Sacred Spaces on the Open Road!
In this short, cartoon-style flash fiction story, two faithful seniors—Earl and his sweet wife Deni—hit the highway with prayer on their lips and a holy surprise waiting just around the bend. When Earl has a roadside epiphany about sacred spaces, Deni’s gentle wisdom helps him make sense of what’s truly holy… and how beauty, prayer, and place can stir the soul. With a splash of humor and a truckload of truth, this little tale reminds us that God can teach us anywhere—yes, even in a car on the Holy Highway! Pull over for a minute. Read the story. Let your heart smile—and your faith deepen.
RELATIONSHIPS AND LOVEPORCH THEOLOGY
Rom Webster
5/28/20252 min read
What Is A Sacred Space?
Old Earl asks an interesting question. What is Sacred Space? In the Catholic tradition, a sacred space is a place set apart for divine worship, prayer, and an encounter with God. Churches, chapels, shrines, and even small oratories are considered sacred because they are dedicated to God’s presence and purpose.
A Sacred Moment on the Road
If you’ve ever walked into a quiet church, seen sunlight hit stained glass just right, or caught yourself whispering “Whoa” in a chapel, congratulations—you’ve stepped into sacred space. In the Catholic tradition, a sacred space is a place where heaven nudges earth and says, “Let’s meet here.”
That’s why we have churches, shrines, chapels—and even that small prayer nook in Grandma’s house with 47 candles, three statues, and one picture of the Pope. If it has been blessed and meant for God, it’s probably a sacred space.
Why Does the Catholic Church Even Care About These Spaces?
Because we’re human! We need reminders. We need beauty. And—let’s be honest—we need designated quiet zones where we can kneel without Wi-Fi.
Sacred spaces give us:
A sense of awe in God.
A home for community worship and personal prayer.
A stage where the Sacraments unfold.
And let’s not forget: we are both body and spirit. Sacred spaces feed both.
And What About Sacred Art?
Think of sacred art as the original faith-based media. Long before social media, sacred art told the story of salvation with color, form, and the occasional dramatic-looking angel.
Sacred art includes:
Stained glass that glows like holy fire
Statues that look like they might blink
Icons, vestments, paintings, architecture—all created to elevate the soul and stir the spirit
The Catechism puts it beautifully (and seriously):
“Sacred art is true and beautiful when it evokes and glorifies, in faith and adoration, the transcendent mystery of God.” (CCC 2502)
In other words: it’s not just pretty. It’s powerful.
What Happens When Sacred Space and Sacred Art Team Up?
You get a kind of silent sermon that works to:
Evangelize through beauty.
Catechize by telling Bible stories without saying a word.
Create a living catechism, where everything from the floor to the ceiling has meaning.
When someone walks into a well-loved sacred space—yes, even if it’s a cartoon with a lopsided candle and a squeaky pew—they can feel the whisper of the holy. It’s a tug at the soul and a nudge from the divine that says, “Stay a while.”
By the Way… Meet Our Cartoon Crew
In this cartoon, we’ve shared a short, flash fiction story. Through a conversation in a car on a Rolling Prayer mission, two old souls enter sacred space and art. Earl and Deni, our cartoon characters, don’t have formal theology training, but they surely know their faith well. And they know a sacred space when they see one.
So get ready for trivia, stories, and a few unexpected laughs—all in the service of truth, beauty, and maybe a little divine mischief.
Our Story
That’s our story, and we’re sticking to it. What’s your story going to be?
