Yoga Stations of the Cross?

Michie

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When you think you’ve seen it all


Remember the post about the people in Albany who do the Stations of the Cross in clown gear?

When you think you have seen it all… a reader comes around with this sort of thing (edited). This is from St. Louis and the Washington University Catholic Student Center.

To be fair, it is juxtaposed with a lecture by Peter Kreeft and an ad for confessions.
A student sent me this text. I found the advert on the website of the Student Center.
Yoga Stations of the Cross Tonight!

Continued- http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/when-you-think-youve-seen-it-all/
 

JimR-OCDS

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Well, as usual, Fr Z reacts with a narrow mind which is lacking in facts.

The Clown Stations which he criticised at his web site, isn't what people think, being performed in Church by clowns.

Its more of a play done on stage by a Clown Ministry Team.


From The Deacons Bench;
While clowns are seen as symbols of humor, the Clown Ministry Associates take a page from Emmett Kelly. “It isn’t essentially a humorous thing,” said Rita Ablett, a founding member of the group. “It isn’t about clowns — it’s about people.”

The only humor in the clowns’ performance is at the beginning, when two happy clowns try to cheer up Marmeldook, and in some of the sad clown’s questions to the spirit. At one Station, for example, the spirit explains that Jesus told the women of Jerusalem, “Do not weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children.

”“The Way of the Cross in the Company of Clowns” | The Deacon's Bench

So, doing Yoga Stations of the Cross, probably means something other than what Fr Z thinks, which isn't surprising.

Some people pray the Rosary while doing Yoga exercise. Rosary Yoga?

Doing Yoga while meditating of the Stations of the Cross would be no different and not only not wrong, but very good.

Its bringing Christian spirituality into the exercise.


Jim
 
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QuantaCura

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Oh yes, the venerable tradition from the '80s of making the Blessed Virgin look like a clown.

passionjpg-7837bee513169491.jpg


What wrong with actually carrying things out with dignity and solemnity? Ugh. And if the intent is to do it solemnly, why the clowns?

And what's wrong with praying like a Catholic rathering than incoporating the latest physical exercise fad at best, new age practice at worst.

Do people really dislike their Catholic heritage that much?
 
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Michie

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Oh yes, the venerable tradition from the '80s of making the Blessed Virgin look like a clown.

passionjpg-7837bee513169491.jpg


What wrong with actually carrying things out with dignity and solemnity? Ugh. And if the intent is to do it solemnly, why the clowns?

And what's wrong with praying like a Catholic rathering than incoporating the latest physical exercise fad at best, new age practice at worst.

Do people really dislike their Catholic heritage that much?
Ok, I'm sorry but that is just gross imo.
 
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JimR-OCDS

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The purpose is to express the feelings of the characters portrayed.

Its not an photo imagery of the actual persons, for we don't know what they looked like anyway.

To me, the expression in the face of the Blessed Mother meeting Jesus carrying the cross shown in the photo, is touching.

Your thinking circus clowns, which this was not.

Jim
 
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JimR-OCDS

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I see no reason for it. So I'm afraid your defense of it is just a waste of time with me.

Different strokes...


Fine, its just your own personal taste.

That doesn't make it wrong however.

Jim
 
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JimR-OCDS

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Did I say that? Don't believe I entered that territory.


You opened the thread with Fr Z's criticism.

If you don't agree with the article, then don't post it.


Jim
 
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Michie

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You opened the thread with Fr Z's criticism.

If you don't agree with the article, then don't post it.


Jim
Oh puhleez... I've been known for posting things I agree & disagree with or am neutral about. I'll continue as I always have. Thanks.

If people cannot decipher between an article & a comments pro or con by the poster, that is their personal issue to work out.

So you worry about your posts & I'll worry about mine.:doh:
 
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JimR-OCDS

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Michie

Oh puhleez... I've been known for posting things I agree & disagree with or am neutral about. I'll continue as I always have. Thanks.

Yeah, but you argued over with me over it, so I could only conclude, that you think its wrong as Fr Z does.


