“The Church needs artists because the world needs artists to show it Beauty and to bring hope and joy into the world.” At the close of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pope Paul VI addressed the artists of the world. “We now address you, artists, who are taken up withContinue Reading
“The work of the artist assumes the role of a sacramental…helping us to attain the disposition necessary to receive God’s grace and allow grace to guide us in our work and our lives.” In 1952 Pope Pius XII addressed a group of Italian artists on the occasion of the sixthContinue Reading
“While the Council of Nicaea affirmed the validity of the use of sacred images, the Council of Trent defined the role of art in service to the Church.” As we recounted previously, the Council of Nicaea refuted the ideas of the iconoclasts, and affirmed the validity of the use ofContinue Reading
“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
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
In the Apostles Creed the Church professes the belief that when Jesus died upon the cross He descended into Hell. That idea may make some people uncomfortable. But it is an ancient belief that Jesus descended into Hell not as a victim, damned for all eternity, but as a conqueringContinue Reading
As Christians we are called to evangelization. We have been given the mission to spread the Gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. To that end Christian missionaries have traveled throughout the world, converting entire countries to the Faith. But Korea is an exception. It was not evangelizedContinue Reading
Cornelius, the Prefect of Rome, sat behind a table, shuffling papers, while before him stood Lawrence, last of the seven deacons. He regarded the prisoner with a certain amount of disdain. An edict, issued by the Emperor Valerian, declared that all bishops and high officials, who professed to follow JesusContinue Reading