or most people, St. Valentine’s Day liturgy. However, singing in the liturgy is is synonymous with the sentimental not like warbling folk songs around the Feffusions that pass for love in campfire or belting out “Happy Birthday.” the modern world. However, for many Reclaiming The instructs the ordinands to read seminarians, February 14, 2010 was a day the word of God “distinctly and intelligibly, to be associated more than usual with the without mistake or falsification.” The true and profound love of the Catholic Saint Valentine lector’s fidelity to this duty is the proof of priesthood. On this day, Bishop Bernard his love of God. Even more noteworthy is Fellay, Superior General of the Society the demand of the bishop that the holiness of of St. Pius X, blessed the cassocks of The ceremony further unsullied by any shadow of self seeking. his life correspond sixteen first year seminarians, conferred develops this symbolism of love which The ceremony impresses this concept more with what he the clerical tonsure on nine second years, forgets self. The ceremony calls for the deeply in the new cleric’s mind when the sings. Sanctity is and bestowed the first two Minor Orders, hair to be cut in five places on the head, bishop clothes him with the . This an obligation for Porter and Lector, on twelve of the third forming the center and points of a cross. white garment, which also symbolizes the every Christian, yet year. In his sermon, His Excellency wedding garment of heaven, reminds him it becomes more Seminary rector Fr. Yves le Roux calls to the of the purity necessary to truly love God. and more binding sanctuary (bottom to top) the sixteen seminarians The reciprocal nature of charity with each stage to receive the cassock, the nine seminarians imposes upon man certain duties, while in a young man’s to receive clerical tonsure, and the twelve at the same time conferring privileges journey toward seminarians to be ordained Porter and Lector. he would not otherwise enjoy. A priest is the priesthood. Of certainly bound to many duties, course, holiness but he also enjoys an impressive is nothing other number of privileges. At each than the love of step in his ascent to the altar, the God. This holy Robert Suzuki offers his candle young Levite acquires a share in love requires the to Bishop Fellay as a token of these duties and privileges. While lector to conform obedience after receiving the already beginning with taking the to the image of the Minor Orders. cassock and being tonsured, they Divine Beloved become much more striking when and opposes the much more common he receives Minor Orders. The cleric practice of the counterfeit lover, who forces in Minor Orders must keep himself the object of his desire to adapt to him. far above the typical mundane mindset Undoubtedly, the unifying principle that insists on its rights and privileges behind the Minor Orders, tonsure, and while denying and shirking its duties. taking the cassock is their common goal, the It is the privilege of the porter to have priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet it an official and distinguished position in cannot be forgotten that the reason for this Although Bishop Fellay is not what pertains to the care of the church. His priesthood is nothing other than God’s love shy with the scissors, rather a duties include opening the doors, ringing for mankind, an intense, pure, unselfish love small amount of hair is actually the bells (both of which are accomplished that has nothing to do with sentimentality taken, all things considered. in the ceremony itself), admitting and self gratification. Indeed, the thirty- The real significance is in the faithful to the offices, and preventing the seven seminarians who advanced a step the symbol, and once again, unbelieving and unworthy from entering. closer to the altar would do well to learn explained, “If there is one word which will the cleric abandons what is worldly for Under modern conditions, one seldom has from a priest who paid the highest price of summarize what we are doing here, what the love of God. Vainglory very often to concern himself with heathen hordes love in obtaining will happen in this ceremony, one thing manifests itself in excessive concern for trying to force entry into the church, so this the palm of which gives the real sense to it, the real one’s outward appearance, and this can last duty is rarely accomplished in its literal martyrdom—the meaning, we find it in this word: charity.” be especially true in regard to one’s hair. plenitude. Nevertheless, the preparatory real St. Valentine. Each of these steps toward the altar is an As his hair is cut, the seminarian reminds instruction to those being ordained exposes important proof of God’s love in instituting himself that the Lord is the portion of his its beautiful symbolism. The bishop the priesthood, and a reminder of the love inheritance. Furthermore, he will display enjoins the clerics to, “endeavor by your Thomas Brooks the priest must have for God in