Rating: 
Summary: Ugly as Sin ....Indeed!
Review: Architect turned author Michael Rose does a masterful job of providing a well reasoned and documented history of what Vatican II actually desired and what has happened in Catholic Churches throughout the world. A lively and interesting writing style keep the reader focused and engaged. I suspect this book will mark the beginning of the trend to restore dignity and transendence to Catholic worship spaces .
Rating:
Summary: Essential reading
Review: Ever walk into a new church and say "THIS is a CHURCH?"?
Ever walk into a "renovated" old church and feel like you had been robbed, but couldn't think why something "materialistic" caused such a response in you? You were so mad, you were almost ashamed, and that made you madder, and more ashamed, and you couldn't figure out why?Michael Rose explains how all those little details being written out of so many churches add up to make it a Catholic church, and he explains why the building projects of some people end up looking distinctly non-Catholic, feeling non-Catholic, because they are non-Catholic. They are inspired by anti-Catholic architects and "liturgists", whose ideas are promoted by peole claiming to be "Catholics". Do read it, don't let it make you too mad. If it does, form a restoration committee.
Rating: 
Summary: Do you worship in an auditorium, or the House of God?
Review: Having read Mr Rose's book Good Bye,Good Men!I looked forward to'Ugly'with some anticipation.Written before his"Seminary Expose"I expected this book to be equally penned on solid facts
and research but alas,found it to be good rather than superb. Unfortunately, the Notra Dame Cathedral was perhaps a poor comparison choice for 21 st century Catholic Churches in America. This magnificent edifice is not even realistically possible in todays American economy and atmosphere. However, in deference to Michael Rose I agree 100% that vast numbers of our beautiful churches have been "modernized" to cold, noisey, uninspiring "worship spaces" since 1975. The austere example Mr Rose photographed in Austria and pictured in his book, is a prime example of ultra modern, harshly stark, big-box architecture. Mr Rose reminds us that to sit in the very presence of our almighty creator is an act of sacred worship. The gym or "all purpose room" is the more appropriate place for meaningless chatter before and after the Sacred Mass. This book is a fitting epitaph to "Rembrant" who chose to ignore The Holy See when he dismantled and stripped his cathedral of everything sacred. God will have his justice in the end! Read this book and then buy Good Bye, Good Men! God is cleansing his Church Militant. Churches should elevate the soul, lift the spirit, honor The Trinity, prepare the worshiper to offer himself and the Mass as an acceptable sacrifice to God.
Rating: 
Summary: some interesting material
Review: I found a lot of what Michael Rose had to say rather interesting. I've found that most found modern Catholic churches aren't very beautiful, so I aggreed with a lot he had to say. But he obviously had an axe to grind and it was apparent on every page. It sometimes tainted the message, I thought. My biggest complaint was with the photographs. Most of the captions are completely unoriginal, just excerpts from the text. Less than a quarter of the photographs had captions that explained exactly what the picture showed, which church it was, etc. It wasn't until I leafed through to the end that I discovered a photo credits appendix. Why the photo credits couldn't be on the same page as the photos themselves is beyond me. I was also frustrated when he would mention a particluarly ugly church but not provide a picture of it. I had to go online to find photos of some of the churches he talked about, just so his comments made sense.
Rating:
Summary: Ugly, Yes...But There is Hope!
Review: I found this book fascinating, being new to the Catholic faith. I never considered how blessed I am the the local parish is an old one, not ornate or beautiful, because when the church was built, the community was not a particularly prosperous one. But the church itself is a pretty one. Some modern touches have crept in, but NOTHING like the monstrosities Michael Rose photographed for his book. One church looked more like a rustic youth hostel than a place of worship -- and I couldn't recover from my shock at the Blessed Host being relegated to a back room chapel. As if He isn't welcome in the sanctuary! Trust the modernists to get everything deliberately backwards. The day after I finished this book, there was an article in the paper about two Catholic churches in the area which are restoring the churches to their former glory. A good sign! Liberal Catholicism seems to be losing ground in many different ways.
Rating:
Summary: The Title Says it all!
