Commentary by Rui Pastorin
Last month, I wandered into a church near the city centre. I am not a devout Catholic, but this is a habit I picked up not too long ago as I have always enjoyed the solemn environment found in many of Macau’s well-preserved churches. Faith, irrespective of what you might believe in, is also what I believe to be a great answer to a loud and cluttered mind, and a place of worship never fails to be the perfect antithesis.
As I entered through the church doors, I expected it to be just like any other visit – a quiet, peaceful time that not only allowed for prayer, but introspection. Unfortunately, this was different.
On one side of the church, a pair was talking as loudly as they would in a city square. Shopping bags were placed on a church pew as three other people engaged in conversation, all the while a young woman was snoozing soundly. At that point, I couldn’t help but wonder if they had bothered to ask if there was a difference between a church pew and a park bench.
And while it isn’t out of the ordinary to see people snapping photos of the intricacies and details found in a church’s architecture, at that point I wished that it would occur to that group that while Macau is a city that has a lot to offer and welcomes visitors with open arms, certain places are more than just tourist attractions. Respect is to be exercised for places and, by extension, the people who still frequent it for its intended purposes, which, in this case, is for prayer and contemplation. Places of worship, whether it be a church, temple, mosque, whatever the setting might be, is considered sacred for those who want to practise their respective faiths.
People are always welcome to visit Macau’s historical churches and marvel at how well they have been preserved, a feat that the city should definitely be proud of. But in any case, for all of those who choose to visit, respect should always remain. Rules and reminders are there for a reason after all. If you miss them, then remember that these are not just considered tourist attractions for everyone and are still sacred to many.
There is a stark contrast between a church pew and a park bench. It’s obvious. Don’t mix it up.
A set of rules is displayed at the entrance to Igreja de São Domingos (玫瑰聖母堂). – Photo taken yesterday by Rui Pastorin