return. this sign of love outwardly, at least until word and example to shut to the devil and smiles after donning True love necessarily includes self his next haircut, by the five more or less open to God the invisible temple of God, the cassock for the oblation. As the seminarians don the cassock noticeable chunks missing from his coif. namely the hearts of the faithful…” Thus, first time. for the first time, they certainly sacrifice Current ideas about love utterly the porter is bound by a grave duty which Below: The Roman secular dress, along with the vanities that disregard purity. The idea of a love that is, at the same time, a glorious privilege. collars and sashes often accompany it, but they also immolate is disinterested and seeks the good of He is already a cooperator with Our Lord which complete the some part of their self will. They are no the beloved in the priestly work of the salvation of garb of a cleric. longer masters of what they wear. Moreover, has evaporated souls. A diseased mind warps love into the black color of the cassock signifies their in selfish something of the body, by making it consist death to the world. The seminarian’s concern considerations of only of feelings. Yet, the porter’s new must thenceforth be entirely for the love of pleasure and “self- duties powerfully remind him of the God, and no longer for worldly enterprises fulfillment.” The primacy of the soul, both in those or amusements. True love makes a person cleric’s love of God duties themselves and in divine love. single-minded; his thoughts are only for and of his fellow The Order of Lector is certainly no the object of his love. All love as the world man, however, must less exceptional. At his ordination, the understands it is necessarily excluded. be the purest love lector obtains two unique privileges: the ability to bless bread and first fruits, and “Put on me, O Lord, the new man who is created according the power to chant lessons in the sacred to God in the justice and sanctity of truth.” Bishop Fellay vests Thomas Neeck with the surplice. Introducing Father Wood Seminary Shell Shock mmediately Fr. Wood: I have always been edified learned, it’s Mortimer Adler [Editor’s note: after his by people—not just the priests—but Mortimer Adler was a philosopher and is permitted to speak—during recreations, I lounge in bed and repeatedly whack the Iordination seminarians also; even seminarians that, professor at the University of Chicago, who at meals, between classes, and, of course, if snooze button, but I had to arise punctually this past June, at first impression, were not very edifying edited the Encyclopedia Britannica, wrote some necessity urges. Yet the rule demands every morning at six o’clock. I finally Fr. Joseph Wood at all. But they all do something that is several educational and philosophical a prompt return to silence at the end of came to understand that answering the was added to strikingly edifying at one point or another, works, and promoted the Great Books these periods. This was very difficult at various bells calling for prayer, classes, the Seminary and so I think I learned a lot about people system of education. He became a Catholic and if they can analyze it fairly well and first, especially when the discourteous bell work, or study, was truly following the staff as professor of Liturgy I & II, from that, because I had always been very within a year of his death.] And I think tell me the problem with a certain error would cut me off in mid-sentence. Fidelity will of God. The Seminary rule called Introduction to Philosophy, and Latin I. categorical in my way of looking at people, if there is anyone whose advice I try to presented—that’s successful teaching. to the silence provided many occasions for a religious spirit of consecration, of Such an early appointment as a professor and I saw that everyone has his good put into practice, after reading what they for little mortifications which, while not generosity and docility in seeking God. The Seminary cork-board and whiteboard help new at a Society seminary is unusual, and qualities and to be “in on them” all the time have written and taught, it is his. All the VERBUM: If you could tell comparable to the heroic sufferings of It forced me to acquire the habit of self- seminarians keep track of all pertinent information, but prompted VERBUM to ask him a few is not seeing the whole picture. That was the teachers that I have had, all had some seminarians one thing which would ERBUM asked several new the martyrs, nevertheless glorify God and discipline after having been penetrated for sometimes they can be more daunting than helpful. questions about himself and his post by highlight for me: to be edified by so many. quality that stuck out to me and I wish I have helped you as an incoming seminarians to write about sanctify the soul. Though there are several so long by the spirit of the modern world, way of introduction to the readership. could emulate them all for that quality, seminarian, what would that