Giotto's Rainbow and the New Evangelization

J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R.*

Giotto's Last Judgement (c. 1306)
DOUBLE-CLICK to view larger image

Futurists undervalue the importance of the past and tradition. In their zeal to promote so-called human evolution with the goal of an "enlightened" trans-human state, they see change as the only constant in the created realm. Well they miss three supremely important constants, absolutes that will never be detroned, regardless of humankind's prideful quest for universal transformation.

1) Light's most important quality, its near instantaneous speed is still the universal constant that confounds futurist's lofty dreams of utopian space travel and extraterrestrial existence. (3 x 10⁸ meters/second)

2) The immortal life of the human soul is a constant that futurists may like to attribute to a Godless New Age version of reincarnation, but they cannot refute its certainty.

3) The univeral attractive principle of relationship, God's love may only be considered an impersonal force in a world that is animated by a spiritual cosmic consciousness, yet they have still not killed the compelling essense of love in all its forms.

The New Evangelization requires an immersion in the past, 2000 years into the past. It requires a living encounter with Our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST who is the same yesterday, today and forever (cf. Heb 13:8).  We are called to make Jesus present in the lives of people who are being trained by the mass media to hypervalue the operant principles of an impersonal future as it sets out to falsify the truth of humanity's checkered past.

In a world that seems to be ruled by the three principles: 

a) The flow to global
b) The power of the individual and individual choice
c) Accelerated digital electronic connectiveness

we have the daunting task of trying to slow down a runaway train that is accelerating toward a cultural train wreck.



DOUBLE-CLICK to view larger image

 The life and legacy of Giotto di Bondone is worth pondering. The center of the creative/developed world in 1300 AD was the Catholic city-state of Florence.  Well Giotto was the Leonardo DiVinci of his time.  He was a harbinger for the Renaissance.

…having gone one morning to Giotto’s shop while the artist was at work, [the courtier] explained the pope’s intentions and how he wanted to evaluate Giotto’s work, finally asking him for a small sketch to send to His Holiness. Giotto, who was a most courteous man, took a sheet of paper and a brush dipped in red, pressed his arm to his side to make a compass of it, and with a turn of his hand made a circle so even in its shape and outline that it was a marvel to behold. After he had completed the circle, he said with an impudent grin to the courtier: ‘Here’s your drawing.’ The courtier, thinking he was being ridiculed, replied: ‘Am I to have no other drawing than this one?’ ‘It’s more than sufficient,’ answered Giotto. ‘Send it along with the others and you will see whether or not it will be understood.’ (From The Lives of the Artists by Giorgio Vasari, translated by Julia Conway Bondanella and Peter Bondanella. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.)

Maybe our New Evangelization kit bag should include a sample from Giotto's impressive opus.  An artist that knows how to draw near perfect circles for the Pope left us the above image—encompassing the TRUE LIGHT OF CHRIST, just like the rainbow. 

Oh and by the way, the true rainbow is constant, always comprised of  the colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet...in that order.

Sincerely yours in Jesus and Mary,

Mike Rizzio

Imitate Mary

Become like Jesus

Live for the Triune God

Seek the Light of Our Lord Jesus Christ

See you on the High Ground!

* - J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R. stands for:

Jesus, Mary and Joseph;

O Beata Trinitas;

St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael