Cross of Agilulf, Monza Cathedral

My Chemical Romance - Famous Last Words

Rheims Cathedral

Why am I Catholic?

Mind, feeling, or experience? All of the above, really.
Over the years, I've become familiar with every religion from Anabaptist to Zoroastrian. Some are appealing. Some aren't. I just couldn't feel intellectually honest in any of them, except two. Catholic or atheist. For me those are the only viable options. Those are the only two that, to me, make any real sense and present coherent explanations.
There's the beauty of the Church, of course, but all the pretty feelings that stirs aren't enough to have much of a hold. The only feelings that come into the picture are, first, the unexplainable feeling that what the Church says is true, even when it seems hard to accept. For me, the real leap of faith comes in believing in any God. The second feeling really has to be handled under the third category.
Experience? That's the real clincher, but it's a feeling and a mental impression, as well. Every time I walk into a Catholic or Orthodox church, there's something there; something strong and good and sometimes overwhelming that I feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. I've never experienced it anywhere else, so I can only wax theological and attribute it to the Real Presence of God.

By Stefan Lochner, c1448, Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne.

From the Cantigas de Santa Maria

13th century

Science and Religion

I've been asked, by someone who's unfamiliar with my tendency to run off at the keyboard, to discuss the links between science and mathematics, on the one hand, and religion and imagination, on the other. Since that's not something that lends itself to soundbites, I'm going to start here, rather than Twitter. I have trouble saying ANYTHING in 140 letters. I'm afraid I'm also going to pass on the mathematics. I'm allergic to it. ( Like Gerard, I don't even know what a cosine is. )
The Middle Ages saw a tremendous flowering of scientific discovery. Unfortunately, that's been pretty much forgotten. The scientific method itself has its roots in the medieval world. Just look at this outline on Wikipedia, which is surprisingly good. Have a look. I'd be here all night if I even tried to start a list. Medieval science formed the foundation necessary for later development in almost every discipline. How was that possible if, in an "age of faith", religion opposed scientific inquiry every step of the way? Simple. Religion didn't impede progress. It enouraged progress.
But what about the dreaded Inquisition? Witch burnings? Well, for the most part, all that came much later. For most of the Middle Ages, scholars could study and discuss without having to watch over their shoulders. Remember, the university was a medieval invention. As long as people steered clear of a few hot-button topics, they could pretty much do as they pleased.
I'm going to offer two reasons why I believe religion aided in the development of science.
The first, though I'm talking about Catholic Europe, can be applied with equal validity to medieval Islam, and, though to a lesser extent, to medieval China and to the later Protestant countries of Northern Europe. Science thrives best in a stable cultural environment that, within a framework of agreed-upon beliefs, encourages inquiry and is open to the exchange of information. Religion, when its position isn't being threatened by internal or external forces, can form the bedrock of such an environment. ( Of course, when threatened, all bets are off. ) Through belief in a Creator, it gives cause to believe that the creation operates under some form of rational order. This belief encourages inquiry into how and why that order is formed
My second reason is specific to Catholicism, but I suspect it could apply to medieval Islam, as well. ( I'm not qualified to do more than speculate on that. )
Catholicism, at its best, presents the world as created by God, but operating and developing under rational and identifiable laws. Yet, at the same time, Catholicism, again at its best, presents the world as something infinitely beautiful and miraculous. In my opinion, it's that two-pronged approach; that ability to see nature as a multifaceted gem; that encouraged medieval scholars to try to learn as much as possible about the hows and whys of divine order, and, in the process, lay the groundwork for methods and disciplines that survived the waning of the "age of faith". To me, that blending of practicality and poetry, of reason and mysticism, is the true genius of the medieval world, and in it we might be able to find lessons for our own post-modern world, which longs for just such a blend.

From the Tacuina Sanitatis

Calenda Maia - Saltarello

WTF?

Huh? I seem to have been quoted in a book. Why didn't anyone tell me?

Altarpiece from a church at Troyes. 16th century. Louvre.
Wish I could have seen this before it got banged up.

Altarpiece from Stavelot Abbey, c1160-1170, at the Cluny, Paris.
(Photo Credit)

Castles for Sale?

Looks interesting, if you can afford it. The one in the Epte Valley looks familiar. I'm going to have to see if it's the one I suspect.