be? Vhow Seminary life differed notable exceptions, God usually does a spirit of egotism and self-satisfaction. Many other problems confronted me but there is not one that I try to be like. from their preconceptions. This article not work upon man in dazzling displays It directly militated against the “college as the number of my days at the Seminary Fr. Wood: That if your superiors aren’t VERBUM: When and where contains the thoughts and ideas of these spirit” as well, that of getting by with as increased, and I am sure that new conflicts asking you to do something sinful, then were you born, Father? VERBUM: What is your seminarians, compiled to form the response little effort as possible. Obviously, such a will continue to arise to snub my personal what they are asking is the will of God goal as a teacher? of a single “fictional” seminarian. shift requires no little labor and self denial. inclinations and mindset in the future. But I Fr. Wood: April 7th, 1983 and it is an illusion to think that you can Whenever significant changes occur More formidable than submitting to am confident that I will overcome them with in Aurora, Colorado. Fr. Wood: To make clear the steps from sanctify yourself or become a holy priest in one’s life, whether starting a job, entering the inanimate fixtures of the Seminary day God’s help, like all the others, and this for one point to another. For me, the ideal outside of that. It doesn’t matter how a new college, or beginning a career, there like the bell and the silence was embracing one reason: I can say that in spite of all the VERBUM: And were you traditional teacher is one who can illustrate how you deficient your superiors seem to be or how will be some things which are unexpected the less predictable pieces of the Seminary difficulties and surprises that I experienced Catholic your whole life? get from one idea to the next and how the nonsensical their demands on you seem VERBUM: Was the transition from and require time for adaptation. Perhaps make-up. Adapting myself to the extensive upon entering the Seminary, I soon found one idea fits into the whole picture. My to be, as long as they are not telling you Fr. Wood: Except for the first few student to professor difficult? things are more difficult than foreseen, or array of personalities, temperaments, myself at peace, a peace which the world ultimate goal is that somehow, by the grace to sin, they are telling you what God’s hours before I was baptized, yes. on the contrary they may, as Shakespeare and characters found among my fellow cannot give, a deep interior peace which Fr. Wood: It wasn’t hard from the point of God, what I do in class puts the image of will is for you and you are a fool if you so eloquently expresses it, turn out to have seminarians called for a flexibility of self can only come from doing God’s will. of view of habits of life, because my Christ on the students’ souls. But after that, think you are going to get sanctified or VERBUM: What influenced you “better bettered expectation than you must sacrifice which could not be simulated by clockwork is still like a seminarian’s, but what I try to do is to present the topic as a made into a real priest in any other way. to come to the Seminary? expect of me to tell you how.” (Much Ado the daily routine. Not uncommonly, people it’s not as easy to teach as it is to learn complete body, to see the whole structure of Adjusting to the weather is just one problem to About Nothing, Act 1, Scene 1). Ordinarily, forget that seminarians and religious are also Fr. Wood: I loved the priesthood itself and that was difficult and is still difficult. the course and the purpose of it rather than face when coming to Winona. Here, seminarians even the most jarring transition gives way human, and as such have their defects― and have always loved in particular the I’m still trying to figure out how to get to spend too much time on any particular assigned to the Sacristy Department pose for a to familiarity and ease once the rhythm which manifest themselves differently for sacrament of Penance. But towards the things across—how to be challenging detail. I think that what stays in a student’s picture in blizzard conditions. and habits of the new surroundings are each individual! I had to learn a practical end of college, there were some dips in the without being overwhelming; how to be mind is the general structure, and if he can acquired. I noticed this to be especially of majestic and noisy brilliance. Sacred lesson in applying the teaching of Our Lord road that made me think, “I need to go to clear and to present what’s needed. see what that structure is and the way that true of my entrance into the Seminary, Scripture tells us that God is neither in the in the Gospel: “A new commandment I give the seminary and offer my life at least once it’s true, then it will always be in his head. which entailed a significant change in wind nor the earthquake. (cf. III Kings unto you: That you love one another, as I and see what happens.” But for all that, I VERBUM: Do you model your teaching lifestyle from my former life in the world. 