The Prague Castle

By some measurements, the Prague Castle is the largest in Europe. The real highlight isn't its size, but the beauty of St. Vitus Cathedral. This ticket shows we paid $6 for an admission of two people. I've never paid so little to see so much. I write to make a living, but I can't even begin to convey the beauty of this church. In 1989 I went to a Catholic cathedral in Boise to attend the wedding of my then boss, Randy Frisch, and I was inspired by the beauty of that church. St. Vitus Cathedral is in a whole other realm of beauty.

Turns out in the 1300s a nobleman wanted the most beautiful church in the Holy Roman Empire to be in Prague, so he imported a lot of workers from Italy to build it. The church exterior actually shows three different architectural themes because it took so long to build. It looks magnificent from the outside, but the real beauty is the inside. I've seen stained glass windows before, but nothing like those inside the church. The altars and statues are also exquisite. Growing up in McGill I served as an altar at every Holy Day of Obligation at St. Michael's Church from All Soul's Day in third grade until Christmas in sixth grade. When I reach the Pearly Gates, I thought that would be a nice thing to have on my life's resume as St. Peter looks it over. But after visiting St. Vitus, I suspect serving one mass there as an altar would do more good than all the masses I served in McGill.

Part of the Protestant movement was a rebellion against all the money the Catholic church spent on churches. In fact, the selling of indulgences came about specifically so the church could refurbish its aging churches in Italy. I kind of agreed with that, thinking the money would be better spent elsewhere. I'm rethinking that now after visiting St. Vitus Cathedral. Being in such a stunningly beautiful place does convey a spirituality you don't get with pine benches and plain walls. I only wish I had the photographs to show how beautiful the church is.

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