By Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB –
There is an ecumenical link between Christian theology and art.
A Czech cardinal, Tomas Spidlik a Jesuit, a specialist in Eastern theology and spirituality, the founder of the Aletti Center attached to the Pontifical Oriental Institute under whose guidance that the Redemptoris Mater chapel, a work of Marko Ivan Rupnik, of the Aletti Center, came to reality.
The chapel is an artistic-theological synthesis of Eastern and Western Christian spirituality. It emphasizes the importance of interweaving a lively and original Eastern and Western Christian theological vision, coming together.
According to Benedict XVI, “Its foundation is the life of the Spirit; the beginning of knowledge: love; study: an initiation in spiritual memory; dialogue with the individual person: an indispensable criteria; and its context: the ever living body of Christ, which is his Church.”
Directly linked to this theological vision is the exercise of spiritual paternity, which has to be constantly developed. It has to take up future teaching on Catholic art, making it fruitful with new intuitions and new investigations, through artistic representation. Therefore, this is this particular emphasis on the dialogical link between theology and art.
This tie-up between art and faith is a rich itinerary that always communicates with profound conviction that the Triune God is at the center of all revelation. Man created in God’s image is essentially a mystery of freedom and love, in full communion: the “same mode of being as God”. This link between art and faith does not exist for itself, but rather proceeds from the divine Persons who freely love each other.
Human freedom and love, constitutive elements of the person, are beyond rational categories. Therefore, human person can only be understood, within the pluri-Trinitarian mystery of God who is ‘beauty and truth’ in a communion with humanity, accepting the divine-human faith-art reality.
We observe, multiple cultural and traditional expressions are displayed in the shrines through its architecture and sacred art. As a part of cross-cultural experiences, both emotions and culture play a vital role in in linking theology and Church art.
Keeping this in mind much study and research have to be done in art display. We need to ask: what do we want to communicate to the people? What are the cultural ways do we convey the meaning of worship and bring them closer to God?
For example, various Catholic icons are easily assimilated to the Hindu pantheon due to their specific functions and hagiography. Authentic inculturated art depiction in shrines deserves careful study and discernment when dealing with the people of many religions within certain particular cultural realities. This inculturising process will contain certain universal Christian symbols and rituals to express its universal faith, morals and celebrations through particular cultural expressions.
Therefore, Church art in shrines does not need a Bible-verse or a name-tag on/under it. Neither does it need flex/banners for explanations. It can simply be beautiful and revealing. They are ‘religious’ in itself and can be seen in an Incarnational form without compromising theology for aesthetics, having a high doctrinal standard.
Along with the many miracles that take place in the shrines, the positive feelings and emotions that the devotees carry to/from these places are important too. They serve as powerful tools for living in the society.
Charged with uplifting thoughts, pilgrims experience inner peace and serenity. Though some do face distressing behaviour from the priests at some of these shrines.
A cross-cultural and cross dharmic common rituals are found to be in practice in shrines and pilgrimage centres like that of Bandel Church in West Bengal. Here, particular religious rituals are performed by people belonging to different faith communities. We notice that irrespective of creed and caste, people with devotion and faith do perform the rituals (burning of candle, kneeling on the stairs, cutting of hair, etc) with liberative experience.
In short, they take part in the same rituals through the prism of a cross-cultural theological vision in relation to art, beauty, religious expressions and rituals. This is so, because there are common rituals in most of the Asians that share some common myths across religious traditions and cultures.
Fr. Soroj Mullick, SDB is a Salesian priest from the Kolkata Province. He has a Licentiate in Catechetics and a Doctorate (Christian Education) from UPS, Italy. He has number of years of teaching experience in college and in the formation of future priests. Besides, he has written number of research papers and articles, and has 25 years of Ministry in India and abroad as Educator, Formator, Retreat Preacher, Editor and engaged in School, Parish Catechetical & Youth Ministry. He is now an assistant priest in Bandel Basilica, rendering pastoral and catechetical ministry to the parishioners and to the pilgrims. He can be contacted at [email protected].