Visual images are not extrinsic to Christian liturgy; they are not a luxury. By virtue of the incarnation, works of visual art are as integral to the celebration of liturgy as texts, gestures and music. Therefore, the Christian artist has a true vocation to embody the Gospel in material things. Celebrating liturgy without the appropriate use of visual images is like celebrating liturgy without words or without singing.

Far from advocating a return to the practice of turning the church building into a crowded shrine, this essay suggests that integrating visual images into the contemporary church building requires an understanding of the nature of images and how they help the gathered assembly enact its liturgy.

Paperback, 7 x 10, 50 pages.