It is very obvious that we live in an image saturated culture. All one has to do is flip through a person’s Facebook feed to recognize how images have come to dominate our lives (for good or for ill). Unfortunately, we often do not dwell on positive images that lift our souls to Heaven. Instead, we feast on the “garbage heap” of images that feed our vices.
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It doesn’t have to be that way. Images, especially that of great artistic works, have a capacity to lift us up out of the ordinariness of life and into the extraordinary. They can impact us in ways we don’t always recognize and can inspire us to continue on in the road to holiness. The Pontifical Council for Culture wrote this in regards to the power of images and art:
Artistic beauty provokes interior emotion, it silently arouses astonishment and leads to an “exit from self,” an ecstasy.
For the believer, beauty transcends the aesthetic and finds its archetype in God. The contemplation of Christ in the mystery of the Incarnation and Redemption is the living source from which the Christian artist takes inspiration to speak of the mystery of God and the mystery of man saved in Jesus Christ. All Christian artwork has such a meaning: it is, by nature, a “symbol”, a reality that refers beyond itself which leads along the path that reveals the meaning, origin and end of our terrestrial journey. Its beauty is characterised by a capacity to move from the interior “for self” to that of the “more than self.” (Concluding Document)
Personally, I have always been captivated by inspiring images and they have proven to be a source of encouragement along the way. That is why I have sought to create my own images that express the deepest longing of my soul. In my own artistic expression, I hope to share with others what leads me closer to God and out of the darkness of this world.
One image that has repeatedly been a source of encouragement for me and for many others, is this poster depicting Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati:
This image displays a concept that I always try to teach: holiness is within reach. The text is one that I personally composed while contemplating this popular photograph of Frassati (not a direct quote from him). It encourages me to continue further in this exile of life.
Here is another image that inspires me. This one features to-be-American Saint, Venerable Emil Kapaun, a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Army. This image reminds me that holiness is not meant to be somber, but is meant to be full of joy. In this image, we see Fr. Kapaun smiling after a sniper shot off his pipe. Even in the midst of opposition, we are to be joyful missionaries to the world.
What inspires you?