Season of Advent 3 : Art and Spirituality 1

Painting and write-up by Rev. Roy M. Thottathil, S.J. Art and Spirituality Art is essentially spiritual because human beings are essentially spiritual beings. There is an urge in everybody to surpass the external and material into a realm deeper and beyond. I consider this inclination as a primal spiritual urge of Man to attempt to transcend himself and his situations. To a great extent this is achieved through artistic expression. The spiritual in art gives expression to what is deeper and beyond, the invisible and incomprehensible reality. A sense of mystery in the life in which we live is integral to human consciousness. It is a basic primitive consciousness with which we search the ‘ground of our being’[1]. I am not attributing ‘spiritual’ elements to artistic practice; rather I see the spiritual as the essence of artistic expression. The term ‘spiritual’ is not necessarily seen in association with any religious faith or doctrine, even though various religious tenets have an influence in the understanding of it. Artistic creations and ritualistic practices used the same process in many of the early traditions. Art has been an integral part of religious worships and faith expressions in both major and folk religions. In modern times, art is not purely religious. However, at same time in modern and contemporary art there is a dimension of spirituality, as its inner dynamism and in its power of expression which I believe can be understood as the salient feature of modern contemporary art; even though artists may not recognise it as spiritual. Paul Tillich said that “everything in human culture has a religious dimension” (Tillich, 1989, p. 166). The religious dimension he stated is in a broader sense, not as the activities of a group in which the direct relation to a divine being is expressed in ritual and doctrinal symbols. Religion in this sense, (which I call as spiritual consciousness), “can appear in all expressions of man’s cultural activity, both in the created works and in the creating persons” (Tillich, 1989, p. 167). I consider that every artistic process is a process of liberation. An artist, through his works, liberates himself and the viewers from the illusions of surface and images. The concept of liberation encompasses all aspects of life in relation to the inner and outer world. It is not negating the outer reality, but detaching ourselves from its falsification and getting into the elementary substance where we come in touch with the essence of the reality. Thomas Merton[2] stated, “In art we find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”. Giving up and finding out is the inner working of art. This is a constant process of stripping away of ego like in prayer. Art is a retreat into one’s own self, where one is confronted with the inner mysterious world. Retreat is inner pilgrimage to one’s own centre where there is an ability to have close contact with the sacred self. In a pilgrimage place one is faced with the reality of the mystery which is both inside and outside of oneself. [1] This phrase is often used by Paul Tillich in his writings and later by John Robinson in ‘Honest to God’ (1963), his chapter three is entitled ‘the ground of our being’. [2] Thomas Merton (1915-1968) a Trappist monk, was a prolific poet, a social activist, a student of comparative religion and author of numerous acclaimed works on spirituality. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Contact: vmalpan@gmail.com

Season of Advent 2

The Lord Speaks... "Have you not heard His silent Voice? Have you not heard His silent Voice? He speaks , speaks, ever speaks." *************************************** Let us silently and prayerfully listen to the following lines: The Lord speaks through my consciousness... The Lord speaks through my conscience... The Lord speaks through my brother/sister... The Lord speaks through my parents... The Lord speaks through my friends, enemies, ... The Lord speaks through my personal experiences... The Lord speaks through my surroundings... The Lord speaks through the world events... The Lord speaks through people who suffer... The Lord speaks through people who are persecuted... The Lord speaks through the whole universe... "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." ------------------------------------------ Just say a prayer from the heart. Amen! ------------------------------------------ My E-Mail: vmalpan@gmail.com

SEASON OF ADVENT 1

The Lord Comes... "Have you not heard His silent steps? Have you not heard His silent steps? He comes, comes, ever comes." -------------------------------------------- The word "ADVENT" means "Coming". It has already become a symbol of the Lord's coming into our lives. If only we are able to listen to His silent steps! Daily He walks into our lives... Daily He speaks to us through our brothers and sisters... Especially those who are poor and downtrodden, those who are internally displaced in their own country due to war and violence and unjust political upheavals, those who are refugees in other countries... "He comes, comes, ever comes." Let us see! Let us listen! Let us repond to the Lord who ever breaks into our lives...! Whisper a prayer! Amen! ------------------------------------------- Contact: vmalpan@gmail.com Thank you very much indeed!

Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXIII (1958-1963)

Quotes:

A peaceful man does more good than a learned one.

Anybody can be Pope; the proof of this is that I have become one.

Born poor, but of honored and humble people, I am particularly proud to die poor.

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams.

Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential.

Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.

Every man has the right to life, to bodily integrity. Here I am at the end of the road and at the top of the heap.

I am able to follow my own death step by step. Now I move softly towards the end.

I have looked into your eyes with my eyes. I have put my heart near your heart.

It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.

It is now for the Catholic Church to bend herself to her work with calmness and generosity.

It is for you to observe her with renewed and friendly attention.

It often happens that I wake up at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.

Italians come to ruin most generally in three ways, women, gambling, and farming. My family chose the slowest one.

Men are like wine - some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.

See everything, overlook a great deal, correct a little.

The council now beginning rises in the Church like the daybreak, a forerunner of most splendid light.

The family is the first essential cell of human society.

The feelings of my smallness and my nothingness always kept me good company.

The true and solid peace of nations consists not in equality of arms, but in mutual trust alone.

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From: brainyquote.com

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PICTURE MEDITATION 4

From Bolivia Spend sometime prayerfully looking at and listening to the fotos in this post: Whisper a prayer for peace and reconciliation... Amen! Pope Benedict XVI in Lourdes (September 2008) Rio De Janeiro CREATION: African Painting ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Contact E-Mail: vmalpan@gmail.com Please do not hesitate to send me a comment. Thank you! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Contemporary World - Genuine Fighting Spirit

Victory of Barack Obama Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation's first black president Tuesday night ( 04 November, 2008) in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. A huge crowd in Grant Park in Obama's home town of Chicago erupted in jubilation at the news of his victory. Some wept. As the 44th president, Obama will move into the Oval Office as leader of a country that is almost certainly in recession, and fighting two long wars, one in Iraq, the other in Afghanistan.

Excerpts from Obama’s Acceptance Speech “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer… It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America… It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America… I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead… But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you. I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.” John McCain

With a gracious nod to Barack Obama, John McCain acknowledged defeat and urged his supporters to move beyond partisan differences to put country first … "I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president," McCain said as he conceded the presidency he has sought for a decade. The four-term Arizona senator added: "These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face."…

He implored his backers to fall in line behind Obama and put aside partisan bickering.

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The lives of these two great men teach us how to fight with real spirit and to accept victory or defeat with great sense of reconciliation and peace.

Contact: vmalpan@gmail.com