Is Sacred Art the Authoritative Image of God? Should Pope Leo convene a council to recognize sacred art?
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The AnnunciationAngelico, Fra Copyright ©Museo Nacional del Prado |
The Catholic Church does not consider art to be "sacred and canonical" in the same way it considers Sacred Scripture to be sacred and canonical. While the Church recognizes the importance of sacred art in expressing faith and promoting worship, it views Sacred Scripture as the authoritative word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and therefore sacred and canonical
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The Council of Trent, held in 1546, was the first ecumenical council to definitively list the 73 books of the Catholic Bible as "sacred and canonical". This council reaffirmed the list previously established by earlier regional councils (like Hippo and Carthage) and the Pope Damasus. While Trent's decision was a formal decree, the Church had already recognized and accepted the 73 books as inspired by the Holy Spirit for centuries.
The myth that the Catholic Church discouraged Bible reading is just that. While it's true that the Church emphasized the importance of theological interpretation and approved translations, it has never forbidden private reading of the Bible. In fact, the Church has actively encouraged the reading and study of Scripture, especially through the liturgy of the Mass and the use of approved translations and Sacred art.
Catholic art is a vast and rich tapestry of visual expression, encompassing a wide range of styles and periods, all united by a shared faith and a desire to glorify God and convey religious truths. From ancient icons to contemporary installations, it has played a significant role in shaping the spiritual landscape of the Catholic Church and influencing Western art history
Some individuals find it difficult to understand the Bible for a number of reasons, including its complex language, diverse cultural contexts, and the need for spiritual discernment.
The Holy Spirit is essential for truly understanding God's Word. 1 Corinthians 2:14 states that the "natural man" cannot accept the things of the Spirit of God, as they are considered foolishness and require spiritual discernment, suggesting some individuals may lack the necessary spiritual awareness or readiness to grasp the deeper meanings of the Bible.
Can we not make the same argument about
Sacred art, as opposed to merely religious art? In his
Letter to Artists, Saint John Paul II seems to make the argument:
"To all who are passionately dedicated
to the search for new “epiphanies” of beauty so that through their creative work as artists they may offer these as gifts to the world.
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good
Through his “artistic creativity” man appears more than ever “in the image of God”, and he accomplishes this task above all in shaping the wondrous “material” of his own humanity and then exercising creative dominion over the universe which surrounds him. With loving regard, the divine Artist passes on to the human artist a spark of his own surpassing wisdom, calling him to share in his creative power." (Letter to Artists
The Saint John's Bible may be an example of religious art, as opposed to sacred art. It is the first completely handwritten and
illuminated Bible to be commissioned by a
Benedictine abbey since the
invention of the printing press. The project was headed by
Donald Jackson, and work on the manuscript took place in both
Wales and
Minnesota. Work on the 1,100 page Bible began in 1998 when it was commissioned by the Benedictine monks at
Saint John's University, and was completely finished in December 2011 at a total cost of over $8 million. The Saint John's Bible is divided into seven volumes and is two feet tall by three feet wide when open. The book is written on
vellum by
quill, containing 160 illuminations across its seven volumes, and uses the
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE) of the Bible. A copy of The Saint John's Bible has been presented to the
Pope at the
Vatican in several volumes, with the final volume presented on April 17, 2015
Then there is the Threshold of Belief: we all carry our own spiritual and psychological baggage: some individuals may approach the Bible with their own biases or preconceived notions, which can hinder their ability to understand its teachings objectively. Some may selectively interpret verses to fit their existing beliefs or agendas, rather than seeking to understand the text in its full context.
Arguably, understanding the Bible requires a combination of spiritual receptivity, intellectual effort, and an awareness of its historical and cultural contexts. While some may find it challenging to discern God's Word, others may have a more natural inclination or may have received the Holy Spirit's guidance that enables them to understand and apply its teachings
Take for instance Saint Jerome. He was above all a Scripture scholar, translating most of the Old Testament from the Hebrew. Jerome also wrote commentaries which are a great source of scriptural inspiration for us today. He was an avid student, a thorough scholar, a prodigious letter-writer and a consultant to monk, bishop, and pope. Saint Augustine said of him, “What Jerome is ignorant of, no mortal has ever known.”
