Corpus Christi, Obedience, and the Artist
“The Apostles obey because it is Jesus who asks them.” G.K. Chesterton gives us a wonderful example of the freedom that comes with obedience to authority. “We might fancy some children playing on the flat grassy top of some tall island in the sea. So long as there was aContinue Reading
The Gothic Style: Corpus Christi
“…at the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist” The Mystical Supper The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi, was formalized in the 13th century. It commemorates the establishment of the sacrament of the Eucharist. But love for theContinue Reading
How Do We Measure Success?
“success … takes a life time to achieve, it takes patience.” Think back to the best times of your life, those experiences you always carry with you. These are the memories you cherish. Were there other people there with you? Now think back to the worst times, those days whenContinue Reading
The Gothic Style: The Most Holy Trinity
There is a longstanding discussion among sacred artists regarding whether or not the Holy Trinity should be represented in art and if so what is the most appropriate way to do so. The Iconographic The argument against representing the Trinity usually centers around God the Father. The second person ofContinue Reading
The Unifying Role of the Arts
“The arts are perhaps the most universal language we have.” The love between God the Father and God the Son is so strong that it forms a third person, the Holy Spirit. As the Son is the one who reveals to us the Father, Jesus is our entrance into thisContinue Reading
The Gothic Style: Pentecost
“How can sacred art, in the Gothic tradition, emphasize the act of bringing God’s scattered people together?” From the Book of the Acts of the Apostles: “And when the days of Pentecost were completed, they were all together in the same place. And suddenly, there came a sound from heaven,Continue Reading
Praise God, Always
“May we praise God always in word and deed.” Christ has ascended to heaven and is no longer visible to us. But He is still present through His Body the Church. He feels pain when the Church suffers. There are two seasons centered on the feast of the Resurrection ofContinue Reading
The Gothic Style: The Ascension
“By His Ascension He is now always everywhere.” The Ascension of the Lord is a Solemnity in the calendar of the Church, a feast-day of the highest rank. By the 11th century several different patterns had developed to depict the event. The elements common to all the compositions are theContinue Reading
Inner Peace and the Artistic Temperament
“the great tragedy of the artistic temperament is that it cannot produce any art.” As Jesus continues to prepare his followers for the time when He will no longer be visible, He imparts to us a great gift, peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.”Continue Reading
The Last Judgement – Gothic and Neo Gothic
“Depictions of the Last Judgement in the neo-Gothic, are striking for what they leave out.” The Salisbury Doom One of the most prevalent Western iconographic images is “The Last Judgement.” In England these were called “Doom” paintings and often adorned the west wall of the church. This is the doorContinue Reading