New! ICEL about to issue plain song settings for the Mass

Finally we might start singing Sacred music rather than religious music at our Masses! the ICEL (international commission on Ennglish in the liturgy) is comming out with plain song (chant) settings for the Mass. On the right column is a link to download the new plain song settings from the CMAA (Church Music Association of America). Though they aren't officially out yet, They have been given permission to email them out to those that ask. Finally! No more 'sugar-sweet' secular melodies that do nothing to bring the heart to compunction and Awe at the Sacred Mysteries.

New Painting:The Young Soprano

Here is a new painting. The title is 'The Young Soprano'.

The inspiration is from a Sunday a few weeks ago. In the Parish church where I go for Mass, there was a woman looking over the sheet music and rehearsing her part. Her voice was well set and she, just looking at a section of a Handel Oratorio, was practicing her part without any care who was listening or watching. I was dumbfounded; to be able to sight read music (either sung or performed) to me is a gift to be admired. This young lady with the beautiful voice raised my spirits so I thought I would honor her. In this painting I imagined a singer, during Handel's time, practicing in the warm glow of a candle's light.

My newest book- Capuchin Days

I have a new book out. Back in the 1970's I lived with the Italian Franciscan friars in Italy. This book tells of the experiences I had.

The Holy Fire

Every Year on Holy Saturday in The Eastern Orthodox Church, a most amazing miracle happens at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. From within the tomb of Our Lord, a bright light appears coming from the stone slab He is said to have laid on. Candles are lit from this strange light and passed around the church to the crowds awaiting. The Fire has no burning properties-one can put one's hands into it, put it up to ones face, etc. It has the look of fire yet there is no burn. The first written account of this miracle was in the 4th century. This little video clip shows a portion of this event. The Holy light will only appear with the invocation of an Orthodox Archbishop. The Patriarch who enters the tomb explains what he sees and how this comes about. Read more about it HERE.

Today is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Being the Feast of St. Francis I thought it opportune to add a drawing of him to this Blog. His life and history have had a profound impact on the Church.

He came at a time when there was much laxity and overindulgence in the Christian world, both lay and clerical. God always sends great saints in times of great need.

To get a glimpse of the romantic spirit of this poetic lover of 'Lady Poverty' (he considered riches and possessions as dung) I suggest reading "The Little Flowers of St. Francis" (i Fioretti). There are many editions and it has been around for more than 500 years. He had so many biographers that his life (though he lived in the 1200's) is well documented.

Pax et Bonum.

Fleeing the world

I have just finished a piece called FLEEING THE WORLD.

It presents the viewer with a woman, looking back over her shoulder and hand outstretched. By her gesture we are told to stop; to not follow but let her go on into the dark arched tunnel.

What inspired this work was a good deal of thought and reading on a subject quite un related yet not really. I have been reading and reflecting on St. Francis of Assisi and his love of solitude. There was always a little bit of the eremetical calling in him. He prefered remote mountain places for his abode. During the time before he left the world he was wont to go up into the old Etruscan tombs on Mt. Subasio (or caves) and there to give himself to continual prayer to better know the God who was calling him to an intimate and most dramatic calling.

Many are the great hermits and anchorites of centuries past who fled society and it's corruptness to the spirit.

And so my woman does the same. She wants no attention from the world, no praise for her act. She seeks only paradise and the things of paradise.

Mary, the 'Morning Star', prepares for the New Day

With the coming of Aug.15 and the feast of the Assumption of Mary, the Mother oF God, I thought I might post a painting of Her I just finished. I've taken the title 'Morning Star" (Stella Matutina) from the Litany of Loreto as the title for this work.

The Romance of St. Francis

I've been doing quite a bit of pen and ink drawing these days of Capuchin Friars. Ever Since I lived among them in Italy in my early 20's, I have had a great fondness for the Order. Here is a little sample of one such work.

The Love of drawing

I thought I would put up a pen and Ink drawing of mine. Drawing is probably the most enjoyable form of Art that I do. Though I paint, drawing is something so old and so common to mankind...

If you look closely, the man is pouring milk from a bottle.  I do that myself almost every evening - with a cookie as well.

My book A VISIT WITH CHRIST

For the last few months I have been working on a book which is finally published. I wrote it and did the illustrations. It is mainly for the catholic reader thirsty for some spiritual refreshment but all Christians should find it refreshing . On the right column of this blog there is a link to the book at the publisher where you can preview it and order it if you like. Unfortunately, they require that you create an account with them before checking out. Very annoying!

-J.R.Howley