“God has given us all a role to fulfill, it is for us to choose whether or not we do so.” Henry III was the Holy Roman Emperor in the middle of the 11thcentury, ruling parts of western and central Europe. His kingdom included Germany, Burgundy, Bohemia, and northern ItalyContinue Reading
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. In traditional Christian imagery there is aContinue Reading
“We spend our lives in preparation, learning to make of ourselves a work of art worthy of God.” You may not recognize the name, Hokusai, but you have undoubtedly seen his work. Hokusai was a Japanese artist who lived during what is known as the “Edo Period” in Tokyo inContinue Reading
Our part is to “be vigilant at all times and pray.” This is our time of testing. Michelle Malkin is a well known journalist and social commentator. In a recent interview she told of how she temporarily lost sight of the “big picture” and the near tragedy that resulted. MichelleContinue Reading
“As artists, are we concerned more with the Kingdom of Men, or with the Kingdom of God?” We live in two worlds, the visible and the invisible, and we have a foot in each. The visible world is of earthly kingdoms where truth is relative and fleeting. The invisible worldContinue Reading
“Perhaps our greatest desire, often unexpressed, is to be at peace.” There is an old story about a king who had the habit of dressing in a disguise, mounting his horse and riding out late at night to survey his kingdom without all the attention and panoply that usually accompaniedContinue Reading
The architecture of the church therefore plays an important role in fostering a full, active, and conscious participation in the sacred liturgy. When it comes to the architecture of a church there is very little in Church teaching to guide us. This accounts for the wide variety in church designsContinue Reading
“Genuine sacred art draws man to adoration, to prayer, and to the love of God, Creator and Savior, the Holy One and Sanctifier.” In examining the specific directives of the Church when it comes to art, we should remember that art, like the music and architecture, is not just somethingContinue Reading
“music is not something added on as ‘extra.’ The music and hymns we sing in the Mass are all part of a holistic celebration.” When it comes to the Liturgy, what does the Church actually tell us about the role of music, and what guidelines does the ChurchContinue Reading
“Artists need the Church as much as the Church needs artists because it is in the Church that the Artists finds True Beauty and the meaning of their lives.” In November of 2009, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI addressed a gathering of artists from all over the world. In manyContinue Reading