19:11). Even though at first I was shocked have loved you.” (Jn 13:34). Only such didn’t really expect to stay a long time. on someone or on a certain method? VERBUM: When do you feel The first difficult adjustment lay more by what I thought was only a stark absence sincere fraternal charity could conquer the most successful as a teacher? Fr. Wood: If there is one person who has in coping with an absence rather than with of sound, with time, I actually came to inevitable clashes of character and natural VERBUM: What was your favorite Above: Fr. Wood addresses a question influenced the way I try to learn myself Fr. Wood: When I ask one of my students a positively existing reality. The negation savor it and to recognize that in truth God antipathies. I came to view my fellow aspect of the Seminary? from the Spirituality class in Liturgy I. “What do you mean I need a two-inch and a and the way I try to present what I’ve a question and they can articulate it back, of noise results in an almost repulsive can only be sought and heard in silence. seminarians as brothers, and realized that four-inch to combine?” ― many of the Seminary silence. The Seminary rule requires that The schedule was another aspect the familial atmosphere of the Seminary jobs remain incomprehensible without a crash seminarians observe silence as an ordinary of Seminary life that presented me with a would lead to a perfection of character, course in Seminary technical jargon. Clerical Congress custom. There are, however, times when it challenging adjustment. No longer could even as rocks are polished in a tumbler. hat is going on? What is this proves so taxing to the resources of the few priests living together in common, and chaos? It is February: time for community and if space is at a premium. more often than not, the priests are away Cosmology Wthe annual Priests’ Meeting Why not hold it elsewhere? Why does Fr. on mission runs, and therefore far removed of the U.S. and Canadian Districts of the le Roux invite the priests of the American from the benefits of community life. Perhaps it would be good to first something else, whether SSPX, traditionally held at the Seminary. and Canadian districts to flood into the At the Seminary, on the other hand, show what cosmology is not; that is, completely (as a tree when Over 70 priests came to Winona from Seminary, which already overflows the common life is lived to the fullest. after all, the procedure of the medieval burned becomes ashes, February 8-12 to study, to rest, and to with seminarians? The answer lies in Once a year, therefore, the priests come and philosophers. Cosmology was not invented or wine left out too long recuperate their spiritual energy. the thoughts of our founder Archbishop relive it to help them to maintain a healthy by the Russians during the Space Race, becomes vinegar), or only in 10 p.m. Lights out: Seminarians This year’s meeting was noteworthy Lefebvre concerning the spirit of the society. balance. Additionally, it is advantageous and in fact has very little to do with some aspect (as a chameleon repose on air mattresses between stacks because Bishop Fellay, Superior General The Society of St. Pius X is a society of both for the priests to know who is coming space. Hippies and crystals are likewise changes its color but remains a of books in the library, heap a few of the Society, came to give talks on common life. This flows from the fact that up in the ranks and for the seminarians foreign to the subject, though the New chameleon). These aspects are iron weights together for a makeshift the most recent developments with the the Society is centered on the Mass and the to know the priests with whom they will Age movement does generally pretend to called accidents, and cover all pillow in the exercise room, and drift Vatican. Well over a hundred men in be working a few years down the line. good, solid training in philosophy some sort of philosophic wisdom. In fact, the different modifications of a thing’s An excerpt from a seminarian’s class notes illustrates into slumber to the gentle electric cassock, priests and seminarians, sat in The seminarians partake of this spirit of is hard to come by these days. the science gets its name from Cosmos, being, including when it is, where it the nature of accidental and substantial change. hum of dryers in the laundry room. the refectory to hear their spiritual father fraternal unity as much as the priests, and A Even the universities that still the material universe, which should give is, and how much of it there is. This speak. Seminary Rector, Father Yves le both derive great fruit from the occasion. claim to teach it often distort it beyond some indication of the breadth of its notion of substance and accidents is needs enough knowledge of its basic 5:45 a.m. Rise: Seminarians deploy Roux, gave conferences on the roots of Indeed, the Psalmist spoke of the spiritual recognition