Catholic Sensibility

Let’s wrap up the discussion on “The Artist Within the Christian Community.”

§ 153 § A commission for a church or for worship affords artists an opportunity to join their creative gifts to those in a long history of artists who have placed their talents at the service of God and who have enriched the Church’s treasury of sacred art and architecture. “All artists who, in view of their talents, desire to serve God’s glory in holy Church should ever bear in mind that they are engaged in a kind of sacred imitation of God the Creator, and are concerned with works destined for use in Catholic worship and for the edification, devotion, and religious instruction of the faithful.”(SC 127)

§ 154 § The Church needs art and artists to communicate Christ’s message, and artists need the Church to inspire their investigations of the material world, their own inner lives, and the fabric of the community. Before an artist is selected, the parish will want to carefully consider and evaluate the artist and his or her work with the assistance of those best qualified to advise the community. Once a community has chosen artists to assist them in worship, they should give the necessary direction and then trust those they have selected. Artists deserve the independence appropriate to their gifts.

Imitation of God: very grave substance here, isn’t it? BLS 154 gives basic good advice on planning a commission. An artist’s work should be carefully examined. The internet affords easy access, but a real-life visit to an artist’s works may give insight with the setting and the personal aspect that is just not communicated through an electronic image. I think it is appropriate to seek advice from communities that have utilized an artist’s talent. It helps to get a window on the process others have employed, and if the artist has worked well with previous commissions.

All texts from Built of Living Stones are copyright © 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

The young miss with our younger cat. He cuddles unlike any other cat we’ve had. But he always has his eye out for prey.

It never would have happened a generation ago. But with the availability of worldwide information, news of an American bishop convicted of sex abuse cover-up is noted on the other side of the world. Here, UCA News, picking up David Gibson’s RNS piece on Bishop Finn, with a criminal record on the books, attending the Fall USCCB meeting. The first statement is true, and hadn’t occurred to me:

Bishop Finn still runs a diocese – yet he would not be allowed to teach in one of its Sunday schools.

SNAP is calling for him to resign, of course. That’s old news. Friday they called for him to stay home from tomorrow’s USCCB Fall meeting. I don’t think that’s the right tack. If they want him to resign, it might be that a few of his wiser elder brothers in the episcopate would give him good advice.

But I don’t think I want to see him resign. That’s where I’m leaning. I’m skeptical that a better bishop would be appointed. If the Church can’t have effective moderate and liberal bishops, maybe the diversity we need can come from a conservative with a damaged (if not toxic) rep.

The Christian believes that the Gospel provides for human liberation, peace, and a fulfillment of our destiny. This is an optimistic message as head to the concluding sections of Evangelii Nuntiandi, but they also place on all believers an important responsibility:

78. The Gospel entrusted to us is also the word of truth. A truth which liberates[Cf. Jn 8:32] and which alone gives peace of heart is what people are looking for when we proclaim the Good News to them. The truth about God, about (humankind) and (our) mysterious destiny, about the world; the difficult truth that we seek in the Word of God and of which, we repeat, we are neither the masters nor the owners, but the depositaries, the heralds and the servants.

We should temper expectations of ourselves by this news. Certainly, all believers should take their role as heralds and servants seriously. But … God is ultimately responsible. We do our best. Grace makes up the difference.

Every evangelizer is expected to have a reverence for truth, especially since the truth that (she or) he studies and communicates is none other than revealed truth and hence, more than any other, a sharing in the first truth which is God Himself. The preacher of the Gospel will therefore be a person who even at the price of personal renunciation and suffering always seeks the truth that (she or) he must transmit to others. (They) never betray or hide truth out of a desire to please (others), in order to astonish or to shock, nor for the sake of originality or a desire to make an impression. (They) do not refuse truth. (They) do not obscure revealed truth by being too idle to search for it, or for the sake of (their) own comfort, or out of fear. (They) do not neglect to study it. (They) serve it generously, without making it serve (the evangelizer).

Part of doing our best means preparing our humility (not being people-pleasers), our egos (not impressing others), our will (not refusing the truth), our courage (no fear), our minds (attending to study), and our hearts (serving others, not ourselves).

Individual affirmations for clergy:

We are the pastors of the faithful people, and our pastoral service impels us to preserve, defend, and to communicate the truth regardless of the sacrifices that this involves. So many eminent and holy pastors have left us the example of this love of truth. In many cases it was an heroic love. The God of truth expects us to be the vigilant defenders and devoted preachers of truth.

… for theologians:

(People) of learning- whether you be theologians, exegetes or historians- the work of evangelization needs your tireless work of research, and also care and tact in transmitting the truth to which your studies lead you but which is always greater than the heart of (a person), being the very truth of God.

… and for those who work with youth:

Parents and teachers, your task- and the many conflicts of the present day do not make it an easy one- is to help your children and your students to discover truth, including religious and spiritual truth.

More in the section on “The Artist Within the Christian Community.” Can an artist support Church liturgical practice and belief? These are important questions. Doctrine? The bishops add it, and on major points, I would agree.

§ 152 § Artists willing to accept commissions destined for a place of worship must be respectful and supportive of the doctrines, beliefs, and liturgical practices of the Church. They also should be knowledgeable about the traditional iconography and symbolism of Christian art. Artists who are genuinely in search of meaning in their work and in their lives will find a homeland for their souls since, in the realm of Christianity, the most vital personal and social questions are posed. Not only does the Bible provide a rich inventory of themes and ideas, but also artists who have envisioned these stories and images have offered unique perspectives on the heart of revelation itself and “this partnership has been a source of mutual spiritual enrichment.”(Letter to Artists 13)

I like what the Church offers artists: a homeland for the soul. This needs to be emphasized. Artists will appreciate a paycheck, but we also appreciate a place to call home.

All texts from Built of Living Stones are copyright © 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.