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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Praying with images | Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary | family prayer | pray the rosary
Beauty lifts the soul, especially when combined with prayer. A grand vista or intricate work of art can be transformative, evoking deep feelings and thoughts. A majestic waterfall or a detailed painting reminds us of God’s magnificence and the care He put into the world. Art communicates ideas and stories, especially in matters of faith, when literacy was less common, leading to a vast collection of religious art. Since the early Church, Christians have used art to share the Good News and tell Christ’s story. Frescoes, paintings, and other traditional art forms were common. As time passed, artists explored various styles and mediums, resulting in the creation of new art forms. Colored glass in windows has been used in churches since the early days, but it became a staple in the monumental Gothic works of the 11th and 12th centuries. These cathedrals, decorated with beautiful stained glass, brought light and color, instructing the faithful in a simple, engaging, and beautiful way.
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Luminous Mysteries | Praying with images | family prayer | pray the rosary
Beauty has a way of lifting our hearts and souls to God, much like a heartfelt prayer. There is something truly captivating about seeing a breathtaking landscape or a detailed piece of art. These experiences have a special quality that makes us think and feel deeply. For example, a stunning waterfall can make us pause and marvel at creation, while a detailed painting can fill us with awe as we imagine the artist's hard work. Beauty reminds us of God's greatness and the care He put into the world around us. Art doesn't just stir our emotions; it can also tell a story or share an idea. For years, art has been used to convey messages about faith, especially during times when many people were unable to read. That's why you'll find so much religious art around: it speaks to us in ways words sometimes can't.
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Glorious Mysteries | Praying with images | family prayer | pray the rosary
Do you know the origins of stained glass windows in Catholic churches? Colored glass in windows has been used in churches since the early days of the Faith, but it wasn’t until the monumental Gothic works of the 11th and 12th centuries that the art form became a staple. These cathedrals were enormous works of stone and required a substantial amount of light to keep them from being gloomy caves of gray inside. To brighten things up further, they decorated them richly with beautiful stained glass rather than using simple translucent glass. These splendid works of art not only brought light to the cathedrals but bathed them in brilliant color; most importantly, they instructed the faithful in a simple, engaging, and, yes, beautiful way. These masterpieces, then and now, lift the soul to God.
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Joyful Mysteries | Praying with images | family prayer | pray the rosary
Beauty lifts the soul to God. There is something simply transformative and profound about seeing a grand vista, or an intricate work of art. It’s hard to put into words, but these things have an innate quality that makes people think and feel. A majestic view of a waterfall will often make someone stop and wonder at creation. A detailed painting evokes feelings of wonder and awe as we imagine the painstaking effort a skilled artist put into creating it. Beauty reminds us of God’s magnificence and the care and effort He put into the world around us.
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Praying with images | family prayer | mysteries of the rosary | pray the rosary
Visio Divina is a unique way to discuss the faith, especially as a family. From the youngest member of one's family to the oldest, everyone can look upon the beauty of a picture and share elements of the art that touch their heart or pique their interest.
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Praying with images | Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary | family prayer | pray the rosary
Artful depictions of the life of Christ, especially His Passion and Death, offer families a unique opportunity to engage in discussions of faith that can be often difficult to begin. From the youngest member of one's family to the oldest, everyone can look upon the beauty of art and share what they see and how it makes them feel.
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