Food for thought

May 19, 2017

“There is something about art that touches the soul,” writes Alaine DeSantis in a March 25 article for the Catholic Stand. “Whether it be a breathtaking painting, a powerful poem or a song that speaks to the heart, art — in all forms — has the unique ability to transform, uplift and inspire.”

Without art, Catholic churches would lose part of their vibrancy, DeSantis says. Art is a means to visualise faith in paintings, sculpture, statues. Music, too, lifts worshippers’ voices and spirit in song and prayer.

DeSantis also points to church architecture as a form of art: The design of churches and cathedrals draws attention heavenward.

“Art connects to us at a very human level,” bringing intense emotions, she writes. It holds power, as “it connects us with the true beauty of God himself.”

When we place ourselves before art, “we are uplifted into a new awareness of who we are” and ultimately, “encounter God.”