In late October, 40 artists gathered for a weekend retreat at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Norwood, Ohio. The retreat was hosted by Called to Create, an apostolate for Catholic visual artists designed to help them to see their call to create as a divine spark, and a response to God’s invitation to discover and share his beauty and truth.
The weekend retreat consisted of daily Mass, confessions, the rosary, studio time during which the artists were able to paint and create, and talks by Dr. Ceil Dorger and Fr. Thomas Flynn, LC.
Ceil is an art historian and author who specializes in sacred art, particularly images of the Virgin Mary. Her passion for art history began when she was just a young child, accompanying her aunt and grandma on visits to the Art Institute of Chicago. She went on to teach art history at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati before pursuing her doctorate with a focus on Marian art. Ceil spoke to retreatants about the history of cathedrals, and the use of stained glass as it developed throughout the ages, sharing important pieces, such as the 15-meter high windows of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, and Bernini’s well-known Cathedra Petri in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Historically, Ceil shared, there were three main reasons why churches frequently incorporated the use of paintings, sculpture, stained glass, and other forms of sacred art into their interiors and architecture: images provided instruction and formation for those unable to read, they were frequent and dynamic reminders of the mysteries of God and the examples of the saints, and they were meant to inspire feelings of devotion which are often more effectively stirred by things seen rather than things heard. Ceil encouraged the retreatants to put to its best use the great gift they had been given by God to create beauty, and reminded them of the words of Pope St. John Paul II in his Letter to Artists:
“Beauty is a key to the mystery and a call to transcendence. May your art help to affirm that true beauty, which as a glimmer of the Spirit of God, will transfigure matter, opening the human soul to the sense of the eternal.”
Fr. Thomas’ talk was titled “Stained and Sainted,” and provided the overall theme of the retreat. In this talk, he spoke on the idea that the true human experience means being both stained and sainted, both a sinful people, and a people in whom God’s grace is alive and at work.
“Henri Nouwen reminds us to keep our eyes open to the many ways we are tempted to deny our identity as beloved, and this denial often leads us to act in ways that stain our spirit,” said Fr. Thomas. “When we confess, we acknowledge our imperfections and the stains they leave behind. In this space of truth, we begin to understand that our stains do not define us; rather, they are part of our human experience.”
He went on to say that confession is a process that can be likened to polishing a tarnished piece of silver – removing the stains reveals the brilliance underneath. “When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and open, we uncover the potential to become sainted – people who reflect love, compassion, and authenticity. Our experiences of confession and redemption become testimonies of hope.”
The retreat also involved the opportunity for visio divina, a method of prayer through the contemplation of images and art. “Through this ancient form of Christian prayer, we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into a sacred image, in silence, and see what God might have to say to us,” says Ceil.
Ceil continues to share her love of Mary using the beauty of art as an instrument for talks, classroom videos, and tours of area churches. She teaches a sacred Scripture and sacred art class at Mount St. Mary Seminary and School of Theology, and is a frequent lecturer around the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area. Ceil recently released a reflection journal in collaboration with artist Holly Schapker, who has also worked closely with Fr. Thomas and the Called to Create apostolate. The book, titled Universal Mother: A Journal for Finding Yourself in Mary, includes twenty paintings of Mary in her various roles and in diverse settings, accompanied by personal reflections and journal prompts to guide readers through their own experiences of the art and theme of each painting. Find out more by visiting ceceliadorger.com.
Fr. Thomas currently serves as the assistant chaplain for the RC Women’s Section for the Ohio Valley locality. He is also the chaplain for Mercy Health Hospital in Anderson and Clermont, Ohio, and provides sacramental and spiritual care to inmates at Warren Correctional Institution. Fr. Thomas also serves at Mater Filius Queen City, a non-profit maternity home that provides housing and resources for pregnant women and mothers experiencing financial difficulties and homelessness. An avid painter, Fr, Thomas regularly gives artist retreats in collaboration with the Called to Create apostolate in Cincinnati.
Fr. Thomas also works with The Angelico Project, and the Angelico Catholic Arts Guild, whose mission is to enrich the faith and work of artists. This upcoming March, he will be offering a one-day retreat for musicians in Cincinnati – find out more about The Joyful Noise Musician Retreat and Workshop here.
