Art and artists

36. Linking aesthetics with the pursuit of goodness and the search for truth is certainly one of the main veins to be worked today in a pastoral approach to culture which aims to proclaim the Gospel in a way which is in tune with the signs of our times. Pastoral concern for artists requires sensitivity as much to aesthetics as to Christian values. In our culture, where a deluge of often banal and brutal images are churned out daily by the television, the cinema and videos, a fruitful union between the Gospel and art will bring about new manifestations of beauty, born from the contemplation of Christ, God made man, from the meditation of his mysteries, from their shining forth in the Virgin Mary and in the saints (cf. John Paul II, Letter to Artists, 4 April, 1999).

At an institutional level, diversification and fragmentation call for renewed dialogue between the Church and artistic institutions and societies. From parishes to chaplaincies, from dioceses to Bishops' Conferences, from seminaries to formation institutes and universities, the pastoral approach promotes organizations with the capacity of developing a fruitful dialogue with artists and the art world. Those local Churches which have distanced themselves from art cannot fail to gain from a renewed contact, making use of appropriate opportunities to meet artists and other professionals from the world of the arts.

At the level of creativity, experience has shown that, in conditions which do not favour real culture C which presupposes freedom C the Catholic Church has acted as advocate and protectress of culture and art, and many artists have found in her the place where they can exercise their creative freedom. This historic role of the Church is as relevant as ever, especially in the fields of architecture, iconography and religious music. By appealing to artists to become a part of her life, the Church is inviting them to renew Christian art. She engages in a confident relationship with artists, one which is built on listening and co-operation. This relationship is to make the most of what educates man and elevates him to a higher level of humanity, by allowing him to participate more intensely in the mystery of God, who is true beauty and supreme goodness. If they are to bear fruit, the relationships between faith and art must not be restricted to a search for creativity. Advice, confrontation and discernment are necessary, for faith is fidelity to the Truth. Liturgy itself is a marvellous milieu, because of its power to inspire and the various possibilities it offers to artists in all their individuality to implement the guidelines set by the Second Vatican Council. What is needed is an expression of faith which is both indigenous and Catholic, while respecting liturgical norms.(²⁶) The need to build and decorate new churches leads on to a deeper reflection on the church as a holy place, and on the character of the liturgy. Artists are urged to express these spiritual values in their art. Creativity in sacred art should mean that iconography and musical composition develop in a way which is accessible to most people, so that they can see the transcendence of God's love and be led to prayer. The Second Vatican Council did not hesitate on this point and its guidelines call for its permanent implementation AEvery effort should be made, therefore, to make artists feel that they are understood by the Church in their artistic work and to encourage them, while enjoying a reasonable standard of freedom, to enter into happier relations with the Christian community. New art forms adapted to our time and in keeping with the characteristics of different nations and regions should be acknowledged by the Church. They may also be brought into the sanctuary whenever they raise the mind up to God with suitable forms of expression and in conformity with liturgical requirements» (Gaudium et Spes, 62,4).

At the level of formation, pastoral attention to art and artists presupposes the right sort of formation.(²⁷) Those responsible for the artistic education of priests and lay people, done in symbiosis with theological, liturgical and spiritual formation, need to discern who will be responsible for pastoral work with artists, since it is so important that well-trained, competent personnel be able, on behalf of the Christian community, to make enlightened judgements and well-founded assessments of contemporary art.

The possible initiatives in this field are many and various. Associations, artists' and writers' guilds and academies, all show the important cultural role of Catholic men and women, and all of these can support a more fruitful dialogue between the Church and the world of art. The idea of cultural weeks has been very successful, too, and could spread along the lines of Christian cultural weeks, which are based on a number of cultural events open to as wide a public as possible. National or international Festivals or Prizes could put the spotlight on sacred music or religious films and books.