... Lenten journey into Sacred Art!

In Extreme Humility, by Susan Kelly vonMedicus. Used with permission of the artist.
The Sacred Art community and all faithful believers, in and around the City of Philadelphia should take particular notice of the exhibition at Villanova University taking place in the sacred space of the Corr Chapel.
The exhibition is a joint effort of both Mary Ellen Bilisnansky-McMorrow and Susan Kelly vonMedicus.
The works are on view from 2/1/08- until -3/25/08.
The exhibition features works of various mediums that express a global awareness and thankfulness to the mystery of Christ’s Passion. The theme of the exhibit is, Witness to the Passion.
The Corr Chapel is open daily for prayer, reflection and worship.
The Eucharistic Liturgy is celebrated at 12:05 and 5:45 daily.
Visitors should remember that this is an active sacred space for prayer and worship and not a gallery environment. Please respect the integrity of the sacred surroundings should you visit.

Response to column on Sacred Art from Houston!

Dear Hugh - Although very late, I just found your post of 09/03/07 on Sacred Art and Architecture. Bravo! Are you working or making progress on developing an American Institute for the Sacred Arts? Would be very interested to hear the latest on this.

The closest thing I know of is The Foundation for Sacred Arts with H. Reed Armstrong, who holds very similar views as yours, and mine by the way!

There is also the more ecumenical CIVA - Christians in the Visual Arts, which is open to protestants, Catholics and everything else in Christendom too.

One thing I believe regarding the sacred arts is that our Church, pastors, building committees, "liturgical designers" and donors must recalibrate expectations for religious art -- it must be made to teach the faith as did the great sacred art of millennia past. Figurative art must be re-emphasized in order to speak in a universal language that all can read and learn from when they come to the church and thereby come across the art therein...

For example, what can one learn from abstract expressionist swishes and swoops that are very often erected in a Catholic church in the space where real(istic) Stations Of The Cross should be, or in all the modernistic stained glass that is wholly unitelligible? What kind of conversion of the heart can be inspired from confusion of the eyes?

And I would agree wholeheartedly with the comment that Catholic artists should be commissioned to do art for Catholic churches. Why do so many buy into the fallacy that transmittal of the Catholic faith via art can be done by artists who arent Catholic at all, or perhaps even militant atheists with deep contempt for Catholicism or faith in any form?

You may be able to tell that I am very interested in this subject of art for the Catholic Church. Through the grace of God, I have made a career switch and am now working as a mosaic artist in traditional Roman marble and Byzantine glass styles. I have recently completed 4 lifesize mosaic panels for a catholic church here in Houston featuring the 4 evangelists. I look forward to doing more, and there are irons in the fire across the southwest. We can do similar quality work for 1/3rd the cost of that done in Italy.

I read a good many books on Catholic art and architecture and would be interested in seeing a list of your favorites. Mine include Doorley, Rose, Armstrong, McNamara, etc...
Also am reading Couturier to see where it all started to go wrong...dont think I am yet strong enough to stomach reading any of Vosko.

I welcome your reply, and will also try to become a more frequent reader of your blog, but I cannot leave comments since I dont have google mail.

