Category Archives: Art

Susanna the Just

Posted on 9 April 2011 by

Just a heads up if you’re not going to Mass regularly this Lent, one of the best Old Testament stories is coming up in the Lectionary on Monday. Rembrandt von Rijn depicts his usual characters in the spotlight, except the … Continue reading →

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“I have seen the figure of Christ.”

Posted on 16 March 2011 by

I wanted to share a blind parishioner’s encounter with our new processional crucifix. The pastor related it to me: She heard that there was a new processional crucifix.  Probably her husband John described it to her.  She asked me if it … Continue reading →

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Processional Crucifix Arrives!

Posted on 7 March 2011 by

Artist Jeremy Rudd delivered our new processional crucifix yesterday before 10:30 Mass. You can access last week’s post here, including the post-homily blessing. We have a gallery of images from the liturgy as well as of the cross on our parish … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Liturgy, Parish Life | 4 Comments

Processional Crucifix

Posted on 3 March 2011 by

When my current parish renovated over a decade ago, they commissioned a Great Cross (pictured well here when we hosted the Rite of Election a few years ago), in which a processional cross functions as an insert. The original plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Liturgy, Parish Life | 3 Comments

Murals That “Detract” From Christ

Posted on 15 October 2010 by

Do murals have a place in Catholic churches? Does the fact that Michelangelo’s art adorns the Sistine Chapel, for example, “detract” from the celebration of Mass there? Could be a good thing that Fr. Benito Hernandez isn’t in Rome. Fr … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Church News, Ministry | 5 Comments

Working In Two Worlds

Posted on 5 September 2010 by

Australia’s CathNews reports on Leonard Brown, an Orthodox priest, winning his nation’s top award for religious art. The Sydney Morning Herald has some images, including a close-up, as well as a more in-depth story. Fr Brown also draws icons. These … Continue reading →

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Oil Containers

Posted on 25 June 2010 by

I’ve blogged about my parish’s ambry before, but I don’t think I’ve ever show you the close-ups of the oil vessels. They look rather smudgy. I took these images from my cell phone early in Holy Week before they were … Continue reading →

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Sainthood As Art

Posted on 27 December 2009 by

Neil is correct to press me for an affirmative response to the question, “What are saints for?” I cannot criticize in others the hermeneutic of subtraction without offering something positive from my own encounters with the saints. After some reflection … Continue reading →

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Should Liturgy Be Easy or Hard?

Posted on 4 December 2009 by

On the thread “Getting Anything Out of Liturgy,” Chris offered some commentary, a few points of which deserve highlighting. There is nothing in this photo which communicates that this is a Catholic church, or a Mass. Does the church setting bear … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Liturgy | 16 Comments

Inviting Artists: Why Only The Pope?

Posted on 11 September 2009 by

Google News reports the first papal invitation in 45 years to convene artists for a meeting. Nice locale: the sublime setting of the Sistine Chapel. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, said the Roman Catholic … Continue reading →

Posted in Art | 5 Comments

Bella Gaia

Posted on 18 August 2009 by

This will be way cool when it hits theaters and planetaria. Check out the Bella Gaia site. The sample above features input from various satellites and space probes employing timelapse effects and image enhancements to point out amazing things like … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Astronomy, film | Leave a comment

Merton on Architecture

Posted on 18 August 2009 by

Thanks to my summer sojourn with Robert Barron’s The Strangest Way, I’ve been reintroduced to the writing of Thomas Merton. My wife gave me The Sign of Jonas a number of years ago, and Fr Barron’s praise for Merton’s epilogue … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, spirituality | 5 Comments

An Artsy Contest

Posted on 24 July 2009 by

Crescat takes aim at the exterior of my church. One commenter thought it was a headscratcher. Is there supposed to be something wrong with #38? I wonder who nominated us? One of my parishioners wasn’t too happy when I told … Continue reading →

Posted in Art | 5 Comments

Church Art

Posted on 10 January 2009 by

Now that I have my cell phone camera-to-internet-to-computer connection reestablished, let me give you a peek at my new parish. When the church was expanded and renovated about a decade ago, an icon was put into the niche under the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Parish Life | 1 Comment

O Emmanuel

Posted on 23 December 2008 by

O Emmanuel, ruler and lawgiver, desire of the nations, savior of all people:     Come and set us free, Lord our God.     (The angel presents the crown)

Posted in Art, Parish Life, spirituality | Leave a comment