We traveled to Dyersville to see the Basillica of St. Francis Xavier and The Monastary in New Melleray. Both visits were very informative and interesting, and there were aspects of both that I enjoyed. For example, there was a sense of life and happiness and passion at the Basillica that really brought the church to life. And the rich history was also an enjoyable aspect and the fact that every detail of the church had significance and meaning. My only complaint would be that the intensity of the designs and color was almost too much and too overwhelming. 
Then we stopped at the monastary on the way back to Dubuque, and I really enjoyed the design of the buildings at the monastary. The simple and classic brick walls and the beautifully simple windows made for a really impressive design. I really enjoyed our tour leader and he really explained the way of life for the monks well. It showed me exactly how dedicated those men (and women at the nunnery) are to a life of prayer and a life of love for God.
The most obvious difference as I mentioned was both the design and the basic philosophy of the two places we visited today. The Basillica had an almost "the more the better" way of looking at the worship place, and the monastary had a "less is more" philosophy. However, even though they're ideas of design of the worship place is different, they shared one thing in common, their love and devotion for a life of prayer and love fo God.
If I were to explain these facilities of God to those who have never heard of such a religion before would be to try to be as simple as possible in explaining all of the aspects of the spaces. Such as in explaining things like the Tabernacle and the Crucifix realize that people (such as myself) did not grow up with these items being common terms used in the services, rather that they are unknown and very mysterious. I would focus on the rich history in the Basillica because history is something everyone can identify with and appreciate.
Then we stopped at the monastary on the way back to Dubuque, and I really enjoyed the design of the buildings at the monastary. The simple and classic brick walls and the beautifully simple windows made for a really impressive design. I really enjoyed our tour leader and he really explained the way of life for the monks well. It showed me exactly how dedicated those men (and women at the nunnery) are to a life of prayer and a life of love for God.
The most obvious difference as I mentioned was both the design and the basic philosophy of the two places we visited today. The Basillica had an almost "the more the better" way of looking at the worship place, and the monastary had a "less is more" philosophy. However, even though they're ideas of design of the worship place is different, they shared one thing in common, their love and devotion for a life of prayer and love fo God.
If I were to explain these facilities of God to those who have never heard of such a religion before would be to try to be as simple as possible in explaining all of the aspects of the spaces. Such as in explaining things like the Tabernacle and the Crucifix realize that people (such as myself) did not grow up with these items being common terms used in the services, rather that they are unknown and very mysterious. I would focus on the rich history in the Basillica because history is something everyone can identify with and appreciate.
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