On the other side of the spectrum is Catherine of Siena. Catherine of Siena was of low social status, uneducated, illiterate, from an ordinary family who in the course of a very short life, became an object of fascination to thousands and a counselor to kings, queen and popes. Though she never studied theology and never learned formally to read and write, she came to be recognized as Doctor of the Church and a master of the spiritual life.
St. Catherine is a true theologian as evidenced in Pope St. Paul VI declaring her a Doctor of the Church in 1970 - although her theology is not of the usual scholastic or academic type, it unfolds through a series of images and metaphors, some staples of the mystical tradition, others remarkably original and unusual. For individuals like Carherine, this enables them to interpret Scripture aright. This is how Catherine understood the extraordinary capacities of Jerome, Augustine and Thomas Aquinas: they were not simply learned, for many learned people know how to read the Bible. But this intimacy with God always flow over into active service. This is the Christian difference that separates Catherine from pagans like Plato or Plotinus. The highest ascent is always accompanied by most humble descent into love of one's neighbor. "The glory of God is a human being fully alive" - St. Irenaeus
Saint Catherine's mystical connections to the heavenly world - a Catherine of Siena Transform of sorts, if you will - analogous to the
Laplace transform in mathematics. The Laplace transform is useful for converting
differentiation and
integration in the time domain into much easier
multiplication and
division in the Laplace domain. On the Catherine of Siena Transform, she can go from the time-space domain, to the heavenly domain: she spoke to Christ, Mary and other saints as casually as one friend talks to another. She also witnesses to the deeply biblical truth that the heavenly world and this world are not separated by a terrible gulf but rather interact and interpenetrate. Jesus' great prayer Includes the petition: "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" Matt 6:10 Catherine knew that in her bones. Bishop Robert Barron,
The Pivotal Players
Before Gutenberg's printing press, a hand-copied Bible was a rare and expensive luxury. It could cost the equivalent of several thousand dollars in modern currency, or even more. This high price was due to the time and labor required for skilled scribes to copy the text on parchment, as well as the cost of materials like vellum (treated animal skin). On the other hand, Michelangelo was
paid 3,000 ducats for his work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. This amount is estimated to be equivalent to at least $100,000 in today's currency. Five hundred years later, Michelangelo's sacred art is still in use!
Sacred art, like Sacred Scriptures, is not natural or religious art. The Holy Spirit is essential for truly understanding God's Word, through art, whereas eligious art is artwork inspired by religious themes and motifs, often created to evoke a spiritual experience. It can include various forms like paintings, sculptures, architecture stained glass, mosaics, and even liturgical objects like vessels and vestments. All aiming to inspire awe, foster a connection to the divine, and enrich the spiritual life of individuals and communities.
Churches built in modern times with few exceptions, place less of an emphasis on sacred or religious art, than churches built in the past. Award-winning for concrete construction, Holy Redeemer Parish, in Vancouver, WA is an example: the ubiquitous stained glass is limited.
On the other hand, the Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glen, IL, is covered with religious art, courtesy of Fr. Thomas Loya, also known as ‘The Michelangelo of the Midwest.' Fr. Loyola sees religious art as a sacrament, because sacraments make invisible, transcendent realities visible and tangible. .."we can enter into the mystery of the invisible God and of His truth. Through art we do that. You’re essentially communicating the truth, the Church’s teaching, the Scripture, and so on. We get the Word of God by reading images, by reading print on a page. That’s the Bible, the communicated Word of God. Well, this is communicating the word of God through line and color.”
Fr. Loya also explained that sacred art in churches is particularly important, because it helps us to more fully enter into the reality of what is taking place at each Mass.
