What Do We Give Up For God?
In ancient Judea a donkey was a very valuable commodity. It was transportation, it carried loads, and it helped to cultivate the land. It was often a person’s prized possession. A donkey that had never been ridden was especially valuable, much like we value a new car that has neverContinue Reading
Servants of God
Imagine you and a friend are at an art museum. You stop in front of a particularly beautiful painting of a sunset. But you don’t see just see sunset, you see the light of God illuminating His creation. This leads you to meditate upon the nature of the created world,Continue Reading
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph ©Lawrence Klimecki Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Church, Protector of Priests, Terror of Demons, pray for us Continue Reading
Do We Trust in God?
Traditionally the fifth Sunday of Lent was referred to as Passion Sunday. Nowadays Palm Sunday shares this designation. But still, with today’s readings we shift our focus to the coming Passion. We do this because the Lord shows us it is the proper time to do so. Some Greeks wishContinue Reading
Laetare Sunday
There was a time when the Lenten fast was much more severe than it is today. We can get an idea of just how severe from observing the current traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church. As they get closer to Easter the scope of the fast expands. By the beginningContinue Reading
The Artist as Teacher – quote
Either teach not, or teach by your way of life, Lest with one hand you draw them, and with the other repel them. You will entreat less by speech, doing what is needed;The painter teacheth better by his pictures. –Saint Gregory Nazianzus, doctor of the ChurchContinue Reading
Art Demands an Artist – quote
“Art demands an artist. Random chance has never explained a waltz or a symphony, a physical equation or an epic poem. It cannot.” -Fr. Thomas Dubay “The Evidential power of Beauty”Continue Reading
The Function of Art, Pope Pius XII
In 1952 Pope Pius XII addressed a group of Italian artists he received in audience. The entire address is only 15 very short paragraphs but of great value for artists struggling in the darkness of the secular world looking for a light to guide them. The Function of Art 1.Continue Reading
The Church and the Artist – Council of Trent
“Moreover, that the images of Christ, of the Virgin Mother of God, and of the other saints, are to be had and retained particularly in temples, and that due honour and veneration are to be given them; not that any divinity, or virtue, is believed to be in them, onContinue Reading
Gifts and Talents
In the parable of the talents (Mt 25:14-30) three men receive large sums of money from their master who then departs on a long journey. When he returns he calls each of the men to give an account of their stewardship over his gifts to them. While two of theContinue Reading