January 7, 2013: Final Post

Reflection #7:

It has already been three weeks since we have ended our class in Rome. Overall, it was an amazing experience. Since then I have thought about several themes that we talked about, and there are a few I would like to expand on for my last post.

One theme that really became clear during our time in Rome was that the Catholic Church has always had this fascination with science and knowledge. We spoke about Galileo and how he experienced issues with Catholics in regards to his beliefs about the universe. I think that this is important in the history of Catholicism and science because it gives an initial impression that religion does not like science. This however was not the case. Instead, they only wanted to spread ideas that could be proven in a concrete sense. In the case of Galileo, it was more a matter of not being able to prove his theories that caused the church to silence him. During our time in Rome we saw firsthand the emphasis Catholics place on science when we visited the Vatican Observatory. It was really an eye opening experience to see that for many years Catholics have encouraged knowledge. This can also be seen in the Vatican Library where scholars from around the world can be exposed to ancient texts and expand their thinking. 

Another theme I saw throughout our trip was the idea of the Last Judgment. Probably the most famous representation of this can be found in Michelangelo’s work in the Sistine Chapel. I previously described it as beautiful yet terrifying because he does an amazing job of depicting the rewards Jesus offers if you follow him. On the other hand, viewers see what lies in the depths of Hell for those who turn their back on the grace of God. We also saw a Last Judgment mural in one of the Byzantine style churches. Here, we again saw an overabundance of God’s grace as well as the despair of those who were exploding out of the ceiling and filling Hell. What I found most interesting about this theme was that it did not only come up in art, but also in the sermon of the Pope. Pope Francis spoke about how the Last Judgment is a time of celebration for believers because it is finally the time to join Jesus in heaven. It is essentially a time for Catholics to begin a new life. I found this particular theme really amazing because we have seen it throughout history. We first saw it in the Sistine Chapel, later in the Byzantine style church, and then in present day during the Pope’s sermon.

The final theme I would like to discuss is martyrdom in Rome. I think this theme is particularly important because Rome is really the beginning place of not only Christianity as a religion, but also the attempt to break down that religion by killing believers. We talked about martyrdom as being the ultimate imitation of Christ, and we even visited locations were Christians were most likely martyred. We discussed that Christians believed that if you were on Jesus’ side, you were might have to suffer, but ultimately you were on the right side of history. When I think about martyrs in Rome the one I think about most is Peter. Specifically, I think about the obelisk in St. Peters square. This obelisk is referred to as the silent witness since it was thought that it was taken from the circus in which Peter was martyred. This is so significant because over thousands of years the obelisk was preserved because it has a connection with Peter’s martyrdom. This theme is seen throughout Rome and throughout history.

While we talked about many other themes, these three really stood out to be. I feel that because of this trip I really grew to appreciate the history and culture of Rome. 

December 12, 2013: Vatican Library

Reflection #6:

Today we had the unique opportunity to visit the Vatican Library. It is rare that groups of our size are allowed into this “secret” place. The fact that we were able to even enter was a huge privilege. At first, it seemed kind of odd because there were no books in the first room we entered; however, we were quickly informed that all of the books were removed while they renovated the space. On the walls we were able to see amazing frescos. On one side of the room, the frescos showed images of libraries throughout the ages. The final fresco, located at the farthest point of the the room, was one that showed the Vatican Library. These frescos showed that the church has always valued knowledge. On the other side of the wall were images of what different councils may have been like. At the very end was an image that illustrated the Council of Trent which we have discussed extensively in class. I thought it was extremely interesting how our guide said that these frescos were a kind of dialogue between humanity and faith. This same idea had been brought to our attention earlier when our guide said the library was not just for the church, but for humanity in general, which is supported by the fact that the Vatican Library is open to scholars regardless of their faith. Having the opportunity to enter the Vatican Library brought what we have discuses in class to life. Last night we talked about Galileo and how he taught Copernicanism as an accepted truth rather than a hypothesis. When Galileo was brought in front of the Inquisition of Rome for a second time, he was condemned to a life of house arrest. This decision can be misleading and imply that the church was against advancements in science; however, this was not the case. The church has always encouraged members of Christ to be up to date with what is happening in the world. We can see this specifically in the Jesuit community who are called to actively practice in math and science. They were one of the first religious communities to really emphasis the idea of spreading the gospel and knowledge worldwide. These ideas were supported today with our visit to the Vatican Library which showed that knowledge in a religious context is encouraged. 

