Below she appears at a showing of her work at the Museum of American Art in New Britain. See, she isn't just a nun that likes to express herself though abstract art, she is an American artist as well.
One of her works found notoriety, "Let the Sun Shine In," a portrait of Pope John XXIII. That is noted in the Washington Post article. A image of the actual artwork is below.
It is safe to say if anyone was to look in a book of a collection of American artists, Sister Corita Kent won't be found. That is really not appropriate for a country that embraces self expression and religious freedom.
Before there were “nuns on a bus,” there was Sister Corita Kent (click title to entry - thank you)
By
...it’s impossible not to feel both energized by her passion and acutely aware that she walked the same bumpy road many of today’s American nunsare on after Vatican criticism that their work has been infected by “radical feminism.”...
It is my opinion that much of the criticism coming from the Vatican of Americans, American women and American Nuns and Priests (Those furthest from attaining the station of Pope.) is due to their removed interest of the American culture.
The Vatican will seek to support prostitutes in Rome as part of a societal culture needing protection and recognition, but, it won't recognize the beauty of the American spirit and its manifestation in art and the art of freedom of speech. Art is, of course, speech.
So, while the Roman Catholic Church is a global organization and has missionaries in some of the roughest political environments in the world, it does not necessarily embrace the cultures of countries to allow their flock to feel welcome and embraced in return. Somehow, the only aberrations appreciated by Rome are those of beatification and sainthood, while the Lord's flock has many ways of expressing their love of their faith.
The Nuns on the Bus are wonderful. They are centered on morality and how to sustain human dignity at a time when money is a focus rather than the 'integrity of decency' in the USA. Their voice is extremely important within the borders of the USA during a very difficult political environment. Their wholesomeness is invaluable as is their spiritual expression of upholding morality during times when an aspect of the USA government seeks to put war machines before the survival of their own citizenry. They temper the 'raw attitude' currently in our society that would like to kick the poor to the curb, literally and figuratively. They could not have come at a better time and I dare anyone to contest their intents are outside their faith and love of God.
The Nuns on the Bus may not realize when a message is begun in the USA it takes a long time, up to two years, before that message sinks into the national dialogue in a way that transcends all the capitalism static. There is a great deal of 'money dialogue' in the American culture. For spirituality to find a 'status' in this very busy 'grab attention' lifestyle; the Nuns on the Bus have a lot of work to do. They need to continue to seek 'in roads' with the American dialogue to make morality a priority and not a fiscal liability.
I was thrilled when I first heard of the tour and I strongly support it and it's continued purpose and impact within our country. I thank them for valuing the best side of us.
