Jesus Suffered and Died for You...

… the vision of the Crucified One inspired in Anthony thoughts of gratitude to God and esteem for the dignity of the human person, so that all believers and non-believers might find in the Crucified One and in his image a life-enriching meaning. St Anthony writes: “Christ who is your life is hanging before you, so that you may look at the Cross as in a mirror. There you will be able to know how mortal were your wounds, that no medicine other than the Blood of the Son of God could heal. If you look closely, you will be able to realize how great your human dignity and your value are…. Nowhere other than looking at himself in the mirror of the Cross can man better understand how much he is worth” (Sermones Dominicales et Festivi III, pp. 213-214).

In meditating on these words we are better able to understand the importance of the image of the Crucified One for our culture, for our humanity that is born from the Christian faith. Precisely by looking at the Crucified One we see, as St Anthony says, how great are the dignity and worth of the human being. At no other point can we understand how much the human person is worth, precisely because God makes us so important, considers us so important that, in his opinion, we are worthy of his suffering; thus all human dignity appears in the mirror of the Crucified One and our gazing upon him is ever a source of acknowledgement of human dignity.

Pope Benedict XVI
General Audience, 10 Feb 2010

*An interesting article on Contemplating the Crucifixion through the visual arts down through the ages at Catholic website, Finland... http://katolinen.net/?page_id=2281

Modern Art

When I was visiting a friend in hospital recently I noticed a very large painting of something but I could not really make out what it was.  It was quite a large painting and was made up of great blobs of different shades of red and that was it.  It certainly wouldn't do anything for me.  I am not a fan of modern art (as you probably guessed) but I find that some hospitals have found a fascination with some of the ugliest and most depressing paintings which are alot more dark and depressing than this one to the right. 

I don't really understand why anyone would put up ugly and dark images in a place that is meant to help people recover from sickness. 

Some simple landscape pictures or some holy images would be nice to see again.  Thankfully a few hospitals have retained statues and some nice pictures on their walls.  There is so much beauty around us in our landscapes, in the animal kingdom and so much more...why people go out of their way to find something ugly to put up in a public hospital is very strange indeed.....here are some images that are beautiful because they reflect the amazing beauty and gentleness of Gods creation.

From Psalm 104

Bless the LORD, my soul! LORD, my God, you are great indeed!

You are clothed with majesty and glory,

robed in light as with a cloak. You spread out the heavens like a tent; 

you raised your palace upon the waters.

You make the clouds your chariot; you travel on the wings of the wind.

You make the winds your messengers; flaming fire, your ministers. 

You fixed the earth on its foundation, never to be moved.

The ocean covered it like a garment; above the mountains stood the waters.

At your roar they took flight; at the sound of your thunder they fled.

They rushed up the mountains, down the valleys to the place you had fixed for them.

You set a limit they cannot pass; never again will they cover the earth.

You made springs flow into channels that wind among the mountains.

They give drink to every beast of the field; here wild asses quench their thirst.

Beside them the birds of heaven nest; among the branches they sing.