Happy Feast of the Ass

It is painfully obvious that the Catholics who have offered their critical analysis of the artwork depicted with this post have absolutely no clue with respect to the visual arts including but not limited to art history and art appreciation.

For the “it's gotta be Catholic all the time all stars” you need to keep in mind that not everything in this world is or has been written, produced, manufactured or, in this case, painted, by - unlike you super catholics - a traditional Roman Catholic who attends the Latin Rite mass, who loathes Pope Francis and who has a visceral contempt for anything and anyone who is not Catholic or who might suggest something that could be misconstrued as being offensive to Catholics. There are numerous benign things and events in this world that will offend your delicate uninformed sensibilities (like this painting included above) but, guess what, too bad. Get over yourselves and your narrow mindedness. The world is bigger than your own limited ideas concerning what is or what is not acceptable viewing.

All of you “super Catholics” lose yourselves and your true identify with whatever you think you are defending. You are no longer sentient human beings as you were designed to be but merely automatons, non-thinking machines promoting your own brand of fanaticism. You are not that unlike the fanatics who campaign for LGBT rights, the pro-choicers, the Never-Trumpets and the loons of Femen. Like you, they are also close minded fanatics the difference being they promote a different form of fanaticism.

Clearly, individuals with even a modicum of common sense realize this but YOU do not. It is for this reason that this will be the final post on this subject.

The Golden Mean

Rafał

during his life here on earth was always portrayed and symbolized by true Catholics as alert, vigilant and cautious man

So then, Joseph never slept??

For this reason a sleeping Joseph whilst a pagan deity - caring god - cares over Mary and Infant Jesus peacefully sleeping in his arms is a fake depiction.

Imagine yourself for a moment in the same situation. There is no “safe” place. You are in a foreign land with who knows what kind of dangers lurking in the black night. I doubt that Mary and the Child literally did sleep under the sphnix but so what if they did? It would have been the most prudent thing to do under those circumstances.

blasphemous art

Don't confuse this piece with “blasphemous art” It is a beautiful work of art I and a prominent museum in the States agree.

I would suggest more piety, humbleness and Catholic dialogue (which only very few users know how)

You should first follow your own recommendation before offering “advise” to others.

You, I and little Joey disagree about this artwork and several other even more important things. So be it. I am done with this subject.

Hope you had a nice “Feast of the Ass.”

Uncle Joe Art and symbols should not be interpreted in accordance with subjective imagination but objective reality - truth. Today modern art, installations and scriptural interpretations very often falsify truth about what was and is Most Holy Family to Catholics with Sensus Fidei. Certainly Saint Joseph, the protector of the Church and Holy Family, during his life here on earth was always portrayed and symbolized by true Catholics as alert, vigilant and cautious man. For this reason a sleeping Joseph whilst a pagan deity - caring god - cares over Mary and Infant Jesus peacefully sleeping in his arms is a fake depiction. Moreover, in Egypt the care to Holy Family was given by true Triune God through His extended arms in creatures HE created. Certainly not by any non-existent pagan deity mythicised as treacherous and merciless to be later adopted in freemasonic architecture.

As I have mentioned in my last comment to Br Tom anyone who publishes controversial art, text etc. should be ready to be disputed in public... There is a dangerous tendency to interpret modern Christian art in an arbitrary manner by their authors which excludes any external criticism and triggers warnings adopted by far-left. The fruits of modernism which spread into arts are rotten in the West. Now these so called artists are flooding the East with their perverted imagination, including Poland, where Catholics are subdued to blasphemous art in theater plays, sculpture, paintings etc. These artists use analogous arguments to yours that their interpretation is only acceptable and right. Therefore after cases of pissing on the Cross have been filed in courts it is very difficult to prove this objectively blasphemous art hurts someone's religious feelings (against our law). As the pisser claims his interpretation does not mean to hurt anyone but it is motivation for hypocrites who go to Church and sin to convert. The source and reason for the inability of a human to objectify his cognition is simply the use of wrong philosophical concepts.

P.S. Although I disagree with Joseph in some cases and I don't know the comment you were offended by, I would suggest more piety, humbleness and Catholic dialogue (which only very few users know how) because this art was objectively not created by a Catholic with Sensus Fidei... Even if it was worth millions, had numerous awards and installed in most renowned museums...

Dear Joey,
Although I know it is impossible to reason with someone who is unreasonable, the fact is that the artwork I included with this post is one of the exhibits at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Quoting: Fleeing persecution at the hands of Roman authorities, the Holy Family takes refuge in Egypt. Joseph dozes beside a dying campfire while his donkey grazes on sparse desert grass. At left sleep the Virgin Mary and infant Christ, crowned with a halo of light. They lie in the arms of a sphinx, its eyes turned to the heavens, where the first stars begin to appear.

It is thought that the journey to Egypt took about 2 years. During that time the Holy Family had to make do with whatever was available to them on that arduous trip. The painting shows Joseph sleeping on the ground and his donkey feeding. The only meager shelter available from wild animals was the sphinx were, logically, Mary and the Christ Child are seen. This may not fit your closed minded - all Christian all the time illogical narrative but it is a valid interpretation. If you have a problem with my understanding of the artwork, it is YOUR problem.

Do not make any post on any of my threads again. Read them and try to learn something. However, I will remove any post of yours from this point forward. Personal attacks are not looked upon kindly at GTV. I've reported your personal attack to the moderator and will let them impose whatever discipline they see fit.