“Advent is traditionally a period of fasting and prayer as we prepare ourselves for the great day of our salvation. But we must remember that it is also a time of joy and anticipation.” It is a time of testing, preparation, and joy. The Angel of the Desert In traditionalContinue Reading
When we talk about art that is appropriate to the liturgy, that is the visual arts of murals, frescos, icons, etc., we refer to the art that serves the liturgy. It may be the paintings and stained glass that help us direct our hearts and minds to the contemplation ofContinue Reading
Throughout his life, Fabio Chigi, known better to the world as Pope Alexander VII, lived with the specter of death. As a child he suffered from apoplexy so severe that at one point arrangements were made for his funeral. As Pope Alexander, it fell to him to suppress a pestilenceContinue Reading
It is not uncommon, even today, for an art historian or museum docent to attribute the use of heavy shadow in Baroque art to the “melancholy” mood of the artist. But this misses the point entirely. Baroque art was all about light, the light of Christ bringing truth to aContinue Reading