Category Archives: Beauty Will Save the World

“The ill health of religion in the world is attributable to its dearth of creativity.”

Incarnation For every lofty idea You need a lowly idea. For every hope and aspiration You need a circumstance and situation. For every spirit that rises You need a spirit made flesh. …At the beginning of God in Search of Man, Jewish philosopher, Abraham Heschel notes that religion can sometimes be its own worst enemy.Continue reading ““The ill health of religion in the world is attributable to its dearth of creativity.””

iMonk Classic: “Lo, How a Rose” — Experiencing the Power of Beauty

Note from CM: This is one of the first posts by Michael Spencer that I remember commenting on, back in 2008. He touched an area of my life that has always been precious: the profound joy of choral music, especially during the Advent and Christmas seasons. In my comment, I wrote, “There is a combinationContinue reading “iMonk Classic: “Lo, How a Rose” — Experiencing the Power of Beauty”

Scott Lencke: Space and Place: In the Aftermath of Notre Dame

Scott Lencke Space and Place: In the Aftermath of Notre Dame This past week the world learned of the fires that burst aflame in the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris. There have been a lot of responses across the spectrum, both amongst religious and non-religious folk. I myself have been interested in the response ofContinue reading “Scott Lencke: Space and Place: In the Aftermath of Notre Dame”

Daniel Jepsen: The Two Pietàs, Part 2

Yesterday’s post examined the spiritual aspect of Michelangelo’s great Roman Pietà. In particular, we noted how the two figures appear idealized [despite their sorrow], reflecting the Neo-Platonic ideals of beauty on earth reflecting God’s beauty; the beautiful figures of the Virgin Mary and Jesus are echoing the beauty of the Divine. Michelangelo was not strivingContinue reading “Daniel Jepsen: The Two Pietàs, Part 2”

Daniel Jepsen: The Two Pietàs, part 1

In June of 1496 a 21-year-old sculptor arrived in Rome and within a month received a commission: a statue of the Roman wine god Bacchus, for Cardinal Raffaele Riario. However, the work was rejected by the cardinal, and the young sculptor began to look for another commission. Soon the French ambassador to the Holy See,Continue reading “Daniel Jepsen: The Two Pietàs, part 1”