
St. Scholastica, Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs, 2020. https://gwyneththompsonbriggs.com/portfolio-item/st-scholastica
Questions
-What do you notice about St. Scholastica?
-What do you know about St. Scholastica?
-Do you like this style of art? Why or why not?
-Have you seen other pieces by Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs?
Reflection
I find myself gazing deep into St. Scholastica's eyes, trying to know her better than I do and discerning what she has to say. I have a deep soft spot in my heart for St. Scholastica, the sister of St. Benedict. Her brother was well known, well loved and followed but instead of being jealous she decided to follow him in his holiness. She wanted to follow his rule and did just that - as well as bringing many other women with her. I think that she provides a great example to us who can get easily jealous of the spiritual gifts and work of others. It is so easy to compare and feel less than when we see the Lord working wonderful things in another's life. I fall into this comparison easily and it makes me feel disheartened that I am not as blessed as another. Scholastica could have felt that way and perhaps maybe did, but she must have known that her brother had many struggles and sacrifices that went along with his blessings and closeness to the Lord. Scholastica also focused instead on her own holiness and what she could control in her own life. She was aware of how the Lord was working in her life and listened to His call. She instead chose to celebrate other's blessings and join in the worship of the Lord, instead of pushing them away.
I really appreciate how the artist chose to have St. Scholastica looking outward directly at the viewer. She has said that she did this because we know so little about Scholastica and wanted to create intimacy to foster devotion. I think this reveals an important note about eye contact. How often do we not make eye contact when we are out in public, instead focusing on our own tasks, phone, or purposefully not interacting with people? It takes a vulnerability and confidence to look another in the eye and smile. It is a moment of shared humanity and recognizing the other as human. I feel this especially as a mother. There have been too many times where I have been immersed in a task or felt too busy to pull my full attention off of my own things and focus on my husband or child. But it is the eye contact that leads to full attention that leads to a moment of love, care, and sharing in life together. Scholastica looking directly at us invites us to reflect on her as a person and is inviting us into her life. We look to our friends for guidance, support and help which we can do even more so with the saints. Hospitality is more than just welcoming someone into your home - it is welcoming them into your life. The Benedictine rule emphasizes hospitality in always being ready to welcome in the stranger, the poor, the naked, the one in need who comes to your door at the most inopportune time. We can have this disposition with others in our lives by always being ready to put down the task at hand to fully embrace and welcome in the people that are put in our path.
My favorite story of Scholastica (and one of the only ones) is a time where Benedict came to visit her. They would meet yearly to discuss spiritual things and strengthen one another in their work towards holiness and leadership of communities. This specific visit was near the end of Scholastica's life, which she herself could feel was coming but was not foreseeable to Benedict or others. At the end of the night, Scholastica begged her brother to stay for longer to visit more, knowing their time together on earth would soon end. Benedict protested this due to his love of the rule and wanted to return to his monastery. In that moment Scholastica prayed to God that he would stay and a thunderstorm suddenly overtook the land, forcing Benedict to stay the night. The siblings had a night full of holy conversation, which I can only imagine what beautiful, good, and true things were shared and secrets of the faith only known by living it were uncovered. Scholastica's love for her brother and trust in God that her needs would be met was stronger than her brother's power in that moment. Benedict must have been so thankful for this time in retrospect, because Scholastica died only three days later. He was given the gift of seeing his sister's soul ascend into heaven in the form of a dove. Scholastica shows that the power of God's love and will is as gentle and light as a dove. Our love for the Lord can be like this - it can move mountains or spring up thunderstorms or bring about miracles. If only we put our trust in Him and work to align our will with His. When we ask like a child our Heavenly Father will happily provide. And when it doesn't happen (like Benedict who most definitely was pleading with the Lord to leave his sister) we can trust that the Lord's plan has something more spectacular in mind that will make us holier and bring us closer to Him.
