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9 Sensory delights we experience when going to church

INCENSE

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Cerith Gardiner - published on 03/16/21 - updated on 01/02/25

These are experiences we often take for granted, but let the New Year be the springboard for getting to Mass more often.

One of the things that many faithful — and even non-faithful — enjoy about going into a church is the overpowering feeling of comfort and security from being inside the actual building.

If you’ve been raised a Catholic and not attended Mass for a while, all the senses come alive and memories of going to church return. And if you’re a regular churchgoer, you’ll be able to reap the benefits that come from frequently being in a place of “contemplative architecture” — a phenomenon Dr. Julio Bermúdez discovered in a study that revealed the effects of architecture on the human brain.

Aside from the positive effects of the building itself, there are so many experiences at church that trigger our senses and lift our hearts and minds to God.

If you want a little reminder of those sensory joys we so often take for granted, click on the slideshow below:

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ChurchFaithHealth and WellnessMass
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