The Importance of Sharing Beauty
“God’s beauty still surrounds us, a constant reminder of His presence. His beauty is a constant invitation to turn our hearts to Him” (Karol Wojtyla, later Pope St. John Paul II, “God is Beauty”).
As the new year approached, I found myself thinking of how to make it the best one yet. The usual resolutions came to mind: pray more, spend time outdoors, read several books, learn something new. As I pondered my list of goals, I realized the common thread was bringing more beauty into my life.
The people who know me best could tell you that the theme that guides me is beauty. God’s beauty speaks to me, motivates me, and inspires me in my daily life. It invites me to seek and pursue him in everything.
The Role of Beauty in the Catholic Faith
As one of three transcendentals, along with truth and goodness, beauty is a big part of our faith. We learn that God himself is beauty, and that all created things reflect this attribute. It’s no surprise, then, that when we see something lovely, it lifts up our hearts, and we begin to “seek what is above” (Colossians 3:1).
In his book “The Evidential Power of Beauty,” Father Thomas Dubay explains that “the acute experience of great beauty readily evokes a nameless yearning for something more than earth can offer.” In other words, beauty reminds us of eternity. It points us back to God. Turn on the news on any given day, however, and things are contrary to God’s goodness. Destruction, scandal, hatred … we’re shown that the world has become an ugly place.
Revealing God’s Goodness
Reflecting on this state of things during prayer, I wondered, what can we do to show the world God’s goodness? How could we be light in a world that rejects it? I realized that it’s not we who are the Light, but we reflect his light. We brighten the darkness by sharing his light with others. By bringing goodness to the forefront, by sharing beauty, we have a unique opportunity to kindle his light.
Let’s each take time this year to discern how we could bring beauty to the people around us. I am beginning the new year by reading and praying through a 1962 retreat for artists, now published in “God is Beauty.” Here, the future Pope St. John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla, spoke on the intersection of beauty and humanity. As a writer, I can share about truth in my work, but the call to share beauty is not just for creatives. In his “Letter to Artists,” John Paul II also said that as humans, we are all called to make our lives a work of art. We are God’s “handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them” (Ephesians 2:10). The way we live our life is a visual testimony of the Gospel to many people. In a world that has lost sight of God, we can remind others of his goodness, not through harsh words but by joyfully sharing his beauty.
Resolve to Bring Beauty to Our Communities
When I think about sharing beauty, I often think of Joanna Gaines, the interior designer who took the world by storm by creating charming homes in Waco, Texas. She transformed a forgotten town one house at a time by bringing curb appeal to the community—and inspiring all who watched on TV. Beauty, like she and her husband Chip show us on “Fixer Upper,” motivates others to be better. Gaines is so driven by this idea that her 2019 winter theme revolved around the phrase, “Resolved to Seek Beauty in All Things.”
Seeking out goodness helps our hearts and minds delight in everyday moments. We may not all be interior designers, but we can make our home a place where we encounter beauty. My parents’ home (while I didn’t appreciate it growing up) is filled with classical artwork, and it never fails to make guests stop and look, inspiring interesting conversations along the way.
“Contemplating [great sacred and secular art] gives the mind, heart and soul of the viewer a certain sense of peace, order, and transcendence,” wrote Byzantine priest and iconographer, Fr. Thomas J. Loya in a reflection accompanying “God is Beauty.” Though he recommends furnishing the home with quality art, we could bring this idea into our workplaces as well. It’s an opportunity to be evangelists by cultivating a sense of wonder.
At the closing of the second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pope St. Paul VI reminded artists (but, really, all people) that “this world in which we live needs beauty in order not to sink into despair. It is beauty, like truth, which brings joy to the hearts of women and men.” May the Holy Spirit guide us in sharing God’s beauty in new ways this year.
Blanca Thérèse Morales is first and foremost a beloved daughter of God the Father. She has been blessed to spend 13 years writing about events, culture and faith for various publications, including The Florida Catholic, Verily Magazine and Life Teen. It was in meeting great people through her writing that she discovered her other passions: building community, hosting brunches, and organizing house concerts. When she’s not media buying or creating content, she can be found exploring new places, searching for the best lattes or microblogging at @Rise.And.Create. Find her on LinkedIn or connect with her on Instagram @pursuingloveliness.