IMAGINATION, The Art of Faith Proclaimed

The Chapel at Casa O'Toole - the site of the Institute of Continuing Education for Priests
at the Pontifical North American College

These days of sabbatical, which have been devoted to preaching, have often evoked a discussion on imagination.  Through these discussions I have come to a renewed understanding of the importance of creativity in preaching.

Imagination and creativity are found not only in a preaching style that will engage the hearts and souls of the listener; it is first found in the believing heart of the preacher.  As my brother priests and I have studied texts, we have called upon our imagination, asking of ourselves the questions that proper reflection on sacred scripture requires.

• What does this passage mean to me?
  
• With whom do I identify in the passage
• What would I say to the characters in the scripture?  What would they say to me?
• Having read this scripture passage, what needs to change in me?
• What does this text say about God's view of the world?

The response to these questions is at the heart of preaching. Creativity and imagination are not the end result but the process in which a greater understanding is revealed and a truer encounter with

Michelangelo's David

Christ can occur. 

Creative preaching, therefore, is not just about the spoken word but the many ways in which faith is engaged through imagination so others may encounter the mystery that the "preacher" has contemplated. Much of the preaching I have experience in my time here as been the visual preaching, found in the abundant sacred art that is seen in church after church. These artists did not begin with the final result, but began with his or her own encounter with the scriptures and the mysteries of Christ.  Their

Caravaggio's the Call of Matthew

works are a revelation of their own contemplation. From their imagination a visual image of preaching emerged.  To quote St. Ignatius of Loyola, "The heart has its reasons of which the mind knows nothing." Preaching is more than teaching and words, preaching is a revelation of one's soul, so that another soul may know the heart and mind of God. In many ways, art is a more effective preacher than the spoken word may ever be.

The Upper Church in the Basilica of Saint Francis
of Assisi, featuring the fresco's detailing his life 

And so I found myself wondering if we have stopped preaching through art.  Has artistry today been separated from faith? The most prominent artists in history have matters of faith at the core of their work. Today it seems the most successful artists (musicians and actors too) are those who have broken free from the bonds of religion.  How unfortunate if this is true.  

We live during a time where faith has been erroneously and tragically expressed through acts of terror. And sadly too, works of art and churches themselves have been destroyed as a result. How desperate our world is for the Good News. Would not the world be better if that faith was once again revealed through the preaching of sacred art?

Fresco from the Lower Church of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi