Beauty only wets the appetite

I heard spoken a philosophical thought which I believe comes from one of the early Church Fathers—Beauty is not meant to be an end in itself; it is only meant to wet the appetite.

After hearing a wonderful song or seeing an exquisite painting, have you ever thought, “Wow! Now that was beautiful!” and then stood speechless? Do you then simply stop there or do you instead dwell upon it in order to find out just what it was that made you experience such a feeling?

During Advent and Christmas, we are presented with something very beautiful. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful sights ever recorded—the Incarnation. And these two seasons, especially Advent—the period of waiting—present for us an opportunity to stay speechless. This is the perfect time to gaze inwardly upon ourselves to find Christ in all his beauty. Now what words can one use justifiably to describe Beauty itself?

Looking beyond the beauty of the manger scene, you may find that “Christmas is Love itself born in silence in the comfort of a manger.” How can you bring this to life this liturgical year?