Visio Divina
Visio Divina is Latin for “divine seeing.” It's the practice of using silence and sacred image or work of art to help worshipers reflect and respond to God in ways other than listening to a sermon or singing praise songs.
By incorporating art into prayer, visio divina invites us to bring our sense of sight as well as our imagination into our relationship with God. Visio divina usually involves Visio: looking at the image. Meditatio: Being attentive to God's Word. Oratio: Praying from the heart. Contemplatio: Resting in God's presence.
In his Rosary in a Year Podcast, father Mark-Mary previously introduced praying with Lectio Divina, the Ladder of Monks.
Lectio Divina, “Divine Reading”, refers to an approach to prayer and scripture reading practiced by monastics since the early Church.
In Day 129 Father Mark-Mary introduces Visio Divina
Father Mark-Mary uses a different artist for the five Joyful Mysteries, starting with Fra Angelico's The Annunciation, Rembrandt's The Visitation, Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini's Nativity, Giulio Campi' The Presentation, to pray using visio divina. He first introduces the artist, then a description of the art used to meditate upon, followed with reciting a decade of the Rosary
Father's description of the art pieces is extremely useful, as I'm not sure that by looking at the sacred Art, I would come with with the nuances, reminiscent of Bishop Barron's description Michelangelo's the Pietà . Bishop Robert Barron in his Book
Pivotal Players includes Michelangelo as one and explains the challenge we face when trying to appreciate widely known art: "A serious problem in approaching any of Michelangelo's great works is that they become so familiar, so iconic, that we convince ourselves too easily that we already know them - along the lines of familiarity breeds contempt, as in Mark 6:1 Pietà is case in point. Bishop Barton goes on to describe Michelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel and the Pietà . In this case, it may not be famiarity, but more like discernment, not unlike being able to understand Sacred Scripture, as previously mentioned.
Ascension’s Rosary in a Year podcast features artwork descriptions as part of its visio divina (sacred seeing) meditations, which are included to deepen listeners’ engagement with the Rosary’s mysteries. The artwork used for these meditations is sourced from various sacred art pieces, often classic or historical Catholic works, such as paintings or mosaics, that depict scenes from the lives of Jesus and Mary. Specific examples mentioned include Vicente Masip’s painting of Judas during the Agony in the Garden, Giacomo Raffaelli’s mosaic of the Last Supper, and a mosaic of the Finding in the Temple from the Rosary Basilica at Lourdes.
While Ascension doesn’t explicitly detail the process of selecting or describing the artwork in the provided sources, it’s likely that the descriptions are crafted by the podcast’s host, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, and the Ascension team, drawing from their knowledge of sacred art and its spiritual significance. The descriptions are designed to guide listeners in reflecting on the visual elements of the artwork, connecting them to the Rosary’s mysteries and themes. These artworks are compiled in the Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide, a 280-page companion book that includes full-color images of the visio divina art, along with Scripture passages, saint reflections, and other materials.
The artwork itself appears to be curated from public domain sources, museum collections, or religious institutions, as is common for sacred art used in Catholic media. The
See Ascension-provided sources below.
Sacred Art Mentioned in Fr. Mark-Mary's RIY pocast
is known for its piety and beauty, features scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and various saints. He focused on themes of prayer, meditation, and contemplation, often portraying the Annunciation as a central theme, representing the Incarnation of Christ. Angelico's work also included depictions of the Crucifixion and the Passion of Christ, as well as portraits of Dominican saints, showcasing the values of the order.
Key Elements of Fra Angelico's Sacred Art:
• Religious Themes: Angelico primarily focused on depicting biblical scenes, particularly those related to Christ, Mary, and the saints.
• Emphasis on Faith: His art aimed to evoke empathy and devotion in the viewer, highlighting the importance of prayer, meditation, and contemplation in the spiritual life.
• The Annunciation: A central theme, representing the beginning of salvation and the Incarnation of Christ.
