Contradictory Prayers

Mario

When one sees other paying tribute to a higher being, when one hears constant unsynchronized, but at the same time vivacious, singing, when one tastes the bland favor of the Eucharist, when one can smell the smoky fragrance of incense, when one feels the smooth grain of the uncomfortable benches, it is perspicuous that that person is at a church. Personally, as a Roman Catholic, I go, or rather am forced, to go to church once in a while; I go to the Saint Vincent de Paul Church. I believe in the existence of some type of god, which in my mind, makes me religious, but I do not see the need to gather in a building with others and ramble on about something that half of the people will not even apply to their everyday life. I am not impious of what the church represents nor do I abhor the word of God, but I get a sense of vexation when I see hypocrisy in the church. Although I myself am a hypocrite for going to church when I feel it unnecessary, I have the dignity to accept that I am one. Like Voltaire, a French eighteenth-century philosopher, and many other thinkers of the Enlightenment, I believe that one does not have to leave one’s home to worship God. By doing simple acts of kindness, one is being faithful to God. Although St. Vincent de Paul Church represents many beautiful ideas and emotions, it is also represents the desires and values, whether they be good or bad, of the people associated with the church.
The church—a structure made of brick and cinder, solid walls and stained glass, crosses depicting Jesus Christ and large archways—has been located in that same exact spot as long as I can remember. The stain glassed mosaics depicting saints symbolize light that can guide one to the right direction. While one sits in the church, the light illuminates off the window and one sees a mirage of colors hitting the walls of the church. This is almost like a message from God showing a believer the light and the good that exists in the world. The solid walls serve the function of support, which is true for both the structure and those who attend the church. The values of the people who attend the Saint Vincent de Paul Church are quite luminous, like the glass mosaics, in the sense that they attend the church to better themselves. Ironically, people come to church and act like the saints that are depicted in the mosaics, but while they are at home, they are the complete opposite. One should not change the type of person they are according to where they are. Saint Vincent de Paul church should not be the only place where one should act properly.
All agree that the church is a place where the Bible is interpreted: everyone listens to the word of God during mass. The reality of the Saint Vincent de Paul Church is quite overwhelming. The Bible tells believers to do brothers but people do not. The New Testament, in particular Matthew 6:3, states, “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,” but the left hand, others, knows what the right hand, oneself, is doing. Mathew 6:5 mentions, “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get,” but the churchgoers always decide to pray like one of those hypocrites while they are in public. Matthew 9:13 claims, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,” but the people of the church continue to eat the sacrificed body and blood of Jesus Christ. As the Bible reveals, Saint Vincent de Paul Church and man are quite contradictory. Saint Vincent de Paul reveals that man is a contradiction.
As one visits the church, one cannot help be amazed by the beauty of the fountain that sits outside of the church. Majestic, spiritual, incredulous—the beauty of the fountain can be expressed in these, and many other, words. I can just imagine dipping my fingers in the cold water, reaching into the base to pick up a coin and show my mother, and, the memory that I can remember the most: gathering around my family next to the pool and observing the spectacle that is the fountain. The shallow pool of water at the base glimmers at every sight. When one has a glimpse at the shallow pool, the reflection of the viewer appears like if one was part of the fountain; in a way, the beauty of the fountain is represented in us as well. If one were not there to admire the fountain, it would not be beautiful. The fountain is not merely a fountain; it is a symbol of hope. Hope for one. Hope for family. Hope for enemies. Hope for all. The fountain cannot be criticized because it represents the story of those people that visit Saint Vincent de Paul Church. Each penny that is sunk at the bottom of the fountain tells the story of the previous owner. Man is a wisher, and we all aspire, so the fountain represents aspiration and the will to become a better person.
Saint Vincent de Paul Church represents love and contradiction and hope and hypocrisy and ambition and vexation and unity. Once again, I must reiterate that I do not have malignity towards Saint Vincent de Paul Church; I write about my observations. I am just a man with eyes; these eyes tell the story of Saint Vincent de Paul Church. Both the good and bad values and the desires of the people have been detailed. The story of the church is the story of the people of Petaluma. Other people can interpret Saint Vincent de Paul Church in other ways, but the important lesson is to respect the church and the people who attend it. One must remember that this is the home of God and nobody really knows there real desires of the people; learning who we truly are and discovering our desires are part of the life experience. We can discover who we are by being true to who we are and living.