The concept that grabbed my attention from the reading is the
description of Loyola’s idea of devotion. The author makes a point of
differentiating between the use of visual representations to communicate the
message of the Church, and the use of an individual’s imagination to create
representations of theological propositions.
In the first case, sacred art is used to represent the verbal
teachings of the Church and to create an emotional stimuli. Examples are the
works of Michelangelo where initial images are provided to the believer. In my
opinion this process from the point of view of the person receiving the stimuli
is more passive. Loyola’s idea is different because he places great importance
on visual imagination. In his theory, each person uses visual imagination to
create a unique representation of the words of the Church to attain profound
knowledge. The process is personal and requires more individual reflection,
making it more active.
The question is what is the source of the imagination process.
Loyola describes de stages in his “Spiritual Exercises”. He states that the
first step is creating a visualization of the space, then the people in the
scene and last the three divine persons. I believe that the process needs to
have an inspiration that is beyond the mundane episodes in our lives and
instead it has divine inspiration which is devotion.
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