ArchInspire #027: Vault Patterns

Here's a repost from Visual News -

The next time you find yourself in a Romanesque or Gothic European church, cathedral or basilica, lay down on the floor and cast your eyes up to the mesmerizing ceiling. Built between the 12th and 16th centuries, it’s hard to believe the level of detail and variation in these marvels of architecture from over half a millennia ago. The designs, full of intricately repeating ribbed diamonds and triangles, look like kaleidoscopic designs carved from stone… actually, that’s not far from the truth.

In his book Heavenly Vaults, photographer David Stephenson continues his work he began with his book Visions of Heaven, taking images of the ancient houses of worship that fill the european continent. The book captures many ceilings of the transcendent structures, designed in a time when they easily towered over any surrounding buildings, with the intention of inspiring passerby to higher callings. Stephenson’s images flatten the vaulted ceilings, simplifying them to their essential shapes and emphasizing their repeating patterns, intricately carved detailing and colorfully painted ornaments.

The beautiful book contains 104 pages of photographs and an accompanying essay by Stephenson charting the history of the vault and explaining its technological developments. You can see more images from his series here.

 

A Monastic Movie: Into Great Silence

Stumbled upon this trailer while scouring for a monastic vocation promotions video at Youtube. It's a movie/documentary about the life of Carthusian monks in their ascetic monastery in the French Alps. I'll update this post and make a review after I've seen it. I can't wait! For now, check out their official review and trailer:

Nestled deep in the postcard-perfect French Alps, the Grande Chartreuse is considered one of the world's most ascetic monasteries. In 1984, German filmmaker Philip Gröning wrote to the Carthusian order for permission to make a documentary about them. They said they would get back to him. Sixteen years later, they were ready. Gröning, sans crew or artificial lighting, lived in the monks' quarters for six months—filming their daily prayers, tasks, rituals and rare outdoor excursions. This transcendent, closely observed film seeks to embody a monastery, rather than simply depict one—it has no score, no voiceover and no archival footage. What remains is stunningly elemental: time, space and light. One of the most mesmerizing and poetic chronicles of spirituality ever created, INTO GREAT SILENCE dissolves the border between screen and audience with a total immersion into the hush of monastic life. More meditation than documentary, it's a rare, transformative theatrical experience for all.

Check out more from MongrelMedia. You can download there a pdf file of an interview with Philip Gröning and cool high resolution poster and images :)

A Catholic Convert

"My family was supportive, but my friends were not in the least bit. Most of them doubted that I could ever change or stick with it. They were just waiting for me to fall again. In a way, that doubt from other people pushes you harder. I looked at their doubt in me as an extra source of motivation."

Those words from a Catholic convert in an interview at LifeTeen.com definitely struck a familiar chord. It reminded me of the time when I broke down after hearing discouraging words from someone I considered a friend. Katie Lewis there was right to turn other people's doubt as an extra source of motivation to push yourself even further and go the extra mile in your love for the Lord. As for my  vocation, I am slowly settling down at the thought that obviously not everyone is called to a life of contemplation. There is no doubt in that. But definitely you cannot blame monks and cloistered nuns for giving up their entire lives to pray and be close to God. That is the true meaning of sacrifice.

Creative Juice #040: Saintly Sketch

I skecthed this while inside the convent. Hehe~ 

St. Ezekiel Moreno, patron saint of cancer patients
and Mary, Our Lady of the Beatitudes :)

---

Help me to always remember 

for I have all the tendency to forget :(

Updates 04.10.11

Haha. I missed blogging so I'll just pour out whatever goes in my mind in the following bullets:

• My little sister and I has just finished praying the rosary."Ang sarap, sabi ko." (It feels so good, I told myself). We read Scriptures in between the mysteries to enforce our meditation on Jesus' Passion (suddenly it felt like Lent again!) and even spent five minutes of grand silence after. 
• The silence and solemnity of it all reminded me of a very dear and personal spiritual landmark :) 
• The making of my thesis proposal moves on :) I am reading documents regarding the contemplative dimensions of religious life and backgrounds on monasticism under the History of Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition.  
• It's been a really exciting journey for me since the end of my classes last semester.  The places I've been to (convents and retreat houses and old churches) and lessons learned. Somehow I see the hands of God leading me to pursue this one proposal. I am so praying for the approval of that monastery development. 
• Having spent my Holy Week inside the convent for quite some time, a stark contrast was formed in my mind regarding the life 'inside' where I felt the Lord is leading me, and the muck 'out there' where I've been wallowing for years. 
• *sighs* I missed already my Pater and brothers in that humble convent household. I just want to spend the rest of my life in complete and total contemplation :)
• Speaking of bewilderment, ayun, I felt disoriented when I left the convent to come home for the Easter Vigil: (1) The parish activities were hustling and bustling - I felt there was little time for contemplation at all; (2) our beloved adoration chapel was temporarily closed because of termite infestation, and (3) the glamour of evil is so much strong and pervasive than before (read: irreverent blogs, shopping spree and food trips! *sighs*) 

A Portrait

Posing before Luis Ak-ak's wooden carving of St. Ezekiel Moreno
@ the convent of the Missionaries of the Beatitudes :)

Just got back from my indefinite and unofficial hiatus from blogging :) Been spending most of my time for the past weeks inside the simple and humble convent of the Missionaries of the Beatitudes. I think I just found my second home inside this concrete jungle of the metro. I am so looking forward to a journey of perpetual contemplation :) A Happy Easter to all! 

Our God is not dead! He's alive! He's alive!

Christ's Passion: No Handsome Saviour

You can never be crucified and still be handsome. Jesus had neither beauty, nor majesty, nothing to attract our eyes during His Passion. It was an event that was so terrifying and ugly that all whom He considered His friends, His beloved apostles, denied Him and ran away from Him. Let us not soften the impact of the Cross for Jesus did not died in vain.  

He died for us so that we may live.