Category Archives: Faith

Humanism and Renaissance Art

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Italian scholar Niccolo Machiavelli.

By the 15th century, many scholars in Western Europe adopted humanism, the belief that humans and earthly inventions are better than Christianity, the Church, or religion in general. Civic humanism is when these scholars put their worldviews at the service of the state government causing many influential people in Europe to become humanist. Consequently, they started to claim that the Catholic Church should not have as much influence on government. 

One of these humanists was Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) who wrote “The Prince” (1513), which contrasts medieval works with politics, and ancient and contemporary sources on morals. Machiavelli stated that the government should do whatever it needs to maintain itself and be prepared to act immorally if necessary. In fact, he wrote that in order to maintain its power, the state must “act treacherously, ruthlessly, and inhumanely.” Because he saw Christian governments as being bound to morality, Machiavelli wanted to bring back ancient forms of government like the Roman form.

In the early 15th century, the Florence Cathedral commissioned bronze doors to be made for the baptistery and had a competition between seven artists to make them. Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455) won and we still have his submission today. Ghiberti crafted 28 panels for this church that were so grand even fellow painter and sculptor Michelangelo described them as “so fine that they would grace the entrance of paradise.” Ghiberti’s assistant, Donatello (1386-1466) made use of his time working for the great artist and created the Statue of David (1440). 

Bronze doors of the baptistery on the Florence Cathedral.

Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446), considered the first great architect of the Renaissance, completed the dome of the Cathedral in Florence, while Michelangelo planned the dome of Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City. Another influential architect, Leon Battista Albert (1404-1472) made a guild of other young builders to help him with his work. Cimabue (1240-1302) is famous for the mosaic of Saint John, and although he still used made elements from the Eastern Byzantine style of religious architecture, his works were considered a step forward towards portraying emotion and realism.

Cimabue influenced medieval painter Giotto (1276-1337) who made his figures realistically and portrayed more feeling. This can be seen especially in his painting “The Kiss of Judas.” During the 13th and 14th centuries perspective and foreshadowing started to develop more and more. 

Masaccio (1401-1428) pioneered the use of light and shade to provide detail, and influenced later painters in the next century even though he died at a young age. Paolo Uccelo (1397-1475) put exceptional emphasis on perspective in his work “The Hunt By Night” and Fra Angelico (1387-1455) is known as the last medieval painter before most artists switched to Renaissance style. 

“The Hunt By Night” by Paolo Uccelo (1470).

Starting in the 14th Century, Catholic painters in Western Europe used more detail and portrayed emotion and perspective in religious paintings, whereas in Eastern Orthodox churches they continued to use the traditional Byzantine style, which still persists today in Russian and Greek churches. 

The “Little Flowers of Saint Francis of Assisi” Part 3 

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Brother Giles and Saint Francis.

At the Fransician monasteries, numerous monks practiced “foolishness for Christ,” which is the behavior of giving up all of one’s worldly possessions, joining a monastic order, and making one seem foolish or crazy in order to mask humility and holiness. Many monasteries in the East practiced this way of monasticism. However, in the West one of the only examples of this radical path is Saint Francis of Assisi and his followers. 

Brother Juniper was viewed as a fool, but Saint Francis swore that he was a holy and wise man. Juniper gave up everything he had on earth to join the monastery and help teach the monks. In order to gain salvation, he stated, you must have unbreakable faith along with devoting works to Christ. 

Another example is Brother Giles, who purposely made his own bread by hand, showing the other monks by example that you had to work to gain rewards. He regarded obedience to God as the true prayer of Christians. So great was Brother Giles’s merit that everyone followed his example, such as doing penance for their sins. 

In their writing the monks explained that virtue is the ladder up to heaven and that humility is the greatest of virtues that can help you get there. Holy fear is a channel of divine grace, they continued, and humility is a sure cause. They stated to not defend your own cause and to turn the other cheek, because Christ said those that are prosecuted and hated for His sake will acquire the kingdom of heaven.

Brother Giles wrote a series of sayings which were included at the end of “Little Flowers of Saint Francis of Assisi.” For instance, he stated that righteousness makes a good life easy, to suffer for Christ is a good thing, and to use Christ’s passion as an example for holy endurance. You should help yourself first before you ever preach to other people and sometimes keeping silent is the best option. 

The “Little Flowers of Saint Francis of Assisi,” Part 2

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Saint Francis being visited by an angel.

The followers of Saint Francis of Assisi were called the Fransician Order of Monks. Also known as Friars, these Christians lived in purposeful poverty, and were believed to have more grace than any other monastic community. Francis and his acolytes worked miracles and they reportedly had acquired divine wisdom from God. Francis taught his monks that the way to heaven was by faith along with good works, not just one or the other. 

There are many varied stories of miracles worked by the friars, such as when a illness was spreading throughout the monastery, Saint Francis conducted a mass which healed all the sick. On another occasion, a monk named Anthony is said to have preached to animals, and was able to convert dozens of pagans and heretics to the faith.

The book states that Jesus and Mary allegedly appeared to a friar who was on his death bed, and explained to him that He gave Francis the Holy Spirit to start the orders. A monk named Brother James was headed to purgatory, but his fellow monk Brother John prayed for him to be released. After this, Brother John was able to celebrate mass one more time before perishing. 

Once a mysterious old man stopped by the monastery. While the friars were washing his feet out of respect, the elderly visitor told the friars that Saint Francis would lead them all to heaven within a year. The book claims that Francis did regularly get monks who had died sent to heaven through his prayers, and once even prayed to get a fellow monk released from purgatory. 

The Fransician monks were holy through their asceticism and lived simple lives away from all worldly possessions. Through this, they were able to acquire divine wisdom and also to bring others to Christ through their holy example.