Archive for November, 2009
Something that passed almost unnoticed in these hectic days before Thanksgiving – for me and for many others – is the talk Pope Benedict XVI gave on November 21 to a group of over 260 artists in the Sistine Chapel. He wanted, among other things, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of John Paul II’s Letter to Artists (published on April 4, 1999) , and the occasion 45 years ago in 1964, when Pope Paul VI greeted artists in the same Sistine Chapel. After recalling those anniversaries, and reminding his listeners that they were in a place filled with some of the most famous works of art in the world, he said:
Dear friends, let us allow these frescoes to speak to us today, drawing us towards the ultimate goal of human history. The Last Judgement, which you see behind me, reminds us that human history is movement and ascent, a continuing tension towards fullness, towards human happiness, towards a horizon that always transcends the present moment even as the two coincide. Yet the dramatic scene portrayed in this fresco also places before our eyes the risk of man’s definitive fall, a risk that threatens to engulf him whenever he allows himself to be led astray by the forces of evil. So the fresco issues a strong prophetic cry against evil, against every form of injustice. For believers, though, the Risen Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. For his faithful followers, he is the Door through which we are brought to that “face-to-face” vision of God from which limitless, full and definitive happiness flows. Thus Michelangelo presents to our gaze the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End of history, and he invites us to walk the path of life with joy, courage and hope. The dramatic beauty of Michelangelo’s painting, its colours and forms, becomes a proclamation of hope, an invitation to raise our gaze to the ultimate horizon. The profound bond between beauty and hope was the essential content of the evocative Message that Paul VI addressed to artists at the conclusion of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council on 8 December 1965: “To all of you,” he proclaimed solemnly, “the Church of the Council declares through our lips: if you are friends of true art, you are our friends!” And he added: “This world in which we live needs beauty in order not to sink into despair. Beauty, like truth, brings joy to the human heart, and is that precious fruit which resists the erosion of time, which unites generations and enables them to be one in admiration. And all this through the work of your hands… Remember that you are the custodians of beauty in the world.”
The whole of Pope Benedict’s talk in English, with links to the others, can be found here.
For anyone in the arts, including writers (like me), whether they are poets, playwrights, novelists or even screenwriters, for painters, sculptors, and those in the performing arts, these texts are a rich feast for meditation.
Could anyone express better than John Paul II (who was a practicing poet and playwright) the relation between an artist’s work and the contemplation of God?
6. Every genuine artistic intuition goes beyond what the senses perceive and, reaching beneath reality’s surface, strives to interpret its hidden mystery. The intuition itself springs from the depths of the human soul, where the desire to give meaning to one’s own life is joined by the fleeting vision of beauty and of the mysterious unity of things. All artists experience the unbridgeable gap which lies between the work of their hands, however successful it may be, and the dazzling perfection of the beauty glimpsed in the ardour of the creative moment: what they manage to express in their painting, their sculpting, their creating is no more than a glimmer of the splendour which flared for a moment before the eyes of their spirit.
Believers find nothing strange in this: they know that they have had a momentary glimpse of the abyss of light which has its original wellspring in God. Is it in any way surprising that this leaves the spirit overwhelmed as it were, so that it can only stammer in reply? True artists above all are ready to acknowledge their limits and to make their own the words of the Apostle Paul, according to whom “God does not dwell in shrines made by human hands” so that “we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold or silver or stone, a representation by human art and imagination” (Acts 17:24, 29). If the intimate reality of things is always “beyond” the powers of human perception, how much more so is God in the depths of his unfathomable mystery!
John Paul also said that Christ too was an artist on earth: “Christ himself made extensive use of images in his preaching, fully in keeping with his willingness to become, in the Incarnation, the icon of the unseen God.” (Both quotes from the Letter to Artists)
I posted here one of his predecessor John Paul I’s writings as a bishop on artists, though he never got to write a letter to artists as Pope. For him, a saint like Fra Claudio Granzotto, OFM Cap., had a similar idea:
Frau Claudio first remained in contemplation, he first heated his heart in the furnace of divine love, then, when he was well heated and had truly contemplated, only the did he set his hand to his masterpiece, and when his masterpiece was finished, he returned to contemplate and tried to bring what he had sculpted to life again.
The one art that Albino Luciani could lay any claim to practicing was that of a writer. And how did this insight work out in his life? One of his students at the seminary in Belluno, Don Aldo Belli, recalled that Luciani one day said to the class: “I don’t know what the prophet Isaiah did to find such clear and expressive images.” Aldo had the impression that Luciani wanted to learn his secret so as to imitate him. (Humilitas, Italian edition, November 1988, p. 15). That is, he saw the sacred writer first as a human writer, with the same difficulties in inspiration as all others. And he saw himself the same way.
