At War With Babel

The steeple of My parish church.

Steeples originated as the result of a matter of practicallity; as a way of notifying the people that the time for Mass or prayers had come. In time, however, the steeples came to be given a symbolic meaning. They also, as a result of this new purpose, began to be built in more ornate fashion.

One popular symbolic meaning is based upon the obvious parallels and contrasts between the events of Pentecost, which took place in an upper room, and the events of Babel, which took place as the result of the building of a tower. “After the flood men in their crooked pride built for themselves a lofty tower against God; thus, as a result did they merit to be disunited through the multiplication of language, the effect being that no one people, speaking in their own tongue could then understand the tongues of others. (But at Pentecost) due to the humble devotion of the faithful ones (see acts 1:13-14) it has come about that the division of the tongues has been reconciled in the unity of the Church (see acts 2:1-41). Disharmony against God has been healed by the Love of God. The scattered flesh and bones of humankind are now reunited as members of the one body of Christ.” (Psuedo-Fulgentius; My heavily interpretive translation) For more on the Babel- Pentecost connection see this homily by the Archbishop of St. Louis. Also this homily from an African priest. Finally, see Pope Benedict’s 2006 homily for Pentecost which compares the events of Mount Sinai with Pentecost.

The steeple of my Church looks very much like a watchtower from some ancient fortification. It is a reminder that we are at war.

Read Rev 12.

Read Eph 6:10-18.

Read 1 John 5:1-12.

Read 2 Cor 10:3-6.

The fortification like structure reminds us that the church is “the pillar and bulwark of truth,” (1 Tim 3:15) against which “the gates of hell will not prevail. (Mt 16:13-20).

This is the holy Church, the one Church, the true Church, the Catholic Church.fighting against all heresies; she can fight, but she can not be conquered. All heresies are expelled from her as if they were dead branches pruned from the vine; she herself, however, remains fixed in her root, in her vine, in her charity. The gates of hell shall not prevail against her. (St. Augustine, I think this comes from ON THE CREED)

Read St. Francis De Sales THAT THE CHURCH CANNOT PERISH.

Read the prologue to Commentary on Colossians by St Thomas Aquinas.