Statuary serves its role in the church primarily through the Crucifix: prominently displayed in almost every sanctuary and Catholic home. Although there are some statues of the Risen Christ, they do not find nearly as much prominence (and we won’t even speak of the attempts to combine the imagery of Read more…
“God is dead and we have killed him.” Nietzsche is right once a year. The horror of the death of Christ for our sins, marred beyond recognition, and the responsibility we bear for this suffering, should touch us deeply. Although the terror of the death of God gives way to Read more…
Giovanni Battista Draghi (1710-36), known simply as Pergolesi, died far too young. It may be fitting, therefore, that he is known for his musical setting of the Stabat Mater, the hymn we know mostly from the Stations of the Cross. Its emotional and spiritual power may derive, in part, from Read more…
I chose this painting by Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) as the first of many artifacts of Catholic culture through which I will explore Catholic cultural literacy. It certainly is not one of the most important works of Catholic art, but it represents an important concept for Catholic culture: the breaking of Read more…