Dear Auntie Leila,
How can I know what is beautiful?
Sincerely,
~ Various people, as I go around speaking!
Thanks to all of you who came to hear me and us speak, and to those hard-working souls who invited us out there! Yet again, I am stunned by the sheer cheerfulness, faithfulness, and hopefulness that we are encountering on our peregrinations. There are many, many out there who are trying to live a life that follows the truth — a life of goodness.
Interestingly, as I have tried to incorporate more discussion of beauty in my talks, I have been having conversations about how to know beauty and judge it — or how to detect its absence.
You seem to sense that beauty must go right through all our experience, so not just be confined to art (in the sense of, say, paintings), but to be present in daily life (in the sense of what we might call designing and decorating our homes, for lack of a better expression; and also in our churches and our music).
But how to know what this beauty is?
And indeed, this is the question. The way of beauty is the way that defies a systematic, almost confrontational approach that we are used to when it comes to explaining how the universe is made and the question of what God's nature is.
The trouble is that we live in an age where we consider truth and morality to be matters that call for a program — a list of “to-dos” that we must implement right away to get people to understand. That view has a name. It's called rationalism — a distortion of reason, in which we deny our human nature with its bodily aspect (complete with senses!), preferring to approach things abstractly — and even mechanistically.
Even when we have found the truth and live a life in relation (even flawed relation) to goodness, we can find that we are starving for beauty.
Our children, whose imaginations need to be formed so that they can have faith (literally, “see that which they do not see” –which requires imagination!) — need an education in beauty!
We will talk about this more.
For now, to get started on the answer to the question “How can I learn more about beauty?” I am offering a fantastic promotion.
This is time-sensitive, so act quickly!
My co-author and friend David Clayton is teaching a class on icon painting in Columbus, Ohio. If you or someone you know (including your mature high school student who can concentrate and doesn't mind being in company with adults) would like to take this class, we are offering it with the added bonus of 50% off David's online course on The Way of Beauty!
What does this mean?
- You get the class, which is held in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday-Saturday, October 23-26. The cost starts at $370 with everything included — materials, meals, and lodging in a beautiful part of Columbus. The instruction is in painting in the English Gothic style of the School of St. Albans, but there will also be classes in chant and how to pray the Divine Office. Register and receive a code:
- You get David's online course, which consists of a series of 13 videos and an e-book, for 50% off the list price — so for $49 (in addition to the icon course price), you get David's theoretical teaching on beauty, including credit if you wish.
- You get access to David himself– conversation and answers to questions, both in person, at the course, and by email or phone in the case of the online course.
Later, I will offer a great giveaway of just the online course, but for now, if there is any chance that you could do the icon class, you should jump at this! There is a limited enrollment and things are filling up.
Basically, if you want the equivalent of a college-level immersion in the study of beauty with a professor who not only understands the topic but knows how to live it on all levels, this is the way to go.
Simply register for the icon class and let Gina know that you are eligible for the 50% discount on the online course ($49 instead of $99!). She will give you a code to enter when you register for that.
I will answer any questions in the comments. Please share this offer with your friends and on your social media. I am not receiving anything for offering this class and online course other than the satisfaction of knowing that you will get a solid formation in something we all so desperately need — beauty!
E.R. says
I would add that one way to learn about beauty is through prayer. Prayer opens the eyes of the heart to beauty.
Laura Smith says
My grandmother always would point out beauty on walks and drives, saying–“Oh, look over there isn’t that beautiful.” I find myself doing it all the time with my children. So much of understanding beauty and training ourselves to find it requires stillness and looking–I am eternally grateful to her for establishing that in me. The teen-age boys in my carpool giggle when I point out beauty in a corn field, or a cloud formation, or even a sunrise over a decaying industrial building. This is the beauty that touches us deeply, and nourishes our souls as we unite with God’s creation. God’s creation then leads us to want to create the same beauty in our homes as well.
Bethanne says
My son took the icon painting class with David Clayton here in Kansas. He painted the Pious Knight icon you’ve shown. I would highly recommend this for a mature young person. My son, who is introverted, came back with more confidence about being around adults. Those in the class were supportive and encouraging. It was perfect for him as he explored his artistic talents and learned more about beauty and how it nourishes us.
Carol Kennedy says
Our children, whose imaginations need to be formed so that they can have faith (literally, “see that which they do not see” –which requires imagination!) — need an education in beauty!
