The Artist and the Church – Nicaea
“The composition of religious imagery is not left to the initiative of the artist, but is formed upon principles laid down by the Catholic Church and by religious tradition… The execution alone belongs to the painter, the selection and arrangement of subject belongs to the Fathers.” The above quote isContinue Reading
Saint Lawrence – Patron of Deacons
There is much more to Saint Lawrence than a witty mind and a sense of humor. He is a model for all the servants of the servants of the servants of God. Saint Lawrence is well known for having called out to his executioners, as he was being roasted alive,Continue Reading
The Artist as Storyteller
Storyteller is perhaps one of the most obvious roles of the artist. But when it comes to painters it is also one of the most maligned. As a people we seem to take endless delight into putting people into ever more specific categories. It is not enough to be anContinue Reading
Forward, Always Forward
“A Christian always looks forward, not back. Our entire existence here on earth is a journey towards Christ.” Are we constantly looking forward to the future or backward to the past? A Woman Taken in Adultery The Holy Gospel According to Saint John gives us an account of a womanContinue Reading
The Hero’s Journey of the Spirit, part XIV – Vocation
We now transition to the third phase our hero’s quest, Vocation. This part of our journey is all about giving back. If we have traveled the path this far we have undergone a tremendous transformation. Now it is time to return to where we started. This phase also has threeContinue Reading
The Call of the Artist
God never ceases to call each and every one of us. We are called to the same work, the same “Great Commission.” but we respond to that work in different ways according to our gifts. The Prodigal Son Do you remember the story of the Prodigal Son? In the parableContinue Reading
The Hero’s Journey of the Spirit, part XIII – The Prize
“Our reward, the treasure, the prize we have sought from the beginning is an encounter with the divine.” TRANSFORMATION We have defeated the Adversary, we have survived death, we have overcome our greatest spiritual challenge. We are transformed into a new state, emerging from battle stronger than we were before,Continue Reading
Art Is Not A Plaything
“Art is not a plaything, but an influence upon our lives, real and distinct.” – Wyke Bayliss We suffer from a surfeit of art. We are surrounded by it in all forms of expression every moment of our lives. It is so ubiquitous that it has become virtually invisible andContinue Reading
God is in the Miracles
Do you believe in miracles? On February 15, 1949, a construction worker named Giovanni Savino was severely injured in an accident involving dynamite. A doctor, Guglielmo Sanguinetti, Padre Raffaele, a capuchin, and a priest named Dominic Meyer all rushed to the injured man. All three noted that among Savino’s numerousContinue Reading
The Hero’s Journey of the Spirit, part XII – The Ordeal
Every good hero story builds up to a great ordeal, a battle with the villain. Our spiritual hero’s quest is no exception. The journey of the Spirit is an inward journey and the great battle we must win is often against our own fears and doubts. APPROACH Everything the heroContinue Reading