or treat it as a sort of elaborate subject matter. It has as subject all beings necessary to grasp better the doctrine of concepts to understand the abstractions throughout the building to begin serving current problems, exposing the intellectual benefits of the common life and of the bond mental game with little or no practical use. which are not purely spiritual, which in Transubstantiation, where the host becomes of metaphysics, the highest philosophy, the first of over 70 Masses which will be mechanisms behind materialism and egoism. of fraternal charity long ago when he wrote It is small wonder, then, that Thomistic philosophical Latin jargon is referred to the Body of Christ while retaining the which in combination with cosmology is said at over thirteen different altars. Besides these scholarly aspects, the these words inspired by the Holy Ghost: Philosophy is considered by many either as as ens mobile. Now, as is often the case in appearance, i.e. the accidents, of bread. indispensable for his theology classes. But 12:30 p.m. Dinner: Priests priests had many an opportunity to socialize mind-bogglingly intricate or as a worthless philosophy, these two short words conceal Even in the apostolate, the mental perhaps most importantly, cosmology gives and seminarians stuff themselves into a with old classmates and confreres from the Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum system of mental acrobatics. However, within themselves a vast expanse of clarity and knowledge of the principles its adepts a penetrating insight into the too small refectory amid a sea of tables. ministry. The younger and more athletic habitare fratres in unum ! while it is a difficult and complex study, it meaning which deserves to be unfolded. gained from cosmology could come in order and harmony of the created universe, Waiters and dish crews down the last priests refreshed themselves on various Behold, how good and how pleasant it is highly useful, for it forms the mind, aids Ens mobile―“mobile being”― handy. Many people a priest encounters which naturally reflect the power and Bishop Fellay expounded on the recent of their chamomile tea to soothe their afternoons by playing hockey and basketball is for brethren to dwell together in unity! in clear thinking, is absolutely necessary includes anything with a body, that is to have embraced, more or less consciously, beauty of its Creator. The development of relations between the SSPX and the Holy See raw nerves for the battle ahead. against the seminarians. On one evening, (Psalm 132:1) for the study of theology, and even has say, anything that has matter. These are materialistic and evolutionary ideas such an appreciation is a fitting result of a to the priests and seminarians in the refectory. the musicians of our community entertained some direct application to the apostolate. things that the senses can perceive and about the structure of the universe. Such seminarian’s study of a science which takes 8:45 p.m. Compline: Priests the priests with many folksongs, both Liturgy, themselves a bond of unity in faith In an effort to make this utility better that man deals with every day, making evolutionary theories that consider man its name from the Cosmos, which in its and seminarians pack the chapel from vocal and instrumental, and with a special among Catholics. Applying this principle, known, and to show loyal VERBUM readers this branch of philosophy very accessible. as a mass of happily arranged atoms, with Greek origin means, “the beautiful thing.” the sanctuary to the choir loft for the surprise, an operetta à la Mozart, entirely the Archbishop insisted that the necessary what the seminarians do all winter These bodily things are classed under nothing really to differentiate him from a evening prayer of the Church, nearly composed and performed by seminarians. demands of the priestly ministry in parish (besides digging themselves out the general heading of “substances”, and squirrel or from a stone―excepting that causing structural failure from the Between the doctrinal instructions and work, in educating the Catholic youth, of snow drifts), the VERBUM are studied both in themselves and in the he is not as cute as the squirrel or as useful magnitude of the reverberation. the wholesome recreations, the week was and in the missions, cede preference to is continuing its exposé of the properties and qualities that flow from as the stone―are quickly pulverized by beneficial and refreshing for all who came. community life among the priests. Such a Seminary curriculum with them. The novice cosmologist learns very sound cosmology. In this way, the priest Having examined the overall motives community is a rich source of sanctification a brief explanation of the quickly that there is more to even the is able to cultivate the clear thinking for holding this clerical congress, the and a rock of stability amidst the onset of course of Cosmology. material world than solely matter and that necessary for accepting the true faith. question