Christian-inspired art, music are living treasures, pope says

Published: 2008-05-21

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christian-inspired art, architecture and music are not dead artifacts from the past, but are living treasures reflecting the beauty of God and the joy of being a child of God, Pope Benedict XVI said. The Christian culture is "born out of faith, born from the heart of one who has encountered Christ" and has felt his truth and love, he said. As long as this "faith stays alive, this cultural heritage does not die, but stays alive and timely," he said during his May 21 general audience. The pope focused his catechesis on the life and contribution of St. Romanus the Melodist, a sixth-century poet and composer. He said this patron saint of church singers shows how powerful "symbolic communication" is when it "joins earth to heaven" in the liturgy and "uses imagery, poetry and song to lift our minds to God's truth."

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