Scone Abbey

Some news about the excavations.

From the Tres Riches Heures of the Duc de Berry

A Blog by a Catholic, BUT NOT a "Catholic Blog"

I am a Roman Catholic, and proud of it. I freely and willingly accept ALMOST all of the Church's teachings. The one exception, though important, is not nearly enough for me to separate myself from the Church Our Lord founded and separate myself from the greatest supra-national civilisation in human history. I believe as a Catholic. I think like a Catholic. That permeates every part of my life and I'm quite content with it.
That said, I have no intention of involving myself in the snake pit called the "Catholic blogosphere." Personally, I find that little alternate magisterium to be a disgusting fraud that reflects badly on God's Church. I have no intention, whatsoever, of falling into lockstep with that pompous, P.O.D., right wing pack of scoundrels on any matter, whether sacred or secular. My readers can leave the state of my immortal soul to myself, my pastor, and my bishop.

14th century, Calouste Goulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon

Serving Notice

There are two wrong attitudes toward the Middle Ages. The first reflects the notion that it was the "Dark Ages", and everything was just fucking awful. The second reflects the attitude that it was a golden age of faith and chivalry and everything was just ducky.
Both attitudes are a load of happy horseshit, completely contradicted by the evidence. The Middle Ages were a fascinating time of progress for both the arts and sciences, but life was damn hard and there were a lot of problems. In this blog, I tend to concentrate on the good, but don't ever expect me to deny the bad.

That said, please keep in mind that, though I love the best medieval art, I also recognize the fact that a lot of medieval art was bloody garbage. I have no patience with bad art, so don't expect me to go into ecstasy over a piece of crap just because it's 13th century. You're likely to see a bit of later work, inspired by the Middle Ages, but only if I consider it worth looking at. I like my art alive and vibrant, not preserved in amber.

Along the same lines, I plan to post a fair amount of medieval music, but I reserve the right to post anything I damn well please. I love plainchant and sackbuts as much as the next person, but you're also going to be seeing a lot of my favorite music; My Chemical Romance. I consider their music to be, not just good, but great, in the same way I consider Bach and Mozart great. If you don't approve, TOUGH! I have a great deal of respect for those young men and I consider them the most appealing pack of ragamuffins this side of my honorary nephews and I won't tolerate one single word against them. Consider yourself warned. I'm not going to let that crap get started again.

This is my blog and I'll do as I please. If you can't accept that, don't bother whining in the combox. Just click on that little x and piss off.

Tour Cesar, Provins, Ile-de-France

(Photo Credit)

Blandy-les-Tours, Ile-de-France

(Photo Credit)

Arvaux, Cote d'Or

(Photo Credit)

It Lives!

You know, people, I've been trying to kill this damn blog for about a year now and it just won't stay dead. I stab it with my steely knife, but I just can't kill the beast. I've driven stakes through its black heart, but it just gets up and walks the earth, stirring terror in the hearts of prisspots everywhere.
Well, I give up. The blasted thing won't stay dead, so I might as well get some fun out of it. I seem to have driven away the anonymous combox lynch mob, along with most of my readers. Good. The readers who matter can find their ways back, if they like. As my college roommate always said "fuck them if they can't take a joke." My friends can join in, if they like. New readers can come along for the ride, and enjoy the pretty pictures and curmudgeonly commentary.
I warn you, though. All trolls will be skewered. Let me be blunt. There are only seven people on this glorious earth whose opinions really matter to me. As for the rest of you, some I respect, some I don't, but I really don't give a rat's hindquarters what you think.
Now, sit back, grab a drink, and watch for a few posts this evening, and a rather interesting one tomorrow. Hang on to your hats. I feel a major burst of creativity coming on, and that always means two things; beauty and mayhem.

Wrong Stick, Eminence

Hat tip to the always quotable and thoroughly delightful Frank Iero.

My Chemical Romance - The House Of Wolves (live)

My Chemical Romance - Black Parade

St. Gereon, Cologne

(Photo Credit)

From Medicina Antiqua, 13th century, Austrian National Library

From Bishop Bernward's Gospels, c1000, Hildesheim Cathedral

Shoana, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Russia

11th century.
(Photo Credit)

Kloster Kaufungen, Hesse

(Photo Credit)