“ The Lord said, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship.” Ex 31:3.
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands,” Ps 90:17.
“It is like a man going on a journey when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work,” Mk 13:34.
”I must work the works of him who sent me.” John 9:4.
“And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” Phil 1:6.
“To lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work.” Col 1:10.
“Comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” 2 Thes 2:17.
“Like the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, venerable and holy images of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets,” Council of Nicea II.
“Art ranks among the highest manifestations of the genius and culture of all peoples; it also offers the Church the most worthy and the most important elements which the exterior celebration of the divine cult assumes.” Pope Pius XI, 1928.
“By work a person provides for self and family, associates with others and renders them service: each can exercise genuine charity and be a partner in the work of bringing divine creation to perfection.” Vatican II, Church in the Modern World.
“The arts are directed toward expressing in some way the infinite beauty of God in works made by human hands. The Church has been particularly careful to see that sacred furnishings should worthily and beautifully serve the dignity of worship. She has admitted changes in material style, or ornamentation prompted by the progress of technological arts with the passage of time.”
Vatican II, Sacred Liturgy, 122.
“The art of our own times from every race and country shall also be given free scope in the Church, provided it bring to the task the reverence and honor due to the sacred buildings and rites. It is enabled to join its voice to that wonderful chorus of praise in honor of the Catholic faith sung by great people in past ages.” Ibid, 123.
“Work honors the Creator’s gifts and the talents received from him. It can also be redemptive.”
CCC 2427.
“Art is meant to bring the divine to the human world, to the level of the senses, then, from the spiritual insight gained through the senses and the stirring of the emotions, to raise the human world to God, to his inexpressible kingdom of mystery, beauty, and life.” USCCB Living Stone, 2000.
“Quality art draws the beholder to the Creator, who stands behind the artist sharing his own creative power, for the “divine Artist passes on to the human artist a spark of his own surpassing wisdom.” This is true of music, architecture, sculpture, painting, pottery making, textiles, and furniture making, as well as other art forms that serve the liturgical environment.” Ibid, 147.
Craftsmanship
Craftsmanship, as a spiritual gift, is the making of sacred objects thah reflect the beauty of the Creator and creation. It serves others by using materials and images to remind them of the glory of God and the presence of God in all things. It is an art form using one’s talents and perceptions with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit for the Lord and to draw others to Jesus and the Church by the work of one’s hands and heart.
Questions to share
- Which passage touches you or burns in your heart the most? Why?
- How have you exercised this gift in the past?
- How are you now exercising this gift in ministry?
- Do you see new ways you can exercise this ministry in the future?