Love this! I have been thinking a lot lately about how to awaken my kid’s imagination at Mass. We are blessed to be able to attend daily Mass and I know that one danger of this privilege is that the Mass becomes ho-hum, too regular-everyday. I want to help them engage their imaginations so that they “see” all those Saints and Angels when the “scrim” (great Thomas Howard word!) is pulled back!
Can’t wait to “talk about this more” with Auntie Leila!!
Leila says
Carol, that’s an interesting topic! I would suggest that the way for the parent to “awaken the child’s imagination” at Mass is and must be almost completely indirect — and arise from the choices, if any, of where to worship.
Thus, if the environment is beautiful — architecture, lighting, art/statues/icons, music, incense — and the priest is reverent (directed to the “other” and not narcissistically drawing attention to himself or even to those helping him), the child will, gradually, absorb beauty.
Then, in our homes, we can live the liturgical life along with the church in our celebrations and commemorations of the hours, days, and seasons of the Liturgy (as we describe in our book and as I’ve touched on here on the blog). And this way we will reinforce all that is good, true, and beautiful.
Think of the things we do every day with love — we hardly ever call attention to them directly. We just enjoy and devote ourselves to them. If at times our attention wanders, no harm done. We are only human 🙂
Carol Kennedy says
Thanks Auntie Leila! Those are the kinds of things I am thinking of. Our parish does a pretty good job, though the stained glass windows could be less abstract and the music on Sunday less…um..recent, but the Mass is said reverently and there is a sense of quiet before and after Mass. And of course Adoration, we have it 24 hours for 5 days a week!
Maybe it is the teacher in me, I do tend to be didactic about things, but I thought about taking certain words or phrases from the Mass and sort of expanding on them, or focusing attention in a meditative way to bring to mind things. Stuff like “Behold” (I am always struck by this word and the actions it accompanies) or “And so, in company with the choirs of Angels, we praise you…” and even talking about what a “memorial” really is (in the sense of making present). My kids are 8, 10, and 12…do you think this is too didactic or theological for them?
Leila says
Oh yes, I think that can be lovely if done with a light touch. Exploring and delving into words and meanings can be exciting.
The parts of the Mass, being as they are mostly Scripture, make good work for copying and decorating. As the child copies out the words, he contemplates them and you can have a good conversation about them.
Also, you can visit beautiful churches that do have good stained glass and good music. At least you have a sense of reverence where you are!
Mrs. B. says
What is baffling is that some seem to “get” beauty effortlessly, while others can’t… How is that? I am trying to train my kids in the way of beauty (the way we talk, the way we dress, the books we read, the art we appreciate, natural beauty, as reader Laura Smith was saying very well above, etc.) and I hope the seed is planted. There can be variety of tastes, but there shouldn’t be any room for ugliness… Ugliness is a sign of disorder, and a good mother’s motto is supposed to be Order and Wonder, right? 😉
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NY Mom says
Thought-provoking post! Maybe we’re reaching a point of critical mass with this hunger for true beauty – we’re marinating in its opposite, thereby making an unexpected encounter with authentic beauty that much more striking.
I recently read an article in Crisis Magazine that explores the very same thing- “Is Ugly the New Beautiful?” – worth reading (and it was picked up by Patrick Madrid on his radio show last month as a point of discussion). You can find it at http://www.crisismagazine.com/2014/age-ugly
I notice that there is a new romanticism for things worn, crumbling, peeling, in states of disrepair, abandonment, neglect. Pinterest is loaded with images of this kind, and I admit to falling for it now and again. But I am opposed to it for my own home! Even though the reality of daily life often makes it an elusive dream (tour my basement, anyone?), I want tidy, spic and span, order, hospitality, fresh paint, lights on, a sense of care and respect- the exact opposite of what’s being held up as “cool grunge”.
Leila says
NY Mom, that article is scary, huh? Ugliness is not the new beautiful, but people have abandoned themselves to ugly — and yes, it’s connected to truth and goodness, or rather, their absence.
The other subject you touch on may be a bit different, or perhaps we can make distinctions. I think that sometimes a certain lack of perfection in decorating can be a symptom of a desire to connect with the past. That objects have a history, and that history might be something we wouldn’t want to obliterate, is a valid approach to aesthetics.
That said, it’s a sign of our age that we actually *do* obliterate the past and then we apply a faux past to new things!
Some of what you mention might be a difference of taste, but when it becomes a perverted approach to actual reality — well, then we do have a problem!
Wendy says
“Our children, whose imaginations need to be formed so that they can have faith (literally, “see that which they do not see” –which requires imagination!) — need an education in beauty!”
I can’t wait to talk about this more.