Christmas Grotto As An Art For Experiencing Divine Humility
Keywords:
Devotion, Kenosis, Popular Piety
Abstract
The installation of a Christmas grotto must begin with a process of meaningful reflection. Without it, such construction may become a hollow and repetitive act. The witness of Scripture must be re-reflected upon so that foundational norms are retrieved, thus ensuring the significance and value of the art continue to offer spiritual benefit to the faithful, and that the art itself maintains its place, is preserved, and passed down. This reflective qualitative study attempts to rearticulate essential Catholic principles that should be present in devotional art surrounding the Christmas Liturgy, so that the artistic expression may be properly and fruitfully carried out. This literature review is grounded in sources considered reliable within Catholic circles. Each source certainly holds varying degrees of influence. We hope this reflection aids readers in reassessing sufficient considerations in realizing devotional Christmas artwork. The key principle to uphold: the Catholic Church uses human art as an auxiliary means to proclaim the Good News in a more beneficial manner for humanity, without obscuring the core message. Therefore, as a means, the Christmas grotto/stall is necessary.
References
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Stepanus, Angga. "Interpreting the Sacred: Christian faith and Dayak Uud Danum cultural theology." Mysterium Fidei: Journal of Asian Empirical Theology 2, no. 3 (2024): 218-227.
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Sutami, Florensius, Evan Sardono, and Theresia YC Sari. "Perception of Catholic believers regarding the prophetic role of the Montfortian in the post-truth era." Mysterium Fidei: Journal of Asian Empirical Theology 2, no. 1 (2024): 47-56.
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Veress, Ferenc. "Following the Star: Nativity Scenes and Sacred Drama from the Middle Ages to the Baroque." Urania: Interdiszciplinaris Folyoirat: Szinhaz, Mozgokep, Media 1, no. 1 (2021): 58-77. Urania_21-01_ENG_4FerencVeress_p058-077_DOI.pdf
Williams, David T. "Kenosis and the nature of the Persons int the Trinity." Bulletin for Christian Scholarship = Koers Bulletin vir Christelike Wetenskap 69, no. 4 (2004): 623-640.
Brown, David. Divine Humanity: Kenosis Explored and Defended. Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd, 2010.
Crowley, E. D., Liturgical art for a media culture. Liturgical Press, 2007.
Daryanto, Agustinus. "Keberpihakan Terhadap Orang Miskin Sebagai Tindakan Kenosis." Studia Philosophica et Theologica 22, no. 1 (2022): 19-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35312/spet.v22i1.418.
Eke, J. M. A., "Language and symbolic arts: Religious adorments, arts and menaing in the Catholic Church liturgy." Open Journal of Modern Linguistics 10, no. 4 (2020): 390-403. DOI: 10.4236/ojml.2020.104023
Eunji Lee, Jung-Ah Lee, Jang Ho Moon, and Yongjun Sung. "Pictures speak louder than words: Motivations for using Instagram." Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking 18, no. 9 (2015): 552-556. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0157
Evans, James H. Playing: Christian explorations if daily living. Fortress Press, 2010.
Firmanto, Antonius Denny, Alphonsus Tjatur Raharso, and Edison RL Tinambunan. "“Kisah Musa” sebagai Panduan Pertumbuhan Rohani dalam Pemikiran Spiritual Gregorius dari Nyssa." Dunamis: Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristiani 8, no. 1 (2023): 218-235.
Firmanto, Antonius Denny, Nerita Setiyaningtiyas, and Fransisca Romana Wuriningsih. "Johann Baptist Metz's approach to the Church secularity: A theology of connection." BIA': Jurnal Teologi dan Pendidikan Kristen Kontekstual 6, no. 2 (2023): 120-139.
Firmanto, Antonius Denny. "Sharing on suffering experiences as the secularity of incarnation." International Journal of Indonesian Philosophy & Theology 2, no. 2 (2021): 61-71.
Fransiskus, Paus. Admirabile Signum. Jakarta: Dokpen KWI, 2019.
Garcia-Rivera, A., and T. J. Scirghi, Living Beauty: The Art of Liturgy. Rowman & Littlefield, 2008.
Hartley, J., Academic Writing and Publishing. London and New York: Routledge, 2008.
Hayes, Timothy Michael. Mary (United States - United Kingdom: Aloe Entertainment - Luna Film Productions - Ludascripts - Peachtree Media Partners, 2024).
