THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE MODERN AGE IS FAITH IN GOD

The whole contrast that exists between the Middle Ages, which sought first causes, and the modern age, which pursues secondary causes, is exemplified in art: in the Middle Ages, no sculptor ever carved his name on a sculpture; and the reason was that he worked for God; and he acknowledged that it was God who gave him the ability to sculpt, and the mind of an artist; and when he left his work anonymously, it was God, the first cause, who brought the credit. Today, the sculptor carves his name on marble, because he works for man, and has forgotten the First Cause, the Cause of all causes, which is God. (... )

Medieval art is the art of a redeeming humanity. It is rooted in the Christian soul, on the shore of living waters, under the sky of theological virtues, and among the sweet marshmallows of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. For in the Middle Ages it was not a question of making Christian art, but of being Christian. If you were a Christian, your art was Christian. If you believed in eternal dogmas, your art would express eternal truths. The medieval artist used to say: "If you want to carve things of Christ, you must live with Christ." For medieval man, art required calm and meditation rather than excitement and feverish motorcycling. History tells us that the Blessed Angelic wept while painting the "Crucifixion" which is today in the Convent of San Marco in Florence.

(Fulton J. Sheen, from "Truth and Lies: A Prophetic Criticism of Modern Thought" Mimep editions)