All the best, and I welcome your reply,

Catholic Brotherhood with the People of the Covenant

Since the Last Supper the Catholic Church has been greatly influenced by our close cousins in faith the Jewish People. It is disturbing that in this era of theological reconciliation and ecumenical dialogue there is even a suggestion of anti-Semitism on the part of Catholics worldwide. Recently, Benedict XVI permitted the restoration of the Tridentine liturgy in the Church. There were anti-Semitic parts of the Good Friday liturgy prior to Vatican II. However since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council the Catholic Church has been instrumental in pioneering a new and restored relationship with the Children of Israel. Our Catholic liturgy now reflects the ancient relationship with the Jewish people as one of evolving theological revelation through both the Old and New Testaments and the secular events of the past two thousand years. Catholic-Jewish dialogue exists today in a social, cultural and theological environment quite different from the pre-Vatican II Church. Any suggestion that derogatory roots of our old misunderstandings and misinterpretations of theological beliefs between Catholicism and Judaism are just plain wrong, and need to be dispelled.
In the period since the Second Vatican Council, the Church has made great progress towards developing positive relationships with our Jewish cousins. John-Paul II was the first pope in history to visit the synagogue of Rome, he offered prayers and requested harmony at the Western Wall of the Temple in Jerusalem and proclaimed contrition on behalf of the Church for sins committed against the Jews. His successor Benedict XVI has visited the notorious concentration camp at Auschwitz, prayed at the synagogue in Cologne, Germany and repeatedly called for interfaith dialogue with all faithful peoples.
The speculation in the secular press that the permission to restore elements of the Tridentine Rite that implies a restoration of anti-Semitism is completely unfounded and just plainly erroneous. The Holy See has been quite clear in this message, and all Catholics should protest any suggestions that indicate the Holy Father suggests otherwise.
Our liturgical Liturgy of the Word has as its foundation the ancient synagogue services of Judaism in the first century a.d. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is rooted in the ancient celebration of the Passover meal. Our Catholic altars and even our tabernacles are based upon the sacred altar of the Temple of Jerusalem and the presence of God in the Old Testament, Holy of Holies. We Catholic are dedicated to a deepening understanding and participation in faith with the first called People of God more today than perhaps anytime since the Apostolic era.
It is our prayerful obligation and responsibility as both Catholics and Jews to work together in mutual cooperation towards a deeper relationship in faith between our 2 faiths. Any notion by the media or the secular press, or indeed any religious groups that the embers of anti-Semitism are freshly ignited in the Catholic Church are wrong. Lets all take this period of Lenten self-examination to realize the great common heritage we Catholic faithful and the Jewish people share in our profession of monotheism in light of both the Old and New Testaments.

Praying with icons...

Icon of the Holy Trinity by Andrew Rublev circa 1425



Behold the Beauty of the Lord, Praying with icons, by Henri J.M.Nouwen
Published by Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN.
www.avemariapress.com
The writings of Father Nouwen are treasuries for the modern Catholic that seeks to develop and maintain a deeper prayer relationship within the vast life of Catholicism. In one of his last books, Fr.Nouwen develops and probes into the developing relationship of prayer that is associated with four icons, that depict various religious subjects. He leads the reader to prayerfully rediscover the iconography of the Easter Church that has traditionally been overlooked by Western Catholics. In his very spiritual descriptions, the author expounds on many aspects of Catholic salvation history and how such a redaction of that history is quietly, yet loudly proclaimed in sacred art, especially Icons.
Icons that depict The Holy Trinity by Andrew Rublev (1425),The Icon of the Virgin of Vladimir , (anonymous Greek artist circa 1395),The Icon of the Savior of Zvenigorod by Andrew Rublev (circa 1440), and the Icon of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, ( anonymous Russian artist, circa 1450) are beautifully included in the body of this prayerful work so the reader might spiritually develop an understanding of the points made by Father Nouwen.
As always the writings of Father Nouwen, inspire all readers to embrace the call of spirituality that pervades our human nature. For us believers, especially in the West, the book presents a great collection of insights on the powerful spirituality that icons present as implements towards spiritual growth and development. This book is a must have for anyone that wants to develop a desire to do some spiritual reading in the midst of a hectic secular society.

...nothing like the Catholic art of a good baciamano!

There are often many actions that are related to the traditional expressions of Catholicism. In the photo above, one notices a good old ecclesiastical baciamano , or a kiss of the hand. While the gesture is Italian in it’s origination…the actions has a loud and clear message as part of its action. Traditionally, the gesture is reserved for prelates of the Catholic Church as a sign of respect and obedience. Over the past couple of decades the action has in the United States been relegated to the status of a quaint pre-Vatican II custom.
The gesture is most appropriate when greeting the Bishop of Rome, as well as any of his representatives. Simply put…baciamano is an exceptional sign of fidelity and obedience to the teaching authority of the Church that is vested in Peter’s successor. As Catholic faithful believers, we are all called to offer genuine prayers and affection to Benedict XVI as the physical embodiment of the authority of the Church.
While the topic doesn’t have anything to do with Catholic Sacred Art…there is a real requirement of artistic development needed to properly complete the baciamo.
In all it is all about the art of proclaiming fidelity to our Catholic heritage and the truths embodied in the Successor of Peter.
Lets bring back the baciamano…it shows the Catholic art of respect and obedience!

Technorati Profile

...from East to West a perfect offering to the glory of His name!!!

