Mommy Life: Finding the sacred in the arts

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April 21, 2011 2:14 PM

Finding the sacred in the arts

women at the tomb Carracci.jpg I'm writing biweekly for the Catholic Herald - it's an honor. Here is this week's:

Finding the sacred in the arts
Barbara Curtis
4/20/11

Lent is a great time to introduce classical music and art to your family mix. Because the history of Western Civilization, the Catholic Church and the arts are so closely intertwined, scripture and worship are the subject matter of most of the masterpieces we still hold dear.
While some parents -- like me -- were raised in circumstances where the only exposure to the arts was through school field trips to museums and the symphony, there actually is no age limit to learning more and taking full advantage of the culture-rich area in which we live. In the Montessori tradition, as a teacher-in-training and a new parent in the '70s, I decided to fill in the gaps in my cultural experience so I could introduce a little of everything to my children before the age of 6.

Forty years later, the benefits are clear. The appreciation they developed for the classics was like a vaccination against more degrading forms of art and music -- as if filling the heart and mind with truth and beauty left little room for lesser forms. Who they turned out to be was indeed all about their early experience, which -- even though we were not Catholic back then -- included sacred song.

One of our first investments was Handel's "Messiah," an English-language oratorio based on the foretelling of the life of Jesus, His birth, death and resurrection. This unforgettable work is composed entirely of Scripture.

Handel composed "Messiah" in only 21 days, which leads me to think that divine intervention was involved. Handel is said to have seen visions of his subject matter. He said of the "Hallelujah Chorus" -- a celebration for Easter morning following the Lenten absence of hallelujahs -- "I saw heaven opened and the host of it worshiping the glory of God."

Believe me, if you listen to this glorious music -- especially knowing the Scriptures themselves -- you will be transported too.

Maria Montessori taught that by making sensory input the basis of young children's education, what they learned in the first six years would be part of who they were all their lives. Just as music can provide a strong foundation connecting them to Jesus, so can visual art.

Since the Passion of Christ is the most-portrayed subject of Western artists, Holy Week can be enriched by a visit to an art museum, where you also will see paintings and sculptures of biblical events and the saints.

But even more convenient -- and intimate -- is the online gallery of the Passion of Christ.

In the past 50 years, with the emphasis on multiculturalism and diversity, the contribution of Western Civilization has been diminished. We have been taught to feel vaguely embarrassed and even apologetic about the greatness of our classical heritage.

While I believe multiculturalism and respect for other cultures is also a must in the education of the child (more about that soon), I disagree with the tendency of today's public schools to level the cultural playing field by deemphasizing the contribution made by Western Civilization. The fact is that the Church -- through its teaching of the Bible, the Saints, Jesus and Blessed Mother Mary -- provided the inspiration that propelled the aesthetic and intellectual growth of this period, and I encourage Catholic parents to teach our children to be familiar with and proud of our heritage in the arts.

As we approach Holy Week, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, let us help our children see and hear how the message of God's love for us has echoed through these classics for generations, so that they may continue to echo His love too.