persists as to why the superiors vertigo occasioned by the many demands every substance has a “soul”, so to speak, Obviously an exhaustive study of insist on having it at the Seminary, if it of the apostolic life. There is only one One of the questions a principle of order and unity standing a subject this broad would be a work of problem: the apostolate is so widespread Performing an original Latin operetta requires skills cosmology addresses “beneath” it which makes it to be what it is. years rather than of semesters; however, During the Priests’ Meeting seminarians that no priest ever really experiences this in singing, acting, and the under-appreciated art of is whether true Cosmology also studies change. the seminarian-philosopher aims for often have to improvise furnishings for their life in its fullness. Our priories have only a bedsheet toga-tying. vacuums exist. Bodily things are all capable of becoming the priesthood, not a doctorate. He only If this driver had studied cosmology, he wouldn’t temporary quarters. Here a level, a sawhorse, have needed to sacrifice his Ferrari to prove that and a shelf of chemicals serve as a closet. two bodies can’t occupy the same space. these seminarians on a given order to plow the driveway, and to clear day might find themselves the sidewalks and entryways, especially trimming hedges, juicing the front entrance of the church. When apples, mowing lawns, spring finally begins to dispel the reluctant s the fresh bloom of spring yields chipping ice, weeding winter weather, no one is more relieved. to the heat of summer, which in flower beds, or driving a plow truck. When the energy and life of spring Aturn fades into an autumn heralding As the seminarians return in reign once more, the department sets out another fierce Minnesotan winter, the September to begin a new academic year, to remove the havoc and disorder which Grounds Crew pursues its never-ending summer days are already numbered, and has been wrought by the rigor of the past the early nights and brisk weather presage months. Dead branches must be cleared the advent of autumn. The department’s and snow fences disassembled. As spring first major responsibility is the harvesting increases its burgeoning verdure, the of both the garden and the orchard. The Grounds Crew’s activity correspondingly abundance of apples is transformed into shifts to the shearing and shaping of the applied so that the Seminary landscape may fresh cider and jam, while the produce from unruly growth. The planting and weeding meet the occasion in prime condition. the garden enhances salads and other dishes. of flower beds, the trimming of hedges, No Seminary Department depends With the arrival of fall, and the consequent and numerous related jobs occupy the so much on provident temperatures and scattering of the richly colored leaves, majority of the working periods. At least the rhythm of the seasons for the dictates another pressing undertaking of its functions as the Grounds Crew. confronts the Grounds Crew. The Its labors may be aesthetic, as when vast quantity of leaves blanketing flowers are planted before the statues of the many acres of lawn must Our Lady around the property, useful, be raked and removed. This like the help supplied in feeding the job, which continues until the community by its labors in the garden and Snow removal can be such a gargantuan chore that snow has made its prosecution orchard, or even essential, keeping the occasionally the Grounds Crew calls for generous impossible, parallels other Seminary accessible to the outside world volunteers to assist them in clearing the roofs. preparations which are necessary by daily snow removal. Yet no matter tasks. This department, responsible for in the face of another long the category into which their work falls, the maintenance and upkeep of the vast winter. Salt buckets and snow- it is all facilitated or aggravated by the and extensively landscaped grounds of shovels take up posts in all the inscrutable design of God in His choice of St. Seminary, shoulders entryways. A serpentine snow weather. Despite any obstacles, grumbling jobs as varied as the seasons which dictate fence which stretches the whole length of one lawn mower operates daily in order is given no quarter and they generously them. Under the leadership of professor the driveway rises to prevent mammoth to keep the extensive tracts of lawn under adapt to any conditions to accomplish Fr. Kenneth Dean, whose proclivity for snow drifts, and the plow truck is re-armed control. In such manner the spring passes their duty, an achievement at least as agricultural undertakings is a Seminary with its blade. Thanks to this circling of rapidly, and in a short time, the year’s major admirable as the cultivated beauty of the byword, and with the aid of the Brothers, the wagons, the Seminary stands braced to event, , looms on the horizon. Seminary’s surroundings. repel the assaults of the frigid Arctic air. Beautification temporarily supersedes more Apples harvested