I recently ran across a story in which a catechist was told by a participant in a training session: “you can keep your catechism.” It reminded me of a story of my own working as a liturgical and architectural consultant.
I was being interviewed by a parish in Illinois after their church was destroyed by fire. In giving a slide lecture, I explained that the Church teaches that the Christus totus, or whole Christ, worships at the liturgy, including the angels and saints. To indicate how that reality can be made visible, I showed this image from the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City. One of muralist Felix Lieftuchter’s greatest works, it shows a heavenly city centered on God surrounded by heavenly beings.
I thought for sure the compelling power of Beauty would win the day, and people would jump up and demand a liturgical mural for their new church. (A bit naive, I know). Instead, a woman on the committee, with a look of disdain on her face, said, pointing to the mural: “I don’t want all that garbage in my church!” I was shocked to say the least. As time has gone on I have thought about this a bit.
Of course, there are a couple of problems here. First, one needs to be very careful about calling an image of heaven, God, the angels and saints “garbage,” and that woman needed some serious time with her spiritual director. Second, the church does not belong to one person, but a larger community that might want and need sacred images in the church.
I haven’t stopped arguing for the use of liturgical imagery, and most people respond positively. But I became aware that day that many people are deeply wounded, and sometimes things of God and beauty are too much for them to bear, so they lash out in anger. The real problem is that pastors let them on building committees and allow them to steer the outcome of the design process based on irrational emotional responses.
In any case, they hired someone else to guide them theologically who decided to use the phoenix as the motif for the liturgical plan (they were rebuilding after a fire, after all). They also hired a local architect of lesser abilities who designed a Hampton-Inn-Turned-Church. They placed a catalog-ordered life size crucifix on the rear wall of the unadorned sanctuary. And most people are quite pleased.
However, we can and must do better.
July 25, 2010 at 7:33 pm
D Mac,
It's a shame you didn't investigate into "why" she reacted as she did. I came from a parish with many active elderly parishioners who didn't have the best communication skills at explaining their feelings. I realize that it is hard to be patient with some of these people but they deserve our respect for holding to the faith.
I'm 48 and enjoy many forms of art but not all forms belong up on the Alter in my opinion. The main focus needs to be on the Tabernacle which our Lord Jesus resides and the Consecrated Eucharist at Mass anything that distracts from that I believe is wrong and that may have been her point.
If I may offer some business advice to you, I would try to know and understand who my clients are before I try to sell them on an idea. If you want to work for the Church you need to take your ego out and figure out how your talent can best serve Him.
July 26, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Le Penseur:
Yes, of course, I am wrong. You are correct. Thank you!
July 26, 2010 at 9:21 pm
I would respectfully disagree with LePenseur, despite the inherently condescending tone of the comment.
I would argue that the mural by Felix Lieftuchter is decidely NOT kitsch. It was custom designed for one location, had an eastern-western Church intentionality, and was made by a trained artisan of considerable education, intelligence and experience.
If you want to see kitsch, see this link:
http://www.sttimothymesa.org/mural/
July 27, 2010 at 5:21 pm
@Joe W.:
I'm sorry about the "inherently condescending tone" of my posting — but it is difficult for a non-native speaker to adapt his wording in a way that it comes up to the expectations of native speakers …
Nevertheless I think that kitsch isn't totally wrong to describe the murals in Madeleine Cathedral — thouhg I fully agree with you that St.Timothy is even an awful lot more kitsch!