Day 323: Truth, Beauty, and Sacred Art

The practice of goodness is accompanied by spontaneous spiritual joy and moral beauty. Likewise, truth carries with it the joy and splendor of spiritual beauty. Truth is beautiful in itself. Truth in words, the rational expression of the knowledge of created and uncreated reality, is necessary to man, who is endowed with intellect... God reveals himself to him through the universal language of creation, the work of his Word, of his wisdom: the order and harmony of the cosmos - which both the child and the scientist discover - "from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator," "for the author of beauty created them." [Wis 13:3-5] CCC 2500

In today's reading, the Catechism explores the truth revealed through the beauty and glory of God's creation, and how this can be reflected in our efforts at sacred art. This can be seen in the works of great classical artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael; composers such as Mozart, Schubert, Bach, and Beethoven; writers like Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, Tolkien, and Cervantes. In many different endeavors, humanity throughout the centuries has tried to capture something of the truth and beauty that comes from God. By our very nature, even the most non-artistic, we are all drawn toward both. Think of how art, music, or literature can move each of us. Whether we consciously know it or not, what is within those draws us to the beauty and truth that is God. This is why we care so much for our churches, to make them worthy temples that likewise draw people to the Gospel.

The Catechism Compendium summarizes the Church's teaching on the relationship that exists between truth, beauty, and sacred art:

The truth is beautiful, carrying in itself the splendor of spiritual beauty. In addition to the expression of the truth in words, there are other complementary expressions of the truth, most specifically in the beauty of artistic works. These are the fruit both of talents given by God and of human effort. Sacred art, by being true and beautiful, should evoke and glorify the mystery of God made visible in Christ, and lead to the adoration and love of God, the Creator and Savior, who is the surpassing, invisible Beauty of Truth and Love. (#526)