December 11, 2013: Audience with the Pope

Reflection #5:

This morning, at the crack of dawn, we were up and waiting to see the Pope. We gathered by St. Peter's Basilica with hundreds of others to hear what Pope Francis had to say. 

Today Pope Francis gave a short sermon about the Last Judgement. He started off by saying that while many might be fearful of the Last Judgement, it is really a subject to celebrate. The Pope spoke about the Last Judgment as this mystery which lays before us, and while it can be a scary concept, the scripture tells us its a good thing. The Last Judgement will be a moment of liberation and freedom for believers because it will be a time when they are able to join Christ. I thought his sermon was interesting because we have seen a lot of art that depicts what the Last Judgement will be like. For example, Michelangelo’s Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel is a terrifying yet beautiful scene. 

In this fresco, we see Jesus and Mary in the center. Jesus is represented as a redeemer. Surrounding him are Saints, many of whom were martyred. What is unique is that those Saints are shown with pieces of the instruments used to kill them. For example, there is a man to the bottom right of Jesus who is holding what looks like melting skin. This figure is actually St. Bartholomew who was skinned alive (fun fact, the face of the skin is a self portrait of Michelangelo). This shows that those who believe in Christ will come back perfectly whole in the after life. The Pope was saying exactly this, and even said that God and the Saints are already praying for believers like a mother looking out for her child. However, there are also those who choose to not follow Christ. In Michelangelo’s Last Judgement, we see a cave at the bottom with the devil inside. This part of the painting is blocked by a physical cross to keep out the devil in the Sistine Chapel. There are also images of the damned trying to get to Jesus but being pushed back into Hell. The Pope also mentioned this ideal in his sermon. He said that those who reject God and his teachings are ultimately hurting themselves by their own choice. It was interesting to hear a sermon that related almost perfectly to what we have talked about throughout our trip. 

December 10, 2013: Caravaggio

Refelction #4: 

Today we did a tour of different paintings by Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio, or simply, Caravaggio. In class we talked about how Caravaggio  lived a very simple life the first few years he was in Rome. This was because he had a difficult time finding a patron to support his work. Starting in 1599, Caravaggio quickly became an artists of high regards. Some of his completed works include Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, Madonna di Loreto,  The Crucifixion of Saint Peter, and finally, the one I would like to spend some time on, The Calling of Saint Matthew. The Calling of Saint Matthew was created in 1599 as decoration for the San Luigi dei Francesi. This chapel was purchased by the Cardinal Contarelli; unfortunately, Cardinal Contrailli died before the church was able to be decorated. In his will, he left specific instructions as to what he wanted the various frescos to be in the church. As inspiration for The Calling of Saint Matthew, Cardinal Contarelli used Matthew 9:9 which states, “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. ‘Follow with me.’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”  

While painting, Caravaggio faced two issues. The first was trying to portray two different physical environments. These environments are the room in which Matthew is sitting with friends, and the street where Jesus is supposed to be passing. The second problem was trying to create a narrative composition where several characters are in motion at once. To solve these problems, Caravaggio constructing the scene around Christ’s gesture which is pointing at Matthew. This gesture is then echoed by Matthews hands. It is important to consider if Caravaggio was painting the exact moment when Matthew decided to follow Christ or a second before because then the interpretation could be slightly different. I believe he was painting the exact moment rather than a second before. 

The scene above shows a room full of soldiers and tax collectors seated at a table across from Peter and Jesus.You can tell Matthew and his friends are tax collectors because of the money and books on the table. On the other hand, it is clear that the standing figure is Jesus because he has a halo around his head. What is interesting is that St. Peter was added after the original piece was finished, and his presence represents the church. There are a few aspects of this painting that are particularly important. The first is the lighting. If you look closely, you realize that the light is coming from behind Jesus even though there is an open window on the back wall. This light signifies the grace of God available to those who decide to follow him. Another important feature of this painting is the way Jesus is pointing at Matthew. It is obvious that Caravaggio was inspired by Michelangelo’s work in the Sistine Chapel because Jesus’ finger is the same as God’s in the creation of man. One final aspect I would like to point out is that it is not entirely clear who Matthew is. The most common argument is that Matthew is the bearded man, and that he is pointing to himself as if to say “me?”. It was really amazing to have the opportunity to study this painting prior to seeing it. It made the experience much more meaningful.

