Mediator Dei - Liturgy and The Arts

Liturgy and The Arts

Mediator Dei discusses the need to have tasteful and beautiful houses of worship. Not necessarily rich in historical artifacts, but clean and not overburdened with Kitsch. While Pius XII was critical of those who stripped their churches of virtually all ancient art (including pictures and statuary), he disapproved of churches and altars overloaded with art-like trinkets and works.

Nevertheless, in keeping with the duty of Our office, We cannot help deploring and condemning those works of art, recently introduced by some, which seem to be a distortion and perversion of true art and which at times openly shock Christian taste, modesty and devotion, and shamefully offend the true religious sense. These must be entirely excluded and banished from our churches, like "anything else that is not in keeping with the sanctity of the place." Mediator Dei, 195.