And I use “artists” broadly, like “creatives.” I think it’s the liturgy and the missionary impulse. In ancient and medieval Europe, the life of the parish was the life of the town. There is a clear rejection of three-dimensional religious art in Eastern Christianity, both among those who accept the Bishop of Rome’s universal jurisdiction, and those who do not. Nevertheless, the entire field of sacred art and architecture is rooted in the liturgies and theology of the apostolic Churches all over the world.
In many respects, apostolic Christianity in the strictest sense succeeds where its liturgies are celebrated, notwithstanding scores of people who are adherents, but wouldn’t know Jesus from a hole in the ground. That is, Divine Liturgy/Holy Mass is the fruit of the missionary impulse. To say this is unpopular today, to say the least. That impulse is colonization and domination, in the minds of some. I have no desire to coerce anyone, but “Lord” in Latin is “Dominus.” I would add that Catholicism hasn’t been nearly as oppressive as progressive ideology. Not on the worst day.
Some have a concern that the focus on fruitful dialogue with non-Catholics and non-Christians, as the fruit of the Second Vatican Council, is incompatible with the Catholic self-understanding of, “Outside the Church, there is no salvation.” I reject this. For one, salvation in Christ, and the gifts of Christ and the gift of Christ himself is what drives the missionary impulse. Dialogue and ecumenism rightly understood are aspects of the missionary impulse.
The Eucharistic Sacrifice is understood as the true union of Heaven and Earth in the adoration of the one true God. The true and best end of all people and creation itself is the adoration of God. The disciples of Jesus convince and persuade, as well as seek unity among themselves, because God commands all of that. All aspects of culture reflect the various talents of humanity made in God’s image. In fact, the word “culture” is bound up with and connected to the liturgy, the public adoration of God. To put it in ordinary terms, if anyone thinks I’m too scared to share my faith, you’re delightfully mistaken. I consider the gift of the Second Vatican Council to be one of the best I’ve received. Lumen Gentium in particular put words to my own experiences in being pulled toward full communion with the Church. “Paths of The Church” was an encyclical from the pope just twenty years or so prior. In it, he disputes the idea that the universal Church could be fundamentally invisible. One may as well argue that the Incarnate Word is invisible. I don’t waste energy badgering every Steve, Mike, Tom, John, and Sally about the Church. But false unity promises false rewards.
Anyway, the artifacts of Christian living should touch every human sense, and should help articulate every good human desire. Let especially beauty in all forms be apparent. If our hope itself is not beautiful, we’re hoping for the wrong thing. God is the perfection of every virtue. Every good thing overflows from His nature.
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