December 9, 2013: St. Ignatius Church and Gesù Church

Reflection #3:

Today we went to St. Ignatius Church, as well as the Gesù Church. I would like to expand more on the Baroque architecture and art, and how it was different from other churches we have seen. The Gesù Church is similar to that of a basilica. There is a nave, transepts, and an apse; however, unlike at St. Peters or Santa Maria, the nave is entirely open. This architecture allows whoever is entering to immediately be drawn to the alter. One idea we have discussed in class is the importance of the Eucharist. Various Christians have argued this idea of transubstantiation, which is when the body and blood of Christ actually become the bread and wine. Some theologians believe that when taking the Eucharist, the bread and wine actually turn into the body and blood of Christ, while others argue it is simply a metaphor for Jesus becoming part of the community of Christians. Either way, the design of the church highlights the significance of the Eucharist. In the Baroque style churches, we also see that the alter is no longer at the intersection of the nave and the apse. Instead, it is pushed against the back of the apse. This same style was present in St. Ignatius Church as well as many other churches given that the Gesù Church was basically a model for Baroque architecture.  

St. Ignatius Church

Gesù Church 

The Baroque style art was very different from what we are used to seeing. On the ceiling of both these churches was art  made to capture their audiences attention. In the Gesù Church, there is a scene with IHS (Jesus Holy Savior) in the middle. Around this are saints and holy people, but since there are so many people trying to follow Christ, the frame cannot contain them. Instead they spill over onto other parts of the ceiling. As your eye continues down the ceiling, you no longer see followers of Christ. Instead, there are those who have decided to not follow Jesus, and again they are spilling out of the frame. This is the first time we have really seen such a representation of the damned. It is something we have not yet talked about, but the interpretations are somewhat overwhelming due to their dark nature.

St. Ignatius Church

Gesù Church 

December 7, 2013: The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel

Today we visited the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. The Vatican Museum was the first of its kind to gather artifacts and use them to educate people. It was supposed to be a place for people to gather and learn, as well as showcase the unity between faith in Jesus Christ and human reason. What is interesting about the Vatican Museum is that it is an ongoing reality given the fact that new collections of art are continuously added.

At the Vatican Museum, behind is the dome of St. Peter's Basilica 

In the museum we saw some very unique pieces. On of them was an artwork panel that showed three different scenes. The scene on the left was of the crucifixion of Peter. We know this is Peter's crucifixion since he requested to be crucified upside down. The right panel shows Paul being beheaded. We know this panel is of Paul for two reasons. The first being that Peter and Paul are almost always showed together, and the second is because the legend of his martyrdom states that after being beheaded, his head bounced three times. On the panel we can see little tick marks to indicate these three places. It was also thought that a spring erupted through the ground at each spot his dead bounced. In the center is Jesus on this throne, surrounded by saints. The bottom ribbon is interesting because instead of Jesus being worshiped by the twelve apostles, it shows Mary holding a baby Jesus who is sucking his fingers. This is meant to highlight Jesus' humanity.

Another piece of artwork I found interesting was a piece that showed Prassede and Prudenziana, the two martyrs I spoke about in an early post. I recognized the painting to be of them given that they were ringing out a cloth filled with blood. This was a common way to represent them since they would gather martyr bones and give them proper burials.

Reflection #2:

I would like to go into more depth about the Sistine Chapel, as well as the artwork of Michelangelo on the ceiling. What is interesting about this chapel is that it is built inside the Pope’s residence, which is located next to St. Peter’s basilica. Many chapels already existed in the Pope’s residence prior to the Sistine Chapel, so one might wonder why would he build another? The reason is because the Pope and bishops needed a safe place to gather to decide on the election of the Pope. They also wanted to ensure that the election was made freely, and finally they wanted to prevent another Great Schism (this was a time when there was up to three Pope’s all preaching different things). The reason a church was built instead of a meeting hall was because they still wanted a place to celebrate mass, and they wanted it to be a reminder that what they were doing was about Jesus Christ. The dimensions of the building are also somewhat strange; however, the reason the chapel has so many angles is because it was thought these were the dimensions of the chapel in Jerusalem. The chapel is also unique in the fact that there is little space for lay (non clergy) people. This was intentional given that the Sistine Chapel was meant for clergy. 