I don’t know if the words Luciani wrote came from a vision like those of Isaiah, or, as I think much more likely from his own constant contemplation of the Word of God, which no doubt Isaiah did too. And though Luciani was capable of writing, and quite well, in a more elevated and poetic style, the result of his contemplation of the Gospels was something very like the Gospel simplicity of Jesus himself. What writer could ask for more?
Filed under: Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul I, Pope John Paul II, Pope Paul VI, Writing | |No Comments
“And I was so ashamed. Just think of it: me, a Beta–having a baby: put yourself in my place.” (The mere suggestion made Lenina shudder.) “Though it wasn’t my fault, I swear; because I still don’t know how it happened, seeing that I did all the Malthusian Drill–you know, by numbers, One, two, three, four, always, I swear it; but all the same it happened, and of course there wasn’t anything like an Abortion Centre here. Is it still down in Chelsea, by the way?” she asked. Lenina nodded. “And still floodlighted on Tuesdays and Fridays?” Lenina nodded again. “That lovely pink glass tower!” Poor Linda lifted her face and with closed eyes ecstatically contemplated the bright remembered image. (Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, 1932)
I’ve been thinking a lot about Brave New World lately. Of course, a great part of Huxley’s almost 70-year-old novel is prescient of everything happening today. Huxley even said in 1958 that his Brave New World was coming to pass much faster than he had expected. And more now than ever before.
For those who have never read it — though I suppose there aren’t too many — or to refresh your memory if you have, Huxley’s dystopian novel takes place in 2540 (”the year of our Ford 632″) in a society under one world state, where the population is kept satisfied with promiscuous sex (”everyone belongs to everyone else”), where marriage is extinct, and the very idea of being a father or a mother is comic or obscene. Babies are fertilized in glass tubes from donated eggs and sperm, grown to maturity and “decanted” at the proper time. Children are raised in communal nurseries by doctors and nurses who “condition” them by sleep-teaching in accepting their caste (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta) and their lot in life, which is to consume and keep industry and jobs going. Religion is unknown, whatever needs and frustrations constant sex doesn’t satisfy are soothed by the recreational drug soma, which unlike alcohol or cocaine, has no bad after-effects (”A gram is as good as a damn”). So everything is cool, right?
Of course, Huxley’s point is that this society is completely horrible and inhumane and its inhabitants cut off from their full humanity, the worst part being that most of them don’t realize it. It’s as oppressive as a fanatically religious theocratic state at its worst. And society today has come to resemble it more and more (even Huxley’s description of the virtual-reality entertainment or “feelies” could almost have been written yesterday). In fact, the novel is so timely that director Ridley Scott and Leonardo DiCaprio and making a new movie version, due out in 2011, just in time for the novel’s 70th anniversary.
However, one particular insight of Huxley’s perhaps hasn’t been noticed so much, and I began thinking of it the other day when some politician assured us for the umpteenth time that “we want to reduce the need for abortion” by pushing contraception on the young (it’s all right there in the health-care bill, even if massive efforts to keep abortion out have succeeded - temporarily).
You see, in Huxley’s society, there are still a number of fertile women with intact ovaries. (Eggs have to be donated by someone). So these women must do their daily “Malthusian drill” - that is, take the state-mandated contraceptive drug (presumably pills, though rather vaguely described. Keep in mind that this is some 30 years before the Pill became an actual reality).
It’s safe to say that never has there been a society with a more contraceptive mentality, enforced by months of sleep-taught drill, and the “regulation” Malthusian belts to carry the contraceptives that every woman was required to wear. But — there is sill that “lovely pink glass tower” of the Abortion Center. You see, in spite of the government’s most strenuous contraceptive efforts, the Malthusian drill failed, probably with some regularity. Women like Linda would seem to have visited the Abortion Center, perhaps even fairly often. (She eventually had a baby far away from civilization on an Indian reservation, only because there was no abortion there).
You see, Huxley realized, 30 years before the Pill was invented, and 40 or more years before the worldwide legalization of abortion, that abortion follows contraception as closely night follows day. It was just so logical.
So tell me again how you’re going to reduce the need for abortion?
Filed under: Abortion, Church issues, Life Issues | |4 Comments
It’s called the Manhattan Declaration, and here it is in a nutshell:
THE MANHATTAN DECLARATION
Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.
We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:
1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.
Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
———————————————————————————————
The statement was drafted in New York on Septebmer 28, 2009 by Charles Colson, a prominent evangelical who founded Prison Fellowship after serving time in prison for his role in the Watergate scandal, Robert P. George, a Catholic professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University; and the Rev. Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School, an evangelical interdenominational school on the campus of Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama. In just a few days since it was made public on November 20, it has received over 100,000 signatures, including those of over a 150 prominent religious leaders. Among the American Catholic hierarchy signing are: Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, Archbishops Donald Wuerl of Washington, Timothy Dolan of New York, Charles Chaput of Denver, Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, John Myers of Newark, John Nienstedt of St Paul and Minneapolis, Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, and Bishops Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Salvatore Cordileone of Oakland, David Zubik of Pittsburgh, and Richard Malone of Portland, who just lately led the successful campaign to prevent Maine from changing the definition of marriage.
You can read the full 4,700 word statement and sign here:
Filed under: Abortion, Catholic Social Teaching, Church issues, Life Issues | |No Comments
Here are the first pictures from the production in LA. This is only a small part of the wonderful scenes we managed to shoot. More to follow.
Update, November 18:
Because I was flying back home all day yesterday, I wasn’t able to actually add anything to my post to describe the shoot. Here’s a little bit now.
On our the first day (Sat Nov 14), we filmed exterior shots in Waterman Canyon in the San Gabriel mountains just north of LA. It was a lovely spot, just perfect for replicating Thuringia in St. Elizabeth’s time. The leaves in CA evidently don’t turn in November, so it seemed almost like summer, which was when St. Elizabeth’s farewell with her husband actually took place. This in particular was the scene I had always dreamed about filming, and it turned out beautifully. The student actors from Azusa Pacific University did a splendid job, we had a great cinematographer (Michael), and the most beautiful location possible. Only the costumes were a little problematic, due to lack of budget and time. We had to make do with costumes borrowed from the Theater Department at APU, and some we rented from a local costume shop. We had to take what we could get, whether ideal or not.
We didn’t have to pay anything for this location, as it was a state park — at least no one showed up to object :). It was a bit different on Sunday. Michael and I had spent all day long Friday looking for an interior location without success (and he had spent a week previously looking). They all wanted insurance, which was too expensive for us, plus mucho $$$ for filming. Finally, on Saturday night, Hollywood Presbyterian Church (the founding church of Act One) agreed to let us do it for $500.00 plus insurance. We still had no insurance. But Michael got a cinematographer friend of his, Brad, who is quite experienced and has insurance, to come and be second cameraman on the shoot; we presented the church with his insurance certificate and paid him as well (still less expensive than purchasing insurance, which we might not have been able to get at the last minute anyway). Whew!
This second day went great too, but they only allowed us to have the place for 3 hours, which meant we couldn’t shot some things we had planned. But the lighting job Michael and Brad did was stupendous, and the second camera was helpful in moving things along faster. My brother Pat (with whom I was staying in Hermosa Beach) and his girlfriend Vera, had roles. Members of Michael’s family came along and filled in as extras in the church scene where Elizabeth lays down her crown. This was a grueling day, but well worth it.
More later.
Update: November 26, Thanksgiving Day, I’ve had quite a week catching up with work. Only now am I able to put up some more images and correct the ones I had already done.
Filed under: St. Elizabeth Documentary | |No Comments
The time is here at last! After months of frustration, everything has come together. I will be filming the final interview and the historical re-creation shots for the St. Elizabeth documentary A Woman for Our Time. I will be leaving November 12 for LA, and will stay until November 17 (St. Elizabeth’s feast day!). The recreations and interview will be filmed by my cameraman from Hungary, Michael Eaton. He is one of the up-and coming Hollywood cameraman with an expertise in digital video and has worked on a number of Hollywood productions, so it was difficult to coordinate with his schedule.
In the meantime, you can watch the newest trailer- it’s now also been embedded on the website of the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order (CIOFS).
Please pray for this work. I could also use financial support. This trip is likely to drain all my funds, and when it’s done, I will will still have a lot of expensive post-production work to do.
You can donate online through credit card or Paypal here.
Please note that PayPal always adds $3.75 to your donation, because for some reason it always treats a donation in the same way as the price for a book, to which postage is to be added. I have no idea how to stop them from doing that. I don’t think it necessary to charge postage for a donation for a DVD. So if you want to donate only a certain amount, just enter $3.75 less than you want to give into the online box, and you’ll be all right.
Or send a check to Lori Pieper, Tau Cross Books and Media, 30 W. 190th St., Apt. 6N, Bronx, NY 10458-2553. Make the check out to Tau Cross Books and Media. Be sure to include your name and mailing address. Everyone who donates $10 or more will receive a free copy of the video. The actual price when released will be much higher. This is sure to be a very high-quality documentary and an excellent investment. Include your e-mail address for continuing updates on the video.
You can also visit the documentary’s website: www.stelizabethdocumentary.com
Filed under: St. Elizabeth Documentary | |No Comments
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