Jim
 
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QuantaCura

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So then from your statements, you oppose stations of the cross done in abstract art?
Jim

Yep.

To me, the expression in the face of the Blessed Mother meeting Jesus carrying the cross shown in the photo, is touching.

Your thinking circus clowns, which this was not.
And this sums up why I'm against abstract art for this kind of thing. Modern and abstract art by its very nature is incredibly subjective. That whole movement in art intended to portray a subjective experience or perception of some object or event, rather than striving to portray an objective truth. Sure, the artist and maybe a few other people will get it (and few more will pretend to), but the rest will just see a mess.

Modern church architecture suffers from the same problem. If you read some of the architectss explanations, some have good Catholic ideas intended in the work, but they're the only ones who can recognize them. The rest of us regular folks just see a spaceship or a slug or theater or a warehouse or a myriad of other things--or nothing at all--all depending on the individual and which do nothing to lift our hearts to any objective truth. Here's an example of what I mean using a still life of a bouquet of flowers. Everyone knows what the first is. In the second, its anyone's guess as to what is going on, even though its essentially the same thing:

http://www.artexpertswebsite.com/pages/artists/artists_l-z/roesen/Roesen_FloralStillLifeWith%20NestOfEggs.jpg

http://www.modernart-painting.com/images/modern_art_paintings_21st.-merello._some_flowers(130x81).jpg

The same can be said about Mary. Put her in clown makeup and people are going to think clowns. The same emotion can be expressed in an univocal manner instead as is done in most Passion plays where there is no confusion. There's no need to throw in a clown-Mary.
 
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JimR-OCDS

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QuantaCura


And this sums up why I'm against abstract art for this kind of thing. Modern and abstract art by its very nature is incredibly subjective.

Not if its good art.

The feeling of sadness, joy and happiness are felt by those who observe the art and are open to it.


That whole movement in art intended to portray a subjective experience or perception of some object or event, rather than striving to portray an objective truth. Sure, the artist and maybe a few other people will get it (and few more will pretend to), but the rest will just see a mess.

The objective truth is that the Blessed Mother felt the deep sorry seeing her son, being crucified, as the artist portrayed in the clown stations.

Even in traditional art, there is an expression being given through the artist eyes and hands. Its not absolutely what the characters in the art felt, but neither are the images actually those of the characters whom we've never seen.

Also, as we deepen in our prayer life, the images of Christ portrayed in traditional are, have to be discarded for they're the image created by the artist and not Christ.

We need to begin to experience God as He realy is, not as we imagine him.

However, in impressionist art forms, what is expressed is human feelings and although these are also not exact, they the common feelings human beings feel.


Modern church architecture suffers from the same problem.

Not to me. Most modern Church architecture made Church worship more practicale and comfortable.

It especially made it more accessible for all. When my father became a parapalegic back in 1964, his days of attending Mass ended, for he couldn't get in to any of the old style cathedral styled churchs.




Here's an example of what I mean using a still life of a bouquet of flowers. Everyone knows what the first is and can appreciate its beauty. In the second, its anyone's guess as to what is going on, even though its essentially the same thing:

http://www.artexpertswebsite.com/pages/artists/artists_l-z/roesen/Roesen_FloralStillLifeWith%20NestOfEggs.jpg

http://www.modernart-painting.com/i...tings_21st.-merello._some_flowers(130x81).jpg


You're confusing modern art with impressionist art.


The same can be said about Mary. Put her in clown makeup and people are going to think clowns. The same emotion can be expressed in an univocal manner using instead as is done in most Passion plays. There's no need to throw in a clown-Mary.

In the picture of Mary in the clown stations, I didn't think clown. What I felt looking at the impression of her was the sorry she felt.

The bottom line is, its a matter of personal taste in art, and not that its wrong.

Jim
 
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JoabAnias

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Oh puhleez... I've been known for posting things I agree & disagree with or am neutral about. I'll continue as I always have. Thanks.

If people cannot decipher between an article & a comments pro or con by the poster, that is their personal issue to work out.

So you worry about your posts & I'll worry about mine.:doh:


:eek:

What! You don't agree with every article you post!

^_^
 
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