Review: If you have ever wandered into a 'modern' Catholic church and wondered, "What on earth were they thinking?" or "Where have they taken my Lord?", this book is a must read. If you have ever wandered into a beautiful and inspiring church built on the traditional model and want to understand why a building was able to lift your mind and spirit to contemplation of heavenly things, this book is a must read. The author explains the three natural laws of church architecture. All enduring church buildings adhere to these three laws. He then takes you on a pilgrimage to both a traditional and modern church explaining the elements that evoke as sense of the sacred or profane. I found the fact that a non-Catholic who denies fundamental Catholic beliefs, is responsible for the horrible disfigurement that is most modern church buildings both horrifying and angering. The author then gives us hope explaining how we can reclaim our beautiful architectural heritage. The binding of this book is solid and the paper bright and of high quality. I could only wish that the pictures were in color, although that probably would have driven the price up too much. If you have even a passing interest in church architecture, buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Do you worship in an auditorium, or the House of God?
Review: In subtle and no-so-subtle ways architecture projects meaning and sets a tone. Buildings are not value neutral. There are good and there are bad. Done properly, a well architected building enhances the experience of its intended occupants. Done poorly, a building can create spaces that disorient and degrade. In Ugly as Sin, Michael S. Rose shares his insights into the history of Catholic church architecture taking the reader through a virtual tour of the good, the bad and the ugly. Using Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral as an archetype Rose charts the course of a church "pilgrim" as they progress from the profane to the sacred. Aided by ample photographs the description of this journey serves up a feast for both the eyes and the soul. Beginning with the outer façade each step along the pilgrim's path envelopes them further in an environment that reinforces their spiritual journey and ultimately focuses them on the altar of the paschal mystery. Rose presents imagery so thick and rich that you can almost taste it. Next, the pilgrim's journey takes them to the modern church. Barely able to distinguish it from any surrounding structure the pilgrim arrives disoriented and confused. Searching for a focus, the pilgrim finds none. Instead they find a world no different than the one outside. The modern church serves up an entrée as bland as the fast food of our daily lives. Nothing sacred is offered here. To this Rose sets out to answer the question, how did we get this way? It wasn't by happenstance or accident that the modern church has been denuded. It was by design. Ennobled by a misinterpretation of Vatican II documents a movement within the church has set about to strip churches of all that sets them apart and in their place create a public meeting hall. This choice has had detrimental consequences. It has resulted in the creation of an environment that takes the member's focus away from the sacred. Literally, these new designs are "ugly as sin". Rose ends his work on an upbeat note. The tide is beginning to turn. Older churches that were stripped of their majesty are having some of it returned while within several new churches movements have begun to transform them into more meaningful places of worship. Ugly as Sin makes its case clearly and forcefully. It challenges the church-bound reader to experience more and demand more from their church environment.
Rating:
Summary: Where we worship does matter
Review: In subtle and no-so-subtle ways architecture projects meaning and sets a tone. Buildings are not value neutral. There are good and there are bad. Done properly, a well architected building enhances the experience of its intended occupants. Done poorly, a building can create spaces that disorient and degrade. In Ugly as Sin, Michael S. Rose shares his insights into the history of Catholic church architecture taking the reader through a virtual tour of the good, the bad and the ugly. Using Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral as an archetype Rose charts the course of a church "pilgrim" as they progress from the profane to the sacred. Aided by ample photographs the description of this journey serves up a feast for both the eyes and the soul. Beginning with the outer façade each step along the pilgrim's path envelopes them further in an environment that reinforces their spiritual journey and ultimately focuses them on the altar of the paschal mystery. Rose presents imagery so thick and rich that you can almost taste it. Next, the pilgrim's journey takes them to the modern church. Barely able to distinguish it from any surrounding structure the pilgrim arrives disoriented and confused. Searching for a focus, the pilgrim finds none. Instead they find a world no different than the one outside. The modern church serves up an entrée as bland as the fast food of our daily lives. Nothing sacred is offered here. To this Rose sets out to answer the question, how did we get this way? It wasn't by happenstance or accident that the modern church has been denuded. It was by design. Ennobled by a misinterpretation of Vatican II documents a movement within the church has set about to strip churches of all that sets them apart and in their place create a public meeting hall. This choice has had detrimental consequences. It has resulted in the creation of an environment that takes the member's focus away from the sacred. Literally, these new designs are "ugly as sin". Rose ends his work on an upbeat note. The tide is beginning to turn. Older churches that were stripped of their majesty are having some of it returned while within several new churches movements have begun to transform them into more meaningful places of worship. Ugly as Sin makes its case clearly and forcefully. It challenges the church-bound reader to experience more and demand more from their church environment.
