Enlightening Art

By Mackenzie

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Over the course of this journey in Rome, I have seen a lot of different forms of art. These forms vary from the typical paintings and sculptures to architecture, music, and crafts. Before taking this course, I only thought of artwork in the Church as a form of showing the artist's dedication to their faith. After coming to Rome for the first time, I learned more about the hardship, sacrifice, and struggle the early Christians faced because of their beliefs. These art forms were so much more than a way of expressing their faith. The artwork was created to share the Christian faith with the rest of the world. Paintings were the way of enlightening those who were illiterate. Music, architecture, and craft like objects (like rosaries, trinkets, etc.) are outlets for worship. I never realized just how incredibly important art was in the Catholic Church, but this pilgrimage has enlightened my interpretation for the better.