Living Without School: The Reality of Dreams

Friday, January 08, 2010

The Reality of Dreams

A quote from the artist Salvador Dali. Art is the reality of dreams.

The quote ran through my mind this afternoon. An afternoon spent mesmerized, absolutely mesmerized, by the religious art in the European section of the NGV...the National Gallery of Victoria.

Illuminated books of hours. Albert Drurer's sketch of the Woman of the Book of Revelations, the Woman clothed with stars.

Gilt edged icons.

A triptych of scenes of Christ's life...the wedding feast at Cana; the Annunciation...

Statues, images of St Barbara and of St Catherine of Alexandria.

I spent most of my time reading and looking. Really looking.

And feeling inspired, fed, calmed, uplifted by the art. Most definitely the stuff of dreams.

People have told me that boys don't get into art. That their homeschooled sons are manly and thus into sport not art.

But my sons happily spent time in the gallery today. Anthony came up to me and told me that I must make sure I see the icons.

Male or female, our souls need feeding and inspiration. With beauty. With art. This is lifting our souls towards our God.

True manliness. Seeing in art, some art, that reality of dreams.

I wonder if I could move to Melbourne. Just so I can visit the NGV more often!

2 comments:

Hopewell said...: That Gallery sounds like a dream day--no pun intended. I can only try to imagine the beauty.; 3:54 am
Leonie said...: It was peaceful, cool and calm, too...with a great afternoon tea shop!; 10:41 pm

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Prayer of Consecration of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to thee. I, N___, a repentant sinner, cast myself at thy feet humbly imploring thee to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to thyself as thy possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases thee. If it pleases thee, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of thee: "She will crush your head," and, "Thou alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world."

Let me be a fit instrument in thine Immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed Kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever thou enters, one obtains the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through thy hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise thee O Sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Prayer of St Bonaventure

Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst after Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God.May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end.May Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firmly rooted immovably henceforth and for ever. Amen.