COMMENTARY: Art, the language that needs no words

c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Art is a language of its own. Jesus said we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Art reminds us that we do not live by words alone, either. God has given us ears to hear and eyes to […]

c. 2007 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) Art is a language of its own.

Jesus said we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Art reminds us that we do not live by words alone, either. God has given us ears to hear and eyes to see and senses to feel.


The late Henri Nouwen, an avid reader, described sitting in front of Rembrandt’s “Return of the Prodigal” for a full day, studying the images as he usually read a text. He was stunned at the progressive revelation and depth of encounter at this wordless art.

At times, art can be unitive, transcending differences by tapping into universal human longings for the good, true and beautiful.

It’s true here on Orcas Island, Wash., home to 4,500 people and, like all the Pacific Northwest, inhabited by a higher than normal irreligious population. It is a place where an eclectic mix of Buddhist and New Age practitioners outnumber professing Christians.

The devout on Orcas often describe themselves as “spiritual,” not “religious”; they are well educated and love the arts; the local a cappella group is “dedicated to creating an atmosphere of spiritual enrichment and unity through choral singing, while committing their time, energy and talents to musical excellence and goodwill.”

Recently the group invited Damijan Mocnik to serve as composer and director-in-residence, performing his compositions at Song Share 07. This young Slovenian composer is gaining international recognition for his work, which is often liturgical and decidedly religious.

Last weekend, we diverse and eclectic islanders enjoyed an afternoon concert that combined Slovenian folk songs with Mocnik’s liturgical music. Lyrically, Mocnik is unflinchingly Christian as evidenced by Verbum Supernum Prodiens:

“High word of God, eternal Light, begotten of the father’s might, who cam’st a Child the world to aid, as years their downward course displayed, Our hearts enlighten from above, and kindle with thine own true love; That, dead to earthly things, we may be filled with heavenly things today. Praise to the Father and the Son, and Holy Spirit, three in one, and to the holy Paraclete be praised with them and worship meet. Amen.”

One might think such explicit expressions of Christian devotion would be off-putting in today’s pluralistic age, but to the contrary, when wrapped in such glorious music, the better angels in us all were drawn into a transcendent unity.


The audience embraced the artist because of his art. Dennis Bonner, the group’s director, interviewed Mocnik, who described his musical and lyrical philosophy.

“All great art is essentially simple,” he said. “My music springs from the sacred text and when inspired comes to me immediately, like `love at first sight.’ … Latin, because it is a dead language, is almost mystical to me. … When I am composing, I express my faith, like a priest. … The Bible is an endless source of inspiration and music can express more than a word.”

Without the art, such words might be divisive, but in the context of art, it seems the islanders set aside their differences and experienced something that resembled spiritual unity.

And so on Orcas Island, though as drenched in religious pluralism as we are in Northwestern rain, we soaked it all in, each tree standing tall and unique, together forming a lush, deep forest.

Under Damijan’s direction, the a cappella group heartily closed its performance with his Jubilej 2000:

“It has passed over already 2,000 years since the man and Son of God came to earth. He sacrificed himself on a cross for all of us; he delivered the world when he rose from the tomb. Christ yesterday, Christ today, Christ always and for everyone. You alone are Love and the source of goodness. Let your blessing settle everywhere. Just in you there is justice, the path and life. Grant us your peace and heavenly joy.”


The concert was finished. The religiously diverse crowd rose to its feet and clamored for more. Beautiful music triumphed over our differences as each of us was allowed to determine whether the claims of Christian Scripture are true. I believe, as in the creation of the earth, God saw what was made and heard by those created in his image, and said, “It is good.”

(Dick Staub is the author of “The Culturally Savvy Christian” and the host of The Kindlings Muse (http://www.thekindlings.com). His blog can be read at http://www.dickstaub.com.)

A photo of Dick Staub is available via https://religionnews.com.

KRE/PH END STAUB

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!