Creative Expressions of Christianity

Iconography

Throughout her career as a teacher and well-known artist, Sister Aloysius McVeigh from Derry has become a reluctantly high profile figure and is now recognised as one of Europe's leading iconographers. She describes her work as the creation of a 'visible bible'.

Sr Aloysius first became interested in Iconography c 17 years ago and describes how she felt their powerful, prayerful presence in the Orthodox Churches in Eastern Europe. She was most impressed by their simplicity and depth of theology, and became so involved that she has abandoned western style art and now devotes most of her time and energy to 'iconography. She observes that while western art is concerned with the beauty of surface technique, the artists of the east go beyond the surface to the 'why' of the painting. If an icon is taken only at its surface value - simply as a painting of an event or a portrait - the meaningful symbolism is missed and we lose the spiritual message of truth.

All materials used in the process are natural - animal; mineral; and vegetable. These come to us directly from God and are offered back to God in the work.

CAPTIONS: (Naomh Bríd Icon by Sr Aloysius in St Brigid's Church, Kildare)

'Writing' an Icon

A panel of seasoned wood is selected, sanded and sealed with natural glue-size and covered with fine linen. Several layers of gesso are then applied. (Gesso is whiting or alabaster mix with heated rabbit-skin glue). This is sanded down to ivory smoothness to receive the lightly incised drawing, the gold, and the colours (raw pigments mixed with white of egg).

The whole process can take weeks, even months, and cannot be hurried. The work begins with prayer and continues within an atmosphere of prayer, silence and often fasting, if possible. The icon is given a solemn consecration when finished.

Iconography is a skill which takes years to perfect. A famous Russian Orthodox theologian and iconographer recommends a minimum of fifteen years of study under a master iconographer, with more years added if the trainee has studied Western Art!

Iconographers do not sign their work as the focus is not on the artist (as in Western art) but instead on the Spirit who is the real author.

Symbolism

Icons are charged with symbolism, and every element in an icon brings to light a hidden meaning, simple yet profound. Even the basic materials of every icon have spiritual significance, ie The WOOD recalls the suffering on the cross; the LINEN reminds us of the shroud enwrapping the body of Christ; and the EGG represents the resurrection. Everything about the icon is symbolic: every single colour is deeply significant and every bit of landscape represents something deeper. Icons represent a timeless silent respite for the soul amid the angst and tension of the modern world.

All faces have a similarity of expression: the eyes look directly into our souls, the ears are unnaturally bent forward, listening; the mouth is closed, silent and the face is never in profile.

It is interesting to note the strong appeal that icons currently have in the West. In his 'Theology and Meaning of Icons', Leoinid Ouspensky believes that is because in the West we have become weary of technically perfect optical illusions of reality.

CAPTIONS: (Icon of St Mark by Sr Aloysius)

Sr Aloysius gives talks and 'Prayer With Icon Retreats' when these can be fitted into her painting schedule. Because of pressure of work she now has to confine commissions to church work only. She co-directs courses in icon painting arranged by the Association of Irish Iconographers, of which she is a founding member.

Further information about the Association can be had from the secretary, Very Rev John Reynolds, K.C.H.S., School Cottage, Kells, Co Kilkenny (Email: kells, kk, icons@eircom.net )

A number of Sisters offer courses in Art/Art and Spirituality throughout the Province.

Any further contact should be made through the Mercy Provincial Office email address: mercynth.province@btinternet.com

An Artistic Response to Donal Dorr's Book
Mission in Today's World

Having read and re-read and lived with the lines of Donal's book, the image that revisited me from his words was that of the "exchange of gifts - the dialogue within us, without us and among all". It was from this image that "Graced Alchemy" emerged. The vision is one of symbolic processes whereby each existing former element, through convergence, is transcended into a total new reality. Thus in the case of "mission" the need for symbolic alchemical processes enabling the meaning of mission in today's planet world to be realized and grasped.

This work stages you, the viewer, and the world you inhabit, as the receptacle vessel in which this alchemy of mission can wax, become and reform in.

The essence of world mission - to liberate all of life.
Sr Oonagh Campbell, RSM Lughnasadh 2001

Sacred Dance - Prayer Through Movement

Sacred Dance - Prayer Through Movement - offers an opportunity for us to touch into the depths of our beings, allowing for total expression of ourselves, our hearts' yearnings, our praise and thanksgiving, and creativity. Through simple movements we are invited to come as we are and offer only that which we have - the gift of our lives, lived in prayer, every moment of every day.

Dance/Movement proves that prayer can be enjoyable, fun, energising, leading to deeper and peaceful waters, bringing us to a place of deep awareness and healing, to our soul space wherein God (The Divine) dwells.

There are many forms of Dance/Movement including:

• Sacred Circle Dance
• Dances of Universal Peace
• Sacred Movement/Liturgical Movement
• Ritual and Dance for liturgical celebrations

"To speak is to engage part of the self, to dance is to engage the whole self at all levels ... may we all have the courage to dance!"

This is a growing area of Ministry, and some of our Sisters working in this area are Nuala O'Connor, Navan, Frances O'Kane, Derry,and Carmel Bracken (currently in Nigeria).

For further contact : please use the Northern Provincial House email address: nualacoc@eircom.net

Sacred Music

Sacred music can express for us the prayer that is deep in our hearts. Many of our Sisters are involved in the Ministry of sacred music as members of choirs or as directors of parish choirs. Through their Ministry they express their own prayer and help others lift their minds, their hearts and their voices to God.

Sr Perpetua McNulty has been the Director of Sacred Music at St Eugene's Cathedral in the Diocese of Derry since 1998. She composes music for use in the church and is a member of the National Commission for Church Music. The cathedral choir provides music for all the major Diocesan and Ecumenical liturgies, as well as for the Sunday Eucharist. Each term the Cathedral Choir gives a performance of some of the established choral repertoire. They have sung in the National Concert Hall in Dublin and the Waterfront in Belfast, and have taken part in the Millennium celebrations in London's Dome. They were guest choir at St Patrick's Church, Washington for the St Patrick's Day celebration in 2003. They accompanied John Hume MP; MEP and his wife Pat to Washington where, along with three others, John received the Global Citizen's Award in the South African Embassy.

In 2002 Sr Perpetua wrote the music for "A Son's Return" - a musical based on the return of the Prodigal Son.

Contact: Sr Perpetua McNulty
email: thornhillpc@lineone.net