Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time.

My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are ten (10) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Eighth Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not bear false witness.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2513.
The Eighth Commandment, ‘You shall not bear false witness’ even extends to art. The fine arts, such as painting, drawing, sculpture and music are to be not only aesthetic (beautiful) but also communicative. When we look upon a crucifix it speaks to us of Christ’s great love for us, of the price of our redemption… The haunting melody of In Paradisum sung at a funeral is always moving. Yet, there have been abuses in the communicative powers of art as the work of Chris Ofili’s Holy Virigin Mary which depicted Our Lady disfigured with elephant dung and Andres Serrano’s desecration of a crucifix make obvious. The evil found and praised by certain ‘singers’ who glorify lust, violence and other crimes (e.g. Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, and Run DMC, Tupac Shakur among others).
Inspired by God, Saint Paul directs our attention to praiseworthy things, some of which have been called “transcendentals” whatever is good, whatever is true, whatever is beautiful or lovely, these are the things we should think about as they lead to God and flow from Him (cf. Philippians 4:8; Aquinas De Veritate 1.1; 21.1; Summa Theologiae I Q. 5, A. 4). While the First Commandment forbids having other gods before God or depictions of God, the Incarnation, God became man, born of Mary, allows for the depiction of Jesus Christ, and by extension His friends the saints. That sacred art does not conflict with divine revelation should be clear from Sacred Scripture (cf. Exodus 25:18–20; Numbers 21:8; Hebrews 9:5). That being said, we do not worship the wood or the stone or the cloth… which are used to depict the Lord…..
Various treasures of sacred art have been produced throughout the centuries. Some sacred artists include Caravaggio (+ 1610) who depicted the victory of David over Goliath and Saint Thomas probing the risen Lord’s pierced side among others, Michelangelo (+ 1564) carved not only the Pieta, and Moses, but also painted the frescos depicting the Last Judgment and the Creation found in the Sistine Chapel among others. Beyond the plastic and visual arts the Second Vatican Council (4 December, 1963) highlights sacred music as “a treasure of inestimable value” (Sacrosanctum concilium, 112). While the Council had Gregorian Chant primarily in mind we should not forget some other notable musical treasures used to the glory of God. Cconsider that Beethoven (+ 1827) composed his Missa solemnis and Mass in C major; Jospeh Hayden (+ 1809) composed fourteen Masses, two Te Deums and a Stabat Mater; Franz Liszt (+ 1886) composed five Mass settings; Mozart (+ 1791) composed Requiem, Coronation, and C minor Masses.
To the extent that the various art forms turn our hearts and minds toward God, toward devotion and worship they are sacred arts and encourage holiness.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr