The Importance of Civic Art to a Christian Nation

The Importance of Civic Art to a Christian Nation

Civic art, particularly public statues and monuments, plays a vital role in shaping and preserving a nation's cultural identity and values. Within the context of a Christian nation, these artistic expressions serve as tangible reminders of the foundational principles upon which the society is built and the ideals it strives to uphold.

Sir James MacMillan on Creativity and Sacred Music: From the Ashes of Modernism to Cultural Renewal

Sir James MacMillan on Creativity and Sacred Music: From the Ashes of Modernism to Cultural Renewal

Two video interviews and an article about his philosophy of sacred music, recently published in the National Catholic Register

A Thought on How to Beautify Ugly Sacred Spaces when Diocesan and Government Bureaucracy are Opposed And Costs Are High

A Thought on How to Beautify Ugly Sacred Spaces when Diocesan and Government Bureaucracy are Opposed And Costs Are High

Commission a limited number of beautiful portable works of art in carved wooden housings. By commissioning and owning their own beautifully crafted but portable pieces such as a rude screen a reredos, and other well-placed images and religious statuary, clergy could reintroduce traditional iconography and sacred artistry elements into these otherwise uninspiring spaces.

Conference and Premiere of Mass in Honor of Blessed Karl of Austria, Washington DC, October 18-20, 2024

Thank you to composer Paul Jernberg of the Magnificat Institute, an old friend of ours at the Scala Foundation, for bringing this to my attention. Paul's newly composed Mass will be premiered this weekend, with the composer conducting the choir. 

Blessed Karl of Austria was the last Emporer of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ascending to the throne in 1916. He died in 1922. His cause for canonization was opened in 1949.

For further information about the event, contact Suzanne Pearson at sdpearson@verizon.netHere is the poster:

David Clayton discusses his book, The Way of Beauty, with Zach Elliott of the LAB podcast

David Clayton discusses his book, The Way of Beauty, with Zach Elliott of the LAB podcast

I recently had the privilege of being interviewed by Zach Elliott of the Life and Beauty - LAB podcast about my book The Way of Beauty. I enjoyed this excellent interview very much. Zach had taken the trouble to read and absorb the contents of my book and presented intriguing and original insights. Thank you Zach!

Graced Imagination: Recovering True Creativity in the Age of Authenticity

Graced Imagination: Recovering True Creativity in the Age of Authenticity

Modern art and architecture reject traditional harmony and form, intentionally breaking with the past and seemingly deliberately disregarding beauty. This revolution in art is a sign of an even more profound revolution in the understanding of the human person and the desire to change Western civilization radically.

Book Recommendation: The Spiritual History of English, by Andrew Thornton-Norris

Book Recommendation: The Spiritual History of English, by Andrew Thornton-Norris

Thornton Norris shows us that even if the poet or novelist is sincerely Catholic and trying to express truths that are consistent with the Faith, he is at a great disadvantage if he is seeking to express those truths with vocabulary and poetic forms that reflect a post-Enlightenment culture.  

Is Beauty Worth It? Doesn't it Cost Too Much?

Is Beauty Worth It? Doesn't it Cost Too Much?

No! Beauty Transforms Us Spritually, Invokes the Principle of Superabundance that Generates Wealth for All, and Inspires Us to Love the Poor.

As St Francis of Assisi understood, beauty is a common-good, beneficial spiritually, to all who encounter it, rich and poor alike. But second, the poor will benefit materially as well. Faith inspires charity and so it will inspire the rich to give to the poor directly.

Become an Apprentice at a Unique Catholic Art School: the Stabat Mater Studio

Become an Apprentice at a Unique Catholic Art School: the Stabat Mater Studio

The new Stabat Mater Studio in Tyler, Texas, is dedicated to training the next generation of liturgical artists in an authentically Catholic environment and offers the five core disciplines of any traditional Catholic artistic training.