While researching for my Ph.D. years ago, I first had the chance — and often — to examine some medieval manuscripts of the Psalter which contain wondrously beautiful images of the Beatus Vir himself, in many vibrant forms. You remind me of their severally sonorous expressions.

For example, the chance to see the 8th-century Corbie Psalter (your reference links directly to it: http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8452190t/f10.item) and to turn its pages remains wholly memorable. The beauty, creativity, and vivacity of its decorated initials continue to inspire.

As a bonus, perhaps you would agree, was the amazing, serendipitous opportunity to examine the book, by choice of the library staff, at a table in the main reading room at which also sat the youngsters exclaiming over their reading of issues of ‘Asterix’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterix“).

The continuity over generations is powerfully resonant, and sometimes palpably visible at a single gathering in our presence, in our lifetime. It is remarkable how looking at the books can focus attention upon the texts, and the telling, that they mean to convey across the ages.

Your post and the responses to it give nourishing food for thought. Thank you, indeed.

Meanwhile, more about stained glass in another post some day.

But apparently he was less concerned about distraction caused by the aural delights of song, as wasn’t he author of several hymns? Or at least the poetry associated with those hymns?

Just as good art should have more place in our worship, so should good music. Sadly I believe the Mormon musical tradition has been atrophying for some time.

Jesse, really enjoyed this. And love the serendipity of its coming just as I’ve started into I Ne 8 in my Reading Nephi series.

The presence of art in worship has long been a matter of thought and discussion. In the twelfth century, while Abbot Suger was promoting the use of art and beauty to guide the soul on an upward spiritual path, his contemporary, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, worried that outward displays of visual delights so easily distract us from the inner accomplishments of the soul. The debate long predates these two historical thinkers.

All I know for sure is that Arnold Friberg and Charlton Heston have irreparably influenced the way I read certain passages of scripture.

Images and art plays such a subdued role in LDS worship, apart from maybe the temple mural tradition. Our scriptures are not illuminated, our chapels are quite sparse, the art hung in hallways and classrooms comes straight from the distribution center catalog. It seems like we could learn a thing or two from other traditions.