Post 4: Architecture and Art as Witness of the Dialogue throughout History - Pierre-Reginald Milorme, SJ

We receive the same call to promote the goodness of God and his magnificence in different ways. The magnificence of God is expressed in the whole town of Rome. Everywhere and in every activity, both personal and academic, I feel that God wants to teach me, as He teaches Ignatius the Spiritual Exercises, after Cardoner’s vision. In that moment, I experienced how my God is wonderful and magnificent through the beauty and grandeur of the architecture of the Churches in Rome. The Basilica of St. Peter and Paul is a sign of the grandeur of the human soul. My admiration for those artistic pieces evokes and helps me understand how God invites us to be collaborators of his creation. The way art conveys the inner link to the divine is truly remarkable and inspires me to reflect on how I can express my own connection with God through my dedication to serving humanity. Everyone has a special talent from God that can help to express our connection to the divine. 

Interior view of the Basilica
 of St. Peter and Paul

Exterior View of the Basilica
 of St. Peter and Paul

View of the Basilica of St. Peter and
Paul from the Vatican Garden

Additionally, the admiration evoked earlier about the art pieces is followed by the feeling I experienced from the historical learning I gained during the tours. I want to note here the connection between art and history. The churches in Rome are especially distinctive for their architecture and the message they convey. For instance, visiting the Dominican Church—the basilica of St. Clemente—is a true journey into a different historical period. It is a place where I can say that we are in contact with three different temples from diverse centuries. Above the excavation lies the 12th-century Basilica, which features magnificent mosaics and frescoes from the early Renaissance. However, descending below the church, we discover a 4th century church that contains works of art from medieval times. So, our journey throughout the century continues if we go down, where we can find the Mithraic pagan temple of the 1st century. I saw this place as representing three churches in a single entity. Several centuries of history coexist in this single space, demonstrating how diversity can preserve unity. Each part of the Basilica of St. Clemente is a witness to the past. (St Clemente church) 

Sculpture in the Church of St. Clemente

Frescoes of the Renaissance in the excavation of the Church of St. Clemente

Indeed, human beings are able to profess the unity despite their diversity in the expression of their relationship with God. Just as engineers have protected centuries of history and art within a single church by blending pagan traditions with Catholicism, we are all encouraged to safeguard our personal identities. We can do this by striving for the common good and repairing past divisions that have caused harm. All we are commissioning to work on building bridges and breaking down all the walls that prevent us from dialogue and cooperation. Dialogue is inevitable for healing, both at the same time, the Church and the World, in the same manner that the genius of the builders protects centuries of history and art.