Sacred Art

[tcheramie]

I am thinking of doing an article or perhaps even a documentary on how Christians, particularly we Catholics, use art (art, music, architecture etc…) to aid in evangelization. I’ve been throwing some ideas around as to what to call it. I want it to stand out, to pique interest and to convey a sense of what the program will be about. So what do you think I should call it?

Incidentally I am leaning towards calling it The Sensual Gospel because I believe that name will incite more people to look harder at what the article is about but I want to gauge the propriety of naming it that without causing any kind of scandal.

 

[Franciscan]

The Ancient Art of Evangelization.

Would be a fitting tittle since the earliest Christians used art as the primary form of catechesis due to the lower literacy rate and ancient way of life.

There is an excellent quarterly publication called The Sower(out of Maryvale, England and soon Franciscan University, Ohio). It is a catechetics magazine that always has a magnificent centerfold of Christian art. It gives tiips on how to use it as a teaching(evangelizing) tool.

 

[0kogipan]

Making Sense of Faith

Art has to be made, then it appeals to the senses to connect to the faith. (probably not the best of suggestions).

 

[tcheramie]

As Catholics we live in a world that bombards our senses. You walk into a church, you hear bells, you hear choral music, or perhaps (even better) silence. The walls are glittered with beautiful light colored by the stained glass windows, ahead of you… drawing you in is the Altar and behind it the gold chest of the tabernacle. The whole structure focuses you upon it. In the air is the faint scent of incense and melted candle wax. You dip your hand into the cool water to bless yourself.

Going to Church is a complete sensory experience and this is something fitting for the worship of the God of creation. It magnifies this reality: We were created by the glorious Creator of the Universe. The original author of all things beautiful and sacred. It is fitting that when we are gathered to worship that we seek to emphasise that reality through these means.

 

[urban-hermit]

Truth
and
Beauty

Whaddaya think, eh? Eh? It’s good, right?

Sorry for the late contribution - I finally made my way out of serious mode on other forums and just saw this thread.

A friend of mine once quoted St Thomas Aquinas as saying “We should wrap the truth in beauty.” I think this is what the Church has always sought to do with sacred art.

Also there’s that old … i dunno whether it is a saying or a snippet of a poem – but it goes: “Beauty is truth, truth beauty. That is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”

Good luck with your project