The frescos in the chapel by Michelangelo are absolutely stunning. On the ceiling is his first painting. The panels from one end of the chapel to the other show the creation of man by God, the creation of woman coming out of the side of Adam (this image could also represent the creation of the church), the great fall where Eve eats the forbidden fruit, Kane and Abel, God sending the great flood, and finally Noah becoming a drunk. Essentially, this fresco is the down fall of man, and ultimately the separation between God and man that is created after the great fall. On the sides, Michelangelo painted saints, as well as lay people, to show that while humanity fell, God continued to send worthy people. It was interesting to have the opportunity to see this after discussing it in class. For many this may seem like just a beautiful piece of art, but in reality great controversy surrounded this work given the nakedness of the people, as well as how Michelangelo chose to represent humanity and divinity. There is so much more to the history of Rome than what one sees through the naked eye. 

December 6, 2013: St. Peter's Square and Basilica

I previously posted about St. Peter's Basilica located in the Vatican City. Before, we had the chance to visit the crypt under the church, the mosaic studio, as well as the "hidden" room located above the actual church. Today, we again found ourselves at St. Peters; however, this time, we got to experience the church in all of its glory. We began our lecture in front of obelisk which is a tall, pointed needle type structure. This obelisk is located in the large space that spans the front of the church. What is so unique about this obelisk is that it came form the circus where Peter was martyred. This particular circus would have been located just to the left of where St. Peter's Basilica stands today. It is now thought that this obelisk is a "silent witness" to the martyrdom of Peter.

Sorry Dr. Colombo... It was just such a good shot! 

When we were able to go into the hidden room in St. Peter's, there was the model above of St. Peters. In the middle of the court yard you can see this obelisk. Being able to enter the basilica was also amazing. The size of the building, as well as the art is beyond words. It is clear why it took over 100 years, and several architects to complete construction. 

Reflection #1:

I would like to go into more detail about two particular items we learned about today. The first is the design of the basilica, and the second is the pieta statue. 

The design of the basilica is very specific. The building was originally supposed to be in the shape of a greek cross. A greek cross is one that all lengths of the cross are equal. This was the design under Donato Bramante, Baldassarre Peruzzi, and Michelangelo.  Michelangelo also had the idea to create the dome we see on top. He was inspired by the dome found in the Pantheon; however, Michelangelo made one critical change. He increased the height and added windows to the design. This simple, yet revolutionary design represented the fact that God takes on humanity, and that his light and grace reigns down on the body of Christ rather than humans transcending humanity.

Dome at St. Peter

After Michelangelo’s death, the greek cross structure was pushed aside, and instead Carlo Maderno lengthened the building to create a Latin cross. The shape of the building is not the only aspect that was carefully though out. The courtyard directly in front of the church has significance of its own. I already mentioned the fact that the obelisk represents this silent witness in the death of Peter; however, there are also columns that wrap around the court yard. These columns are made of several pillars, and on top are saints. The way in which these pillars cup the court yard represents the arms of God welcoming and greeting members of the Christian community. This embrace is basically a symbol of invitation to live a life with Jesus. 

The second item I would like to discuss is the pieta statue inside of the church. Pieta simply means mercy, and while there are several of these statues, the one found in St. Peter’s is probably the most famous. This statue was made by Michelangelo when he was only twenty-two/twenty-three. This statue shows Mary with Jesus on her lap after he was crucified; however the statue does not convey distress. Instead, it is more a representation of a mother with her child. Jesus is laying on Mary’s lap just like a baby would lay on his mothers lap, and Mary does not seem to be upset. This statue is also unique in the way that Mary’s body is completely out of proportion. Her legs are massive in order to accommodate her dead son; however one would never notice this detail because they would be so absorbed by the maternal connection between Jesus and his mother. I found this pieta particularly fascinating because the carving is able to convey so much emotion, and for Michelangelo to have completed this work at such a young age is extraordinary in itself.