Arts in Religion

The importance of art in religion.

Altar of Repose at immaculate Conception Church
 Cubao Cathedral

Last Thursday evening we join the Catholic Church all around the world in commemorating the the celebration of the last supper. One of the longest and lasting tradition of the Catholic church done during the evening of holy Thursday is the visita eglesia(church visit). Here once again we see the important role of art in religious worships. Art helps us in principle to meditate the existence of God. Art is not just important to catholics even the Buddhist have their Buddha statues, the Hindu have their Gods statue too like Krishna and other religions. These art forms serves the same purpose that is to help them to meditate better and to help them converse with their God.

Once I had a chance of attending a series of classes on philosophy of art, here one of the things we were tackling about was the importance of art in religious worship precisely. Pope John Paul II now Saint John Paul II wrote to the artist during the time of his pontificate and one of the things I greatly appreciate and I put in my heart is this idea "we can't (referring to all artists) make art for art sake". What does this means? This simply say that artist should not make art just for the sake of making art. Art should reflect also to the truth. Out imagination is so great that sometimes the things that are in it were not in conformity with the reality.

Every time I go out of town I always see lots of vandalisms along the highways. Once I had a chance of asking a person who likes to do such untidy things along the street walls and building fences. "Why do you make vandalism , do you think it's nice to look at this vandalism?",I ask him. Thanks God he didn't get annoyed with my question instead he told me with lots of enthusiasm and mockingly "art is beautiful, vandalism is an art therefore it is beautiful". Do you think vandalism is beautiful? If you day no with me then this is what  explains the message of Saint John Paul II to the artist.

Bring an artist is not infused to us,we need to make an effort and to give time to ourselves to learn and improve. Patience to ourselves is the best virtue we could use in artistry.

Next article is on "the art of food presentation"