HO, Cynthia. "Away in a Manger: The Nativity of St. Francis at Sacro Monte di Orta." Medieval Perspectives 23 (2008).
Komisi Liturgi KWI, "Pedoman Umum Misale Romawi." Ende: Nusa Indah, 2002.
Martasudjita, Emanuel Pranawa Dhatu. "Inkulturasi Dan Tata Perayaan Ekaristi 2020 Gambaran Berinkulturasi dalam Konteks Indonesia." Studia Philosophica et Theologica 22, no. 2 (2022): 159-180. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35312/spet.v22i2.441.
McConaughy, Dennis. Parousia: the biblical record and other religious views of the religious world of Christ's Second Coming. Friesen Press, 2013.
McManus, Denis. "Heidegger, Wittgenstein and St Paul on the Last Judgement: On the Roots and Significance of the Theoretical Attitude." British Journal for the History of Philosophy 21, no. 1 (2013): 143-164.
Méhu, Didier. "The Colours of the Ritual: Description and Inscription of Church Dedication in Liturgical Manuscripts (10th-11th centuries)." Sign and Design. Script as Image in Cross-Cultural Perspective (300-1600 CE), ed. Brigitte Miriam BEDOS-REZAK et Jeffrey HAMBURGER, Washington, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2016. (2016).
Okoro, L. N., "The Fundamental Principles of Catholic Liturgical Music Composition: The Second Vatican Council Perspectives" in The Prodigious Musicologist: Celebrating Professor Agatha Ijeoma Onwuekwe. Ugonabo, 2023, 397-415.
Pardue, Stephen. "Kenosis and its discontents: Towards and Agustinian account of divine humility." Scottish Journal of Theology 65, no. 3 (2012): 271-288. doi:10.1017/S0036930612000117
Pronechen, Joseph. “What Netflix’s ‘Mary’ Gets Right — and What It Gets Wrong,” National Catholic Register, December 5, 2024, https://www.ncregister.com/features/netflix-mary-review.
Romanescu, Laura Sînziana Cuciuc and Ozlem Kaya. "Liturgical Textile Representations in Byzantine Art." Revista Romana de Studii Eurasiatice 17, no. 1/2 (2021): 33-46.
Rouet, A. Liturgy and the Arts. Liturgical Press, 1997.
Sardono, Eugene Ervan, Ignasius Budiono, Kurniawan Dwi Madyo Utomo, and Robertus Wijanarko. "The transcendent calling: Understanding God’s presence." Mysterium Fidei: Journal of Asian Empirical Theology 1, no. 2 (2023): 137-145.
Seyyed Mahdi Erfani, "Pictures Speak Louder than Words in ESP, Too!" English Language Teaching 5, no. 8 (2012): 164-169. doi:10.5539/elt.v5n8p164 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/elt.v5n8p164
Sollereder, Bethany. "Evolution, suffering, and the creative love of God." Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 68, no. 2 (2016).
Stepanus, Angga. "Interpreting the Sacred: Christian faith and Dayak Uud Danum cultural theology." Mysterium Fidei: Journal of Asian Empirical Theology 2, no. 3 (2024): 218-227.
Suryanugraha, C. H. Indah Bersahaja Seni Flora dan Dekorasi Liturgis. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius, 2019.
Sutami, Florensius, Evan Sardono, and Theresia YC Sari. "Perception of Catholic believers regarding the prophetic role of the Montfortian in the post-truth era." Mysterium Fidei: Journal of Asian Empirical Theology 2, no. 1 (2024): 47-56.
Thebault, Deborah. "Who ever said that the Nativity Scene was religious?" Oxford Journal of Law and Religion 6, no. 2 (2017): 399-405. doi: 10.1093/ojlr/rwx023.
Veress, Ferenc. "Following the Star: Nativity Scenes and Sacred Drama from the Middle Ages to the Baroque." Urania: Interdiszciplinaris Folyoirat: Szinhaz, Mozgokep, Media 1, no. 1 (2021): 58-77. Urania_21-01_ENG_4FerencVeress_p058-077_DOI.pdf
Williams, David T. "Kenosis and the nature of the Persons int the Trinity." Bulletin for Christian Scholarship = Koers Bulletin vir Christelike Wetenskap 69, no. 4 (2004): 623-640.
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2025-04-30
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