A beautiful tribute to artist John August Swanson by Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu: a life dedicated to art, faith and justice americamagazine.org/arts-cul… My full comments fellow below:
John August Swanson drew on many currents and styles of art, but for all the complexity and symbolic depth of his work, it has always seemed that his natural audience was children--and those who retain the ability to see with the eyes of a child. . .
John August Swanson drew on many currents and styles of art, but for all the complexity and symbolic depth of his work, it has always seemed that his natural audience was children--and those who retain the ability to see with the eyes of a child. . .
His work is for those who know how to see with their hearts, to be surprised and delighted, those who have not lost the spirit of play. John sees God at play in creation, in the dreamscape of a starry firmament, in the stories of Jesus and the people of God, . ..
in acts of solidarity for justice and peace. And it is no wonder that he pivoted easily from images of St. Francis and other saints to jugglers, clowns, and circus performers. St. Francis called his followers jongleurs de Dieu—tumblers, jugglers, acrobats of God. . .
—who performed for the Lord, just as John performed through his art, through his vision of a world imbued with color, wonder, and love. He was not afraid to appear simple or foolish, knowing that God has chosen what is foolish in the eyes of the world, to shame the wise.
I’m looking forward to this zoom presentation on #DorothyDay on September 30. Info here: Discover the Life of Dorothy Day with Robert Ellsberg saintjudepgh.org/discover-th…
Recently watched the tv film 'Entertaining Angels'. Some good moments, but didnt come anywhere near the truth of Dorothy Day. Would love to see screenplay based on her diarys, with actors playing different stages of Dorothy's life. Thank you.
I was so grateful to be part of this beautiful program last night. Remembering Henri: The Gifts of a Fruitful Life | 25th Anniversary Webinar piped.video/c07C7fAVhes via @YouTube
So much more to be said about the mighty Thecla—how she twice escaped death for her confession of faith (in one case, the lions merely licked her feet), how she baptized herself in a pool of wild “she-calves,” and joined St Paul as a fellow apostle… @GiveUsThisDayLP
“Some people accuse me of not talking about holiness. They say I always talk about social issues and that I’m a Communist. Yet I wrote an entire apostolic exhortation on holiness.” - @Pontifexamericamagazine.org/faith/20…
#HenriNouwen was “a companion to all restless seekers, a guide who traveled without maps, uncertain where his journey would take him, but always trusting that God would be with him at the end, and would welcome him to his true home.” Memories of his death 25 yrs ago. @The_Tablet
Ravi and I met 45 years ago today. I was on a protest march from Boston to Washington. He was on a protest march from Philadelphia to New York.
We collided in Trenton, New Jersey.
Luckily, I held back. That weekend, we were engaged and a few months later, we had a #Hindu#Catholic wedding the likes of which no one in Fall River, MA had ever seen before.
I like to imagine that I was somehow responsible for this happy union since I knew you both, independently, before you met. So, congratulations. And you’re welcome!
Henri Nouwen died 25 years ago on Sept 21 1996. In an article from 15 years ago, my memories of serving as his editor, and what he taught me about “human gifts.” americamagazine.org/issue/58…