Information
Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs is one of my favorite contemporary sacred artists. As you can see, she is very influenced by the Renaissance and Baroque eras to bring realistic, holy art into the world. She has been a painter since high school, which led her to earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Beyond a painter, she also has advanced degrees in Physics and Engineering. I think that this study of math reflects the importance of being multi-skilled and the ability to have multiple interests that serve the Lord. Beauty is to be found everywhere that reflects the truth and goodness of God, including math and science. I believe that she also shows that art, when dedicated fully to it, can be more than just a side job or passion project. She started 'Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs Sacred Art' in 2019 and it is now a family business, as she works with her husband.
Gwyneth is also a member of the Catholic Artists Directory which is a fabulous resource to find contemporary Catholic art and artists. All Christians are called to take part in the beauty, truth and goodness of the Lord and this definitely includes art. Using our money to support Catholic artists who are working in the here and now to make God known in the world is incredibly important. Gwyneth is one of many artists who is putting their lives on the line to share the Gospel and trust that God will provide and care for them. To support other Christians, especially other Catholics, helps to grow the strength of our community whether it be cross city, state, country, continent, or world. The Body of Christ is strengthened and built up when we support one another and it is a calling that each one of us has on our hearts. More than just providing income or new commissions for artists, it helps us to grow closer to Christ. When we see beautiful art we are reminded of Him or His saints, which draws us closer to them. We can be pulled closer to heaven and reminded to imitate Him when we are reminded of heaven constantly. What helps us to pray without ceasing is having beauty, truth and goodness surround us that reminds us to do so. We are forgetful people, but sacred art is the great reminder of God.
This painting has a matching portrait of her brother St. Benedict. This painting differs by having Benedict gaze downwards, showing his constancy and firmness in character and spirit. He also wrote the rule of life that has guiding thousands of monks for thousands of years to holiness. His crosier is also in the opposite hand, which helps to link the two together as siblings - they have been thought to be perhaps even twins! Crosiers are used by abbots and abbesses to indicate their leadership over their community. Bishops also carry crosiers, especially within liturgical ceremonies. The artist wanted to unify the paintings together to complement one another just as siblings do. The background, while similar is different enough to place them in separate places. Benedict's rule and leadership rises as the mountains do and brings others to the height of holiness. Scholastica had a stormy spiritual life, but dives into the mystery of God's identity and love. The light source makes their faces and hands have a slight glow effect. You can almost imagine the Italian sun coming out from behind the clouds, kissing them with the rays of the sun and indicating their holiness. The Lord chose St. Benedict and St. Scholastica to be leaders in their communities and also help one another become closer to the Lord and grow in holiness.
The artist borrowed several habits from various Benedictines as well as a crosier from her pastor. She also worked with a pair of siblings to base her paintings off of. This lends to the realistic nature of the paintings and shows the deep studying that it takes to produce realistic paintings. The white cloth that St. Scholastica is wearing is called a wimple, which covers the head, neck and hair of the nun. The one Gwyneth received was from a monastery in Pennsylvania and it was very creased and well worn. It provides a wonderful emphasis on the face of the saint but the wrinkles show how consistently and faithfully it was worn over the years. The habit of a nun helps to move the focus to her daily work and worship of God, rather than her looks or dressing herself. But the importance of dressing oneself in a habit is still important and it shows the face - which displays the wonderful work of God in creating the human person. Her face is emphasized so that she can constantly look for the work and creation of God and speak the word of the Lord.
More Questions
-Do you have siblings or close friends who are like siblings? How do your strengths and weaknesses complement one another? How can you bring one another closer to Christ?
-How can you support modern Catholic artists?
-How do you practice hospitality? How can you make this a more integral part of your life?
-What are the usual culprits in distracting you from the person in front of you? How can you lessen these distractions?
Let us pray -
Lord, thank you for the hiddenness of so many of your saints. It brings me such hope that when I feel hidden, not chosen, or not special that you see me for who I am. You see me as your beloved child for whom you sent your only Son. Help us to have confidence in our worth and be humble in your call for our life as St. Scholastica did. May we be strengthened in love of you and made holier by those who are further along in the spiritual life. Lessen the attitude and habit of comparison, replacing it with the a spirit of rejoicing in your goodness. All the graces that you pour out in the world help to build up the entirety of the Body of Christ. Thank you for listening to our prayers and making us your children.
St. Scholastica, pray for us!
Amen.
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