• The Crucifixion: Depicted to evoke empathy and devotion, showcasing the significance of Christ's sacrifice.
• Virgin Mary: Celebrated as a model of humility, obedience, and maternal love.
• Dominican Saints: Portraits promoted the values and teachings of the Dominican Order.
• Monastic Settings: His art served as visual aids for religious instruction and inspiration, especially in monastic contexts.
Rembrandt van Rijn,
a prominent figure in
Dutch Golden Age painting, is known for his powerful and emotionally charged religious art. He explored biblical themes with depth and conviction, using his distinctive style of
chiaroscuro and dramatic lighting to convey the stories of the Bible.
Rembrandt's Religious Art:
"The Storm on the Sea of Galilee":This iconic painting depicts a dramatic moment from the Bible, capturing the storm and Jesus calming the waters.
"The Hundred Guilder Print":A seminal etching that summarizes many passages from Matthew's Gospel, showcasing Rembrandt's skill and his deep engagement with religious texts.
"The Return of the Prodigal Son":A poignant and moving depiction of the biblical parable, illustrating Rembrandt's ability to convey the depth of human emotion.
Other Biblical Scenes:Rembrandt created numerous paintings, drawings, and etchings exploring other biblical stories.
(29 April 1675 – 2 or 5 November 1741) was one of the leading Venetian history painters of the early 18th century. His style melded the Renaissance style of Paolo Veronese with the Baroque of Pietro da Cortona and Luca Giordano.
painted "The Presentation in the Temple," a biblical scene depicting Jesus' presentation at the temple after his birth. This painting is part of a fresco cycle within the Cremona Cathedral. The scene is filled with people, and Mary's focus on Jesus is highlighted even amidst the commotion.
Campi's style is known for its Mannerist qualities, which include elongation of figures, stylized facial features, and sometimes exaggerated or contrived poses.
The painting captures the bustling scene of the temple, with figures conversing, looking towards the viewer, and Simeon leaning back with his eyes closed. Mary, however, is depicted with her eyes fixed on Jesus.
The painting offers a visual representation of a key biblical event and also showcases Campi's artistic style and technique.
Resources
The University of Portland has
videos based on The Saint John’s Bible. a great place to start praying using visio divina.
The Catholic Home Gallery contains eighteen removable works which can be hung easily at home. The artwork, depicting saints and Our Lady, not only provides beautiful art for the home, but also include some brief facts about the saint.
Examples of Notable Artists and Works:
Michelangelo:
Famous for his Sistine Chapel ceiling, a masterpiece of the Renaissance that depicts biblical scenes. Caravaggio:
A Baroque master known for his dramatic use of light and shadow in scenes like the Calling of St. Matthew. Bernini:
A Baroque sculptor and architect, famous for his sculptures like the Ecstasy of St. Teresa. El Greco:
A Spanish painter known for his distinctive style and religious themes, including the Deposition of Christ. Fra Angelico:
A Renaissance painter known for his frescoes in the monastery of San Marco in Florence.
Catholic Composers/Muscians
https://artincontext.org/famous-religious-paintings/
https://www.catholiccompany.com/magazine/12-religious-paintings-meanings-5758
https://prayerideas.org/christian-meditation-using-art/
https://www.christiancentury.org/john-kohan
http://sacredartpilgrim.com/
http://sacredartpilgrim.com/pilgrims-progress
https://www.glencairnmuseum.org/newsletter/2024/5/16/cardboard-chronicles-the-biblical-art-of-rudolph-bostic
https://artandtheology.org/tag/john-kohan/
https://www.eastern.edu/eastmeetswest
https://imagejournal.org/article-tags/john-a-kohan/
http://sacredartpilgrim.com/pilgrims-progress
http://sacredartmeditations.com/
https://relevantradio.com/2019/01/the-importance-of-sacred-art/
Rosary in a Year Podcast Sources
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