Today's Journal

THE SECRET BEAUTY

In philosophy and theology there is reference to what are called transcendentals, meaning the properties that make up our ‘being.’ They are truth, beauty and goodness; they are something that exists beyond the material world as universal properties. These come from early Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle and are made theological by Augustine and Aquinas. They represent the highest virtues and reality, where the mind seeks truth, the will desires goodness, and the heart loves beauty, often seen as unified in "the One."

Historically truth and goodness have had more emphasis than beauty. I am particularly glad that beauty has become much more important in the last few years because for me it is what carries the other two. Each of the three-give meaning to each other… much like trying to understand the Trinity.
Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) Swiss theologian wrote:
“Our situation today shows that beauty demands for itself at least as much courage and decision as do truth and goodness. She will not allow herself to be separated and banned from her two sisters without taking them along with herself in an act of mysterious vengeance. We can be sure that whoever sneers at her name as if she were the ornament of a bourgeois past, whether he admits it or not, can no longer pray and soon will no longer be able to love.”
(From: ‘Seeing the Form’)

“The Father and I are one.” “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” Jesus