Rating:
Summary: At last...a voice speaking up for those of us who are fed up
Review: Make no mistake about it. Michael Rose clearly has a point of view. Rose is a conservative Catholic author who has now written a number of books that present in an interesting and succinct way why so many of the so called "reforms" adopted by the Church have clearly backfired. For a very long time I have felt that the majority of new Catholic churches being built today are just plain awful. And so I when I came across Michael Rose being interviewed about "Ugly As Sin" on EWTN I rushed out and got a copy right away.
This book validates nearly everything I have been thinking and feeling over the past two decades. Whenever my wife and I walk into one of these new Churches we just shake our heads. They resemble auditoriums or theatres but rarely do they look like a church. There is nothing sacred or inspiring about them. Rose points out many of the problems incumbant with these new structures. In most of these new Churches the tabernacle, which should be front and center and the main focal point in a Catholic Church has been relegated to the sidelines. I recently visited a Church in Connecticut where the tabernacle was not even located in the main Church!!! Instead is was in a seperate room off to the side with one small bench and kneeler available for Eucharistic adoration. And in this Church the vestibule has been renamed the "greeting room". According to Rose, these churches have been designed more as places to socialize than as the sacred House of the Lord that it is supposed to be. Rose examines the origins of these problems and reinforces his arguments with page upon page of photos from some of these churches. And the problem does not end there. Older churches
have not escaped the madness. In the suburban parish my wife grew up in the Church was recently renovated. All of the statues were removed and when the job was completed you could hardly distinguish this Church from a Protestant church. Again, there is absolutely nothing inspiring about it.
Rose urges parishioners to speak up and get involved when decisions are being made about new construction or renovation. He also points out that some architectural schools have begun to address the problem by offering courses in tradtional Church architecture. And there are signs that the next generation of priests and younger members of the laity are beginning to demand more traditional Chruches. It is a trend worth keeping your eye on. Whether you agree or disagree with Michael Rose, reading this book will help concerned Catholics get up to speed on the issues involved. It is worthwhile reading.
Rating:
Summary: At last...a voice speaking up for those of us who are fed up
Review: Make no mistake about it. Michael Rose clearly has a point of view. Rose is a conservative Catholic author who has now written a number of books that present in an interesting and succinct way why so many of the so called "reforms" adopted by the Church have clearly backfired. For a very long time I have felt that the majority of new Catholic churches being built today are just plain awful. And so I when I came across Michael Rose being interviewed about "Ugly As Sin" on EWTN I rushed out and got a copy right away.
This book validates nearly everything I have been thinking and feeling over the past two decades. Whenever my wife and I walk into one of these new Churches we just shake our heads. They resemble auditoriums or theatres but rarely do they look like a church. There is nothing sacred or inspiring about them. Rose points out many of the problems incumbant with these new structures. In most of these new Churches the tabernacle, which should be front and center and the main focal point in a Catholic Church has been relegated to the sidelines. I recently visited a Church in Connecticut where the tabernacle was not even located in the main Church!!! Instead is was in a seperate room off to the side with one small bench and kneeler available for Eucharistic adoration. And in this Church the vestibule has been renamed the "greeting room". According to Rose, these churches have been designed more as places to socialize than as the sacred House of the Lord that it is supposed to be. Rose examines the origins of these problems and reinforces his arguments with page upon page of photos from some of these churches. And the problem does not end there. Older churches
have not escaped the madness. In the suburban parish my wife grew up in the Church was recently renovated. All of the statues were removed and when the job was completed you could hardly distinguish this Church from a Protestant church. Again, there is absolutely nothing inspiring about it.
Rose urges parishioners to speak up and get involved when decisions are being made about new construction or renovation. He also points out that some architectural schools have begun to address the problem by offering courses in tradtional Church architecture. And there are signs that the next generation of priests and younger members of the laity are beginning to demand more traditional Chruches. It is a trend worth keeping your eye on. Whether you agree or disagree with Michael Rose, reading this book will help concerned Catholics get up to speed on the issues involved. It is worthwhile reading.
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