Gold for an altar may appear ”creepy” on the surface, but may also be taken out of context.
When Pope Alexander VI divided the non-Christian “New World” between Spain and Portugal (Treaty of Tordesillas 1493), it was a given that along with the conversion of souls to the Church any treasure found would be tithed to the Church; not directly to Roma, but to the local diocese of the nobleman putting up the money for the venture (venture capital). Along the same line as a people/person vowing to erect an edifice to a person, spirit, God (or all three) following an answer to a wish, prayer, request or petition. Many a church, school, or hospital contains “gifts” from parishioners, fund drives by students selling caramel apples and wealthy benefactors.
Though in this case the beneficiary of this munificence is the Burgos Cathedral, many a simple church was erected through the efforts of the local people seeking to provide a safe and secure place to gather and honor their God. In this case, the “treasure” offered was the sweat, skills and materials available.
Our Church of St. Margaret in Winter Harbor, Maine was constructed by Irish shipwrights, with the inside ceiling looking suspiciously like the inside of a ship’s hull turned upside down. In both cases, those responsible for improvements/ornamentation of the structure could sit in wonder and appreciation of their efforts, while long after their deaths; tour guides would spin their presentations to fit the sensibilities of the present time and the current audience.
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