in the Seminary orchard Indeed, the exertions of the practical tasks, and are juiced in the kitchen for cider. seminarians in this department reach their during the week peak during the winter season. With the before ordinations, inclement weather comes the never ending they work morning labor of removing snow, salting sidewalks, and afternoon on and even clearing roofs—a sometimes the property which urgent requisite as the build up of ice can will shortly receive threaten the roof’s structural integrity thousands of guests. and frequently causes leaks to trickle into At this time, the important rooms like the sacristy. Since finishing touches, snowfall knows not the laws of courtesy, such as mulching The Grounds Crew has to find a way to dispose of it pries the seminarians from their warm trees and striping debris accumulated throughout the year. beds at 5:30 or earlier in the morning in the lawns, are The result: a giant fireball visible from space. Exploring Catholic Symbolism: Byzantine Art

f all the different works of art From the beginning, the Byzantine reaction of so many when encountering this seen during the seminarians’ art, arising in Constantinople, which was art form for the first time. It looks unreal OEurope Trip this past summer, influenced more than Rome by the Eastern by intent, being made an emblem of the some of the more curious at first sight were allegorical tradition, took a different spiritual reality it expresses and taking the the works of the Byzantine style which path than the art of the Hellenic school. only spiritual being in material creation, some Latin churches have adopted. At Evolving as an exclusively religious art, man, and stripping him of his carnal first glance, the different Byzantine works all of its works were sacred in character attributes to make him even less concrete. seem to be on a lower level than those of and created for the purpose of Catholic Even today, the dominant form that the Western world. The casual Western worship. Unlike the Greco-Roman artistic Byzantine art assumes is the icon ― “an maintaining this holy presence throughout eye declares that something is amiss. The schools, the creators of this art form sought image”, or “likeness,” almost universally the ages requires the exact reproduction of observer may easily dismiss it as ugly, to convey spiritual rather than physical of a sacred person from biblical or the likeness according to the canons of the or at least less perfect, because jarring to realities. Accordingly, they made no attempt ecclesiastical history. Sometimes it depicts art form. This emphasis on tradition ensures his taste. However, when looking deeper to mimic reality and abstracted from it as the subject in a setting that narrates an that the icons of our day are substantially into the world of Byzantine Art, the logic far as possible without removing figurative event from the person’s life in order to identical to their ancient precursors. behind these differences appears and the representation. Look as he might, the convey a spiritual message. Because of Lest one think that this respect for the beauty of its profound character emerges. humanist will not find sculptures idealizing its sacred character, a whole theology of sacred image comes from an Orthodox or the human body, nor will the Romantic the icon developed alongside the form’s schismatic mindset, it should be pointed out chance upon idyllic nature scenes among popularity. The pious observer discerns in that Byzantine art was thoroughly Catholic the Byzantine artifacts. The artist would the icon something akin to the sacramentals, in its origins. Developing in the centuries see this not as a manifestation of technical a sign of a spiritual effect which sign itself just after Constantine it has changed very deficiency, but rather a channeling of all constitutes a sacred object. It is the locus little since then, it is still a legitimate of his talents to the service of God, instead of the presence of a supernatural reality, a means today of expressing the true Catholic of shaping a work which gratified the window into heaven opening upon those spirit. Whether in its preference for the senses or pampered his personal vanity whom it portrays, linking man with the spiritual purpose of art, in its veneration by showing off his technical mastery. divine. Because of its effects, the icon can for traditions, or in its recognition of the Working from these ideals, the be categorized with prayers and hymns power of sacramentals in leading man to human figure became the most frequently and is denominated by some a “sermon in God, it expresses a distillation of Catholic represented object in Byzantine art, but form and color.” Such a sacral character thought which outshines in its purity abstracted, or spiritualized, as much as makes meddling with the composition of the the majority of the works which have possible. This accounts for the quizzical icon something deeply irreverent and thus suffused our churches in the modern era.