7 Ways to Pursue Beauty (and Faith!) This Spring

Dostoevsky claimed that “Beauty can save the world.” And Yeats wrote, “Beauty is truth, truth beauty,'--that is all/Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” In other words, beauty is powerful. As Christians, we know that beauty is even more potent still because God is the source of Beauty, of all that is good.

Beauty brings joy; it inspires us and even can move us towards prayer. If you’re looking to bring beauty—in many forms—into your life a bit more this spring, here are just a few ideas to get you started.

Find Beauty in:

1. The Eucharist: This is the source and summit of our faith. The perfection of beauty is God and we have the opportunity to visit Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Tip: Men who are interested in a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament should check out The Holy League, a new group sponsored by Cardinal Burke!
2. Art and architecture: Seek out truly inspiring art, whether that be in a museum or simply by looking up your local Cathedral. Tip: Many museums have online collections you can view if you can’t visit in person.
3. The Gift of Human Sexuality: If you’ve never delved into St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, now is a great time. He shows us that beauty is a sign that points to the divine. Tip: If you’re really intrigued by the Theology of the Body, check out the offerings at the Theology of the Body Institute.
4. Good Music: Whether it’s sacred music or any music with beautiful composition and meaning, these tunes can lead us to greater contemplation. Immerse yourself in some excellent music! Tip: Love Good Music is a platform that facilitates patronage of music artists who strive to convey the good, true and the beautiful in their music.
5. Great Food: If you’ve never thought of food as beautiful, you are missing out. Grill a hearty steak, drink a glass of red wine or spend some time making a creative salad. Through food, we experience beauty by several different senses. Tip: Want to incorporate your faith in your meals? Check out Grace Before Meals.
6. Time Spent with the Lord: There is nothing that brings us closer to the source of beauty than setting aside time with the Lord. Tip: If you haven’t already, consider attending a conference (such as one of the great ones put on by Franciscan University of Steubenville or the Napa Institute) or even an online retreat like the ones offered for free by RCSpirituality.
7. Life Itself: God created us in His own image, meaning that each one of us possesses some of His Divine Beauty. Have you ever looked into the development of a baby? Watching a baby grow, there is no doubt that this beautiful boy or girl comes from God. Tip: Sign up to spiritually adopt a child through Holy Heroes and follow the growth and development of a child from conception to birth.