[mlizzy]

Since your screen name is cookcounty, have you perchance been to St. John Cantius in Chicago? Fr. Z refers to their architecture, altar, etc. during Christmas and Easter [affectionately] as "eye candy," and as we've been there many times before, it would be difficult for us to say the beauty of the Church doesn't affect the attender [yes, to the point of desiring Confession, and attending Mass more].

They almost always have long Communion lines during their Masses.

[Salvation]

Why don’t some posters believe the Scriptures that Monsignor Pope referenced?

My own parish church is a sermon in stone, wood, and glass. It is designed around the Book of Revelation (Chapters 4 and 5), in which John is caught up into Heaven and describes it in detail. The fundamental design of the sanctuary drawn from Revelation 4 and 5 includes the throne-like altar (Rev 4:2), seven tall candles around the throne (Rev 4:5), and the four living creatures in the clerestory windows above the altar (Rev 4:6-8). At the center of the altar is the tabernacle, wherein dwells the once-slain Lamb who lives forever, Jesus (Rev 5:6). Around the throne (altar) are seated the 24 elders (Rev. 4:4), symbolized by the 12 wooden pillars on the back sanctuary wall and the 12 stained glass windows of the Apostles in the transept. The multitude of angels surrounding the throne (Rev 5:11) are symbolized by the blue and gold diamonds on the apse wall.

[mlizzy]

They almost always have long Communion lines during their Masses.

I meant to say "Confession" lines.... but Communion lines too; lots of people attend, especially on Sundays.