Beacon Of Light… How Sacred Art Aids Our Spiritual Journey
By FR. RICHARD D. BRETON JR.
(Editor’s Note: Fr. Richard D. Breton Jr. is a priest of the Diocese of Norwich, Conn.)
- + + Last week I shared with you the USCCB’s vision of the Eucharistic Revival, and the four pillars needed for its success. The second pillar of the revival involves our contemplation of truth, goodness, and beauty in our love for the Eucharist. Today I want to reflect upon the prominence sacred art has in our journey of faith.
What is art? Art is an inspiration, occurring in the artist, that evokes a response. Every artist begins with a blank canvas, a marble block, or a mound of clay. Whatever material is used, it may look like nothing special, but soon there emerges something beautiful. The ordinary is transformed into a masterpiece for all to admire.
For centuries artists have tried to inspire the human mind and heart. One artist who comes to mind is Michelangelo. Michelangelo is known for many masterpieces, but none can compare to the Sistine Chapel. Have you ever visited the Sistine Chapel? As we gaze at the ceiling, we see the Creation of Adam. This marvelous painting depicts the finger of God touching the finger of Adam. The finger of God touches humanity!
In May of 2013, my family and I visited Rome. We visited many historic landmarks and enjoyed all Rome has to offer. One of the most memorable moments of our trip was visiting the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. As I entered the Sistine Chapel I was overwhelmed with emotion. I could not believe I was standing in that sacred and holy place gazing up at one of the most beautiful paintings of all time. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is a magnificent reminder of God’s love for us and His Church.
His Presence In Our Midst
God reveals Himself to us in so many beautiful ways. Each day is a reminder of God’s majesty! We might hear the melodic sound of the birds singing, or see the simplicity of the animals around us. Maybe it is the clap of thunder or the bolt of lightning or the warm breezes that pass by; all of these are reminders of the Lord’s presence in our midst.
Two years ago, I went on a wonderful vacation, and it was quite an adventure. I treated myself to a land and sea tour of Alaska. What a wonderful choice! After the long non-stop flight from Boston, I arrived in Anchorage to begin my great adventure. I immediately found myself immersed in the beauty surrounding me.
The white-capped mountains were stunning, like a picturesque postcard. As I inhaled, I noticed clean fresh air filling my lungs. My adventure also included the wilderness at Denali National Park. My visit to Denali National Park was very impressive! I saw various animals, including big burly brown bears. I have never been that close to a bear before, or any other wild animal. It was amazing! As I looked at these creatures, I was reminded of how God gave us animals as a gift for our enjoyment. The beauty was unimaginable.
As we concluded the land portion of our tour, we traveled by train down to Whittier, Alaska, by the sea. Arriving in Whittier, we boarded our cruise ship to begin the sea portion of our tour. I really love cruising! It is a great way to vacation, but this cruise was unlike any other I have experienced. We traveled through Glacier National Park, and I saw the amazing glaciers formed hundreds of years ago.
One glacier impressed me the most. Hubbard Glacier is a 400-year-old formation of blue ice that has an expanse of six miles. We slowly inched our way toward this majestic creation as its massiveness hovered over us. I could not believe what I was seeing as I gazed at one of the greatest wonders of the world. While exploring Glacier National Park we also came upon a pod of whales. While we watched from the deck, the humpback whales were breaching in the water, almost performing for our amusement: so close to another one of God’s magnificent creatures! Absolutely Amazing!
No More Night
The culmination of my exploration happened in a very simple moment. At night I had trouble sleeping and decided to take a walk up on deck. It was the middle of the night. As I walked around outside, I saw the most picturesque display of the northern lights. The amazing colors dancing around the sky. Before my eyes was a heavenly symphony of divine light! The heavens were dancing with joy!
I was reminded of the passage in the Book of Revelation where it says: “There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5).
The beauty of the Northern Lights reminded me that the light of Christ is always around us.
Worldly distractions close our eyes to the wonderful artistry God has placed before us. If we could only refocus our eyes to the beauty of God in everything! What if we looked for Him in the truth, goodness, and beautiful things of life? Then maybe we would recognize the beautiful gifts given to us.
Remember how the angels heralded the birth of the Savior? There were trumpet blasts and choirs of angel who sang: “Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth, Peace to People of Good Will.” The sound of the choirs of angels opened the eyes of the shepherds and their hearts were filled with joy, and they sought out the newborn King.
Remember the manifestation of the Star? The Star brought the Wise Men to Bethlehem. It rose before them and traveled until it rested upon the place where the Child Jesus was. The Wise Men prostrated themselves and offered their gifts to the newborn King. In the end the shepherds and the Magi were transformed because they recognized that the only place truth, goodness, and beauty existed was in the face of the Christ Child.
So often during the struggles of our lives, we fail to see God’s beauty around us. And sometimes, these struggles trick us into believing we are alone in the wilderness of life. We are never alone, because the Lord uses ordinary things to remind us of His extraordinary love for us.
He may use Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam to remind us of the finger of God touching humanity. It may be in the beauty of the white-capped mountains of Alaska, or in the simplicity of animal life around us, like the breaching of a whale as if performing only to bring us joy. Maybe we have questioned the final moments in life and the symphony of the northern lights reminds us of the simple beauty of God and our place in Heaven. Sometimes life has ups and downs, like the ups and downs of a mountain range.
The humpback whales that appear and disappear in an instant remind us of how we sometimes fail to see the beauty of God around us. In order, however, to see the truth, goodness, and beauty of God, we need to recognize all three of these exist in us too.
We are made in the image and likeness of God, and so the truth, goodness and beauty of God exist within us. Since these attributes are of God, and within us, they keep us leaning in the direction of the Heavenly Kingdom. As children of God, we are journeying to Him who is Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, keeping our minds and hearts focused on Him!
