526. What relationship exists between truth, beauty and sacred art? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp 526 repetition) The truth is beautiful, carrying in itself the splendour of spiritual
beauty. In addition to the expression of the truth in words there are other
complementary expressions of the truth, most specifically in the beauty of
artistic works. These are the fruit both of talents given by God and of human
effort. Sacred art by being true and beautiful should evoke and glorify the
mystery of God made visible in Christ, and lead to the adoration and love of
God, the Creator and Savior, who is the surpassing, invisible Beauty of Truth
and Love.
“In brief”
(CCC 2513) The fine arts,
but above all sacred art, "of their nature are directed toward expressing
in some way the infinite beauty of God in works made by human hands. Their
dedication to the increase of God's praise and of his glory is more complete,
the more exclusively they are devoted to turning men's minds devoutly toward
God" (SC 122).
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2501) Created "in the
image of God" (Gen 1:26), man also expresses the truth of his relationship
with God the Creator by the beauty of his artistic works. Indeed, art is a distinctively human form of
expression; beyond the search for the necessities of life which is common to
all living creatures, art is a freely given superabundance of the human being's
inner riches. Arising from talent given by the Creator and from man's own
effort, art is a form of practical wisdom, uniting knowledge and skill (Cf. Wis
7:16-17), to give form to the truth of reality in a language accessible to
sight or hearing. To the extent that it is inspired by truth and love of
beings, art bears a certain likeness to God's activity in what he has created.
Like any other human activity, art is not an absolute end in itself, but is
ordered to and ennobled by the ultimate end of man (Cf. Pius XII, Musicae sacrae disciplina; Discourses of
September 3 and December 25, 1950).
Reflection
(CCC 2502) Sacred art is true and beautiful when its form corresponds to its
particular vocation: evoking and glorifying, in faith and adoration, the
transcendent mystery of God - the surpassing invisible beauty of truth and love
visible in Christ, who "reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp
of his nature," in whom "the whole fullness of deity dwells
bodily" (Heb 1:3; Col 2:9). This spiritual beauty of God is reflected in
the most holy Virgin Mother of God, the angels, and saints. Genuine sacred art
draws man to adoration, to prayer, and to the love of God, Creator and Savior,
the Holy One and Sanctifier. [END]
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