“In aridity and emptiness the soul becomes humble. Former pride disappears when a man no longer finds anything in himself that might cause him to look down on others.” - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
Shown: Rood screen from the restored St. Teilo’s Church.
Roman Catholic art of the past.
The Archbishop of Canterbury reopened a fully restored medieval church from Pontarddulais near Swansea in Wales. It has been rebuilt, stone by stone in Cardiff as it originally stood in 1520. Story here.
What I find so interesting is the restoration of the 16th century frescoes, which were uncovered during the dismantling of the structure. It is an Anglican church now, yet the frescoes give us insight into the medieval art which decorated the Catholic churches of the time.
What I find most interesting, is how similar the Welsh frescoes are to the retablo art of the Spanish Colonial Southwestern United States. The vibrant colors and somewhat naive figures seem to be strikingly similar. I note this, because outside of Southwestern US culture, as well as collectors of Spanish Colonial art, few Catholics seem to have much appreciation for more primitive Spanish Colonial retablos and santos. Whereas icons from the Eastern Church continue to be a “trend” in popular Catholicism.
Shown: Reredos of “Las Trampas“, New Mexico
Perhaps the iconoclasm of the post-Vatican II Church is responsible for the great interest in Orthodox iconography, I’m not sure. You know, people craving sacred images and decoration in otherwise barren modern churches. Nevertheless it seems that many people have overlooked the wonderful heritage of Roman Catholic iconography which still survives in pristine condition in our own Southwest, namely in the mission churches of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and California.
Shown: Contemporary altar screen by Catherine Robles Shaw, Santera.
Santeros, as the artists are called who continue to paint Spanish Colonial retablos, are alive and well in the US Southwest and elsewhere in our country. The santeros carry on the ancient tradition of painting devotional images for churches and private use. The retablo is often painted on wood, although copper, tin and hide are also used. It is a truly Roman Catholic art form, and as the photos above demonstrate, reveal a continuity with the medieval art of the St. Teilo’s rood screen.
For more information visit the website of New Mexico State University.
Today is the feast of St. Margaret Mary.
The sacred heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure.
From this divine heart three streams flow endlessly. The first is the stream of mercy for sinners; it pours into their hearts sentiments of contrition and repentance. The second is the stream of charity which helps all in need and especially aids those seeking perfection in order to find the means of surmounting their difficulties. From the third stream flow love and light for the benefit of his friends who have attained perfection; these he wishes to unit to himself so that they may share his knowledge and commandments and, in their individual ways, devote themselves wholly to advancing his glory.
This divine heart is an abyss filled with all blessings, and into the poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need.
Are you making no progress in prayer? The you need only offer God the prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the altar. Offer God his fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness. In the course of every activity pray as follows: “My God, I do this or I endure that in the heart of your Son and according to his holy counsels. I offer it to you in reparation for anything blameworthy or imperfect in my actions.” Continue to do this in every circumstance of life.
But above all preserve peace of heart. This is more valuable than any treasure. In order to preserve it there is nothing more useful than renouncing your own will and substituting for it the will of the divine heart. In this way his will can carry out for us whatever contributes to his glory, and we will be happy to be his subjects and to trust entirely in him. - Letters of St. Margaret Mary
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