the first missionaries in Philippines who arrived in 1565. The practice entails us to go to seven churches and pay homage on Christ’s sufferings. We do this on Holy Thursday.

There is no required prayer for the Visita Iglesia. Some would pray and meditate on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Others would pray two Stations of the Cross per church. Though seven is the suggested number of churches to visit, others may opt for 14 churches. In fact, the number of churches is immaterial as long as you pray fervently.

The Popularity of the Tradition

Visita Iglesia is a common tradition during Holy Week. There’s a myth that wishes will be granted if you accomplish the practice. But this isn’t a reason it remains popular.

Visita Iglesia is a practice to honor the Blessed Sacrament as you do this after Christ established the Sacrament of Eucharist. Then, it changed into a form of journey and reflection of Christ’s sorrow and distress. The tradition reflects on Christ’s first agony in the garden of Gethsemane. During then, He ordered apostles Peter, James, and John to remain and keep vigil with Him. But they did not comply.

Today, church visit is our solemn way of responding to His call.  We go to at least seven churches to pray and reflect on His passion. Thus, it stays as a popular practice during Holy Week.

The Tradition Will Live On

Every holy week, we do Visita Iglesia or church visit. In the first place, who will not venerate Christ painful ways of freeing us from sins? 

The Lenten season is a time to remember His sufferings and great love. To honor His noble sacrifices, we remain up with Holy Week’s traditions. Observing the customs will improve our spiritual discipline as we prepare for Christ’s coming. And Visita Iglesia, a custom to relive and accompany Christ in his suffering, will go on from generation to another.