Most Catholics, especially American Catholics really don't think much about the religious art and architecture movement that exists in the Catholic Church today. For the most part, the weekly celebration of Eucharist that goes on in our parish communities is never really considered as the living expression of the Catholic Church's belief in Jesus Christ transformation of all human history. We are too busy fulfilling the obligation of Eucharistic participation and are incoherent to the vast artistic heritage that has reflected our exceptional faith since the Apostles. Perhaps some of this appreciation for the awesome mystery of the sacred is lost because of the 20th century desire to move away from religious expression and divine transcendence. Perhaps, it is the result of over zealous modernists that believed that in order to live a productive human life, the entire notion of liturgical worship and the ability of the human spirit towards transcendence was negated in our antiseptic attempts to rationalize God's Divine Being into examples of pragmatic and utilitarian architecture. Or perhaps, as is most likely, most believers really don't contemplate or actively seek a better comprehension of the mystery of God. Such a bleak perspective of human existence is something I am quite thankful is not part of my personal spiritual life.
Catholic worship through most especially it's Sacraments is extremely and acutely aware of signs and symbols of God's presence among us. Our Catholic Churches are living testimony to the living, growing and worshiping People of God that is assembled under its architectural and artistic arches. In the axiom of Saint Prosper...again and again the cry of, Lex Orandi, lex credendi is constantly heard in all of our sacramental and liturgical celebrations. We clearly pray as we believe in the Incarnational mystery of Jesus life, death and resurrection and our sacred spaces need to reflect our sacred attempt of prayer and adoration that reflects the glory of God.
There is a Renaissance of sorts going on throughout the Catholic world, that perhaps is not really revolutionary, but rather a realistic appreciation of our roots that reflects our historical, social and architectural roots. Recently, at the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the Holy Father celebrated the Liturgy of the Eucharist in the ad orientem, or to the East position, which echoed of a rich historical and liturgical heritage that was realized in Church architecture since antiquity. His actions, not only reflected the fact that the Eucharistic sacrifice was being offered in prayer, but acknowledged our long established appreciation for the transcendence of our sacred prayer, in the direction of the Rising sun, the East, the land of the Risen and glorified Jesus. Once again, the sign and symbol of this Eucharistic celebration was intended to clearly herald a message of liturgical and historical incorporation that the Church's art, architecture and even its sacred prayer is a reflection of the Paschal mystery of the Church, past present and future.
Our sacred spaces, our churches should not be considered as merely places of gathering or plain old assembly...they should be manifestations of the sacred presence that the Holy Eucharist offers to all believers that are awed by the power and majesty of God and his eternal mysteries. Far too often, our Catholic Churches are considered as "gathering spaces" and no appreciation of the awesome fact that..."et Verbum caro factum est et habitivat in nobis!" God dwells among us in our Catholic Churches in the Eucharistic species, and most importantly our Catholic Churches need to reflect this appreciation and understanding of the great gift of Eucharist Jesus presents daily to His Church.
The design and implementation of appropriate art and architecture in Catholic sacramental applications should most clearly illustrate our heritage that is rooted in the God of Abraham,with his sacred presence among us. Most importantly however, our sacred worship space should be a celebratory place of worship that calls the Catholic faithful to rich and solemn prayer.
It is especially significant that the trend of Church design has perhaps come to a more moderate perspective in terms of planning our sacred spaces. We are now enjoying a resurgence of the best points of design and artistic expression from both aspects of our liturgical heritage, the development of the Roman liturgy and enlightened incorporation of traditional art and architecture as part of our sacred celebrations. This movement significantly indicates to this author that there is a developing and growing appreciation of not only good liturgical expression through good liturgy; but also a resurgence of understanding of all of the signs and symbols available to enhance our sacred call to prayer.
Celebration of the Eucharist regardless of the orientation of the celebrant is the living prayer of a vibrant worshipping community, not just the ritual observation of a stagnant rite. Our celebrations and sacred worship rightly incorporates our artistic and ritual heritage into our Eucharistic celebration. There is a continuity that seems to be evolving among Catholic believers...namely that our worship of God is truly reflective of our entire spiritual and liturgical history. Such planning and design in our Church architecture is finally presenting an appreciation for the past and a pilgrim understanding of our present as it is revealed in our living and sacred future as the Kingdom of God continues to unfold.