Inside the Church C atholic churches come in many different styles and sizes. 17 Some are centuries old with soaring ceilings and lots of stained glass. Some have a much more modern look and don’t resemble at all the churches of old. As architectural styles have changed, so have church buildings. But all Catholic churches share some common elements. Many churches have a narthex. This is the entry area, like a foyer. Often the priest will greet parishioners after Mass in the narthex. From the narthex you enter the main worship space, which consists of the nave and the sanctuary. The nave is the main body of the church. This is where the people attending Mass sit, stand and kneel. The word nave comes from the Latin word for ship. Early churches often resembled a ship, reminiscent of St. Peter’s boat, from which Christ sometimes taught. The sanctuary is the other part of the church, where the altar is. The word itself means “holy place,” and this is where most of the rites of the Mass take place. Some people prefer one style of church over another. The important thing to remember is that, no matter what the building looks like, Jesus is present at every Mass. Notes
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