Ave Explores Series | Art and Architecture Series

It's no coincidence that Ave Explores: Art and Architecture began on the first anniversary of the devastating fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Beauty plays an important role in the Catholic faith: Paintings, mosaics, statues, stained glass windows, and the buildings where we worship play an important role in what we believe and how we live our faith. The art and architecture of the Church articulate beauty as a way to understand God and grow in relationship with him.
Fr. James Phalan, C.S.C., was in France when the Notre-Dame Cathedral burned last year. In this video, he explains what Notre-Dame has meant to him and why its restoration is so critically important.

PODCASTS

 

Podcast with Mike Aquilina

The stuff of our faith is the focus of the Ave Explores podcast this week. Mike Aquilina and Katie Prejean McGrady talk about his book A History of the Church in 100 Objects and how this stuff helps us embrace the beauty of our Catholic faith.

ARTICLES

 

Captivating Beauty

Katie Prejean McGrady sees her daughter’s fascination with the sights and sounds of Easter Mass as a metaphor for how Catholics are captivated by the beauty of the Church and drawn into a greater love for Jesus.

Dreaming a Catholic Aesthetic

J.D. Childs, author of The Catholic Spirit, considers the effects of beauty on our spiritual lives. He also writes about some of his favorite pieces of art and what they mean to him.

Books to Consider
Join Ave Explores—It's FREE!

Sign up for Ave Explores to explore everyday faith for everyday Catholics with articles, videos, podcasts, social media exclusives, surprising facts, and more. Enter your email address below to become a part of this exclusive community.

Don't forget to follow Ave Maria Press on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and the hashtag #AveExplores for the most up to date information.